Blues

Johnnie Johnson - Johnnie B. Live (1997)

2013-05-20T16:18:55Z

Johnnie Johnson - Johnnie B. Live (1997)


01. Real Good Woman
02. If You Love Me Like You Say
03. Johnnie's Boogie
04. Georgia On My Mind
05. Tanqueray
06. I'm Goin' Fishin'
07. Sweet Little Angel
08. Stepped In What!?
09. Bye Bye Johnny/Carol
10. George's Jam
11. Guest Comment

Johnnie Johnson -  piano, vocals
Jimmy Vivino – guitar, vocals
Michael Merrit – bass
James Wormworth – drums
+
Al Kooper – Hammond organ
Bernard Fowler – vocals (Sweet Little Angel)

For 28 years legendary piano player Johnnie Johnson worked as a sideman to one of rock & roll's most prominent performers, Chuck Berry. Berry joined Johnson's band, the Sir John Trio, on New Year's Eve 1953, and afterward Berry took over as the group's songwriter and frontman/guitar player. On the strength of a recommendation from Muddy Waters and an audition, Berry got a deal with Chess Records. Johnson's rhythmic piano playing was a key element in all of Berry's hit singles, a good number of which Johnson arranged. Although Berry has been reluctant to admit as much, Johnson is widely regarded to be the inspiration for one of Berry's biggest hits, "Johnny B. Goode." The pair's successful partnership lasted a lot longer than most rock & roll partnerships last these days.

Johnson was born July 8, 1924, in Fairmont, WV, and he began playing piano at age five, thanks to his mother, who provided the funds to purchase one and encouraged the young Johnson's interest. His parents had a good collection of 78-rpm records, including items by Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters. In his teens, he listened to the radio broadcasts of big bands, and taught himself based on what he heard from the likes of Art Tatum, Earl "Fatha" Hines, and Meade "Lux" Lewis. Johnson's goal in all of this listening and playing in his teenage years was to come up with his own distinctive style. His own somewhat ailing career got a shot in the arm with the Chuck Berry concert film Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, and by his involvement in Keith Richards' solo release with Richards' band, the X-Pensive Winos. He would go on to play and record with, among others, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, George Thorogood, and Aerosmith.

Despite his fear of flying, the revitalized Johnson also managed to tour the world. In 2001 Johnson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Despite health complications, the ailing pianist continued to perform. In November 2004, recording began on what was to become his final project. On April 13th of 2005, at the age of 80, Johnnie Johnson passed away, just hours before his copies of Johnnie Be Eighty. And Still Bad! were delivered to his home. In a 1995 interview, Johnson explained his abilities on piano as his mother did: a gift from God. "I can hear something and keep it in my mind until such point as I can get to a piano, and then I'll play it...that is a gift, the ability to do that."

Johnson's albums under his own name include Blue Hand Johnnie for the St. Louis-based Pulsar label in 1988; Johnnie B. Bad in 1991 for the Elektra American Explorer label; That'll Work in 1993 for the same label; Johnnie Be Back for the New Jersey-based MusicMasters label in 1995; and Johnson's final recording, Johnnie Be Eighty. And Still Bad! for the Cousin Moe Music label in 2005. This project contains the biographical songs "Beach Weather" and "Lucky Four," a heartfelt song about Johnson's fourth wife, Frances. ---Richard Skelly, allmusic.com

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto global-files

back

Johnnie Johnson - Blue Hand Johnnie (1987)

2010-02-15T14:59:04Z

Johnnie Johnson - Blue Hand Johnnie (1987)


1. Johnnie's Boogie 
2. See See Rider 
3. O.J. Blues 
4. Black Nights 
5. Talkin' Woman 
6. Honky Tonk, Pt. 1 
7. Slow Train 	
8. Baby, What You Want Me to Do 	
9. Way South 	
10. Johnny B. Goode 
11. Back in the U.S.A. 
12. Son's Dream

Johnnie Johnson (piano), 
Barbara Carr, Stacy Johnson (vocals), 
Steve Waldman, Herb Sadler, David Pruitt, Tom Maloney (guitars), 
Oliver Sain (saxophone), 
Dick Pruitt, Gus Thorton (bass), 
Keith Robertson, Kent Hinds, Pat O'Conner, Kenny Rice (drums).

Johnnie Johnson's rolling, barrelling licks are as enticing as ever on this reissued Evidence CD, but there are some other things that are not so grand. These include barely tolerable vocalists Barbara Carr and Stacy Johnson, whose enthusiasm is commendable, but whose vocals often get in the way. Johnson's covers of Fats Washington's "O.J. Blues" and "Black Nights" are great, as are his versions of "Honky Tonk" and "See See Rider." But he falters on "Baby, What You Want Me To," in part because he does not convey either the original's loping stride or laconic quality, and also because it is not the kind of peppy arrangement and backbeat suited to his style. A decent effort that might have been a superior one with a couple of added touches. ---Ron Wynn, allmusic.com

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto global-files

back

Johnnie Johnson - Johnnie B. Bad (1991)

2010-02-15T14:06:42Z

Johnnie Johnson - Johnnie B. Bad (1991)


1. Tanqueray	
2. Hush On Hush
3. Johnnie B. Bad
4. Creek Mud
5. Fault Line Tremor	3:45
6. Stepped in What?
 7. Can You Stand It
8. Key To The Highway
9. Blues #572	
10. Baby What's Wrong
11. Cow Cow Blues
12. Movin' Out

Johnnie Johnson (piano, vocals); 
Eric Clapton (guitar); 
Keith Richards, Steve Ferguson, Al Anderson (guitar, vocals); 
Terry Adams (harmonica); 
Michael Ray (trumpet); 
Bernie Worrell (keyboards, background vocals); 
Joey Spampinato (bass, background vocals); 
Steve Jordan (drums, background vocals); 
Tom Ardolino (drums); Bernard Fowler (background vocals).

Johnnie Johnson is simply a fantastic piano player with a style all his own. Let's face facts - It was Johnnie Johnson who wrote such chuck berry classics as Johnny B. good although they were credited to berry for a long time. Finally Johnson decided to strike out on his own 30 years later and we all should be greatful that he did. Johnnie B. bad is his second solo album and it is just great to listen to. His first album, bluehand Johnnie, while filled with hot piano licks, really sounded forced and uninspiring and almost electronic. Finally with this album he got it all together and just played what he wanted to play and everyone who sat in with him to make this record sounds like they are having a great time. for me the standout track is the opener, "Tanqueray." I could just play that song all day long. It has a nice raw sound to it - almost like a spontaneous jam session. The album carries this feel through almost every track so it sounds like you are listening to a group of guys playing the blues just to have some fun, but the piano player just happens to be the one and only Johnnie Johnson. pick this CD up and you will very quickly see why Johnson easily deserves to be a well-respected musician in his own right - Chuck berry or no chuck berry. ---amazon.com

download (mp3 @320 kbs):

yandex mediafire ulozto global-files

back