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Syl Johnson – Back In The Game
Delmark 674

In 1993, a 57-year-old Syl Johnson made a long overdue return to the studio with Back in the Game, his first album since the early ’80s. Various rappers (including the Geto Boys, Hammer, and the Wu-Tang Clan) had been sampling Johnson’s classic 1960s and ’70s recordings, and learning that younger artists had thought enough of his work to sample it was one of the main things that inspired the singer to start recording again. “Inspired” is definitely a word that describes Johnson’s performances on this CD, which unites him with the legendary Hi Rhythm Section of the ’70s. Joined by drummer Howard “Bulldog” Grimes and the Hodges brothers (guitarist Mabon, bassist Leroy, and organist/pianist Charles), Johnson delivers one of the strongest albums of his career. The Chicago-based singer emphasizes the type of down-home soul he had favored at Hi, and he is as passionate as ever on “Dipped in the Water” (which features his daughter Syleena Thompson), “I Will Rise Again,” and “Ghetto Woman.” Another high point of the album is a sweaty remake of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River,” which Johnson had first recorded in 1975. Although the Chicagoan moves into 12-bar blues territory on “All of Your Love” and Roosevelt Sykes’ “Driving Wheel,” it must be stressed that the majority of songs on this album are soul rather than blues. This is an R&B album first and foremost, and a fine one at that. - ALL MUSIC Review

1 Back In The Game (Pete Nathan, Syl Johnson) 3:41
2 I Like Your Style (Lee Shot Williams) 3:48
3 I Can't Stop (Pete Nathan, Syl Johnson) 4:14
4 Please Don't Give Up On Me (Buddy Jarrett, Earl Randle)
3:14
5 Keep On Loving Me (General Crook, Syl Johnson) 4:42
6 Take Me To The River (Al Green, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges)
4:57
7 Ghetto Woman (Pete Cosey, Syl Johnson) 3:43
8 Watch What You Do To Me (Earl Randle, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, Willie Mitchell) 3:12
9 Dipped In The Water featuring – Syleena Johnson (Syl Johnson, Syleena Johnson) 4:29
10 Driving Wheel (Roosevelt Sykes) 3:56
11 Anyway The Wind Blows (Earl Randle) 4:09
12 Clean Up Man (Willie Henderson) 3:48
13 I Will Rise Again (Syl Johnson) 4:35
14 All Of Your Love (Magic Sam Maghett) 7:40

Recorded Nov 26, 27 1993, and May 31, 1994

Vocals – Syl Johnson
Backing Vocals – Syleena Johnson, Theresa Davis
Baritone Saxophone – Willie Henderson
Bass – Anthony Morris (tracks: 1, 7, 12), Leroy Hodges
Drums – Howard Grimes, Morris Jennings (tracks: 1, 7, 12)
Guitar – Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, Pete Nathan (tracks: 3), Syl Johnson, Will Crosby (tracks: 1, 7, 12)
Harmonica – Syl Johnson
Organ – Charles Hodges, Fred Hodges (tracks: 4, 10), Jon Logan (tracks: 1, 7, 12), Vincent Varko (tracks: 7)
Piano – Charles Hodges, Fred Hodges (tracks: 4, 10)
Producer – Pete Nathan
Tenor Saxophone – Ken Vandermark
Trumpet – Kenny Anderson (2)

This CD is another jewel of the extensive and extraordinary catalog of Delmark Records, in this case of a legendary musician whose entry into the prestigious Blues Hall of Fame, has been pending, since he was chosen to occupy a place in the 2020 generation, but due to the circumstances of the pandemic of all known, to date that induction is still waiting. But who is Syl Johnson really?

Syl Johnson

Sylvester "Syl" Johnson took advantage of a blues-infused environment and street sensibility for soul and funk in a successful career that became even more profitable when hip-hop artists began sampling their old records. Johnson, who will reunite with his older brother, Jimmy Johnson, in the Blues Hall of Fame, was born into a blues family in rural Benton County, Mississippi, on July 1, 1936. His last name was Thompson, but when Syl recorded under Johnson's name in Chicago in 1959, Jimmy did the same. His brothers, Mac and Grundy, and his father Sam Thompson also played.

After moving to Chicago, Syl befriended a young Magic Sam and his brother Mac became Sam's regular bassist. Johnson's guitar playing caught the attention of Eddie Boyd, (also elected to the Blues Hall of Fame in 2020), who hired Syl to play in his band. Johnson also teamed up with Billy Boy Arnold and played recording sessions with him in 1956 and 1957.

He is also recognized in sessions with Elmore James, Junior Wells and Harmonica George Robinson, and Johnson remembers playing in a five-guitar line-up with Jimmy Reed in the studio. Johnson landed his own contract with Federal Records in 1959 and recorded several blues and R&B singles for himself and other record labels, and finally came to paying land in 1967 with a funky work of a popular slogan, Come On Sock It to Me on the Twilight label.

According to the times, Different Strokes and Dresses Too Short also made it to the R&B charts. In a more serious mode of social awareness, the classic Is It because I'm Black and Concrete Reservation joined his Billboard chart, which went on to encompass 19 singles on Twilight, Hi, Boardwalk and on his own Shama label. The biggest hit was Take Me to the River, produced by Willie Mitchell of Hi Records in Memphis.

Johnson, one of the leading stars of Chicago's soul scene during the sixties and seventies, embraced his blues roots in the eighties, starting with the LP Brings Out the Blues in Me inspired, he says, by the request of Japanese fans. His latest hit, Ms. Fine Brown Frame, was recorded with James Cotton's Blues Band, and Buddy Guy's brother Phil accompanied him on sessions in Chicago and in France, where Johnson recorded the SUICIDE Blues LP.

Mixing his soul, blues and funk, he recorded for blues-oriented labels such as Delmark and Antone's and began playing more guitar and harmonica at blues clubs and festivals, while also launching a chain of seafood restaurants that soon took most of his time but ultimately failed. He and Jimmy, whose musical path had also taken him from blues to soul and vice versa, recorded together on the 2001 CD Two Johnsons Are Better Than One.

Meanwhile, many hip-hop stars had been picking up Johnson's work from the 1960s, especially Different Strokes, which has been sampled several dozen times. The resulting income, some of it from litigation, allowed Johnson a comfortable lifestyle that he never earned through his own sales. A new wave of enthusiasm for Johnson was the release of a box set in 2010 of his early recordings, the Johnsons' legacy has continued as their daughter, Syleena has begun recording her own hits.



In 1993, Syl Johnson, 57, made a triumphant return to the studio with 'Back in the Game', his first album since the early '80s. Several rappers (such as the Geto Boys, Hammer, and Wu-Tang Clan) had been rehearsing Johnson's classic recordings of the sixties and seventies, and finding that younger artists had thought enough about his work to sample it was one of the main things that inspired him. On this CD, Syl reunites with the legendary Hi Rhythm of the 70s, with drummer Howard "Bulldog" Grimes and the Hodges brothers (guitarist Mabon, bassist Leroy and organist – pianist, Charles).

Together with them he offers one of the most solid albums of his career. The Chicago-based singer emphasizes the kind of home soul that had favored him in the past, and sounds as enthusiastic as ever in Dipped in the Water (which features his daughter Syleena Thompson), I Will Rise Again, and Ghetto Woman. Another highlight of the album is a terrific remake of Al Green's Take Me to the River, which Johnson had first recorded in 1975. Although the album moves through 12-bar blues territory on All of Your Love and Roosevelt Sykes' Driving Wheel, it should be noted that most of the songs are more soul than blues.

This is, Syl Johnson with Hi Rhythm – Back in the Game, without a doubt, a very good album, highly recommended.

1 july, 2021 Jose Luis Garcia Fernandez

CULTURA BLUES