THE BAR ROOM PREACHER, VENERABLE 90 YEARS YOUNG JIMMY JOHNSON RETURNS TO DELMARK FOR “EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE”

He begins with his own, the funky title track based on a wise lyrical message from one who is qualified to impart more wisdom than most. His original “The Ring” is surprisingly constructed around a reggae beat. Some may think this is new, but Johnson was always willing to tackle country and pop too, putting his own spin on it. “Down in the Valley” churns and burns like the best of Johnson’s early recordings and he demonstrates why he is among the best at slow blues on “Strange Things Happening” and as hard-hitting as any with “I Need You So Bad.” Nonetheless, most will point to his treatment of Robinson’s “Loan Me a Dime,” since many are familiar with the Boz Skaggs/ Duane Allman rendition of the tune. The other familiar one, the uplifting “Lead Me On ”is essentially a gospel tune, especially fitting since Johnson first came up as a gospel and R&B singer. Johnson didn’t even become a full-time blues guitarist until the mid-seventies, by which time he was in his mid-forties. For more detail, examine the well-written liner notes from blues historian, Bill Dahl
This is Johnson’s first recording in more than ten years. Outside of Chicago, he’s been mostly under the radar for years. Hopefully, this will inspire new listeners to seek out others in his catalog. God willing we’ll have a few more. Jimmy Johnson’s a living legend unlike any other. Buddy Guy gets all the ink, but to this writer’s ears the elder Johnston is every bit as intense, albeit in a different way.


January 7, 2020 by Jim Hynes in GLIDE MAGAZINE


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