Back in the Game is an album by the American musician Syl Johnson.[2][3] It was released in 1994. Johnson had not recorded an album since the 1980s, but had witnessed a revival of his music due its use as samples in hip hop production.[4][5] Back in the Game was named the best blues album of 1994 by Living Blues.[6]
| Back in the Game | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1994 | |||
| Genre | Soul, R&B, blues | |||
| Label | Delmark[1] | |||
| Producer | Pete Nathan | |||
| Syl Johnson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editOn the majority of its tracks, the album marked a reunion between Johnson and the Hi Rhythm Section.[7] It was produced by Pete Nathan.[8] Johnson duets with his daughter Syleena on "Dipped in the Water".[9] Back in the Game contains covers of Magic Sam's "All Your Love" and Little Junior Parker's version of "Driving Wheel".[10]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| Chicago Tribune | [9] |
| Robert Christgau |  [12] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [1] |
| MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide | [13] |
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote that Johnson's "vocals swoop, charge, lunge, and bark with all the mastery of a classic soul singer, but his songs are rarely melodically complex, nor do they develop linearly."[14] The Chicago Tribune called the album "a stunning return to form," writing that "Johnson's voice is still a piercing, bittersweet instrument and his guitar-playing remains tersely eloquent"; the paper later listed Back in the Game as the second best contemporary blues album of 1994.[9][15]
The Washington Post thought that it "shows [Johnson's] funky blues and soul skills remain surprisingly intact, as does the sinewy sensuality of his vocals."[16] Deeming the music Chicago R&B, the Chicago Sun-Times wrote that the album "showcases the intrinsic charms of the form, recalling the days when R&B record companies like One-derful, Brunswick and Vee-Jay flourished on South Michigan Avenue."[17]
AllMusic wrote that "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."[11] MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide opined that the album "may contain the best version of the much-recorded Al Green song 'Take Me to the River'."[13]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back in the Game" | Syl Johnson, Pete Nathan | 3:41 |
| 2. | "I Like Your Smile" | Lee Shot Williams | 3:48 |
| 3. | "I Can't Stop" | Syl Johnson, Pete Nathan | 4:14 |
| 4. | "Please Don't Give Up on Me" | Buddy Jarrett, Earl Randle | 3:14 |
| 5. | "Keep on Loving Me" | Syl Johnson, General Crook | 4:42 |
| 6. | "Take Me to the River" | Al Green, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, Willie Mitchell | 4:57 |
| 7. | "Ghetto Woman" | Syl Johnson, Pete Cosey | 3:43 |
| 8. | "Watch What You Do to Me" | Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle | 3:12 |
| 9. | "Dipped in the Water" | 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" | Sam Maghett | 7:40 |
Personnel
edit- Syl Johnson – vocals, guitar, harmonica
- Howard Grimes, Morris Jennings – drums
- Charles Hodges, Fred Hodges – piano, organ
- Jon Logan, Vincent Varko – organ
- Leroy Hodges, Anthony Morris – bass
- Teenie Hodges, Pete Nathan, Will Crosby – guitar
- Ken Vandermark – tenor saxophone
- Willie Henderson – baritone saxophone
- Kenny Anderson – trumpet
- Syleena Johnson – backing vocals, vocals on "Dipped in the Water"
- Theresa Davis – backing vocals
References
edit- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 665.
- ^ Fricke, David (Apr 20, 1995). "On the Edge". Rolling Stone. No. 706. p. 72.
- ^ Shuster, Fred (14 Apr 1995). "Happy for the Hi Life". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L26.
- ^ Fell, Sam (February 12, 2009). "Syl Johnson". The Age.
- ^ "Syl Johnson: Soulful Like Marvin, Funky Like James". NPR.
- ^ Ingram, Bruce (3 Oct 1995). "Johnson is still game for life of the blues". The Columbian. p. SN3.
- ^ "Syl Johnson returns to the music ... again". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Margasak, Peter (November 25, 2010). "The Real Syl". Chicago Reader.
- ^ a b c Kot, Greg (1 June 1995). "Rebirth: It's Hi Time That Syl Johnson Got Back in the Music Game". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
- ^ Nager, Larry (February 26, 1995). "Soul CDs reweave Memphis-made magic". The Commercial Appeal. p. G1.
- ^ a b "Back in the Game". AllMusic.
- ^ "Syl Johnson". Robert Christgau.
- ^ a b MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 309.
- ^ Pick, Steve (9 June 1995). "Syl Johnson Is Back in the Game". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4E.
- ^ Dahl, Bill (30 Dec 1994). "Top 10 List Shows Several Artists Made Happy Returns in '94". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
- ^ Harrington, Richard (21 May 1995). "New Releases: Pop". The Washington Post. p. G14.
- ^ Hoekstra, Dave (January 19, 1995). "Soulful Syl's Revived and Cooking". Features. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 25.