Lou Johnson

 

Greetings all.

Lou Johnson is one of those names that pops up all over the 1960s soul timeline, sometimes in settings that almost make it seem like you’re dealing with different artists.

He first made his mark working with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, recording early versions of ‘Reach Out For Me’ ‘(There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me’ and ‘Kentucky Bluebird (Take a Message Martha)’ that would go on to be better known by singers like Dionne Warwick and Sandie Shaw.

He also recorded records that became favorites of the UK soul crowd, including ‘Magic Potion’ and the Northern Soul fave ‘Unsatisfied’.

Unfortunately, despite his fantastically smooth voice, and a wealth of remarkable material, his commercial success was limited, having his last brush with the charts in 1965 with ‘A Time To Love A Time To Cry’.

He had been recording for Big Top/Big Hill since 1962. One of the last things released on him by the labels was a 1966 session with Allen Toussaint, in which Johnson recorded a version of the Bacharach/David classic ‘Walk On By’.

It is a really unsual arrangement of a familiar song, with some decidedly New Orleans piano tossed into the mix. You can really hear Toussaint’s hand in the arrangement and Johnson’s vocal is inspired.

Johnson spent some time recording for Atlantic/Cotillion in the late 60s, but by 1971, he had moved on to Volt.

Volt sent him back to work with Toussaint in New Orleans, where they recorded the LP ‘With You In Mind’ (composed almost entirely by Toussaint).’

‘Frisco Here I Come’ has a nice, funky edge to it, with a long guitar-heavy intro, before the bass comes in to set the rolling tempo. Johnson is joined by female backing singers and a string section in the chorus, and then later on in the tune by a wild sounding organ.

It should have been a hit, but the only trace of radio play I can find is a single appearance on a New Orleans chart from the Spring of 1971.

It would appear that after ‘With You In Mind’, Johnson did not record again, apparently relocating to the West coast and working as a nightclub singer.

You can find a lot of Johnson’s work on iTunes (including ‘With You In Mind’ repackaged/retitled as ‘Crazy About You’).

I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you on Wednesday.

Keep the faith

Larry

 

 

 

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

 

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.