General Johnson RIP
General Johnson.
Listen/Download – Chairmen of the Board – From the Days of Pigtails (and Fairy Tales)
Greetings all.
I hope everyone had a stellar weekend.
We got the sad news last week that soul legend General Johnson, who led the Showmen in the early 60s and the Chairmen of the Board later in the decade had passed away at the age of 67.
His career as a singer and songwriter (he wrote ‘Patches’, a huge hit for Clarence Carter, and co-wrote ‘Want Ads’ for the Honey Cone) was long and rewarding, and in addition to their chart success, the Chairmen of the Board became legends on the Beach Music scene in the Carolinas.
The tune I bring you today appeared hear four years ago, after I happened upon it in a mix and was blown away.
It quickly became a fave and I rarely take my DJ box out without it.
I hope you all dig it, and take a moment to remember the great General Johnson.
Originally Posted 4/2006
“So, anyway, how’s about some music?
I’ve gone on before about the joy of discovering a great new track, and haven’t been above admitting the instances when I had been unable to see the forest for the trees. This is one such instance. A few weeks ago, via a Myspace friend, Spain’s own Gruyere DJ, I received a link to download his New Years Eve DJ mix.
I did so, and the mix was excellent, featuring a wide variety of rare funk nuggets, as well as a bunch of stuff that was not familiar to me. One such track appeared less than 15 minutes into the mix, and it was a killer. I immediately recued the tune (three of four times), listening to see if I might recognize the singer(s), or if any of the lines might reveal a familiar title.
No such luck.
So, I tried to contact Gruyere DJ to ask him who it was. The Myspace link wouldn’t load. So, I posted a query over at Soulstrut, figuring that one of the learned heads over there would recognize the refrain. Snake eyes…. Then I tried Google-ing the lyrics, only to discover that the main line in the chorus also appeared in a Jackson Five song (this was clearly not the same song, nor was it the Jackson Five). I thought I had reached a dead end.
Then Myspace started working again, and I got a message through to my amigo in Spain. He got back to me in short order, and informed me that the track was ‘Since the Days of Pigtails (and Fairy Tales)’ by the Chairmen of the Board. So I start searching around to see how I an get myself a copy of this funky gem, and lo and behold, it turns out to be residing on the b-side of a huge hit, ‘Give Me Just A Little More Time’. Well, dip me in shit and call me stinky!
Naturally, I found a nice copy for under ten bucks, and had it drop through the mail slot a few short days later. If you’ve heard the song (which I’m sure someone out there does), you’ll already know how smoking hot it is. If you’re as blissfully ignorant as I was, it should come as a very nice surprise indeed.
The Chairmen of the Board was one of the top acts in Holland-Dozier-Holland’s Invictus/Hot wax stable. Formed in 1968, by General Johnson – who had previously been in the Showmen, who’s Beach Music anthem ‘It Will Stand was a hit in 1961 and 1964 (for Minit and Imperial) – Danny Woods and Harrison Kennedy, hit the top ten several times between 1970 and 1973.
‘Since the Days of Pigtails (and Fairy Tales)’ appeared on their 1970 debut LP, and was credited to Ronald Dunbar and Edith Wayne. The Dunbar/Wayne credit, which was also attached to Freda Payne’s ‘Band of Gold’ (among other tunes) was in fact a pseudonym for Holland-Dozier-Holland who were still contractually obligated (as songwriters) to the Motown organization. That LP also featured the original recording of Patches (written by General Johnson) which went on to be a huge hit for Clarence Carter.
While the a-side of the 45, ‘Give Me Just A Little More Time’ is one of the most fondly remembered early 70’s soul classics – which strangely enough did better on the Pop charts (#3) than the R&B charts (#8) – it’s killer flipside is what we’re hear to talk about today.
Starting off with a funky guitars and tambourine, the good General drops in with the first few lines before the congas, and then the drums kick the tune into gear. The first chorus takes things to another level entirely, bolstered by the horn section. The arrangement is clean, mean and delicious, with enough kick to please the funk fans and the dancers, and plenty of hooks for the pop crowd.
Why this didn’t catch on to create one of the great two-sided hits of all time is beyond me. I’d place it up there with ‘Band of Gold’, and Laura Lee’s ‘Crumbs off the Table’ as the absolute best of Invictus/Hot Wax. So the next time you’re prowling garage sales and flea markets, bring along an extra quarter. You’ll be able to get your own copy of this killer. You can thank me then.”
Peace
Larry
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Themocracy
Great choice of record Larry!
R.I.P.
R.I.P. General Johnson – another great soul left us. And thank you Larry!
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If you dig this (and I know you do), go to the Funky 16 Corners archives and check out F16C Radio v14.2, the 2nd Anniversary Mix. This tune is among the terrific songs in that mix.
Make that F16C Radio v14.5. But you get the idea.
“Please Don’t Walk Away” remains one of my favourite tracks of all time. RIP General Johnson. RIP Solomon Burke.
what a revelation it was hearing for the first time in the early 80’s the Showmen’s “It Will Stand.” That VOICE sounded familiar, as of course it was. Solomon and General; as George Jones put it “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?”
Gutted….what a big loss. Chairmen still remain one of my all-time fav soul bands and they were/are very under-rated. Fantastic voice on the General as well
Lucky enough to have the Chairmen’s first LP. Big fan of Danny Woods. Actually copped a clean 45 of Hanging On(To) A Memory the day before he passed. Wouldn’t have even known that without your blog.I was actually digging around in the LP bin(got some New Birth,Undisputed Truth and Rythym Heritage)while another DJ was sleeping on the 45’s in the corner.He was sleeping because he didnt grab one,not one.They werent in sleeves which for me is like saying DONT EVEN BOTHER LOOKING AT ME! Now I rarely ever come across 45’s let alone clean ones and it was unwarped from the heat(vegas….first thing I check for now).Came home played this song first out of everything I got that day, since it was the one I didnt have off the LP.I was blown away.The song is dope.The first album is full of great tracks but this is for sure what Ill be using the most.Thanks for the knowledge. Had me flipping through a few things…you said he did ‘Want Ad’s’ and I see did some songs for 100 Proof Aged In Soul as well.One of my other favorites…actually just started a set with Albert King, Dorothy Ashby and 100 Proof.
Cal Tjader-Soul Sauce reference, had me replay solar heat for the ‘Ode To Billy Joe'(you probably know already but check out Mel Brown’s Version from The Wizard LP(one of my favorites)
Loved the article on Solomon Burke
Not a big fan of the Beatles but having the Ramsey Lewis ‘Mothers Son’, amongst a few others that I have off the track lists makes me want to listen the mixes
Sorry for ramblin….Love the site.Thank You