Back in the Game (Syl Johnson album)

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
Studio album by
Released1994
Recorded1994
GenreSoul, R&B, blues
LabelDelmark[1]
ProducerPete Nathan
Syl Johnson chronology
Stuck in Chicago
(1989)
Back in the Game
(1994)
This Time Together by Father and Daughter
(1995)

Production

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On 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

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
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

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Back in the Game"Syl Johnson, Pete Nathan3:41
2."I Like Your Smile"Lee Shot Williams3:48
3."I Can't Stop"Syl Johnson, Pete Nathan4:14
4."Please Don't Give Up on Me"Buddy Jarrett, Earl Randle3:14
5."Keep on Loving Me"Syl Johnson, General Crook4:42
6."Take Me to the River"Al Green, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, Willie Mitchell4:57
7."Ghetto Woman"Syl Johnson, Pete Cosey3:43
8."Watch What You Do to Me"Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle3:12
9."Dipped in the Water"Syl Johnson, Syleena Johnson4:29
10."Driving Wheel"Roosevelt Sykes3:56
11."Anyway the Wind Blows"Earl Randle4:09
12."Clean Up Man"Willie Henderson3:48
13."I Will Rise Again"Syl Johnson4:35
14."All of Your Love"Sam Maghett7:40

Personnel

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  • 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

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  1. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 665.
  2. ^ Fricke, David (Apr 20, 1995). "On the Edge". Rolling Stone. No. 706. p. 72.
  3. ^ Shuster, Fred (14 Apr 1995). "Happy for the Hi Life". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L26.
  4. ^ Fell, Sam (February 12, 2009). "Syl Johnson". The Age.
  5. ^ "Syl Johnson: Soulful Like Marvin, Funky Like James". NPR.
  6. ^ Ingram, Bruce (3 Oct 1995). "Johnson is still game for life of the blues". The Columbian. p. SN3.
  7. ^ "Syl Johnson returns to the music ... again". Chicago Tribune.
  8. ^ Margasak, Peter (November 25, 2010). "The Real Syl". Chicago Reader.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Nager, Larry (February 26, 1995). "Soul CDs reweave Memphis-made magic". The Commercial Appeal. p. G1.
  11. ^ a b "Back in the Game". AllMusic.
  12. ^ "Syl Johnson". Robert Christgau.
  13. ^ a b MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 309.
  14. ^ Pick, Steve (9 June 1995). "Syl Johnson Is Back in the Game". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4E.
  15. ^ Dahl, Bill (30 Dec 1994). "Top 10 List Shows Several Artists Made Happy Returns in '94". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
  16. ^ Harrington, Richard (21 May 1995). "New Releases: Pop". The Washington Post. p. G14.
  17. ^ Hoekstra, Dave (January 19, 1995). "Soulful Syl's Revived and Cooking". Features. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 25.