Review of a classic album by Area Resident: Johnnie Taylor | The Johnnie Taylor philosophy continues

I I often buy records that I have never heard of and that I have never heard of before, motivated solely by the artwork. That was one of the reasons why I bought a $12 copy of Johnny Taylor‘s fifth studio album — The Johnnie Taylor philosophy continues. The cover illustration of Christopher Whorf is very cool.

Whorf was primarily an art director and graphic designer. This was the only album cover illustration he ever did. His work as an album designer is varied and extensive. You’ve probably seen much of it before – Double fantasy from John Lennon and Yoko Onothe Lennon signature box, Isaac Hayes‘ Hot buttered soulAnd Funkadelic‘S The clones of Dr. Funkenstein.

Aside from the artwork, the other reason I bought it was the fact that it was a 1969 release. Stax Recordswithout musicians listed. That told me immediately Booker T. and the MG’s were probably the backing band. Stax has released nothing but excellent records during this time. It seemed like child’s play. And it was.

But I had never heard of Taylor. The more I read, the more I felt like I should have known. Taylor was a protégé of Sam Cooke and became his successor in the gospel group The Soul Stirrers 1957. When Cooke started his own label in 1962, Taylor was one of the first artists to be signed. The fairytale did not last long, however. The label folded after Cooke was killed in 1964. At this point, Taylor was taken over by Stax — and made eight albums there until the label closed. He, Booker T. and the MG’s, Isaac Hayes And The Staple Singers were the only thing that paid the bills on McLemore Avenue after Otis Redding died in 1967.

Columbia snapped up Taylor when Stax It was closed in 1975. His first album there was the amazingly titled Ear orgasmThe record contained a historic single – Taylor’s Disco Lady became his biggest hit and the first single released by the RIAA in 1976.

But let’s get back to this album, whose title is taken from Taylor’s Stax Nickname – The philosopher of the soul. It actually boasts The MGs — Al Jackson, Jr. on drums, Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass and Steve Cropper on guitar – as a backing band. Booker T. is MIA; instead Marvell Thomas is on keys. The album is produced by early Motown Legend and Stax Mainstay Daniel Davis.

The album begins with a banger that Taylor co-wrote and George Clinton. That means Testify (I want) taken around the same time that Clinton took the first Funkadelic Album. It is the hardest track on the album and a perfect example of the kind of stuff I love from that era. The two Booker T. / MG’s Albums that followed this album (McLemore Avenue And melting pot) are two of my absolute favorites.

If Testify is the hardest track, parting line is the most moving. This is a perfect soul ballad – right up there with I have loved you too long from Otis ReddingBut that was not written by Redding and Jerry Butler — it is one of several on the album that The three of usis the affectionate name of the trio from Stax Songwriter Bettye Crutcher, Raymond Jackson And Homer BanksThey wrote Taylor’s 1968 hit Who makes lovean all-time high.

Love Bones is next – quite similar in structure We have little time from Booker T. and the MG’sonly with text – and at a more attractive pace.

I really prefer tracks like parting line to ballads like Love is a painful thingThis piece is more similar to the material Taylor played later in the 70s – with strings, for example. The rhythm section is still tight, though. Much better is the second of three The three of us Sense, I had a struggle with lovethat replaces the strings with a pair of soul trumpets – the kind Phil Collins had a love affair with in the 80s. It’s a great melody, but not a highlight like the first two on the side. The chorus is a play on the song I fought against the lawexcept that here love has triumphed and not the law.

Turn the plate over and we will start with the third The three of us Composition – I could never become president. It’s fantastic, especially because of Dunn’s performance. My goodness, is Taylor’s voice suddenly drenched in reverb? It sounds like he’s in the stairwell of a parking garage. Beautiful background vocals. By who? God only knows.

Another one of my favorites is the next one — It is wonderful. This one is raunchy and cool, with a main hook similar to the riff in Frank Zappa‘S Willie the Pimp. It was written by the album producer Daniel Davis, Gene flow And Kent Barker — one of their most famous songs. In fact, there is a version of Ben E. King from previous years, it’s not as groovy. The main riff isn’t that cool either. Little Milton In 1973, he also recorded a version that is funkier but has too many horn and string overdubs. Taylor had a big hit with another Barker-Davis song, 1970s Jody lost your girl. It’s crazy.

Next comes Whom can I contact? — another sweet ballad like Love is a painful thing. It’s loungey, with lots of strings. Not my thing.

Then we have Games that people playA Joe South hit from 1968. It’s a song about racial intolerance, written by a white man, so it suits Taylor really well. South’s version – with its distinctive electric sitar intro – was a No. 1 hit in South Africa, reached No. 7 in Canada and No. 12 in the US Billboard diagram. I prefer Taylor’s interpretation, which is better overall. That is, if I Creedence Clearwater RevivalProducer of, I would have suggested this as a possible cover. John Fogerty would have sung it like crazy.

The 35-minute album ends with another cover — The Isley Brothers‘ It’s your thing. This is even newer than Games that people playThe Isleys’ big hit came out in early 1969 – written after they had decided to give up the controlling Berry Gordy‘S Motown Label. It was a No. 1 hit in 1969 and brought the Isleys a grammy.

The philosopher of the soul was quite the womanizer. When he died of a heart attack in May 2000, it was revealed that he had six “accepted” children and three more with confirmed paternity. I think I read that it was a “highly complex private life.” His heirs had a miserable time sorting out the royalties they were entitled to – mainly from Sony. Now I’m sorry that this excellent album cost me only $15. And while we’re on the subject of price, I advise you to be careful. I found a copy of the album for sale – used – on Amazon for more than $300.

4/5

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Area Inhabitants is an Ottawa-based journalist, musician, music collector and reseller. Listen (and buy) his music on Belt bearingemail him HEREfollow him on Instagram and watch it on Discogs.