Back in the Game (Syl Johnson album)

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Back in the Game
Studio album by
Syl Johnson
Released1994
Recorded1994
GenreSoul, R&B
LabelDelmark[1]
ProducerPete Nathan
Syl Johnson chronology
Stuck in Chicago
(1989) 		Back in the Game
(1994) 		This Time Together by Father and Daughter
(1995)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Chicago Tribune[3]
Robert Christgau(dud)[4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[1]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide[5]

Back in the Game is an album by the American soul musician Syl Johnson.[6][7] 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.[8][9]

Production[]

On the majority of its tracks, the album marked a reunion between Johnson and the Hi Rhythm Section.[10] It was produced by Pete Nathan.[11] Johnson duets with his daughter Syleena on "Dipped in the Water".[3] Back in the Game contains covers of Magic Sam's "All Your Love" and Little Junior Parker's version of "Driving Wheel".[12]

Critical reception[]

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."[13] 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.[3][14] 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."[15] 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."[16]

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."[2] 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'."[5]

Track listing[]

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[]

  • 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[]

  1. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Volume 4: MUZE. p. 665.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ a b "Back in the Game - Syl Johnson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. ^ a b c Kot, Greg (1 June 1995). "REBIRTH: IT'S HI TIME THAT SYL JOHNSON GOT BACK IN THE MUSIC GAME". Chicago Tribune. Tempo. p. 8.
  4. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Syl Johnson". www.robertchristgau.com.
  5. ^ a b MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 309.
  6. ^ Fricke, David (Apr 20, 1995). "On the Edge". Rolling Stone (706): 72.
  7. ^ Shuster, Fred (14 Apr 1995). "POP BEAT: HAPPY FOR THE HI LIFE". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L26.
  8. ^ Fell, Sam (February 12, 2009). "Syl Johnson". The Age.
  9. ^ "Syl Johnson: Soulful Like Marvin, Funky Like James". NPR.org.
  10. ^ "Syl Johnson returns to the music ... again". chicagotribune.com.
  11. ^ Margasak, Peter (November 25, 2010). "The Real Syl". Chicago Reader.
  12. ^ Nager, Larry (February 26, 1995). "Soul CDs reweave Memphis-made magic". The Commercial Appeal. p. G1.
  13. ^ Pick, Steve (9 June 1995). "SYL JOHNSON IS BACK IN THE GAME". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4E.
  14. ^ Dahl, Bill (30 Dec 1994). "TOP 10 LIST SHOWS SEVERAL ARTISTS MADE HAPPY RETURNS IN '94". Chicago Tribune. Friday. p. S.
  15. ^ Harrington, Richard (21 May 1995). "NEW RELEASES: POP". The Washington Post. p. G14.
  16. ^ Hoekstra, Dave (January 19, 1995). "Soulful Syl's Revived and Cooking". Chicago Sun-Times. Features. p. 25.
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