Syl Johnson is a true original Soul man that began singing and recording way back in the 50's. Like so many great musicians born in the South in the 30's and 40's, he migrated to Chicago with his family at a young age. He possessed sufficient harmonica and guitar skills to get gigs playing with Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Muddy Waters and Junior Wells. Syl recorded his first songs on King/Federal in 1959, the same label where James Brown was already becoming famous.

Signing up with the Twinight label in the mid-60's, Syl recorded several singles, some which became hits.  Come On Sock It To Me, Is It Because I'm Black, Concrete Reservation, Different Strokes, Dresses Too Short and Get Ready all made the Billboard R&B charts during this period. Several years later, he would have to go to court to successfully win the rights to his Twinight tunes. Syl then began what would become a long association with Willie Mitchell in the late 60's.

Syl moved over to Mitchell's Memphis based Hi Records label in the early 70's. His singing voice sounded so much like the label's rising superstar, Al Green, that his recordings were often mistaken as being Al's. While establishing his own strong presence at Hi, Syl again had several R&B charting hits including Back For A Taste Of Your Love, We Did It, I Want To Take You Home (To See Mama) and Take Me To The River. He co-wrote many of the songs that he recorded over the years and also did his share of arranging and producing as well. As the Soul music era began to wane in the late 70's and early 80's, Syl's career, like so many of his counterparts, began to slow down dramatically as well. 

After a long absence, Syl finally returned to the studio in 1994 to record what became a  watermark album on the Delmark label, one that they still occasionally feature in their printed advertisements.  Reunited and backed by the legendary Hi Rhythm Section, Syl punches out 14 tracks of rollicking raw R&B and Soul on Back In The Game. He quickly followed that one up in 1995 with This Time Together By Father And Daughter, an album with his daughter Syleena, who has become an accomplished singer in her own right in R&B music. Syl's 2002 release, Two Johnsons Are Better Than One, featured killer tracks with Dangerous and I Can't Survive. The other Johnson was his brother Jimmy, who has played guitar on performances and/or recordings of  artists such as Denise LaSalle, Garland Green, Jimmy Dawkins, Otis Rush, Cher, Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Buddy Guy and Paul Simon, to name a few. Jimmy has also had quite a recording career on his own. 

The legend in music that is Syl Johnson has seen quite a resurgence in recent years. Well into his 70's, he continues to selectively tour and perform to sellout crowds. The latest of many compilations of his long career, the 80 plus track Complete Mythology,  was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2012. Many of Syl's original tracks have been sampled by other artists over the years. He continues to represent some of the best in the history of Soul music!

 Soul Dog’s Smokin' Top 45 Southern Soul Hits

                                  March 2012

1)    Do Right – Omar Cunningham

2)  Got No Curfew - Mel Waiters

3)  I'm Takin' My Man Back – Stephanie Pickett

4)  Go Get That Love – Wilson Meadows

5)  Jealous Woman - Yes I Am – LGB

6)  Big Party - Michelle Sweeney & Kenny Hamilton

7)  Who's Rockin' You - Donnie Ray

8)  There'll Come A Time - Uvee Hayes

9)  Something I Want – David Brinston & Ms. Jody

10)          The Party Don't Start Until I Get There – Jonathan Burton

11)          Let's Have A Party – Gina Brown

12)          Go Home – Klass Band Brotherhood

13)          Love Mechanic - Jesi Terrell

14)          Let's Get A Room – Jesse James & Millie Jackson

15)          Rent Man – DieDra

16)          Feels So Good - Simone De

17)          Gone On Part 2 - Larry Shannon Hargrove

18)          Show You A Good Time - Bobby Rush

19)          Ask Me What You Want - Chandra Calloway

20)          We Gonna Party Tonight - T.K. Soul

21)          U Won't Miss Yo Water - Falisa JaNaye

22)          I Ain't Going Nowhere - Floyd Lawson

23)          Giddy Up – Charli'

24)          I'll Take Care of You - Chuck Roberson

25)          Let Your Mind Go Back - Sheba Potts-Wright

26)          Walk Away – Big G

27)          Southern Soul Dip - Ms. Jody

28)          Red Dress – Hog Pin

29)          I'm Writing You A Ticket – Ms. Me Me

30)          Playing Catch Up - Sonny Mack

31)          21st Century Grown Folks - Carl Marshall and Friends

32)          You Fooled Me This Time - T. Honey Brown

33)          You Got It Going On - Jimmie Ja

34)          Rebound Love Affair - Luther Lackey

35)          Sexy In The Saddle – Soulshot Riders

36)          Country Twang - Bigg Robb

37)          I'm 'Bout It 'Bout It (Remix) – Simeo & Floyd Taylor

38)          I'm Knockin' - Larome Powers

39)          Let Me Do – Tutu Jones

40)          Whatcha Want Me To Do – Alonzo Reid

41)          Cheaters Never Win - Bobbye Doll Johnson

42)          Keep On Gettin' It On - Al Lindsey

43)          Give Me Some Credit – La'Que

44)          Footloose – Adrena

45)          One Man's Trash – Avail Hollywood