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)

Back in the Game is an album by the American soul 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]

Production

On the majority of its tracks, the album marked a reunion between Johnson and the Hi Rhythm Section.[6] It was produced by Pete Nathan.[7] Johnson duets with his daughter Syleena on "Dipped in the Water".[8] Back in the Game contains covers of Magic Sam's "All Your Love" and Little Junior Parker's version of "Driving Wheel".[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Chicago Tribune[8]
Robert Christgau(dud)[11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[1]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide[12]

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.[8][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."[10] 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'."[12]

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. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 665.
  2. ↑ Fricke, David (Apr 20, 1995). "On the Edge". Rolling Stone (706): 72.
  3. ↑ Shuster, Fred (14 Apr 1995). "POP BEAT: 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.org.
  6. ↑ "Syl Johnson returns to the music ... again". chicagotribune.com.
  7. ↑ Margasak, Peter (November 25, 2010). "The Real Syl". Chicago Reader.
  8. 1 2 3 Kot, Greg (1 June 1995). "REBIRTH: IT'S HI TIME THAT SYL JOHNSON GOT BACK IN THE MUSIC GAME". Chicago Tribune. Tempo. p. 8.
  9. ↑ Nager, Larry (February 26, 1995). "Soul CDs reweave Memphis-made magic". The Commercial Appeal. p. G1.
  10. 1 2 "Back in the Game - Syl Johnson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  11. ↑ "Robert Christgau: CG: Syl Johnson". www.robertchristgau.com.
  12. 1 2 MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 309.
  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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