The Hi Records Masters

by Syl Johnson

Product Description:

When Johnson's contract with the small Twinight Records label expired in 1971, he signed on with the Memphis-based Hi Records. With producer Willie Mitchell at the helm, Johnson released some of his most enduring recordings during his tenure with the label (for most of the '70s). While not reaching the widespread popularity of labelmate Al Green, Johnson was no less deserving.

This CD offers plenty of examples, from the funky strutting of "Back For a Taste Of Your Love" to the hypnotically romantic "I Hear The Love Chimes." Mitchell's horn arrangements and dryly-recorded drums are a familiar sound in the annals of classic soul music. Johnson made great recordings before and after this effort (DRESSES TOO SHORT and IS IT BECAUSE I'M BLACK from the '60s and any number of more blues-based recordings from the '90s), but this set is a perfect starting point for any fan of impassioned and committed singing wedded to top flight songs.