I do not know who it was who decided that the music of Syl Johnson was ripe for rediscovery, but I am glad it was done. While his greatest strength was as a soul singer, he had his roots in the Chicago blues. You can hear that on this track from his 1999 album Talkin' Bout Chicago . While it will not surprise you in the least, there is comfort to be found in music that is so instantly familiar, especially when it's done as well as this. Syl Johnson [...]
Syl Johnson - Different Strokes "In Russia, the Moscow Forum. I packed it three nights in a row. It was so crazy, the people went wild over the music. And the women out there were tall and slender -- tough but good looking. It's beautiful women in Brazil too, but America has the finest ladies. I remember I had sex with two different women out of my country -- there was one in Japan and one in England, that's it. But I don't care about the women -- fuck [...]
Ah, life is good. Especially when the New York Giants win convincingly against one of the better teams in the NFL. The dread that fills me on certain Sundays when I worry the team I support might underperform came again today. By halftime I felt much better, though. Still…when is Kevin Gilbride (the team's offensive [...]
See, that wasn't so bad, right? Last Sunday night I sat here and told you that I was sorry for not putting forth any effort with my blog entries that week. Now here I am, feeling pretty good about what this past week has elicited. There was an Adventures In Dating story, two unique food [...]
Last summer, we reported that Jay-Z and Kanye West were being sued for their use of an illegal sample of soul singer Syl Johnson’s song "Different Strokes." His vocals appear on West's "The Joy," which ... read more
According to TMZ, Syl Johnson sucked some of "The Joy" out of one of Kanye and Jay's Watch The Throne tracks or rather he left it in return for a [...]
Last December , we noted that both sides in the Syl Johnson vs. Kanye West & Jay-Z case appeared ... Read the full article at http://www.prefixmag.com/news/ syl-johnson-vs-kanye-west-jay- z-lawsuit-settled/63039/
I very nearly kept with the themed mixes of vintage tunes, but thought, "No, it's just not fair to everyone..." I know you (like, both of you) count on me for new music, as well as the old, so I needed to bring it this month. And there's still a good serving of old stuff, but hopefully enough things with "20113 in the year category to make this feel relevant if the last few months have felt dated. If you don't enjoy Paul Brunelle's take on country, or Opus 32s cover of Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again;" you're not invited. But [...]
A fantastic protest song from 1969, Is It Because I'm Black? is a slow-burning soul groove. This might not be the most original track ever cut, but Johnson's anguished vocals and the steady minor key walk is just perfectly judged. You will love this. Syl was already known for his poppier, funkier pieces, which makes this 7 minute song all the more extraordinary. I don't know if there's anything else in his canon that matches this, but then there aren't that many songs that match this full stop. [...]
'Diggin' In The Crates' is brought to you by Ben Lewis , designer and record obsessive from Brighton. Ben can usually be found in a dusty corner of one of the country's many second-hand record emporiums, rooting around in search of rarities and hidden gems. Syl Johnson - Different Strokes I've only just found out recently that it's Minnie Riperton laughing at the start of this soul classic, and hallowed breakbeat favourite. Syl was a prolific Chicago music scene [...]
1970, année prolifique pour la musique noire. Sortie de Workin' Together de Ike & Tina Turner, Nothing Is... de Sun Ra, Curtis de Curis Mayfield , Les Stances à Sophie du Art Ensemble of Chicago , Sex Machine de James Brown ou encore Afreaka! de Demon Fuzz . Autant d'albums essentiels que celui de Syl Johnson Is It Because I'm Black avec son hit du même nom. Chanteur, guitariste et harmoniciste, après ce deuxième LP, l'homme de [...]
Syl Johnson's daughter, Syleena Johnson, sat down for a radio interview last week on Sway Calloway's Sirius XM show, Sway ... Read the full article at http://www.prefixmag.com/news/ syl-johnsons-daughter-speaks-o n-kanyejay-z-lawsuit/57827/
Late this summer, Numero Group, the label of soul legend Syl Johnson, brought to everyone's attention the fact that Kanye West and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne was using an unlicensed sample of Johnson on "The Joy." Read Numero's missive here , but basically Kanye contacted Numero about including "The Joy" on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and couldn't clear the sample, but he went ahead and included it on Watch the Throne without finishing the licensing procedure. After some speculation, Johnson has gone ahead and sued West and Jay-Z, seeking unspecified [...]
How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterwards. So why not just lean back, do nothing and enjoy the chill session. Rod Modell, Forester Park Download here (Right Click, Save As). 2-02, In A Beautiful Place Out In The Download here (Right Click, Save As). Gill Scott-Heron And Jamie XX, My [...]
Syl Johnson is one of the great recent stories of a lost legend re-discovered by an enterprising young record label. Primarily known for a few regional hit singles and his cult 1970 socially conscious soul LP Is It Because I'm Black? , Johnson's entire oeuvre is ripe for review thanks to an exhaustiver reissue program by R&B archivists The Numero Group . Myself and photographer Tim Bugbee caught up with Mr. Johnson the morning after a rain-delayed but ultimately triumphant opening set for Wilco on the second night of their second [...]
Niche Productions & Nathan Farrell Entertainment presents Syl Johnson Backed by The Bamboos Saturday 3rd September – The Basement - Sydney Tickets: www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx? id=48893&ref=RSS_&skin= & www.thebasement.com.au – on sale now Mississippi-born, Syl Johnson is bringing the funk to Australia when he hits shores this September. Backed by Australia’s greatest modern funk and soul band The Bamboos, Syl will be showing what R&B really is when he tackles all of his greatest hits on his East Coast tour. “A criminally unheralded stylist of urban funk [...]
Frenemies: A History Of Lil Wayne & Jay-Z's Relationship [Complex] The 'Complete Mythology' Of Syl Johnson [NPR] Top Five Compton Rap Anthems [LA Weekly] Marisa Miller and Two Guys Get R.I.P.D. Gamma Squad NYC Firefighter Beats Top Model Tranny Girlfriend in Front of Strip Club Warming Glow The Definitive Guide to Lil’ Rappers [TRU] Bucky Larson Vs. Jack & Jill: Which Adam Sandler Movie Looks More [...]
"But I think Kanye west, kind of, he blew it. Because he knows me, he knows my daughter, Syleena Johnson. And hey, for a few, small amount - do it in front like Kid Rock, Wu-Tang Clan..." NBC Chicago caught up with Syl Johnson to talk about his recent lawsuit against Jay-Z and Kanye West, for their illegal use of his music and likeness on "The Joy" from Watch The Throne . It turns out Syl's Grandson cracked the case, and called his Grandpa to tell him that Syl's "Different Strokes" was [...]
Numero Group There is no question that Chicago label Numero Group , which specializes in re-issues, feels strongly about defending the catalog it has come to possess. Then, it is no surprise that the label took to its blog and twitter on Tuesday afternoon to accuse hip hop giants Kanye West and Jay-Z, as well as West’s sampling house, of illegally using a sample from Chicago soul singer Syl Johnson’s “Different Strokes” on West’s track “The Joy,” which appears on the deluxe edition of his Watch the Throne collaboration [...]
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[News] Kanye West to Release New Album 'Yeezus' on June 18th
