LOU JOHNSON had a couple of minor hits in USA in 1963 and '64 with 'Reach Out For Me' and 'Always Something There To Remind Me'. However he is often remembered in the UK for his classic Northern Soul dancer 'Unsatisfied' 1965 (Big Top records).
Born in Brooklyn, 1941 Johnson studied keyboards and percussion at university and then sang lead with the Zionettes. In 1962 he signed to New York label Big Top that operated out of the Brill Building through Larry Utall's Hill & Range publishing house. Utall introduced Lou to Burt Bacharach who liked what he heard and saw great possibilities for him as a solo act.
45rpm's
BIG HILL
Always Something There To Remind You/Magic Potion(Instrumental)
The Last One To Be Loved/Kentucky Bluebird
Please Stop The Wedding/Park Avenue
BIG TOP
If I Never Get To Love You / Thank You Anyway (Mr. DJ)
You Better Let Him Go / Wouldn't That Be Something
Reach Out For Me / Magic Potion
Unsatisfied/A Time To Love -- A Time To Cry
Why Am I Crying For/Anytime
Walk On By/Little Girl
HILL TOP
It Ain't No Use/This Night
COTILLION
Don't Play That Song (You Lied)/People In Love
Big Top had an album entitled 'Anytime' scheduled and pressed some review copies (without a picture sleeve) but the company went under again in '66 before the record was released.
Also unissued is Lou's version of 'The Panic Is On' - a great Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye song. G/B/F were an established song writing and production team who supplied Johnson with some great material. They wrote a lot of Lou Johnson's sides on Big Top, the VIP's "You Pulled A Fast One" (also on Big Top) and also Bill Giant's "Poof (Up In Smoke)" (MGM), which was later covered by Kenny Lynch (on Big Top) as "Puff (Up In Smoke)." They also wrote many famous songs for Elvis Presley and his movies.
Roy Hamilton is better known for his version of 'The Panic is On' recorded in 1964 for MGM records.
The second phase of Johnson's recording career began with Cotillion Records in 1968. Due to a lack of hits it turned out to be just a one-album deal --'Sweet Southern Soul'
Thanks to Peter Burns - SoulMusicHQ and 'hiroenouk' channel for some of the footage
Негізгі бет Музыка LOU JOHNSON - THE PANIC IS ON (UNISSUED BIG TOP)
Пікірлер: 65