Back in the Game (Syl Johnson album)

1994 studio album by Syl Johnson

Back in the Game

Studio album by

Syl Johnson

Released| 1994
Recorded| 1994
Genre| Soul, R&B, blues
Label| Delmark[1]
Producer| Pete 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 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] Back in the Game was named the best blues album of 1994 by Living Blues.[6]

## Production

[edit]

On the majority of its tracks, the album marked a reunion between Johnson and the Hi Rhythm Section.[7] It was produced by Pete Nathan.[8] Johnson duets with his daughter Syleena on "Dipped in the Water".[9] Back in the Game contains covers of Magic Sam's "All Your Love" and Little Junior Parker's version of "Driving Wheel".[10]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [11]
Chicago Tribune| [9]
Robert Christgau| [12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [1]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide| [13]

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."[14] 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.[9][15]

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."[16] 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."[17]

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."[11] 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'."[13]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

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|
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1.| "Back in the Game"| Syl Johnson, Pete Nathan| 3:41
2.| "I Like Your Smile"| Lee Shot Williams| 3:48
3.| "I Can't Stop"| Syl Johnson, Pete Nathan| 4:14
4.| "Please Don't Give Up on Me"| Buddy Jarrett, Earl Randle| 3:14
5.| "Keep on Loving Me"| Syl Johnson, General Crook| 4:42
6.| "Take Me to the River"| Al Green, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, Willie Mitchell| 4:57
7.| "Ghetto Woman"| Syl Johnson, Pete Cosey| 3:43
8.| "Watch What You Do to Me"| Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle| 3:12
9.| "Dipped in the Water"| Syl Johnson, Syleena Johnson| 4:29
10.| "Driving Wheel"| Roosevelt Sykes| 3:56
11.| "Anyway the Wind Blows"| Earl Randle| 4:09
12.| "Clean Up Man"| Willie Henderson| 3:48
13.| "I Will Rise Again"| Syl Johnson| 4:35
14.| "All of Your Love"| Sam Maghett| 7:40

## Personnel

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

1. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4\. MUZE. p. 665.
2. ^ Fricke, David (April 20, 1995). "On the Edge". Rolling Stone. No. 706\. p. 72.
3. ^ Shuster, Fred (April 14, 1995). "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.
6. ^ Ingram, Bruce (October 3, 1995). "Johnson is still game for life of the blues". The Columbian. p. SN3.
7. ^ "Syl Johnson returns to the music ... again". Chicago Tribune.
8. ^ Margasak, Peter (November 25, 2010). "The Real Syl". Chicago Reader.
9. ^ a b c Kot, Greg (June 1, 1995). "Rebirth: It's Hi Time That Syl Johnson Got Back in the Music Game". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
10. ^ Nager, Larry (February 26, 1995). "Soul CDs reweave Memphis-made magic". The Commercial Appeal. p. G1.
11. ^ a b "Back in the Game". AllMusic.
12. ^ "Syl Johnson". Robert Christgau.
13. ^ a b MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 309.
14. ^ Pick, Steve (June 9, 1995). "Syl Johnson Is Back in the Game". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4E.
15. ^ Dahl, Bill (December 30, 1994). "Top 10 List Shows Several Artists Made Happy Returns in '94". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
16. ^ Harrington, Richard (May 21, 1995). "New Releases: Pop". The Washington Post. p. G14.
17. ^ Hoekstra, Dave (January 19, 1995). "Soulful Syl's Revived and Cooking". Features. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 25.

*[No.]: Number