L.J. Johnson - L.J.'s Love Suite (1979 Still LP Only)AVI- Rare Soul +++Bonus Tracks!

Louis Maurice Johnson came from Chicago,USA. This soulful high tenor formed the group Family Affair at the age of 13 with his brother Robert and sister Sherry. Over the next few years the trio evolved into a sextet known as Everyday People. Johnson was conscripted in 1971 and on his return from the army, worked with Chicago group the Mood Mixers, who also included future Hi-NRG star Evelyn Thomas. He and Evelyn were spotted by producer Danny Leake who introduced them to UK producer/writer Ian Levine, who was in Chicago looking for acts. Levine was impressed with Johnson and their first recording together ‘Your Magic Put A Spell On Me’, which was tailor-made for the UK northern soul scene, jumped straight into the UK Top 40 in its first week of release in 1976. Despite his television and live performances in the UK and some strong releases on Mercury and AVI, the singer who remained unknown in his homeland, never managed a chart return.The gent below i know extremely well !

IAN LEVINE

Ian Levine was resident DJ at Blackpool Mecca, a key club in the development of Northern soul. Levine was primarily responsible – along with Colin Curtis for guiding the scene away from its oldies-only policy and towards modern soul/disco/& jazz Funk. Later, as resident at Heaven(London) and producer of hits for Miquel Brown, Divine and many others, he went on to forge the sound known as HI-NRG. He also produced Take That. Infamous UK record producer and songwriter Ian Levine cut his chops in 1976 linking up with Chicago studio wizards Paul Wilson and Danny Leake and cutting stunning Northern Soul tailor mades with Windy City vocalists Barbara Pennington, LJ Johnson and Evelyn Thomas.The singles caused a sensation by giving the, then young, upstart producer his debut hits in the UK pop charts.
Enthused by this success, Ian got back together with producer and songwriter Leake (who later worked with Stevie Wonder), and arranger Wilson (he went on to link up with Jerry Butler) and the trio masterminded a truly epic gem aimed at the booming USA Disco scene – Barbara Pennington’s 24 Hours A Day.The incredible production,complete with a stunning lead vocal & incredible scurrying strings,
became a massive disco anthem when released on the United Artists label. And quickly became a timeless Northern Soul classic. It was loved so much on both sides of the Atlantic that Ian used the same backing track some time later to record a male vocal version for AVI by LJ Johnson(here on album). Compared to the all conquering Barbara Pennington gem it went under the radar of everyone except those in the know, despite being rather good in its own right.

                                                                                     A TASTER BELOW!

Tracks

1. My Destination Is Love
2. Gambling On Your Love
3. Your Magic Put A Spell On Me
4. 24 Hours A Day
5. You Keep My Temperature Rising
6. Staring In Space
7. Things Will Work Out In The End

Line Up

Vocal - L.J.Johnson,
Backing Vocals – Barbara Pennington,Beverly McLin,Billy Durham,Evelyn Thomas,James Wells,
Smokey Bates,Paul David Wilson,Peaches Faison,Wesley Stovall
Bass – Larry Ball,Tiaz Palmer
Drums – Brian Grice,Willie Leacox
Guitar – Danny Raye Leake
Harp – Honor Conway
Keyboards – Dean Grant,Vince Willis
Percussion – Danny Raye Leake,Ian Levine,Marc Singer,Marvin Sparks
Producers – Danny Raye Leake, Ian Levine
Strings – The Edmund Lee Bauer Strings
Woodwind – Kenny Soderblum,Paul David Wilson

Bonus Tracks - ian Levines Northern Soul Productions

1.James Wells - Baby I'm Still The Same Man - Polydor(45 version)
2.Evelyn Thomas - Weak Spot - 20th Century
3.Barbara Pennington - 24 Hours In A Day - UA
4.Doris Jones - He's So Irreplaceable - nems
5.James Wells - Baby I'm Still The Same Man - Polydor(12 Inch Version)