A wonderful collection of Johnny Adams material taken from his singles and albums lovingly put together by Mardi Gras Records out of New Orleans.To me the King of Deep Soul. Born Laten John Adams Jr. in New orleans 1932 passed in Baton Rouge 1998 was an American blues, jazz and gospel singer, for those not in the know... Renowned around his Crescent City home base as "the Tan Canary" for his extraordinary set of soulfully soaring pipes, veteran R&B vocalist Johnny Adams tackled an exceptionally wide variety of material for Rounder in his later years elegantly rendered tribute albums to legendary songwriters Doc Pomus and Percy Mayfield preceded forays into mellow, jazzier pastures. But then, Adams was never particularly into the parade-beat grooves that traditionally define the New Orleans R&B sound, preferring to deliver sophisticated soul ballads draped in strings.His biggest hits were his versions of "Release Me" and "Reconsider Me" in the late 1960s.
He was the oldest of 10 children. He became a professional musician on leaving school. He began his career singing gospel with the Soul Revivers and Bessie Griffin's Consolators, but crossed over to secular music in 1959.His neighbour, the songwriter Dorothy LaBostrie, supposedly persuaded him to start performing secular music after hearing him sing in Bars. He recorded LaBostrie's ballad "I Won't Cry" for Joe Ruffino's Ric label. Produced by the teenaged Mac Rebennack (later known as Dr. John), the record became a local hit. Adams recorded several more singles for the label over the next three years, most of them produced by Rebennack or Eddie Bo. His first national hit came in 1962, when "A Losing Battle", written by Rebennack, reached number 27 on the Billboard R&B chart.
After Ruffino's death in 1963, Adams left Ric and recorded for a succession of labels, including Eddie Bo's Gone Records, the Los Angeles Modern Records, and Wardell Quezergue's Watch label. His records had little success until he signed with Shelby Singleton's Nashville SSS International Records in 1968. A reissue of "Release Me", originally released by Watch, reached number 34 on the R&B chart and number 82 on the pop chart. Its follow-up, "Reconsider Me", a country song produced by Singleton, became his biggest hit, reaching number 8 on the R&B chart and number 28 on the pop chart in 1969. Two more singles, "I Can't Be All Bad" and "I Won't Cry" (a reissue of the Ric recording), were lesser hits later the same year, and the label released an album "Heart and Soul"
Adams left SSS International in 1971 and recorded unsuccessfully for several labels, including Atlantic and Ariola, over the next few years. At the same time, he began performing regularly at Dorothy's Medallion Lounge in New Orleans and touring nightclubs in the south.
In 1983, he signed with Rounder Records, for which he recorded nine critically acclaimed albums produced by Scott Billington, beginning with "From the Heart" in 1984.These records encompassed a wide range of jazz, blues and R&B styles and highlighted Adams's voice. These recordings earned him a number of awards, including a W.C. Handy Award. He also toured internationally, with frequent trips to Europe, and worked and recorded with such musicians as Aaron Neville, Harry Connick Jr., Lonnie Smith, and Dr. John.
He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1998 after a long battle with prostate cancer. His legacy was recording over 20 albums and nearly 60 singles in the style that only he could do...LEGEND!
AMM
Album Review Courtesy Of Hakase Akunomiya
The Taster!
Tracks(FLAC)
CD 1 | |
01 Release Me | |
02 Reconsider Me | |
03 I Believe I'll Find Happiness | |
04 Hell Yes I Cheated | |
05 You Made A New Man Out Of Me | |
06 Tell It Like It Is | |
07 Part Of Me | |
08 Love Me Now | |
09 Stay With Me | |
10 Share Your Love | |
11 Who Will The Next Fool Be | |
12 Baby I Love You | |
13 I'll Never Fall In Love Again | |
14 After All The Good Is Gone | |
15 Stairway To Heaven | |
16 The Greatest Love | |
17 It's You Baby It's You | |
18 Spanish Harlem | |
CD 2 | |
01 You Can Depend On Me | |
02 It's Got To Be Something | |
03 In A Moment Of Weakness | |
04 Let Me Be Myself | |
05 Chasing Rainbows | |
06 Your Love Is All I Need | |
07 Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You | |
08 Nothing Takes The Place Of You | |
09 Give Me A Chance | |
10 One Fine Day | |
11 I Only Want To Be With You | |
12 Stand By Me | |
13 Our Day Will Come | |
14 Some Day | |
15 Baby I Want You | |
16 Best Of Luck To You | |
17 Feelings | |
18 Love Letters | |
CD 3 | |
01 Working On The River | |
02 Thinking About You | |
03 Strutting On A Sunday | |
04 Sharing You | |
05 Performance | |
06 Cry, Cry Darling | |
07 I Believe In You | |
08 I Brought It All On Myself | |
09 I'm Afraid To Let You Into My Life | |
10 It Only Rains On Me | |
11 Memories | |
12 Night People | |
13 Put It Off Till Tomorrow | |
14 When I Need You |
19 comments:
Super collection of Johnny thank you amm!
Thanks Hakase Akunomiya for the review or a true legend.
Everything is good with this great man. Listen and enjoy !!!
Yves
Good post! Thanks Hakase Akunomiya for this idea
Big fan, thanks for the review.
Thanks for this 3 album review
so fast! im glad but im pity no link today! thanks much AMM!
I love this guy, especially his rendition of "I wish it could rain" of the Temptations. very good review AMM!!
Thank u AMM for 3 album
Three wonderful CDs which no fan should miss. Thanks for review, P.
Thanks for the review AMM, I love his version of Stairway to heaven
Thanks for this post about another great New Orleans'singer. Great record and great review. Please, is it possible to have a particular review ? Thanks in advance.
Many thanks Hakase Akunomiya and AMM for this fine looking three cd set
Reb
Thank you AMM,Very Appreciated
hello AMM and Hakase Akunomiya for this informative piece.
A mighty 3 cd set, many thanks Hakase Akunomiya & MM.
cheers,ELtel
Thanks to Hakase Akunomiya and review from AMM nice set of three fine art soul music from a great singer
Cheers Pedro
Johnny Adams reconsider me was one hell of a good jam. thank you AMM.
Many thanks
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