is it because i'm black?
syl johnson - concrete reservation (mp3)
syl johnson - everybody needs love (mp3)
nope, nothing to do with ali g or staines of nuffink, but a nod towards one of the most overlooked soul artists in musical history.
syl johnson was born in mississippi in 1936 and was originally a blues artist. he moved into soul during the 60s, releasing music on labels such as twinight and hi. his potically charged and ghetto themed soul is some of the best music i have ever heard. the reason for this, i think, is syl's voice. he had an uncanny way of expressing pain and struggle through his voice and could make even then most throwaway lyrics sound like a painful struggle.
'concrete reservation' is taken from dresses too short, the 1969 album on twinight that preceded the better known 'is it because i'm black' lp. syl is on top form here, pouring his heart out about the state of the ghetto, his ghetto.
'everybody needs love' is take from the same album and is probably one of my favourite soul ballads ever. it has the lot= incredible vocals, souring strings, killer drums, the lot!
syl is one of the greatest male soul vocalists that there's ever been. fact.
syl johnson - everybody needs love (mp3)
nope, nothing to do with ali g or staines of nuffink, but a nod towards one of the most overlooked soul artists in musical history.
syl johnson was born in mississippi in 1936 and was originally a blues artist. he moved into soul during the 60s, releasing music on labels such as twinight and hi. his potically charged and ghetto themed soul is some of the best music i have ever heard. the reason for this, i think, is syl's voice. he had an uncanny way of expressing pain and struggle through his voice and could make even then most throwaway lyrics sound like a painful struggle.
'concrete reservation' is taken from dresses too short, the 1969 album on twinight that preceded the better known 'is it because i'm black' lp. syl is on top form here, pouring his heart out about the state of the ghetto, his ghetto.
'everybody needs love' is take from the same album and is probably one of my favourite soul ballads ever. it has the lot= incredible vocals, souring strings, killer drums, the lot!
syl is one of the greatest male soul vocalists that there's ever been. fact.