Growing up amidst music, Taylor had one release, "Somewhere to Lay My Head", on Chicago's Chance Records in the 50s as part of a doo-wop group called Five Echoes. Taylor was also part of the gospel group, The Highway QC's also, replacing r&b artist Sam Cooke that had left to become the lead singer of the Soul Stirrers in 1951. Then, after Cooke left the Soul Stirrers in 1957, Taylor was hired to take Cooke's place as lead singer.
A few years later, after Cooke had established his independent SAR Records, Taylor signed on and recorded "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day" in 1962. However, SAR Records quickly became defunct after Cooke's tradic early death in 1964.
In 1966, Taylor moved to Stax Records in Memphis, where he was dubbed "The Philosopher of Soul". While there he recorded with the label's house band, Booker T. & the MGs. His hits included "I Had a Dream", "I've Got to Love Somebody's Baby" (both written by the team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter) and most notably "Who's Making Love?", which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Top 40 and No. 1 on the R&B charts in 1968. During his tenure at Stax, he became an R&B star, with over a dozen chart successes, such as "Cheaper to Keep Her" (Mack Rice) and producer Don Davis's "I Believe in You (You Believe in Me)".
After Stax folded in the mid 1970s, Taylor switched to Columbia Records, where he made his best-known hit, "Disco Lady", in 1976. "Disco Lady" was the first certified platinum single. Columbia pigeonholed Taylor as a disco artist, however, and neglected his wide-ranging talent. Not surprisingly, his record sales slipped.
After a brief stint at Beverly Glen Records, Taylor signed with Malaco Records after the label's founder Tommy Couch and producing partner Wolf Stephenson heard him sing at blues singer Z.Z. Hill's funeral in the spring of 1984. Backed by members of The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section as well as in-house veterans like former Stax keyboardist Carson Whitsett, Malaco gave Taylor the type of recording freedom that Stax had given him in the late 1960s and early 1970s, enabling him to record ten albums for the Malaco label in his sixteen year stint. Taylor's record sales were good but not enough for the singer to receive the measure of stardom he once had.
In 1996, Taylor's eighth album for Malaco, Good Love!, made it to Number One on Billboard's Blues chart (#15 R&B), the biggest record in Malaco's history.
Malaco recorded a live video of Taylor at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, Texas in the summer of 1997.
Johnnie Taylor's 1999 album, "Gotta Get the Groove Back", also reached the # 1 Position on the Billboard Blues Charts. This album which featured veteran songwriter, Lamar Thmas (Woman don't be Afraid) was also a Grammy Nominated album during the same year that Johnnie passed.
Taylor was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999. He died in Dallas at the age of 66.
In what would turn out to be a sad foreshadowing, Taylor's final song was "Soul Heaven", in which he dreamed of being at a concert featuring deceased Soul music icons Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, and MGs drummer Al Jackson, among others. In one verse, Taylor sang, "I didn't want to wake up/I was havin' such a good time".
Talk To Me
Johnnie Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get a good vibration
When I look into your big blue eyes, I start to quiver and shake
I get a strange sensation
When you walk by me you strut around, you make me crazy, I get no relaxation
Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation
Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation, talk to me
People tell me that you run around and that you're no good
You got a bad reputation
I don't care what all the people say, you know they talk too much
It's a fascination
All I wanna do is talk to you and maybe go out, and form some kind of relation
So talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation
Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me - why don't you
Talk to me - c'mon and talk to me
I just wanna talk to you
Girl I wish you knew the way I felt, you think I'm silly, that it's infatuation
So we better get together soon, because I need you girl
I can't stand the frustration, so
Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation
Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation
Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, talk to me - why don't you
Talk to me - c'mon and talk to me
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me - I just wanna talk to you
The lyrics to "Talk to Me" by Johnnie Taylor are an expression of desire for conversation and connection with a woman who has caught the singer's attention. The lyrics describe the physical and emotional reactions the singer experiences in the presence of the woman, and despite rumors of her questionable reputation, the singer is drawn to her and seeks a deeper connection.
The first verse describes the physical attraction the singer feels for the woman, causing him to feel dizzy and experience a strange sensation. The second verse describes the emotional attraction and desire for conversation and connection despite rumors about her. The third verse expresses the frustration of wanting to talk to the woman and the hope that they can form a relationship.
Overall, the lyrics are a plea for communication and a desire to connect on a deeper level than just physical attraction.
Line by Line Meaning
When I see you, girl you turn my head, you make me dizzy
The sight of you makes my head spin and my heart race with excitement.
I get a good vibration
I feel positive energy whenever I am near you.
When I look into your big blue eyes, I start to quiver and shake
Your stunning blue eyes have an overwhelming effect on me, making me tremble with anticipation.
I get a strange sensation
My attraction to you is intense and has an indescribable effect on me.
When you walk by me you strut around, you make me crazy, I get no relaxation
Your confidence and seductive moves leave me feeling restless and unable to focus on anything else.
Talk to me, talk to me, all I want is a little conversation
All I am asking for is a chance to talk to you and get to know you better.
People tell me that you run around and that you're no good
I have heard rumors about your reputation and behavior from others.
You got a bad reputation
Your actions or choices have led to negative opinions about you in the eyes of others.
I don't care what all the people say, you know they talk too much
Despite what others may say about you, I am willing to form my own opinion and make up my own mind.
It's a fascination
Your personality and behavior have a captivating effect on me, making me want to learn more about you.
All I wanna do is talk to you and maybe go out, and form some kind of relation
I am interested in getting to know you and potentially developing a relationship.
Girl I wish you knew the way I felt, you think I'm silly, that it's infatuation
I wish you could understand the intensity of my feelings for you, instead of dismissing them as a passing crush.
So we better get together soon, because I need you girl
I want to see you and spend time with you soon, because I cannot shake the desire to be with you.
I can't stand the frustration, so
The uncertainty and distance between us is causing me great irritation and discomfort.
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me - I just wanna talk to you
I am eager to communicate with you and establish a connection of some kind.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL ROBERT MCLANEY, JEREMY GRAHAM ROSS, RAASHI SHEEHAN, RHIAN TALISEIN SHEEHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gloriapatton9111
BEAUTIFUL
@deema6041
Beautiful song 💝
@MissAnn2
First time I have heard this song but I love it.❤
@keilanapowell892
Another Jam
@michaeljonesjr5382
Definition of real music ❤❤❤
@all4mePope
JT did it again, talk to me!!!@