Johnny Bristol (born John William Bristol on 3 February 1939 in Morganton, … Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Bristol (born John William Bristol on 3 February 1939 in Morganton, North Carolina, USA - 21 March 2004), was an African American musician, most famous as a songwriter and record producer for Motown Records in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Bristol and singing partner Jackey Beavers recorded two singles in 1959 for Anna Records, a label owned by Gwen Gordy (Berry Gordy's sister) and Billy Davis and four 45s for Gwen Gordy and Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi label, none of which was a success beyond the Midwestern United States.

Recorded in the early 1960s for Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi label in Detroit, Michigan as "Johnny & Jackey". When Tri-Phi was absorbed by Motown in the mid-1960s, Bristol became Fuqua's songwriting and production partner, working on material for Motown artists such as Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell ("If I Could Build My Whole World Around You"), Edwin Starr ("Twenty-Five Miles"), David Ruffin ("My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me"), and others. On his own, Bristol produced hits such as "Someday We'll Be Together" for Diana Ross and the Supremes and "I Don't Want to Do Wrong" and "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare" for Gladys Knight and the Pips.

When Motown left Detroit for Los Angeles in 1972, Bristol moved over to MGM Records, where he resumed his career as a recording artist. He released several successful R&B hits, among them "You and I" (1974), and "Leave My World" (1975), as well as the top ten pop hit "Hang In There Baby" (1974). Bristol continued his career a a solo artist and an independent producer into the early 1990s. Bristol's last releases were a 12" single in 1991 for Whichway Records, "Come to Me", and an album, Life & Love, released for the Japanese market in 1993. The latter included Earth, Wind & Fire's "That's The Way I Feel About You" as a duet with his daughter, Shanna J. Bristol. The album received a US release three years later under the title Come To Me.

He died at the age of 65 in his home in Michigan in 2004.

Something Tells Me
Johnny Bristol Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Something Tells Me' by these artists:

"Fats" Waller and His Rhythm Oh oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah I get…
BAILEN Do you think I use the same name The same name…
Cilla Black Something tells me somethings going to happen tonight I've …
Cosmo Something Tells me that you want my heart Something tells m…
Emma Bunton Something tells me somethings going to happen tonight I've …
Erlend Gunstveit Every open road Would only wear my shoes out Anything I woul…
Fats Waller Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain Sunny, you sm…
Fats Waller & His Rhythm Oh oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah I get…
Fats Waller and His Rhythm Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain Sunny, you sm…

Gino Vannelli Tonight I watch you in your sleep Wondering what dark secre…
Jacki-O Ouh Oh na Prince t.o When you tell me you love me oh Girl…
Judi Silvano When we met a long time ago Something told me we'd…
Lee Wiley You do something to me Something that…
Louis Armstrong Something tells me I'm falling in love Something tells me yo…
Lukas Setto N…
m.a.s.s. Once upon a time When my parents got divorced I was just…
Matthew Wayne I'm right here with you, stuck inside this perfect moment,…
Meg Mac How could I ever, ever let ya Make me believe that…
Nymfo & Riya Something tells me this is not a feeling A feeling Something…
Phil Baxter and His Orchestra Something tells me I'm falling in love Something tells me yo…
Raul Malo Something tells me you don’t even know What I’m feeling som…
Russ Sainty & The Nu-Notes Tell me what you want Tell me what you want 넌 원해…
Sky Your eyes shine like gold And I just want to know…
The Drifters Something tells me somethings going to happen tonight I've …
The Seahorses Nothing to say, nowhere left to run to No more games…
Vanelli Gino Tonight I watch you in your sleep wondering what dark secre…
Various Artists You ain't got no kind of feeling inside I got something…
Yumi & The Weather 淋しい過去の溜め息君の哀しみ僕に分け合って確かめ合って昔の恋を忘れて煙のように漂う刹那さ僕が吹き消したいんだ…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Johnny Bristol:

Do It To My Mind Evening's settled down Girl, I'm yours for the taking I've g…
Do you love me You turned me on To love Wife of life Healer of my wounds M…
Hang On In The Baby Hmmm! Hmmm! Yeah! Oh! Baby! Hmmm! Hang on in there baby…
Hang on in There Hmmm! Hmmm! Yeah! Oh! Baby! Hmmm! Hang on in there baby…
Hang on in There Baby Hmmm! Hmmm! Yeah! Oh! Baby! Hmmm! Hang on in there baby…
I Sho Like Groovin' With Ya Sure like groovin' with ya Well those little things you do…
I Wouldn't Change A Thing I wouldn't change a thing If I had to live my…
Leave My World Leave my and world I'll leave it to Leave my world…
Look Into the Eyes of a Fool Everyone seems To think that our love is not for real Oh…
Love Me You turned me on To love Wife of life Healer of my wounds M…
Love Me For A Reason Girl when you hold me, how you control me You bend…
Love Takes Tears What does it take to win your love for me? How…
Man In The Sky Yeah Man up in the sky Oh yeah yeah Man up in the…
Man Up in the Sky Nadas iguales, nadas perfecto Entre tu y yo no existe uno…
No More Heartaches Today I'm so glad that love's come home to me Now my…
Someday We'll Be Together Someday we'll be together Say it, say it again Someday we'll…
What Does It Take What does it take to win your love for me? How…
You And I You and I, you and I Sounds like a whole lotta…

You Turned Me On to Love You turned me on To love Wife of life Healer of my wounds M…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

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Comments from YouTube:

@toyahill4151

32w

Johnny is a talent so many gosh I love this jam Johnny got those vocals.

@jimjackson4111

3y↑1

Yes!!

@wendellwilliams5061

Yes!!!!

@michaelcranstoun8296

7y↑4

Love the background vocals and the horns.

@robertvelez8485

8y↑6

The background voices of this sensational tune are the Temptin Temptations! How's in God's name why this song was never released?

@JohnGByrne

+Robert Velez MotownMagic1959
Johnny Bristol as you'll know didn't do many songs as he preferred to be in the background at Motown, so that's why as you say it really should have been released, but was shelved I think with an intention to release it at another time, still that's what happened to a lot of really good songs in those days really. JOHN

@phatton1054

I agree 100% Robert

@phatton1054

Just The Supremes. Later in "67-68" changed to Diana Ross & the Supremes

@phatton1054

In "65" they were The Supremes

@JohnGByrne

paul hatton MotownMagic1959
That's right Paul, they just wanted to enthasize Diana's name around that time, and simply changed The Supremes to Diana Ross & The Supremes, I remember it like it was yesterday, ha! ha! (too old!!) behind the scenes, it was still those lovely Andantes singing in the background, and The Funk Brothers of course. JOHN

1 More Replies...

@alanjpoole7274

3y↑2

Well, well, I never realised that Johnny recorded himself whilst at Motown. He did a lot of writing and producing of various groups including Gladys and the Pips too.

@knockshinnoch1950

9y↑2

great early motown track

@marydenise7429

9y↑1

A lovely one I used to love him in the 70s...

@JohnGByrne

MotownMagic1959
Yes, somebody kindly added info about how he had died in 2000 I think it was, after I wondered what happened to him, and I couldn't thank them, so many thanks to them and you Mary, Johnny often used to praise Jr Walker as of course he was one of Motown's greatest musicians and singers eh? Cheers, JOHN

@dundee520

9y↑4

exellent dance tune .. cheers pal ktf

@JohnGByrne

MotownMagic1959
Yes, it's good to hear these oldies sometimes isn't it? thanks for the comment. JOHN

@antounmoubarak5052

the temptations sounds like they are in the background

@JohnGByrne

MotownMagic1959
Ah! yes, Johnny Bristol used to write for The Temptations and many others, so this is more than likely them, Antoun. Barrett Strong wrote a lot too! In these earlier recordings he was still helping in the background too, there was lots of get togethers between producers etc. Many thanks. JOHN

@adambarrett82

9y↑1

Class tune john.

@martintanksley3561

5y↑1

This wasn't released??!!!! I love it! 4 stars!

@JohnGByrne

5y↑3

MotownMagic1959
I'm glad to hear you love this one Martin, Johnny Bristol was one of those brilliant talented people that were Motown's mainstay, you just don't see that today do you? There were many like Johnny at that time too! Cheers, JOHN

@leedsutd67

9y↑1

Good one John

@JohnGByrne

MotownMagic1959
A long time ago too eh? glad you liked it, happy holidays also, and to all. :-) JOHN

@robertvelez8485

8y↑2

Hey, John- I just came across another tune with Johnny Bristol with the Tempts backing him up on a song called A Woman's Love recorded at the same session as Tell me how to forget a true love back in 1964! John, you will love it the first time you hear it- the song located on you tube Motown Unreleased 1964!

@JohnGByrne

+Robert Velez MotownMagic1959
Indeed Robert, that's one I haven't got, that session was on 14th April 1964, and he did 6 tracks between 1963 and 1964, he used to write with Harvey Fuqua too, plus William "Mickey" Stevenson produced these, I used to call it, the early days of Motown, so I will look out for that "A Woman's Love" track Robert and thank you for telling me as I'm sure everyone who's reading this will be pleased (if they haven't heard it too) eh? Cheers again, JOHN

@jeanfrancis3526

Wonderful...:-)

@neilginnerboden9556

john another top tunee from you

@JohnGByrne

MotownMagic1959
Pleased you like this rare one from Johnny, Neil, I've often wondered what happened to him as you don't hear anything today do you? he was extraordinary in talent in those days too! Cheers, JOHN

@neilginnerboden9556

Hi John sadly Johnny passed away March 2004 aged 65 of natural causes .As you probably know he was a talented songwriter and producer and he worked with Harvey Fuqua among their successes as producers were hit singles such as Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrells Ain't no mountain high enough.Your precious love,and If I could build my whole world around you.Edwin stars Twenty -five miles,and David Ruffins My whole world ended(the moment you left me)
He left Motown in 1973 to join cbs.A comprehensive article on his career is contained in issue 51 of the music magazine In The Basement.Hope you find this info useful
Cheers Neil

@user-fb6lf3vl7p

His version sounds better than the Spinners that he produced upon them.

@rachelcummings2705

9y↑1

wonderful :)

@JohnGByrne

9y↑1

MotownMagic1959
Johnny was certainly a Motown great behind the scenes, he introduced Jr Walker and The All Stars to Harvey Fuqua, and they all finished up at Motown in those days, the rest being history as a lot of Motown fans will know, didn't they have a lot of talented people at Motown in the 60's? no wonder it was the most successful black record company then. Thanks. JOHN

@thrbearmank

Motown hidden classic. great jam-- the bear philly

@JohnGByrne

9y↑1

MotownMagic1959
Yes, he was a hidden gem at Motown really, Johnny was like all those others like Frank Wilson, and Ivy Joe Hunter, (Funk Brother), full of talent as they were in those days, because Berry Gordy Jr wanted perfection with the hits (he WAS a perfectionist) like me, ha! ha! he surrounded himself with perfectionists completely. The results as you can see and hear were never forgotten. Thanks for your comment William. JOHN

@thrbearmank

don't forget linda griner john.goodbye cruel love. lol

@JohnGByrne

MotownMagic1959
Yes indeed, a correction, it's "Goodbye Cruel World" from 1963. You'll find it under my number 4 on here too! I like to give airplay to those forgotten artists of Motown as you'll notice I hope. Thanks again William :-) JOHN

@thrbearmank

goodbye cruel love written by smokey. good bye cruel world james Darren from my town.

@JohnGByrne

MotownMagic1959
Apologies William I haven't heard the "Goodbye Cruel Love" by the one and only Smokey Robinson, my cousin used to live in Chicago, but she lives in Galesburg now, I've only been to Chicago once though but sadly never been to Detroit or Philly!! yes Linda was another Motown artist who vanished, there were quite a few, and I think they just didn't get the time to concentrate on so many artists. Much talent eh? JOHN

1 More Replies...

@tavaresbluenotes

the background group is either the spinners the temptations or the originals

@JohnGByrne

+jeff weiman MotownMagic1959
I believe it was The Temptations who did the background vocals on this one, you'll know they used to back each other a lot in the early days, a family type thing really. I remember Marvin Gaye often had The Originals backing him up too! Those unsung hero's The Andantes very often stood in too on many a record. I think like Frank Wilson, Johnny was too busy producing to sing much in those days. Thanks Jeff. JOHN

@ann-marieclarke1191

7y↑1

Berry hid this tune,because he didn't want to pay Johnny songwriter and singer's money,this is the only reason I could deduced why this brilliant diamond was hidden away.ive read a few books about motown,so making those comments are in Berry Gordy 's behaviour zone.open to hear the real reason.

@JohnGByrne

7y↑1

MotownMagic1959
I wish I knew the reason for Berry not releasing this one Ann-Marie, they were just about to arrange a tour of Britain at that time, and a lot of activity was happening. Whatever is the truth, Johnny Bristol was such a good allrounder, and he was producing his friend Jr Walker and The All Stars for years, all gone today sadly! JOHN