Syl Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, on 1 Ju… Read Full Bio ↴Syl Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, on 1 July 1936; died 6 February 2022 ) was an American blues and soul singer and music producer. His most successful records included "Different Strokes" (1967), "Is It Because I'm Black" (1969) and "Take Me to the River" (1975). "Different Strokes" has been sampled by number of rappers including Wu-Tang Clan, Hammer, and the Ghetto Boys. Blues guitarist and singer Jimmy Johnson, and bassist Mack Thompson, are his brothers.
In the 1950s, Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf, before recording with Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay in 1959. He made his solo debut that same year with Federal, a subsidiary of King Records of Cincinnati, backed by Freddie King on guitar.
He then began recording for Twinight Records of Chicago in the mid 1960s. Beginning with his first hit, Come On Sock It to Me in 1967, Johnson dominated the label as both a hitmaker and producer. His song Different Strokes, also from 1967, featured recently on the Ultimate Breaks and Beats breakbeat compilation.
Like other black songwriters of the period, several of his records at this time explored themes of African-American identity and social problems in songs including Is It Because I'm Black, which reached Number 11 in the R&B charts in 1969.
In 1971, Willie Mitchell brought Johnson to Hi Records, for whom he recorded three albums and a number of singles. Produced in Memphis with the Hi house band, these yielded music of power and enduring value, including the hits We Did It, Back for a Taste of Your Love and Take Me to the River, his biggest success, reaching Number 7 on the R&B charts in 1975. However, at Hi Johnson was always to some extent in Al Green's shadow commercially, if not artistically.
After the Hi years ended, Johnson produced two LPs for his own Shama label, the latter of which (Ms. Fine Brown Frame, 1982) was picked up for distribution by Boardwalk Records and produced Johnson's last hit record, the title cut.
Around the mid-eighies, Johnson started a fast-food fish restaurant business, and became semi-retired from performing, only making occasional appearances at blues club gigs.
In 1992, Johnson found out that his classic song "Different Strokes" have been sampled by number of rappers including Wu-Tang Clan, Hammer, and the Ghetto Boys. Stimulated by this fact, he decided to make a come back in the music business. In 1994, he released the album Back in the Game on Delmark Records. The album featured the the Hi rhythm section and his youngest daughter Syleena Johnson.
Blues guitarist and singer Jimmy Johnson, and bassist Mack Thompson, are his brothers.
In the 1950s, Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf, before recording with Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay in 1959. He made his solo debut that same year with Federal, a subsidiary of King Records of Cincinnati, backed by Freddie King on guitar.
He then began recording for Twinight Records of Chicago in the mid 1960s. Beginning with his first hit, Come On Sock It to Me in 1967, Johnson dominated the label as both a hitmaker and producer. His song Different Strokes, also from 1967, featured recently on the Ultimate Breaks and Beats breakbeat compilation.
Like other black songwriters of the period, several of his records at this time explored themes of African-American identity and social problems in songs including Is It Because I'm Black, which reached Number 11 in the R&B charts in 1969.
In 1971, Willie Mitchell brought Johnson to Hi Records, for whom he recorded three albums and a number of singles. Produced in Memphis with the Hi house band, these yielded music of power and enduring value, including the hits We Did It, Back for a Taste of Your Love and Take Me to the River, his biggest success, reaching Number 7 on the R&B charts in 1975. However, at Hi Johnson was always to some extent in Al Green's shadow commercially, if not artistically.
After the Hi years ended, Johnson produced two LPs for his own Shama label, the latter of which (Ms. Fine Brown Frame, 1982) was picked up for distribution by Boardwalk Records and produced Johnson's last hit record, the title cut.
Around the mid-eighies, Johnson started a fast-food fish restaurant business, and became semi-retired from performing, only making occasional appearances at blues club gigs.
In 1992, Johnson found out that his classic song "Different Strokes" have been sampled by number of rappers including Wu-Tang Clan, Hammer, and the Ghetto Boys. Stimulated by this fact, he decided to make a come back in the music business. In 1994, he released the album Back in the Game on Delmark Records. The album featured the the Hi rhythm section and his youngest daughter Syleena Johnson.
Blues guitarist and singer Jimmy Johnson, and bassist Mack Thompson, are his brothers.
Any Way the Wind Blows
Syl Johnson Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Any Way the Wind Blows' by these artists:
Anaïs Mitchell In the fever of a world in flames In the season…
Bill Wyman & the Rhythm Kings Train I ride, sixteen coaches long Train I ride, sixteen co…
Brother Phelps Some like this and some like that And some don't know…
Daniel Blake Early morning drawing pictures Rolling hills and mountain to…
Doris Day Can't tell you the truth 'Least I don't lie about that Kind…
Eric Clapton/J.J. Cale Some like this and some like that And some don't know…
Eva Noblezada Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, oo…
Frank Zappa Any way the wind blows is-a fine with me Any way…
Hadestown Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, oo…
J.J. Cale Some like this and some like that And some don't know…
Jewelle Blackman Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, oo…
Lindisfarne Clements I am just a traveller, a victim of the times bl…
Mark Cooke Baby tonight| It's gentle and light| And coming from the…
Sara Bareilles Can't tell you the truth 'Least I don't lie about that Kin…
Southern Pacific Anyway the wind blows Anyway the wind blows Back when we we…
Ted Wallace And His Orchestra Can't tell you the truth 'Least I don't lie about that Kind…
The Cold Stares Cold as ice Hot as hell Just like the weather and I…
The Mothers Any way the wind blows is-a fine with me Any way…
The Mothers of Invention; Frank Zappa Any way the wind blows is-a fine with me Any way…
Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, oo…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Syl Johnson:
A2-Come Together Here come old flat top He come groovin' up slowly He got…
All of Your Love Here I come I'm coming for a taste of your…
Anyone But You if someone had told me that you were going to leave i…
Anyway the Wind Blows You remember the last time You threat to leave me, girl? I…
Back for a Taste of Your Love Here I come I'm coming for a taste of your…
Black Balloons And it's got so light to see a snow white One…
Blue Water A man ain't supposed to cry But with all this pain…
Come On Home You′ve been gone so long No matter who's right No matter who…
Come Together Here come old flat top He come groovin' up slowly He got…
Concrete Reservation Funky smell in the midnight air Woman crying 'cause her chil…
Could I Be Falling in Love I know we've only been friends it's true And I've always…
Diamond in the Rough Girl, you're like a diamond in the rough Trying to get…
Different Strokes Baby you're laughin' But I'll be around for a while…
Don't Do It Don't do it Don't break my heart Don't do it Just because yo…
Don't Give It Away Two, one If you know somebody, you wanna suck it to…
Dresses Too Short I said, baby You wear your dresses too short, huh Baby, baby…
Everybody Needs Love When you hear What I′ve got to say I'm sure You won′t be…
Get Ready I never met a girl who makes me feel the…
Gimme Little Sign If you do want me, gimme a little sugar If you…
I Hate I Walked Away Girl, I surely hate, That I ever walked away, Would…
I Hear the Love Chimes i hear the love chimes and that's a crazy sign you know…
I Let a Good Girl Go I let a good girl go I let a good girl…
I Like Your Style could this be love could this be true could you be that…
I Only Have Love I only have love for you I only have love for…
I Wanna Know I wanna know What′s running through your mind I wanna know W…
I Want To Take You Home I wanna take you home to see mama So she can…
I'm Talkin' 'Bout Freedom When you hear what I gotta say I'm sure you won't…
I'm Yours Open your eyes girl Honey, can't you see? The man that I…
Is It Because I'm Black? The dark brown shades of my skin only add color…
Let Yourself Go When you're feeling bad You need some loving And you really,…
Let's Dance for Love I, I don't wanna see you go, oh no This is…
Love Condition I′ve got a love condition, yeah now (love condition) Keeps o…
Me and Bobby McGee Busted flat in Baton Rouge Waitin' for the train Feelin' n…
Ms. Fine Brown Frame Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame Any other kind of woman Just…
Music To My Ears I feel like a millionaire today Today, I′m feeling fine I've…
Ode to Soul Man Hey Syl, What's happening brother? Well you see someone brot…
Please Don't Give Up On Me Please don't give up on me, baby Please don't give up…
Same Kind Of Thing No, I don′t butt into nobody's business But yours is a…
Soul Drippin' Don't need to music to feel the soul Don't need no…
Stuck in Chicago I'm stuck in Chicago It's pouring rain I don't know what to…
Take Me to the River I don't know why, I love ya like I do. After…
Thank You Baby My friends all say that I′m crazy For lovin' you the…
Together Forever Why must there be people who don't want me To share…
Walk a Mile in My Shoes If I could be you and you could be me For…
Wind Blow Her Back My Way I remember what I told her That she could go if…
You Don't Know Me You give your hand to me And you said hello I can't…
You're the Star of the Show Sexy lady I like what you do to me Ooh baby, yeah…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
91Definite
“The Adventure of Dirt McGirt” episode from Wu Tang American Saga 😢! One of the most creative episodes so far of the third and final season of the show! I was glad it was an episode that focused on Dirty in a ‘70’s blaxploitation theme! Which is one of his favorite eras I believe of music and movies. Syl Johnson is definitely something amazing since I finally came across this song from that episode. Rest In Peace to both of them 💯👑! #RIPSylJohnson #RIPDirtMcGirt #Wutangforever
nugentsn
Literally why I'm here!!!
91Definite
@nugentsn no doubt man 💯🫡
Big FrEd
Watching right now
Trel Watkins
😂😂😂 Real shit !
Dean Taylor
Raising a glass this evening here in the UK while listening to the great man's music. RIP Syl
Byron Woods
Rest in Heavenly Peace Syl Johnson (1936-2022)
GeorgiaBoy1961
Syl Johnson is one of the great unheralded geniuses of R&B, soul and blues - his greatest songs will never die as long as people appreciate great music. Al Green may have gotten the headlines - and he deserved them - but Johnson carved out his own special place in the music to which not even Green could go.
Dianne
You can say that again. I heard Syl Johnson singing "Is It Because I'm Black" on an old documentary from the 70s about 3 weeks ago. It is crazy that the music industry sleeps on some very gifted singers and musicians.
GeorgiaBoy1961
@Dianne - Hi Diane... I used to live not far from Chi-town, and if memory serves, Syl Johnson opened a chain of restaurants after semi-retiring from live performances and the life of a working musician. Glad to see he had a good life after his run of musical success. It can be such a capricious and cold-hearted business, the entertainment world... and talent of the kind he had does not always get recognized or appreciated the way it ought to be. Life ain't fair, and that goes double in the music business.
In looking up a detail or two, I see that he passed away only a few days ago. I'm very sad to see that. He was an amazing performer, and well-loved around the city. I hope he was proud of his legacy as a musician, because he was the real deal right down the line. It doesn't get any more real or authentic than what he did. You want to hear soul, R&B and blues the way they ought to sound, he's your man.
Hat tip to the guys at Hi Records, too, who did those classic 1970s recordings with him. Willie Mitchell for the production and arranging, and the Hodges Brothers and Howard Grimes (Al Jackson, Jr. too, before his death) for laying it down in the studio. Syl played a very nice harp and some guitar, too, in addition to his amazing vocals.
Isn't Jimmy Johnson his brother, the local Chicago blues great? Oh man, I see that we lost him earlier this year, too. Man, that's tough to see them go, but maybe they're together in a better world. Thanks for writing, but I'm going to go now ... I have the urge to put on one of his records. Or maybe go drive around a bit with one of his albums on the stereo.