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.

Love Condition
Syl Johnson Lyrics

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I′ve got a love condition, yeah now (love condition)
Keeps on bothering me, alright
I've got a love condition baby (love condition)
Keeps on bothering me, yeah

I need, I need a doctor
Come on and see about me
I need, I need a doctor, baby

Come on and see about me

I′ve got a love condition yeah, now (love condition)
My temperature is a hundred and five, alright now
I've got a love condition yeah, now (love condition)
Fever is a hundred and five

You ought to treat me (treat me)
Baby won't you treat me? (Treat me)
I need true love to keep me alive
You ought to treat me (treat me)
Baby won′t you treat me? (Treat me)
I need true love to keep me alive
Alright baby, yeah, now

I′ve got a love condition (love condition)
Running deep down in my soul
I've got a love condition baby (love condition)
Keeps on pulling me down in my soul

You ought to treat me, yeah
Baby don′t you leave me
I need your love to keep me alive
Baby, won't you treat me (treat me)
Baby, yeah (treat me)
I need your love to keep me alive
Come on baby

I′ve got a love condition yeah now (love condition)
Temperature, is a hundred and five
I've got a love condition, baby (love condition)
Fever is a hundred and five now

You ought to treat me baby (treat me)
Won′t you treat me? (Treat me)
I need true love to keep me alive

You ought to treat me baby (treat me)
Won't you treat me? (Treat me)
I need your love to keep me alive
Alright baby
Yeah, now

Baby (love condition)
You got my heart, my status baby (ooh, love condition)
Love, love condition
Love, love condition

Baby, baby
I love you
I love you baby, yeah
(I've got a condition) I want it

And I love you (love condition)
Need your love, all night baby

Overall Meaning

The song "Love Condition" by Syl Johnson is a classic example of soul music from the 60s. The song says that the singer is suffering from a love condition and he needs a doctor to come and see him. He states that his temperature is one hundred and five, which symbolizes his fervent desire for his love interest. This love condition runs deep down in his soul and keeps on bothering him. The singer pleads with his love interest to treat him and give him true love to keep him alive. He is asking for her love so that he can get rid of his love condition.

The metaphorical lyrics of the song are representative of the feelings people have when they fall in love or are infatuated with someone. Love is symbolized by the singer's temperature and fever, which are causing him to feel sick. He needs his lover to treat him and give him the love he needs to survive. The chorus of the song contains the repetition of the phrase "love condition" and the melody is soulful, emphasizing the depth of the singer's love.

Love ConditionSyl Johnson Lyrics

Love Condition
Syl Johnson Lyrics