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.
Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Syl Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Any other kind of woman
Just ain′t my thing
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain't my thing
Yeah everybody wantin′ this and that
I can′t lose with the stuff I use
Ms. Fine Brown Frame
That′s who I'd choose
Just before you take offense
Let me tell you this in confidence
I got to do it alone without a helping hand
′Cause I can change the master plan
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain't my thing
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain′t my thing
I need a girl
That's true to me
And when I′m down
She's standing on her feet
When there's a need to
She knows how to make control
I wouldn′t change her
For the world and all its gold
Believe me that no secret
Through all the pain you do
As long as you Ms. Fine Brown Frame
I could never get enough of you
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain′t my thing
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain't my thing
The girl′s petite she's so lit
She knocks all her friends right off their feet
Put your hands together
Give a gig a pop
′Til there's no one lady of them all
I got to give her a crown
Well I was down Ms. Fine Brown Frame didn′t fool around
She put the money in my pocket
Got me back on my feet
She's super duper lady that can't be beat
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain′t my thing
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain′t my thing
I need a girl with a big bold bed
I want a woman with super hair
Give me the woman that's true for me
I want a woman that will set me free
Believe me that′s no secret
Do all the things you do
I promise you Ms. Fine Brown Frame
I can't never get enough of you
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain′t my thing
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain't my thing
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain′t my thing
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Any other kind of woman
Just ain't my thing
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame (Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame)
Any other kind of woman (Fine Brown)
Just ain't my thing (Ms. Fine Brown Frame)
Give me a girl, give me a girl (Ms. Fine Brown Frame)
Fine Brown, Fine Brown Frame
Fine Brown, Fine Brown Frame
In Syl Johnson's song ‘Ms. Fine Brown Frame’, the singer is expressing his preference for a woman with a curvy, attractive and confident body type. He compares this kind of woman to no other and claims that any other kind of woman is not his thing. He emphasizes on the fact that he doesn't need help from anyone to find and choose this special woman because he knows what he wants. He also acknowledges the strength and loyalty of a woman who is true to herself and her man, and how she can help him in difficult times. He further asserts that this woman is worth more to him than all the riches in the world.
The lyrics are essentially an ode to a particular type of woman whom the singer prefers over any other. He is not apologetic about his preference, although he tries to assure the listeners that he is not looking down on other types of women. Instead, he is simply stating his personal preference. The singer is impressed by the strength, confidence, and loyalty of this woman, and he is willing to go to great lengths to keep her.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me Ms. Fine Brown Frame
I desire a woman with a fine brown frame above any other kind of woman.
Any other kind of woman Just ain′t my thing
I am not interested in any other kind of woman.
Yeah everybody wantin′ this and that So I'm gonna tell you where I'm at I can′t lose with the stuff I use Ms. Fine Brown Frame That′s who I'd choose
While others may want various things, I know what I want and that is a woman with a fine brown frame. She is the one for me.
Just before you take offense Let me tell you this in confidence I got to do it alone without a helping hand ′Cause I can change the master plan
Before you misunderstand my intentions, please let me explain that I must choose my partner on my own without outside influence because I am able to make my own decisions.
I need a girl That's true to me And when I′m down She's standing on her feet
I require a faithful partner who supports me through thick and thin.
When there's a need to She knows how to make control I wouldn′t change her For the world and all its gold
My ideal partner is someone who can take charge and make decisions when necessary. I wouldn't trade her for any amount of riches.
Believe me that no secret Through all the pain you do As long as you Ms. Fine Brown Frame I could never get enough of you
I promise you that I am not keeping any secrets from you. I could never tire of being with a woman with a fine brown frame.
The girl′s petite she's so lit She knocks all her friends right off their feet Put your hands together Give a gig a pop
This woman I desire is small but impressive. She stands out among her friends and has a unique and lively personality.
′Til there's no one lady of them all I got to give her a crown Well I was down Ms. Fine Brown Frame didn′t fool around She put the money in my pocket Got me back on my feet She's super duper lady that can't be beat
This woman is truly exceptional, and I would crown her as the best among all women. When I was struggling, she helped me financially and lifted me up. She is unbeatable.
I need a girl with a big bold bed I want a woman with super hair Give me the woman that's true for me I want a woman that will set me free
My ideal partner has a large, comfortable bed, and beautiful, striking hair. She is true to me and allows me to live freely.
Fine Brown, Ms. Fine Brown Frame
A repeated emphasis on the importance of a woman with a fine brown frame.
Writer(s): General Crook, Sylvester Thompson
Contributed by Molly L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@FonkyKiff
A consommer sans modération ! Keep the funk alive !!!
@francoisloubia180
Zèzè, tu es un véritable tueur !!!! J'ai 47 ans et j'ai grandi avec la funk !!!! J'ai rencontré un tas d'inconditionnels de la funk, mais franchement tu es à mon goût le number one....Merci, merci, merci
@CoolfunkZeze2
Tout simplement un passionné parmi tant d'autres de la musique avec laquelle j'ai grandi (c'est voulu hein ☺️ car une bonne partie de mes potes préférait d'autres courants musicaux) , merci à toi ;)
@frankiemaranzano
1982 👍👍👍trop fort ! Basse, cuivre. ..la classe ! 😉merci zézé
@helleboidpaul2000
comme d'hab !!! une tuerie !! mais , un niveau trés trés haut -----MERCI MERCI l'ami pour ton partage ....
@francoisloubia180
Une véritable TUERIE !!!! Je cherchais ce son depuis plus de 30 ans.. . Merci, merci, merci...muito obrigado zèzè
@CoolfunkZeze2
Avec plaisir.....je la poste sur chacune de mes chaînes depuis 2009 .
@francoisloubia180
@Coolfunk Zézé 2 tu es portugais ?
@CoolfunkZeze2
Non
@MatthewYates1
I remember this joint. It'a one of the lost ones.