Johnnie Taylor is an artist sadly neglected by a UK pop audience with his only UK chart entry being Disco Lady from 1976 (#25). He fared better in US with 6 Top 30 Billboard hits (2 Top 10 Disco Lady #1 & Who's Making Love #5). He is probably best known to a soul audience for his 60/70s sides on Stax and then Columbia when Stax went bust. Between 1982-84 he released 2 albums ('Just Ain't Good Enough' 1982 and 'Best Of The Old And New' 1984) on Beverly Glen which spawned 4 singles. After this short period on Beverly Glen Taylor recorded for Malaco until his death in 2000.
What a roster this LA label (founded by Otis 'Let Her Go' Smith) had in the 80s Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Womack (The Poet trilogy of albums), Anita Baker (The Songstress album) and Chapter 8.
He didn't have that many big tunes on the Northern Soul scene that stand out in my memory but probably the biggest was Friday Night on Stax but others played included I Ain't Particular, Oh How I Love You, Toe Hold. There are probably a few others which I can't recall at present. Who's Making Love probably got spins at The Twisted Wheel on release.
Johnnie Taylor Beverly Glen Discography
1982 - What About My Love / Reaganomics [Beverly Glen BG 2002 (12") 2003 (7")]
1982 - I'm So Proud / I Need A Freak [Beverly Glen BG 2004]
1983 - Just AIn't Good Enough / Don't Wait [Beverly Glen BG 2007]
1984 - Seconds Of Your Love / Shoot For The Stars [Beverly Glen BG 2016 (7" 2017 (12")]
The 3 standout tracks are What About My Love sampled by Shapeshifters - Lola's Theme which topped the UK pop charts in July 2004 and spent 25 weeks on the charts. Just Ain't Good Enough and Shoot For The Stars. Other recommended tracks are I'm So Proud (a mellow ballad/stepper), Don't Wait (deep soul ballad/stepper) and Seconds Of Your Love (80s modern soul dancer penned by Sam Dees & Ron Kersey). Reaganomics and I Need A Freak are funky numbers that do nothing for me.
The only track on the 2 albums that didn't get a 45 release was Hey For The Winners which sounds to me like a poppy number which reminds me a lot of Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes. What About My Love and Just Ain't Good Enough featured on both albums.
The only track on the 2 albums that didn't get a 45 release was Hey For The Winners which sounds to me like a poppy number which reminds me a lot of Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes. What About My Love and Just Ain't Good Enough featured on both albums.
Johnnie Taylor [1981] - What About My Love [Beverly Glen BG 2002 (12") 2003 (7")]
A Patrick Moten modern soul gem.
Johnnie Taylor [1982] - I'm So Proud [Beverly Glen BG 2004]
Mellow ballad/stepper
Mellow ballad/stepper
Johnnie Taylor [1983] - Just Ain't Good Enough [Beverly Glen BG 2007]
Modern Soul
NB This is the 45 version - for long album version select link in discography above.
Johnnie Taylor [1983] - Don't Wait [Beverly Glen BG 2007]
Deep soul ballad/stepper
Deep soul ballad/stepper
Johnnie Taylor [1984] - Shoot For The Stars [Beverly Glen BG 2016 (7" 2017 (12")]
A great mellow 80s modern soul tune on Beverly Glen
Johnnie Taylor [1984] - Seconds Of Your Love [Beverly Glen BG 2016 (7" 2017 (12")]
80s Modern Soul
80s Modern Soul
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