Al Johnson [2022] - We Can Make It Happen / Mile High You’re Number One [Branditmusic]

Credit must go to Mark Merry and his Soul Sermon show 'co-producers' Paul Regan (aka Brighton Boris YouTube channel) and Pete Radcliffe for unearthing this gem of a digital reissue from Al Johnson "We Can Make It Happen" /  "Mile High You’re Number One" which passed me by on Friday (28 Jan 2022). 

A couple of sources give an original release date of 21 Dec 1968. The single isn't even listed on 45Cat but is on Discogs and the label is a mystery as it only has a logo and no name, so presumably a private press, and only one copy has ever sold on the site for £1,110 in Jul 2021, so it must be pretty scarce. 

There are at least three soul singers using the name Al Johnson. The relatively well know singer/songwriter/producer (Alfred) who was a co-founder of The Unicefs in the 60s and recorded the modern soul classic "I'm Back For More" with Jean Carne in the 70s. An earlier one from Louisiana (Alvin) who recorded from the mid 50s and another from Alabama (Albert) who this song, correctly or otherwise, is credited to on Discogs (not listed on 45Cat) but is likely as it is registered as 1968 which sits right in between his two other listed recordings in 1967 and 1969. However, both sides of the recording sound more 70s to my ears and sound out of place in between the other two which are much more raw 60s sounds, so who knows, but the voice does sound similar.

The 'interesting' thing is that the label logo looks like an image of the Capitol building in Washington D.C. and Alfred Johnson (Unicefs) attended university in Washington where he co-founded The Unicefs, so could it actually be his recording, or just a coincidence as the writers credits (on Spotify) are to Albert?

I've included YouTube clips of his other two listed singles so you can decide for yourself whether it is the same artist. "Bless Your Little Sweet Soul" / "Love Waits For No Man" [South Camp 1967] and "Sittin' Around" / "Soul Time" [Burt 1969].

Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Branditmusic
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/01/2022 (21/12/1968)
Key/BPM:	6B/90
Value:	£1