Lamont Johnson & Eugene [2022] - Let’s Go Dance Tonight / Burnin’ For Your Love [Soul Junction #SJ1019]

Soul Junction has licensed two previously unissued dance orientated compositions from Lamont Johnson for their latest single offering with more still to come. It is released under the project/artists name of "Lamont Johnson & Eugene". The A side "Let’s Go Dance Tonight" is a male vocally led early 90's mid-tempo feel good dance number. Whilst the B side "Burnin’ For Your Love", in contrast, is a more synthesized bass driven 80's female dancer which should appeal to the Boogie crowd.

The single will be available from Soul Junction on 7" vinyl from 30 Aug 2022.

Eugene Lamont Johnson was born on 20 Apr 1955 in Highland Park, MI. He holds the distinction of being the first internationally recognized fretless bassist in R&B music and rose to prominence as a session musician on Gloster Williams & The King Vision’s gospel album "Together" (1977) which possibly passed most of us by. However, an album that most certainly didn't was Detroit based band Brainstorm's "Stormin’" released the same year on Tabu Records.

Brainstorm was initially formed during 1975 by bandleader and saxophonist Charles 'Chuck' Overton, and included Belita Woods (lead vocals), Lamont Johnson (bass), Renell Gonsalves (drums), Trenita 'Treaty' Womack (percussion, flute and backing vocals), Bob Ross (a.k.a Professor RJ Ross) (keyboards), Gerald 'Jerry' Kent (guitar), Jeryl Bright (trombone) and 'Leaping' Larry Sims (trumpet and flugelhorn).

Their debut album "Stormin'" was recorded during 1976 and released in 1977 containing the massive disco hit "Loving Is Really My Game" along with "Wake Up And Be Somebody" and "This Must Be Heaven" which featured Lamont Johnson's vocals (video below of his solo performance).

Brainstorm went on to release two further albums before disbanding in 1980 but Lamont didn't feature on either i.e "Journey To The Light" (1978) and "Funky Entertainment" (1979). However, 1978 was a prolific year for Lamont as he played bass on Hamilton Bohannon's "On My Way", Jimmy McKee's "First Time Out" and Keith Barrow's "Physical Attraction" which contained the rare groove two stepper "You Know You Want To Be Loved". Barrow  released just one more album before being taken by AIDS in 1983 aged 29. Coincidentally, earlier Barrow was a member of The Hi-Lites (not the same group that became The Chi-Lites) who released just one single on Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus label in 1973/74.

The same year Lamont released his debut album "Music Of The Sun" on Tabu which spawned two singles "Sister Fine" / "Yours Truly, Discreetly" and "Hey Girl" / "Differently".

In 1979 Lamont featured on bass on Chapter 8's debut eponymous album on Ariola followed by Nightflyte's self-titled debut on the same label. Chapter 8 at this time included one Anita Baker and Niteflyte Howard Johnson.

During 1980 Lamont began work on a second solo album for Tabu. Two singles were recorded "Rock You Baby" / "Something More" followed by what was to be the album title song "Rhumba" c/w "Masta Luva" which went on to become a modern soul favourite (live video performance below). Unfortunately, for whatever reason, CBS/Tabu decided to shelve the remainder of the project. 

Yet another link to a recent post as Johnson played on Was Not Was' "Tell Me I'm Dreaming" (as did Kathy Kosins posted yesterday) and also Robert Lowe's "Double Dip" jazz/funk album. 

Lamont has released two further CD albums on his own Allee Records label, "Amore' Dance" (2001) (which also has a song titled "Burnin' For Your Love" which is a ballad and not the same song) and "This Must Be Heaven" (2004). The latter featured Belita Woods (Brainstorm) and Detroit legend Pat Lewis with Sharon Jones also featuring on one of the tracks. Another Brainstorm group member  Trenita 'Treaty' Womack also appeared on a few tracks.

Note both of his last two albums are available on Spotify (links on album titles) and also YouTube with his 1978 album also available on YouTube.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Boogie
Format:	Single
Media:	7"
Label:	Soul Junction
Cat No:	SJ1019
Date:	30/08/2022
Key/BPM	N/A
Price:	£13

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