Melodies International are releasing a 12" vinyl issue of "I’ve Got My Second Wind", a song recorded by two artists in 1980. First by the writer Al Johnson which appeared on his album "Back For More" and also released as a single. The other version is by Motown artist Tata Vega who recorded it as an album only track, which features G.C. Cameron, on her final Motown album "Givin' All My Love".
Johnson did in fact record it first on his debut solo album "Peaceful" in 1978 but the version here is the longer re-recorded version for "Back For More". The single edit was reissued by Expansion in 2017 as the flip to his classic with Jean Carn "Back For More".
Incidentally, the Tata Vega album includes a good version of Gwen Owens' "You Better Watch Out" (1974) taken at a slightly slower pace.
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].
The new single from the legendary Whispers is a song originally
recorded by
Al Johnson
on his album "Him Or Me" which was released on CD and digitally in 2014.
"It’s Been Too Long" is only currently available from
The Whispers official website but receives a wider release tomorrow (15 Oct 2021).
The Whispers were formed in 1963 in Watts, CA. The
mainstays of the group are identical twins Wallace 'Scotty' and Walter
Scott who are currently joined by Leaveil Degree who has been with them since 1973 and was formerly with
The Friends Of Distinction (who were mentioned only a few days ago on the
Derek Damien post
as he is the son of Harry Elston another member of the group).
They had their most commercially successful spell in the early 80s with
hits such as "And The Beat Goes On", "Lady" and "It's A Love Thing" but
personally I love their earlier stuff especially from the mid 70s.
I believe that this was recorded during lockdown and their voices still
sound great, Scotty & Walter are now 78, with Leavill being a 'spring
chicken' at 73!
On first hearing, this reminds me of Erykah Badu's 'On And On' (not sure if it's sampled). It's definitely got samples of Al Johnson & Jean Carn's 1980 classic 'Back For More'.
This is Imani's debut release and is from a projected album 'YEAR 3076'
