“I wanna be someone so bad, but you keep putting your foot on me.†- In the 40 years since Syl Johnson exited Chicago’s Twinight label for Memphis’ Hi Records concern, the world has been struggling to grasp and package the early years of this legendary soul man’s career. Endless compilations, botched bootlegs, and shabby two-fers litter his section card, ear and eyesores all. Four years in the making, Complete Mythology is by far the most exhaustively researched and meticulously presented work from The Numero Group to date.
Encompassing the first fifteen years of a career that spans half a century, Complete Mythology not only covers his obvious hits but shines a light into the dark corners of a true musical visionary. Born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin’ Wolf in the 1950s, before recording with Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay in 1959. His break was to come recording for Twinight Records of Chicago in 1967. Johnson dominated the label as both a hit maker and producer, providing such hits as “Come On Sock It to Meâ€, “Different Strokes†(one of the most heavily sampled songs in the history of recorded music–paid homage by N.W.A., Kid Rock, Michael Jackson, J. Dilla and dozens others), “Is It Because I’m Black†(which reached Number 11 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1969), among many more.
Included on the 81 track, 6LP+4CD box (both formats included) are re-mastered versions of no less than twenty eight singles from the Twinight, Federal, Cha-Cha, Tmp-Ting, Special Agent, and Zachron labels, facsimiles of the Dresses Too Short and Is It Because I’m Black albums, ten previously unreleased tracks and detailed track by track notes from acclaimed music historian Bill Dahl. The fifty-two page booklet contains a thirty-five thousand word essay, scores of previously unpublished photos, a sampling index, and complete discography—all presented in a lavish hard bound box. For the uninitiated this is history, for those familiar this is respect for one the greatest musical artists of our time.
Track-list & Soundclips:
CD 1:
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01 |
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Teardrops |
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clip |
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02 |
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Little Sally Walker |
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clip |
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03 |
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A Half Love |
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clip |
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04 |
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Falling In Love |
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clip |
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05 |
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Try Me |
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06 |
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Do You Know What Love Is |
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clip |
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07 |
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Come On Sock It To Me |
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clip |
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08 |
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Different Strokes |
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clip |
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09 |
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Dresses Too Short |
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clip |
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10 |
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Same Kind Of Thing |
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clip |
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11 |
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Is It Because I'm Black |
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12 |
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I'm Talkin Bout Freedom |
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13 |
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One Way Ticket To Nowhere |
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clip |
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14 |
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Thank You Baby |
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CD2:
01 Falling in Love Again
02 I've Got to Get Over
03 Straight Love, No Chaser
04 Surrounded
05 Try Me
06 Half a Love
07 Do You Know What Love Is
08 The Love I Found in You
09 Do You Know What Love Is
10 Things Ain't Right
11 Come on Sock It to Me
12 Different Strokes
13 Sorry 'Bout Dat
14 Ode to Soul Man
15 I'll Take Those Skinny Legs
16 Send Me Some Lovin'
17 Soul Drippin'
18 Fox Hunting on the Weekend
19 Try Me
20 I Feel an Urge
21 I Resign
22 Love Condition
CD3:
01 My Funky Band
02 Sockin' Soul Power
03 Double Whammy
04 Dresses Too Short
05 I Can Take Care of Business
06 Same Kind of Thing
07 I've Got the Real Thing
08 Take Me Back
09 I Take Care of Homework
10 Let Them Hang High
11 Don't Give It Away
12 Going to the Shack
13 Is It Because I'm Black
14 Concrete Reservation
15 Together Forever
16 Come Together
17 Black Balloons
18 Walk a Mile in My Shoes
19 I'm Talkin' 'Bout Freedom
20 Right On
21 Everybody Needs Love
CD4:
01 One Way Ticket to Nowhere
02 Kiss By Kiss
03 Thank You Baby
04 We Do It Together
05 Try My Love
06 That's Why
07 Get Ready
08 The Way You Do the Things You Do
09 Annie Got Hot Pants Power
10 Wouldn't Change My Lady
11 All I Need Is Someone Like You
12 Let's Start All Over Again
13 Hot Pants Lady
14 Wiggle in Your Hips
15 Your Love Is Good for Me
16 Trying to Get to You
17 Soul Strokes
18 Annie Got Hot Pants Power (Instrumental)
19 Soul Heaven
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