Johnson, Samuel Jonathan: My Music (Vinyl LP)
Be with Records
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$42.99
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Be With Records present a reissue of Samuel Jonathan Johnson's My Music, originally released in 1978. My Music is a stellar spiritual soul/jazz-funk gem, recorded by keyboardist-singer Samuel Jonathan Johnson in 1978. The epitome of a cult classic, it didn't do much upon it's release but steadily found an audience over the decades that followed. This is music that shares the jazzy R&B; DNA of contemporaries like Roy Ayers and is an intoxicating blend of mellow moments and more groove-heavy tracks. Spacey keys and lush production give it a luxurious, enveloping warmth. My Music opens with the gorgeous title track: an indulgent slow jam opus. Introducing you to Johnson's compelling musical vision, it features a rich mélange of production techniques. Dripping in strings, horns, backing singers, popping funk bass lines and swooshing synth waves, it's an unusually structured cosmic two-stepper that has an irrepressible groove. Accordingly, it's been a favorite with the diggers and it was sampled by The Alchemist for Jadakiss's We Gonna Make It. The up-tempo Sweet Love bubbles over with joy, it's uplifting lyrics backed by infectious bass and jazzy Fender Rhodes lines. It follows a cover of What The World Need's Now Is Love, taken at a funereal pace that transforms it into a heartfelt plea for love and understanding. After a full-minute-long opening of lush cinematic strings and horns, Because I Love You makes space for Samuel's voice, accompanied by some keys and just a sprinkle of guitar. It builds back up and then mellows it's way out to a jazz lounge finish (in all the right ways). The feel-good ebullience of the Stevie Wonder-esque It Ain't Easy closes out the LP's first side. The second side bursts open with the heavy bounce and disco-funk basslines of You, a slightly off-beat string-laden dancer with insistent horns and a piano-assisted groove. Next up is Just Us, a legendary steppers track that could be heard oozing out of deep soul radios and funk sound systems back in the late '80s. Yesterdays and Tomorrow is a moving original ballad that is followed by an exquisite high-stepping paean to mom in the form of Thank You Mother Dear. The thumping easy-glide of Reason For The Reason brings the album to a close. Mastered by Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman. Sleeve artwork restored by Be With Records. 140 gram vinyl.
Be With Records present a reissue of Samuel Jonathan Johnson's My Music, originally released in 1978. My Music is a stellar spiritual soul/jazz-funk gem, recorded by keyboardist-singer Samuel Jonathan Johnson in 1978. The epitome of a cult classic, it didn't do much upon it's release but steadily found an audience over the decades that followed. This is music that shares the jazzy R&B; DNA of contemporaries like Roy Ayers and is an intoxicating blend of mellow moments and more groove-heavy tracks. Spacey keys and lush production give it a luxurious, enveloping warmth. My Music opens with the gorgeous title track: an indulgent slow jam opus. Introducing you to Johnson's compelling musical vision, it features a rich mélange of production techniques. Dripping in strings, horns, backing singers, popping funk bass lines and swooshing synth waves, it's an unusually structured cosmic two-stepper that has an irrepressible groove. Accordingly, it's been a favorite with the diggers and it was sampled by The Alchemist for Jadakiss's We Gonna Make It. The up-tempo Sweet Love bubbles over with joy, it's uplifting lyrics backed by infectious bass and jazzy Fender Rhodes lines. It follows a cover of What The World Need's Now Is Love, taken at a funereal pace that transforms it into a heartfelt plea for love and understanding. After a full-minute-long opening of lush cinematic strings and horns, Because I Love You makes space for Samuel's voice, accompanied by some keys and just a sprinkle of guitar. It builds back up and then mellows it's way out to a jazz lounge finish (in all the right ways). The feel-good ebullience of the Stevie Wonder-esque It Ain't Easy closes out the LP's first side. The second side bursts open with the heavy bounce and disco-funk basslines of You, a slightly off-beat string-laden dancer with insistent horns and a piano-assisted groove. Next up is Just Us, a legendary steppers track that could be heard oozing out of deep soul radios and funk sound systems back in the late '80s. Yesterdays and Tomorrow is a moving original ballad that is followed by an exquisite high-stepping paean to mom in the form of Thank You Mother Dear. The thumping easy-glide of Reason For The Reason brings the album to a close. Mastered by Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman. Sleeve artwork restored by Be With Records. 140 gram vinyl.