Johnnie Be Eighty. And Still Bad!

Johnnie Be Eighty. And Still Bad!

Editorial Reviews
<"b0009e3kr24999"> Album Description
Recorded near the end of 2004, this is the last recording from Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Legend Johnnie Johnson. The first studio release from The Father Of Rock & Roll in ten years is also his last. After a hospital stay in August & September, Johnnie came back strong. Hale and hearty of spirit, he was in top playing form & always ready to play. You can hear his heart all through this recording, Johnnie’s performance leading a band of world class St. Louis musicians through all original material. rock & roll, blues, & Johnnnie’s unique hybrid of jazz, swing,& boogie woogie, laid on a foundation of blues & gospel.

It is likely that Johnson knew this could be his last recorded statement. And it was a very personal project. Beach Weather is about Johnnie’s life & frame of mind, Lucky Four about Johnson’s fourth wife. Find Me a Woman, A Good Day, people who know Johnnie would tell you those lyrics could fit him as well. The 2 hard blues, just listen to Johnnie on em. Johnnie’s was the deepest blues. The blues is at the base of everything Johnnie played. Johnnie would take you all the way home. Nobody did a turn around like Johnnie Johnson. Johnnie would make the earth move every time. All the songs on the project were a collaboration between Johnson, producer Jeff Alexander, & Rich McDonough.

Mention must be given to the band. Rich McDonough is one of the finest guitar players on the scene today. His lead work through the 2 deep blues is exemplary, and his slide on Beach Weather is right on. The interplay between Johnson and McDonough through the entire recording is delightful, thrilling, and instructional. Gus Thornton’s bass lines are tailor made for Johnnie Johnson, noone sounds like Gus. He is the man. And Joe Pastor is a wonderful, intuitive drummer. Listen to former Blues Brother frontman Larry Tburston sing "The Blues Don’t Knock" and you may start a petition to bring him out of retirement. And Victor Johnson is another guy who should be a household name. There was a lot of feeling here.

Johnnie Be Eighty. And Still Bad! Johnnie’s last statement. Recorded on home turf, outside St. Louis, live in the studio, with friends.

Johnnie Be Eighty. And Still Bad!, Music, Johnnie Johnson, Blues, Johnnie's unique piano sound laid the foundation & set the melody for the earliest and greatest rock and roll hits he wrote with Chuck Berry. An all original recording that captures the essence of Johnnie Johnson. Rock, blues, swing, it's all here., Piano Blues, R&B, Rock, Rock & Roll, United States of America

Johnnie Be Eighty. And Still Bad!

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