''Back in the Game'' is an album by the American
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...
musician
Syl Johnson. It was released in 1994. Johnson had not recorded an album since the 1980s, but had witnessed a revival of his music due its use as samples in hip hop production.
Production
On the majority of its tracks, the album marked a reunion between Johnson and the
Hi Rhythm Section
The Hi Rhythm Section was the house band for hit soul albums by several artists, including Al Green and Ann Peebles, on Willie Mitchell's Hi Records label in the 1970s. The band included the three Hodges brothers, organist Charles Hodges, bassis ...
. It was produced by Pete Nathan. Johnson duets with his daughter
Syleena on "Dipped in the Water".
[ ''Back in the Game'' contains covers of Magic Sam's "All Your Love" and Little Junior Parker's version of "Driving Wheel".
]
Critical reception
The ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' is a major regional newspaper based in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. It is the largest daily newspaper in the metropolitan area by circulation, surpassing the ''Belleville News-Dem ...
'' wrote that Johnson's "vocals swoop, charge, lunge, and bark with all the mastery of a classic soul singer, but his songs are rarely melodically complex, nor do they develop linearly." The ''Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'' called the album "a stunning return to form," writing that "Johnson's voice is still a piercing, bittersweet instrument and his guitar-playing remains tersely eloquent"; the paper later listed ''Back in the Game'' as the second best contemporary blues album of 1994.[
'']The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' thought that it "shows ohnson'sfunky blues and soul skills remain surprisingly intact, as does the sinewy sensuality of his vocals." Deeming the music Chicago R&B, the ''Chicago Sun-Times
The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has the second largest circulation among Chicago newspapers, after the ''Chicago T ...
'' wrote that the album "showcases the intrinsic charms of the form, recalling the days when R&B record companies like One-derful, Brunswick and Vee-Jay flourished on South Michigan Avenue."AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
wrote that "although the Chicagoan moves into 12-bar blues territory on 'All of Your Love' and Roosevelt Sykes' 'Driving Wheel', it must be stressed that the majority of songs on this album are soul rather than blues."[
]
Track listing
Personnel
*Syl Johnson - vocals, guitar, harmonica
* Howard Grimes, Morris Jennings - drums
*Charles Hodges
Charles Edward Hodges (born June 29, 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American organist and songwriter. He is known for his high tone on the Hammond B3 organ, that appeared on records by Al Green, and other musicians signed to Hi Records.
Hodge ...
, Fred Hodges - piano, organ
*Jon Logan, Vincent Varko - organ
* Leroy Hodges, Anthony Morris - bass
* Teenie Hodges, Pete Nathan, Will Crosby - guitar
* Ken Vandermark - tenor saxophone
*Willie Henderson - baritone saxophone
*Kenny Anderson - trumpet
* Syleena Johnson - backing vocals, vocals on "Dipped in the Water"
*Theresa Davis - backing vocals
References
{{reflist
1994 albums
Delmark Records albums