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mel(andthensome) (mel) 6-Zenith Username: mel
Post Number: 444 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.153.210.177
| Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 3:33 pm: �� | ��� |
Being a huge fan of these can anyone please confirm/deny any of these following items that have bugged me for years...... I cant recall all info from these few items from years gone by if true or not.......... When Swan records folded why didnt general Johnson ever record again with The Showmen? If so then why? as I heard that there last 3 years together as the showmen were supposedly there best ever times while being with Swan records? Was it true that they were being accused as nothing more than Temptation imitators? At the time of the above article was the time when apparantly most record producers were aiming for the same success as the Motown Sound and that at this time that the problems were not vocally but......... in the production? and to finish with did The first ever time that the Chairman of the board met each other..... was in 1969 Whilst all attending Invictus Dance classes on Detroits Hamilton Street? Any info appreciated as ever. For me personally Swan Records and whoever recorded on this great Label were the Real Deal(andthensome) cheers Mel-o-Delphia |
Heikki (heikki) 4-Laureate Username: heikki
Post Number: 114 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.17.199.27
| Posted on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 3:08 am: �� | ��� |
Hi Mel! Sorry but I don't have direct answers to your questions, but the last time I talked to General Johnson - and that was ten years ago - he had some comments on those days: (first talking about his childhood, his early days with the Israelites, the Humdingers, the Showmen, demos with Atlantic, Minit & Imperial Records, before moving on to Swan in '65 and You're Everything, In Paradise and The Honey House...) General: "I just went up there with a song, In Paradise, and they liked the song. Again we recorded for a label that was ready to go out of business... the story of my life." "I was staying in Norfolk but I was commuting back and forth. I was living also in Philadelphia, because I was writing and producing things for the Three Degrees and other acts they had there. We did a couple of things with Leon Huff, while we were there, but they were never big records." After a couple of years in the college circuit a call came in '67, which led to the birth of the Chairmen Of The Board - General Johnson, Danny Woods, Harrison Kennedy and Eddie Custis. "That was a guy by the name of Jeffrey Bowen. He recruited talent for Invictus Records. The Chairmen Of The Board, at the time, it was four artists, four lead voices, who could handle all types of music...I'm glad they re-released It Will Stand in '64. If it hadn't been re-released, I would never have been with Holland-Dozier-Holland. When it was re-released, it was number one in Detroit for about four or five weeks, and that's how they became familiar with my work and my voice. When they decided to leave Motown, I was one of the first artists they got in touch with." Sorry, Mel, but that was all I could come up with. Best regards Heikki |
1wicked (1wicked)
5-Doyen Username: 1wicked
Post Number: 244 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.126.64.72
| Posted on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 3:37 am: �� | ��� |
Check out www.generalnormanjohnson.com There's also an e-mail address for him, so maybe you can get your answers straight from the man. |
mel(andthensome) (mel) 6-Zenith Username: mel
Post Number: 446 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.154.242.45
| Posted on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 10:33 am: �� | ��� |
Heikki great stuff appreciate it mate cheers 1 Wicked mel..... |
Heikki (heikki) 4-Laureate Username: heikki
Post Number: 115 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 62.248.145.88
| Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 5:15 am: �� | ��� |
Hi! Still one more address: http://www.surfsiderecords.com Heikki |
Stu-62 (stu62) 1-Arriviste Username: stu62
Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.80.183.254
| Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 4:31 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi Mel, Back in 63 and 64, I had a little frat party band booking business at the Univ of Pennsylvania in Philly. The best (and most expensive) band on our roster was the Showmen from Norfolk. They probably came up to Philly at least once a month. One time, they showed up with their manager, Mr. Noah Biggs, who owned Nimrod's Record Shop in Norfolk. Mr. Biggs informed me that he was in Philly because the group was going to cut a record in Philly before returning to Virginia. I believe the record was In Paradise. I think Ritchie Rome (Ritchie Family) was involved as arranger. Another great band on our roster was Herb Johnson & the Impacts, with Bobby Eli on guitar. Those were some great times. Best wishes, Stu Green |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1412 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.11.253
| Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 4:44 pm: �� | ��� |
Wow, Hey Stu..its ben a long time . Glad to see you here on the forum and keep posting. Do you still have that 8 by 10 with a very young and clean shaven B.E.?? BTW..Herb passed away just this past January. he had just turned 68 on december 26th. Kenny Gamble and I spoke at the service, and were it not for Herb, I may not of met Kenny, and..... |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1413 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.11.253
| Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 4:47 pm: �� | ��� |
BTW.. Regarding Swan, It always amazed me that a label so "white" could have so many well respected soul and Northern type records on its roster. Their discography reads like a whos who of schmaltzy pop fluff, kinda like Chancellor. |
Stu-62 (stu62) 1-Arriviste Username: stu62
Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.80.183.254
| Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 5:01 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi Bobby, It's only been 40 years. I remember seeing you for the first time. It was at a Sunday matinee at a "private" club on the corner of 40thand Market Sts, the Washington Sporting Club. I'm so sorry to hear that Herb has died. He was a hard-working front man. I'll never forget the song you played as your "takin' a break" song to close a set. It was a wailing version of James Brown's "I'll Go Crazy." Herb would scream over the driving intro, and then you'd stop abruptly and announce you'd be back in 20 minutes for another set. It was a real tease. Do you remember my partner, Howard Rachofsky from Dallas? Today he is enormously wealthy and a leading philantrophist in Dallas. He is also famous for his collection of contemporary art. And I mean world-famous in that circle. Amazing. Best wishes, Stu |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1416 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.11.253
| Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 5:36 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi Stu, You have one heluva memory!! The WS Club, wow!! I have a few pics from that place and as soon as I can locate them I will post them. I sure do remember Howard and Im happy that he is doing WELL.Hey, does he want to invest in the busines of making records?(smile) |
mel(andthensome) (mel) 6-Zenith Username: mel
Post Number: 451 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.154.242.224
| Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 9:33 am: �� | ��� |
Cheers Stu great stuff mel |
Stu-62 (stu62) 1-Arriviste Username: stu62
Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.80.183.254
| Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 1:02 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi Bobby, I'd love to see the pics from the Washington Sporting Club. For me, it was the place to be on a Sunday afternoon in West Philly when all the regular bars were closed due to the blue laws (no booze on Sundays). I'm wondering if you might remember what a typical set list for Herb Johnson & the Impacts would have been like during that 1963-64 era. I can never forget the excitement when you kicked into James' "If you leave me, I'll go crazy." Can you possibly remember some of your other material? There was a lot of talent in those little music bars in West Philly in the early 60s--King James, Carl Holmes, Ted Weems, Hank Goodwin. And a bottle of beer cost about a quarter. The owner of the WS club once introduced me to T-Bone Walker, but I was so young (and dumb), I had no idea who he was. Best wishes, Stu |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1429 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.55.239
| Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 1:14 pm: �� | ��� |
Stu, You are getting me misty eyed over here(smile0 I dont remember the actual order of the songs but some of the songs we did were: Guilty Have you heard Two steps ahead of a woman Tell me so I'll go crazy I feel good Daddys home I lost someone Hitchhike Can I get a witness Did you ever go to the Vegas Bar(Scotty's)on the northeast corner of 52nd and Walnut? We were somewhat of a "staple" there. That's where I met a very young Kenny Gamble who was a lab tech and he used to get up on stage and sing a couple of songs with us. He loved He will break your heart and Ill be doggone and just about anything by Butler or Gaye! Kenny used to sing with Herb in his old doo wop group, the Ordells with Jack Hart, a future Volcano and Trammp. Herb was at the real rot of the Philly sound as we have come to know it. It all started with Herb Johnson. |
Stu-62 (stu62) 1-Arriviste Username: stu62
Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.80.183.254
| Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 1:43 pm: �� | ��� |
Wow Bobby, You're knocking me out with your memories. Thanks for the set list, and the fond memories of Herb Johnson. I used to see you play at many bars, but specifically remember the WS club (which was just off-campus) and a little joint that was operated by black Army veterans on Market Street. I probably shouldn't mention this, but you knew every woman in that club. And, of course, I saw every show a the Penn frat houses. Howard and I had to collect our 10% after the show. It was like 10% of $250-300, pretty good money in '64. It was your leader, Charlie Peoples who handled the business end. The thing I remember most about Charlie was that he wore a wristwatch that spelled out the letters P-E-N-N-S-Y-L-V-A-N-I-A instead of numerals. The watch was the prize they gave to winners of the Penn Relays. He was a talented guy....and all business. Best wishes, Stu |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1432 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.55.239
| Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 2:11 pm: �� | ��� |
YOURE the one with the memory, Stu!! Oy vey! The army vet place was the 366 club. Another haunt of ours was the Baltimore Tavern at 55th and Baltimore. The penn Frat houses were special to us as we aalways had a ball there as we played in beer up past our ankles!(smile) Do you remember when Larry Magid, who runs Electric Factory Concerts was still at temple and just starting to bok gigs, and Herb and the Impacts were his very first band!! he was also my roomie on the road when we went "out of town' like to Muhlenberg or Penn State. You can e mail me at phillysoulman@verizon.net if you wish. |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1436 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.55.239
| Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 2:38 pm: �� | ��� |
Stu.. The Impacts were: Wally Osborne--Bass Howard "Little" Rice--Drums Curtis Brooks--Sax Charlie "Teach" Peoples (RIP) Piano and Organ Bobby Eli --Gitfiddle( as Herb would call it) Herb Johnson--Vocals |
Stu-62 (stu62) 1-Arriviste Username: stu62
Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.80.183.254
| Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 3:25 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi Bobby, Typical frat house gig was down in the basement. No stage. No monitors. Just a couple of Shure columns for a PA. Beer flying everywhere. Four sets from 8 til midnight. 40on/20 off. Then you'd carry the gear up the steps. So glad you have fond memories. The first time I saw Animal House, I said "they nailed it." Stu |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1438 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.55.239
| Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 4:12 pm: �� | ��� |
Animal House--exactly!! Penn al the way, but not the "Biff and Muffy types"! No "Sweetheart of Sigma Pi", capice??#$ |