Real Love

Performer: Johnnie Taylor
Producer: Frederick Knight; Tommy Couch; Wolf Stephenson
Distributor: Distribution N. America

Notes: Personnel: Johnnie Taylor (vocals), Will McFarlane, Jimmy Johnson (guitars), Dawn Wohlgemuth, Tyler Maizel, Jacqueline Perry, Janet Dressler, Peggy Plucker, Vince Massimino (violin), Mickey Davis, Perry Combs (viola), Tien Li (cello), Jim Horn (flute, baritone saxophone), Harvey Thompson (tenor saxophone), Jim Williamson (trumpet), Harrison Calloway (horns), Charles Rose (trombone), Clayton Ivey (keyboards), Ray Griffin (bass), James Robertson (drums), Roger Hawkins (percussion), Jewel Bass, Thomisene Anderson, Valerie Kashimura (background vocals). Engineers: Steve Melton, Kent Bruce, Wolf Stephenson, Jerry Masters. Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Sheffield, Alabama and Malaco Studios, Jackson, Mississippi. Personnel: Johnnie Taylor (vocals); Jimmy Johnson , Will McFarlane (guitar); Vince Massimino, Jacqueline Perry, Tyler Maizel, Dawn Wohlgemuth, Peggy Plucker, Janet Dressler (violin); Perry Combs, Mickey Davis (viola); Tien Li (cello); Jim Horn (flute, baritone saxophone); Harvey Thompson (tenor saxophone); Harrison Calloway (trumpet, horns); Jim Williamson (trumpet); Charles Rose (trombone); Clayton Ivey (keyboards); James Robertson (drums); Roger Hawkins (percussion); Jewel Bass, Thomisene Anderson, Valeria Kashimuri (background vocals). Recording information: Malaco Studios, Jackson, MS; Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, She; Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Sheffield, AL. The quality of Johnny Taylor's recordings hasn't suffered much since the major labels abandoned him for younger, fresher meat. "Back Street Love Affair" is southern soul magic, a gripping ballad depicting the multiple hearts-in-a-tangle theme; he updates "Lady Soul" popularized by the Temptations, and the the Staple Singers' smash "Respect Yourself," outdoing Pop Staples on vocals. The lyrics are downtrodden but "Poor Boy Blues" employs a lively beat for Taylor to wail about his woes. Real Love has an abundance of shufflers, including the title track "Changin' My Life With Love" and the best of the bunch "Huntin' Just Ain't No Fun." He tries for a '90s "Disco Lady" with "Sexy Dancer" but it lacks the dynamics of his '70s classic. ~ Andrew Hamilton

Johnnie Taylor first achieved notoriety when he joined Sam Cooke's former group, the Soul Stirrers, in 1957. Taylor's blues-based R&B records of the '60s, like his biggest hit, "Who's Makin' Love?," featured an irresistible beat and Taylor's gruff, emphatic vocals. While he never achieved the fame of Otis Redding or Wilson Pickett, Taylor stuck around long enough to enjoy a second surge in popularity with the lusty hit "Disco Lady" in 1976.

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