On My Way To A Better Place.
Whilst mourning the passing of Reggie King this week the news of the deaths of two other favourite singers of mine didn’t quite sink in, hence the delay in writing these few words.
General Johnson (23rd May, 1943 – 13 October, 2010) was most famous as the singer of the Chairman of the Board, the man with that incredible “brrrrrrrrrr” that still, after nearly four decades of trying, I cannot get right. Kevin Rowland on the other hand….
The Chairman of the Board featured heavily on the soundtrack of my early teens, playing alongside The Tymes, The Chi-Lites, ‘I’m Your Puppet’ and ‘Feel The Need in Me’, whilst hoping for a first kiss at Goose Fair or the youth club disco. Jump forward nearly twenty years and his voice was there again, still playing a part in the courtship ritual. This time it was with his previous group, The Showmen, an R & B outfit from New Orleans with the mind-blowing burst of energy that is ‘It Will Stand’. Wendy & I both love that song. There’s an obituary proper by Spencer Leigh at the Independent’s website and we’ll leave you with some music;
The Top Five favourite General Johnson tracks in the Barrett house today are;
[audio:https://www.caughtbytheriver.net//wp-content/uploads/2010/10/10-It-Will-Stand.mp3|titles=10 It Will Stand]The Showmen – It Will Stand
The Chairman of the Board;
Give Me Just A Little More Time.
I’m On My Way To A Better Place.
Everything’s Tuesday.
Solo;
Don’t Walk Away.
[audio:https://www.caughtbytheriver.net//wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Dont-Walk-Away-mp33.mp3|titles=Dont Walk Away mp33]

Sad To Know (You’re Leaving)
Respect is also due to Gregory Isaacs and you can read a tribute from Lloyd Bradley over at the Mojo site.

(thanks to Rofey for the flyer)
[audio:https://www.caughtbytheriver.net//wp-content/uploads/2010/10/2-02-Sad-to-Know-Youre-Leaving.mp3|titles=2-02 Sad to Know (You’re Leaving)]