RIP Johnny Bristol

[Discomanic]

Johnny Bristol, 65, a former Motown records producer, writer and singer who worked with artists including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, died March 21 in Brighton Township, Mich. Mr. Bristol recorded "Someday We'll Be Together" with singing partner Jackie Beavers in 1961, later singing background vocals on the Supremes' 1969 hit version. He also produced or wrote for Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, the Four Tops and Junior Walker. He left Motown in 1973 and recorded albums with MGM and Atlantic in the 1970s.

b. John William Bristol, 3 February 1939, Morganton, North Carolina, U.S.A.

d. 21 March 2004, Howell, Michigan.

[DevP]

Wow, another great disco/soul legend was left us. He will be missed. :cry: I always considered Johnny's hit single "Hang On In There Baby" disco's version of "Tonight's The Night" by Rod Stewart. Both songs are about virgin girls on there 1st night.

Johnny's other hits included "You And I", "Leave My World", "Do It To My Mind", "You Turned Me On To Love", "My Guy/My Girl" (duet with Amii Stewart) and his duet remake of his hit "Hang On In There Baby" with Alton McClain of Alton McClain & Destiny ("It Must Be Love").

DevP

[Leatherman]

Another one, it seems like they are dropping with alarming regularity.

My fave by him is "Loves no longer got a hold on me". I also loved his song "Love takes tears", which he did himself and with Margie Joseph. Though the strongest version was from our own Real Thing.

[SandraDee]

How weird; I don't know alot about Johnny Bristol other than the afore-mentioned 'Hang on in there baby' track, but only last week I bought Margie Joseph's '78 Lp (on Jap CD) 'Feeling My Way' which is produced by Mr.Bristol. :cry:

[markydefad]

Sad news. Don't forget Mr. Bristol's wonderful "morning music classic" "Take Me Down"-- from the terrific 1981 "Free To Be Me" LP that also featured "Love No Longer Has a Hold On Me" and other gems.

What a wonderful voice he had. :cry:

[DISCODISK]

that is sad,johnnys last work was probibly with ian levine in the 90s where he recorded a few tracks including a nice version of 'man up in the sky' R.I.P JOHNNY BRISTOL

[Jimmy-Michaels]

Sad news. Don't forget Mr. Bristol's wonderful "morning music classic" "Take Me Down"-- from the terrific 1981 "Free To Be Me" LP that also featured "Love No Longer Has a Hold On Me" and other gems.

What a wonderful voice he had. :cry:

That version of "Take Me Down" I had no clue was by him..nor did I know anything else other than "Hang On In There" off hand. Sad news indeed. Question though..who did "Take Me Down" first? Johnny or Exile. The version I always knew (and occationaly played in a more mellow set) was the Exile one until I started hearing some of the old morning music spins.

[Marcio**]

I love "I Sho Like Groovin' With Ya" from the 'Bristol's Creme' LP ('77) written & produced by him. I think Johnny Bristol produced the rare Jackson Sisters' album from 1976. Sad news :( .

[Bernie]

If you want your well wishes and thoughts to be permanently archived please see Johnny Bristol's - "In Memory of" listing. This also goes for other deceased artists, DJs... A full listing of Deceased artists can be found here

[Nano]

last week I bought Margie Joseph's '78 Lp (on Jap CD) 'Feeling My Way' which is produced by Mr.Bristol. :cry:

I just found this on vinyl a week ago. Nice album, her voice reminds me a bit of our beloved Candi Staton.
According to the book Soul A-Z she never had the recoginition she deserved, changing labels every few years, "but she has yet to cut a bad record" (this book is from 1994). I never had heard of her, but this album was released in Argentina so maybe she was known after all? :roll:

[Mixmachine]

Johnny Bristol also had another club hit with "Sweet and Deep" (is the love inside of me) on Handshake records (7:00, 118 BPM) in 1982, it was a duet with Amii Stewart I believe.

[qdearl]

I just found this on vinyl a week ago. Nice album, her voice reminds me a bit of our beloved Candi Staton.
According to the book Soul A-Z she never had the recoginition she deserved, changing labels every few years, "but she has yet to cut a bad record" (this book is from 1994). I never had heard of her, but this album was released in Argentina so maybe she was known after all? :roll:

I know Margie Joseph mainly from the duet she did with Blue Magic "What's Come Over Me" She also had a big hit in the Tri State area with "Knockout" in, I think, 1982. I found out later, that she had been around for quite a while, I have 3 of her LP's so far, and all are decent.

[remicks]

*****



Bette Midler did a version of HANG ON IN THERE BABY :



and as mentioned ... Johnny Bristol redid it himself in 1979 with Alton McClain & Destiny :




*****

[remicks]

*****

If there were no other reasons to thank Johnny Bristol (and of course there are)
for me

it would have to be for writing (with Elisabeth Martin) and producing
this song for Al Wilson :

(and that has to be Johnny singing closely along )

LA LA PEACE SONG

a disparaging, yet uplifting song which NEVER FAILS to give me a boost whenever needed (as does the equally stellar Bristol produced version by O.C. Smith. )



reflecting more on this song , it occurs to me why it comes so strongly to mind on this 10th anniversary of 9/11

lyrics:

Mmm hmm, la la, oh, yeah

What's that sound, so profound
Over heads of children, Lord
As they pass

Sounds like thunder
But there's no rain
This kind of thunder blows down
Doors and walls and things

Ah, somebody's crying
For those dying
But no one knows
How long it's gonna last

Steel birds falling to the ground
Not knowing what's below
When the end comes, tell me now
Where we gonna go

Oh, people, that's my
La la la la peace song
La la la la, tell me
Why can't we get along

Oh, people, that's my
La la la la peace song
La la la la, tell me
Why can't we get along

Oh, I'll tell you why
It's not safe to fly
You might get hijacked
To an unknown land

Desperate people seeking refuge
From corruption, oh
By means of subterfuge

Oh, sabotage, men at large
Innocent people suffering
By another's hand

Racial injustice dividing men
Allowing their hate to grow
Tell me, when's it gonna end


wow, prophetic!!

*****

[ngroove]

An all-time favorite Johnny Bristol penned song, as well as Motown song overall; really, it spoke out to me since Junior High! Autry "Junior Walker" DeWalt's may have been the classic of Rhythm & Blues / Pop charts / culture, but well, when Johnny does it himself....