Laten John Adams
b. January 5th, 1932 in New Orleans (Louisiana)
d. September 14th, 1998 in Baton Rouge (Louisiana)
I WON'T CRY
Rounder
I WON'T CRY : THE COMPLETE RIC & RON SINGLES
Ace
1959 - 1964
Johnny est l'ainé de dix enfants. Il commence très jeune à chanter à l'église et fait partie des chorales Gospel Soul Consolators (sous la supervision de Bessie Griffin) et Soul Revivers. A la fin de l'année 1958, il est remarqué par la compositrice Dorothy La Bostrie qui lui écrit une poignée de titres. Elle présente Johnny à Joe Ruffino, fondateur et producteur pour les labels Ric et Ron. Ses premiers morceaux enregistrés dans les studios de Cosimo Matassa sont "I won't cry" et "Who you are" sous la houlette d'Edgar Blanchard. Puis, il continue avec "Come on" (co-écrit avec "Mac" Rebennack alias Dr John). Avec sa superbe voix, il délivre de remarquables titres de Rhythm & Blues comme "Ooh so nice", "Life is just a struggle", "A losing battle", "Showdown". Mais, il y a aussi beaucoup de ballades très arrangées pas toujours intéressantes. En aout 1962, avec la mort soudaine de Joe Ruffino, les labels Ric et Ron commencent à battre de l'aile et disparaissent peu après. Il suit Joe Assunto et propose deux titres pour son label Watch. Quand Assunto ressuscite brièvement Ron, Johnny enregistre quatre titres pour le label une nouvelle fois dans les studios de Cosimo Matassa, sous la supervision de Wardell Quezergue. De ses quatre morceaux, on peut retenir l'excellent "Lonely drifter".
Johnny is the eldest of ten children. He began singing in church at a very young age and was part of the Gospel choirs Soul Consolators (under the supervision of Bessie Griffin) and Soul Revivers. At the end of 1958, he was noticed by the composer Dorothy La Bostrie who wrote a handful of titles for him. She introduces Johnny to Joe Ruffino, founder and producer for the Ric and Ron labels. His first tracks recorded in Cosimo Matassa's studios are "I won't cry" and "Who you are" under the leadership by Edgar Blanchard. Then, he continues with "Come on" (co-written with "Mac" Rebennack aka Dr John). With his superb voice, he delivers remarkable Rhythm & Blues tunes like “Ooh so nice”, “Life is just a struggle”, “A losing battle”, “Showdown”. But, there are also a lot of very arranged ballads that are not always interesting. In august 1962, with the sudden death of Joe Ruffino, the Ric and Ron labels began to struggle and disappeared shortly after. He follows Joe Assunto and offers two titles for his Watch label. When Assunto briefly resurrecting Ron, Johnny recorded four tracks for the label once again in Cosimo Matassa's studios, under the supervision of Wardell Quezergue. Of this four songs, we can point out the excellent “Lonely drifter”.
RELEASE ME : THE SSS AND PACEMAKER SIDES
Playback
1965 - 1971
HEART & SOUL
SSS International
Charly
1968 - 1970
Entre 1967 et l'été 1971, Johnny Adams enregistre régulièrement pour le label de Nashville SSS International dirigé par le producteur Shelby Singleton. Il grave notamment cet album entre Soul, Blues et Rhythm & Blues. Une tracklist consistante avec "Real live living hurtin' man", "I can't be all bad", "A losing battle", "Reconsider me" (une composition de Mira Smith) et une nouvelle version de "I won't cry".
Between 1967 and the summer of 1971, Johnny Adams recorded regularly for the Nashville-based label SSS International run by producer Shelby Singleton. In particular, he engraves this album between Soul, Blues and Rhythm & Blues. A consistent tracklist with "Real live living hurtin' man", "I can't be all bad", "A losing battle", "Reconsider me" (composed by Mira Smith) and a new version of "I won't cry".
CHRISTMAS IN NEW ORLEANS
Hep' Me
Maison de Soul
Mardi Gras
A CHRISTMAS WITH JOHNNY ADAMS
Ace
1975
Entre 1975 et 1982, Johnny travaille régulièrement pour le producteur Senator Jones et ses labels, en particulier Hep'Me. Ici, il s'agit d'un album de Noël sans relief qui ne rend pas justice au talent du chanteur. Il fut pourtant réédité sous quantité d'habillages divers.
Between 1975 and 1982, Johnny worked regularly for producer Senator Jones and his labels, in particular Hep'Me. Here, it is a Christmas album without relief which does not do justice to the singer's talent. However, it was reissued in a number of different versions.
STAND BY ME
Chelsea
1976
Dans cet album concocté par Wes Farrell pour son label Chelsea, on retrouve les morceaux que Johnny avait enregistré pour le label JB's en particulier des reprises de standards Soul. Un programme intéressant, enregistré au Sea-Saint Studios avec la collaboration de Marshall Sehorn, avec de belles versions de "Stand by me", "Baby baby I love you", "Share your love with me", "I don't wanna cry", "Don't let the green grass fool you".
In this album concocted by Wes Farrell for his Chelsea label, we find the tracks that Johnny had recorded for the JB's label, in particular covers of Soul standards. An interesting program, recorded at Sea-Saint Studios in collaboration with Marshall Sehorn, with beautiful versions of "Stand by me", "Baby baby I love you", “Share your love with me”, “I don’t wanna cry”, “Don’t let the green grass fool you”.
AFTER ALL THE GOOD IS GONE
Ariola
1978
Cet album reprend plusieurs morceaux enregistrés pour le label Hep'Me de Senator Jones aux studios Sea-Saint. Naviguant toujours entre Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Soul et Country, Johnny propose les excellents "After all the good is gone" (une reprise de Conway Titty), "Selfish", "Chasing rainbows", "The image of me", "It's been so long". Des titres produits par Senator Jones et arrangés par Isaac Bolden et Wardell Quezergue. Comme la chanson-titre obtint un bon succès lors de sa parution en simple, le label Ariola le réédita avec d'autres morceaux pour constituer cet album.
This album includes several tracks recorded for Senator Jones' Hep'Me label at Sea-Saint studios. Always navigating between Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Soul and Funk, Johnny offers the excellent "After all the good is gone" (a cover of Conway Titty), "Selfish", "Chasing rainbows", "The image of me", "It's been so long". Titles produced by Senator Jones and arranged by Isaac Bolden and Wardell Quezergue. As the title song was a good success when it was released as a single, the Ariola label reissued it with other tunes to make up this album.
THE MANY SIDES OF JOHNNY ADAMS
Hep' Me
OLD FLAMES
P-Vine
1978
Dans sa production inégale pour le label Hep'Me, cet album ne se range pas parmi les meilleurs. En dehors de quelques titres "I'm afraid to let you into my life" ou "It only rains on me", le programme se révèle assez plat et convenu. La réédition japonaise de P-Vine propose un morceau inédit supplémentaire.
In his uneven production for the Hep'Me label, this album does not rank among the best. Apart from a few titles "I'm afraid to let you into my life" or "It only rains on me", the program turns out to be quite flat and conventional. The japanese reissue of P-Vine offers an additional unreleased track.
THE SWEET COUNTRY VOICE OF JOHNNY ADAMS
Hep' Me
1982
Pour ses derniers enregistrements pour Hep'Me, Johnny Adams délivre un album complet de Country. Mais le programme s'avère peu convaincant et manque de flamme. On peut ressortir "Am I that easy to forget" et "Heaven's just a sin away" dans ce programme ennuyeux.
For his latest recordings for Hep'Me, Johnny Adams delivers a complete Country album. But the program turns out to be unconvincing and lacking in enthusiasm. We can point out "Am I that easy to forget" and "Heaven's just a sin away" in this boring program.
FROM THE HEART
Rounder
December 1983
En 1983, Johnny Adams entreprend une longue et fructueuse collaboration avec le label Rounder. Entouré de superbes musiciens (Walter "Washington" Wolfman, Alvin "Red" Tyler) et d'un excellent producteur (Scott Billington), il délivre un remarquable album de Soul-Blues qui relance sa carrière. On apprécie, en particulier, "I feel like breaking up somebody's home", "Laughin' and clownin'", "Scarred knees", "Your love is so doggone good", "Roadblock".
In 1983, Johnny Adams began a long and fruitful collaboration with the Rounder label. Surrounded by superb musicians (Walter "Washington" Wolfman, Alvin "Red" Tyler) and an excellent producer (Scott Billington), he delivered a remarkable Soul-Blues album which relaunched his career. We appreciate, in particular, "I feel like breaking up somebody's home", "Laughin' and clownin'", "Scarred knees", "Your love is so doggone good", "Roadblock".
AFTER DARK
Rounder
June - July 1985
Second album pour Rounder dans la continuation du premier qui avait été un succès. Avec le même producteur, il est accompagné cette fois de l'excellent guitariste Wayne Bennett. On trouve à nouveau de beaux morceaux Soul-Blues parfaitement chantés par Johnny : "I don't know you" (une reprise de Doc Pomus), "Fortune teller", "She said the same things to me", "Garbage man".
Second album for Rounder following on from the first which was a success. With the same producer, this time he is accompanied by the excellent guitarist Wayne Bennett. We once again find beautiful Soul-Blues pieces perfectly sung by Johnny : "I don't know you" (a cover of Doc Pomus), "Fortune teller", "She said the same things to me", "Garbage man".
ROOM WITH A VIEW OF THE BLUES
Rounder
April - May 1987
Pour ce troisième opus chez Rounder, Scott Billington et Johnny Adams ont réuni les guitaristes Walter "Wolfman" Washington et Duke Robillard, les saxophonistes Bill "Foots" Samuel et Alvin "Red" Tyler, le clavier Dr John. De remarquables musiciens et un programme intense : "Room with a view", "I don't want to do wrong", "Body and fender man", "I owe you", "The hunt is on".
For this third opus on Rounder, Scott Billington and Johnny Adams brought together guitarists Walter "Wolfman" Washington and Duke Robillard, saxophonists Bill "Foots" Samuel and Alvin "Red" Tyler, keyboardist Dr. John. Remarkable musicians and an intense program : "Room with a view", "I don't want to do wrong", "Body and fender man", “I owe you”, “The hunt is on”.
WALKING ON A TIGHTROPE
Rounder
March - May 1989
Un album de reprises de Percy Mayfield plutôt inspiré avec la brillante chanson-titre enluminée par la guitare de Walter "Wolfman" Washington. Mais on peut aussi ressortir "My heart is hangin' heavy" (avec la guitare de Duke Robillard), "The lover and the married woman", "Stand by".
A rather inspired album of Percy Mayfield covers with the brilliant title song illuminated by the guitar of Walter "Wolfman" Washington. But we can also point out "My heart is hangin' heavy" (with Duke Robillard's guitar), "The lover and the married woman", "Stand by".
THE REAL ME
Rounder
April - June 1991
Après Percy Mayfield, Johnny consacre un disque entier aux compositions de Doc Pomus. Un programme de Rhythm & Blues sympathique avec la belle voix de Johnny et les mêmes excellents musiciens. "Imitation of love", "My baby's quit me", "I underestimated you", "Prisoner of life" figurent parmi les meilleurs moments.
After Percy Mayfield, Johnny devotes an entire album to the compositions of Doc Pomus. A nice Rhythm & Blues program with Johnny's beautiful voice and the same excellent musicians. "Imitation of love", "My baby's quit me", "I underestimated you", "Prisoner of life" are among the best moments.
GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE
Rounder
April 1993
THE VERDICT
Rounder
June - August 1994
Avec cet album, Johnny Adams se tourne vers le Jazz. Malgré les participations d'Houston Person et d'Harry Connick Jr, la tracklist ne convainc pas vraiment et s'avère souvent ennuyeuse.
With this album, Johnny Adams turns to Jazz. Despite the participation of Houston Person and Harry Connick Jr, the tracklist does not really convince and turns out to be often boring.
ONE FOOT IN THE BLUES
Rounder
June 1996
Retour au Blues et au Rhythm & Blues avec ce superbe disque. Cependant, Johnny a conservé une nette intonation Jazz. Pour l'occasion, Johnny est entouré de bons sidemen et de Scott Billington, son producteur habituel. On trouve d'excellents morceaux comme "Won't pass me by", "One foot in the blues", Roadblock", "Half awake" (superbe solo d'orgue de Lonnie Smith), "Two years of torture".
Back to Blues and Rhythm & Blues with this superb record. However, Johnny has retained a clear Jazz intonation. For the occasion, Johnny is surrounded by good sidemen and Scott Billington, his usual producer. There are excellent songs like "Won't pass me by", "One foot in the blues", Roadblock", “Half awake” (superb organ solo by Lonnie Smith), “Two years of torture”.
MOON INDIGO
Rounder
1997
Dans ce concert collectif produit par David Torkanowsky et Scott Billington, Johnny Adams apparait sur quatre titres dont "Lost mind" et "Let's get lost".
In this collective concert produced by David Torkanowsky and Scott Billington, Johnny Adams appears on four tracks including "Lost mind" and "Let's get lost".
MAN OF MY WORD
Rounder
February - April 1998
Un dernier et bon album pour Rounder enregistré quelques mois avant sa mort. En très bonne forme, il délivre un bel album entre Blues et Rhythm & Blues avec des moments intenses comme "It ain't the same thing", "This time I'm gone for good", "Up and down world", "Man of my word", "Bulldog break his chain".
A last and good album for Rounder recorded a few months before his death. In very good form, he delivers a nice album between Blues and Rhythm & Blues with intense moments like "It ain't the same thing", "This time I'm gone for good", "Up and down world", "Man of my word", "Bulldog break his chain".