Little Johnny Taylor

[Edie Antoinette]

Some folks still get them mixed up, so to get it straight from the outset, Little Johnny Taylor was best known for his scorching slow blues smashes "Part Time Love" (for Bay Area-based Galaxy Records in 1963) and 1971's "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing" for Ronn Records in Shreveport, LA. This Johnny Taylor was definitely not the suave Sam Cooke protégé who blitzed the charts with "Who's Making Love" for Stax in 1968; that's Johnnie Taylor, who added to the confusion by covering "Part Time Love" for Stax. Another similarity between the two Taylors: both hailed from strong gospel backgrounds.

Little Johnny came to Los Angeles in 1950 and did a stint with the Mighty Clouds of Joy before going secular. Influenced by Little Willie John, he debuted as an R&B artist with a pair of 45s for Hunter Hancock's Swingin' logo, but his career didn't soar until he inked a pact with Fantasy's Galaxy subsidiary in 1963 (where he benefited from crisp production by Cliff Goldsmith and Ray Shanklin's arrangements).

The gliding mid-tempo blues "You'll Need Another Favor," firmly in a Bobby Bland mode, was Taylor's first chart item. He followed it up with the tortured R&B chart-topper "Part Time Love," which found him testifying in gospel-fired style over Arthur Wright's biting guitar and a grinding, horn-leavened downbeat groove. The singer also did fairly well with "Since I Found a New Love" in 1964 and "Zig Zag Lightning" in 1966.

Taylor's tenure at Stan Lewis' Ronn imprint elicited the slow blues smash "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing" in 1971, and a similarly witty hit follow-up, "Open House at My House," the next year (both were covered later by Z.Z. Hill for Malaco). While at Ronn, Little Johnny cut some duets with yet another Taylor, this one named Ted (no, they weren't related either). Though he recorded only sparingly during the 1980s and 1990s, he remained an active performer until his death in 2002.

[Boo]

For a long time I didn't know it was a Johnny Taylor and a Little Johnny,I get mixed up also, I think Johnny Talor sing Part Time Love and ,Slide On,but which one sings Soul Heaven? I think it's Little Johnny Taylor.

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Johnnie Taylor sung Soul Heaven....Great blog Mama Edie

[Edie Antoinette]

Thanks for that info Sole Heaven! LOL I mean 7th Sole Heaven! And thanks on the blog too suggah.

[Edie Antoinette]

The Little one be jammin too! LOL

[Tonya Anderson]

Thanks for adding this discussion blog. I will let my Dad know that you have featured this singer on the page. I'd never knew that there was 2 Johnnie Taylors. Ongoing learning....

[Edie Antoinette]

No problem. I didn't realize there was two either until today. I have both on the main playlist for the group. On-going learning for all of us. That's why I love your input. Tell your Dad thanks too.