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JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS

JOHNNY BRISTOL

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Johnny Bristol

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Though born in Morganton, NC, vocalist, composer, and producer Johnny Bristol began his career in Detroit and was a longtime force at Motown from 1961 to 1973. Bristol teamed with Jackey Beavers doing duets for Gwen Gordy's Tri-Phi label in Detroit during the early '60s. They cut the original version of "Someday We'll Be Together," which was remade by Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1969. Bristol was the session's producer, and also the male voice doing harmony.

Bristol was professionally and personally part of Motown, as he married Iris Gordy, and was also Harvey Fuqua's writing and production partner for several years. They co-produced Junior Walker & the All-Stars' remake of "How Sweet It Is" in 1966, then co-wrote and produced "What Does It Take." Bristol wrote and/or produced songs for Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Smokey Robinson, David Ruffin, Edwin Starr, Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Martha Reeves, Jimmy Ruffin, the Spinners, the Four Tops, and Stevie Wonder. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "25 Miles," "Help Me Make It Through The Night," "I Don't Want to Do Wrong," and "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" were some of the songs featuring Bristol's input. He signed with MGM as a solo artist in 1974. His first single, "Hang on In There Baby," was his biggest; it was number two R & B and number-eight pop that year. Bristol enjoyed two more sizable hits for MGM, "You and I" and "Leave My World" in 1974 and 1975.

He moved to Atlantic in 1976, and scored his last hit with "Do It to My Mind," a number-five R & B record. The Osmonds also had a number one record in England with Bristol's "Love Me for a Reason." Bristol remade "Hang on In There Baby" as a duet with Alton McClain for Polydor in 1980, and did another duet with Amii Stewart titled "My Guy/My Girl" for Handshake. He recorded for England's Motorcity label, and scored a British hit with "Man Up in the Sky" in 1989. His last entry was "Come to Me" for Whichway in 1991. Bristol was also productive as a writer and producer in the '70s and '80s; Tavares, Buddy Miles, Tamiko Jones, Real Thing, O.C. Smith, and Margie Joseph recorded his compositions in the '70s, and Bristol produced a Four Tops remake of "I'm Ready for Love" in 1985, briefly returning to Motown. The veteran songwriter and producer passed away in March of 2004 at the age of 65.

-- Ron Wynn of All Music Guide.
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videos
Hang on in There, BabyHang on in There, Baby
Do It To My MindDo It To My Mind
Strangers in the Dark CornersStrangers in the Dark Corners


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LinkYearTitle
1974Hang on in There Baby
1975Feeling the Magic
1976Bristol's Crème
1978Strangers
1981Free to Be Me
1994Come to Me


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1974 Hang on in There Baby

01. Woman, Woman
02. Hang on in There Baby
03. Reachin' Out for Your Love
04. You and I
05. Take Care of You for Me
06. I Got Cha Number
07. It Don't Hurt No More
08. Memories Don't Leave Like People Do
09. Love Me for a Reason
10. Woman, Woman (Reprise)


1975 Feeling the Magic

01. Leave My World
02. Morganton, North Carolina
03. Go On and Dream
04. Love Takes Tears
05. Feeling the Magic
06. Lusty Lady
07. I'm Just a Loser
08. Girl, You Got Your Act Together
09. All Goodbyes Aren't Gone
10. I Wouldn't Change a Thing


1976 Bristol's Crème

01. Do It To My Mind
02. I Love Talkin' 'Bout Baby
03. I Sho Like Groovin' With Ya
04. You Turned Me On To Love
05. She Came Into My Life
06. Love To Have a Chance To Taste the Wine
07. Baby's So Much Fun To Dream About
08. Have Yourself a Good Time Thinkin' 'Bout the Good Times


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1978 Strangers

01. Strangers In the Dark Corners
02. I'm Waiting On Love
03. If You Ever Need Somebody
04. She's So Amazing
05. Everday She's Around
06. You Can't Have Love (Without Complications)
07. I'm So Proud of You
08. When the Fire is Burning
09. Why Stop It Now
10. When He Comes (You Will Know)


1981 Free to Be Me



1994 Come to Me

01. Come to Me
02. That's the Way of the World
03. Reaching Out for Love
04. So Good
05. Goin' Back
06. He's Waiting on You
07. Number One Distraction
08. Fantasy
09. Too Late
10. Life and Love


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