Johnny Bristol                        

b.  Morgantown, North Carolina, USA. Bristol’s career began within the nascent Tamla/Motown circle. He first recorded in 1960 as part of the duo of Johnny And Jackie (Jackie Beavers, whom Bristol met while in the US Air Force). On Gwen Gordy and Harvey Fuqua’s Tri-Phi label, they recorded the original version of ‘Someday We’ll Be Together’ (1961), which was a runaway success for the Supremes in 1969. Bristol remained with the company, and over the next 10 years, in a partnership with Harvey Fuqua, forged a successful career as a producer and songwriter with Edwin Starr, David Ruffin, Detroit Spinners, Stevie Wonder and Junior Walker. Bristol left Motown in 1973, and joined CBS as house producer, but, despite that, was still unable to get them to release his solo album. He eventually achieved this by negotiating an outside deal with MGM, and relaunched his performing career with an international smash ‘Hang On In There Baby’ (1974). Subsequent releases reinforced its machismo—based approach but lacked the depth and variety which the artist was able to conjure for other performers. Despite a prolific work-rate, he was unable to repeat that early hit, except for a UK Top 40 hit in 1980, duetting with Amii Stewart on ‘My Guy - My Girl’. After making singles for Ariola and Handshake Records in the 80s he briefly recorded for Ian Levine’s Motor City label in 1989, issuing two UK singles.

Albums:  Hang On In There Baby (1974), Bristol’s Creme (1976), Free To Be Me (1981). Compilation: The Best Of Johnny Bristol (1988).                                                                                                       

Johnny Bristol

Male soul/disco vocalist. "Hang on in there baby" was a classic "early disco" hit - listen for the guitar scratching. Lifted from his second album, "Do it to my mind" is a soulful sexy disco song, resembling much of the work of Barry White or Isaac Hayes around this period. Later Bristol moved to Handshake records (Ariola in Europe) for disco hit "Take me down".

Do it to my mind (Atlantic 12" DSKO 79, 1976)

 

  1. Hang on in there baby (MGM LP, 1974)
  2. Feeling the magic (MGM LP, 1975)
  3. Bristol's creme (Atlantic LP, 1976)
  4. Strangers (Atlantic LP, 1978)
  5. Free to be me (Handshake LP, 1981)

     

  6. Hang on in there baby (MGM, 1974)
  7. Do it to my mind (Atlantic, 1976)
  8. Take me down (Ariola, 1981)                              

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