Johnny Adams Advice Sought

[Dan Gould]

I'm looking at a late 60s (from what I can find online) Johnny Adams LP

Dim Lights Thick Smoke by Jim Carly & Johnny Adams

anyone know it? Since I've found his Rounder releases and heard his earliest singles, I am thinking about investigating this middle period, so any advice is appreciated.

[John L]

Dan: I don't know that particular album. For middle period Johnny Adams, you might check out the 2-disc release of his complete recordings on the Hep' Me label: Chasing Rainbows. It's far from consistently stellar, but there are still some real gems that a Johnny Adams fan like yourself would not want to miss.

[jeffcrom]

I have a stack of Johnny Adams singles from the "middle period" on the SSS International, Hep' Me, and Paid labels. He was doing a lot of country-tinged material at the time. Some of the songs aren't real great, but damn - that voice. For what it's worth, my favorites are "Reconsider Me," "I Won't Cry," "South Side of Soul Street," and the unrepentant "Hell Yes I Cheated."

I love the chapter on Adams in Jeff Hannusch's book on New Orleans R & B, I Hear You Knockin'. The man paid some dues.

[Dan Gould]

Dan: I don't know that particular album. For middle period Johnny Adams, you might check out the 2-disc release of his complete recordings on the Hep' Me label: Chasing Rainbows. It's far from consistently stellar, but there are still some real gems that a Johnny Adams fan like yourself would not want to miss.

Thanks John. Judging from the clips on Amazon, it sounds like that set has maybe a disc worth of good stuff, half a disc mediocre and another half pretty awful (disco remake of Spanish Harlem?). That era isn't completely new to me, as I do have the Fuel issue "An Introduction To" which has some tracks in common.

[paul secor]

If you're looking for late 60's Johnny Adams, and don't have this - http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1009976 - it's one to get. Includes some of what jeffcrom wrote about a couple of posts above.

[Late]

Released this week. Tracklist. I'm new to Johnny Adams, and this has been an excellent introduction. Makes me want to check out some of Ace's New Orleans Soul comps. Any recommendations along those lines, comp or single artist?

[soulpope]

Released this week. Tracklist. I'm new to Johnny Adams, and this has been an excellent introduction. Makes me want to check out some of Ace's New Orleans Soul comps. Any recommendations along those lines, comp or single artist?

believe this being a fine compilation covering the early 60s and if you are interested in the second half of this decade, this also comes recommended :

[medjuck]

Saw him in Long Beach in the '80s. He was still pretty great.

[GA Russell]

I saw him at the New Orleans JazzFest, I think in '91. i enjoyed it.