Song: Release Me
Song by: Johnny Adams
Photo credit: Masahiro Sumori - Own work
Usage: CC BY-SA 3.0

Podcast vocals: Gail Nobles
Keyboardist: Gail Nobles

Todays topic on Podcast and Blues is Johnny Adams.

Johnny Adams is a blues, jazz, and gospel singer, known as “ The Tan Canary”. for the multi-active range of his singing voice, his swooping vocal mannerisms and falsetto. His biggest hits were his versions of “Release Me” and “Reconsider Me” in the late 1960s. When I heard Johnny sing Release Me, in my book, he’s a country singer too. The song came from his album “Heart and Soul” on side one. It was released in 1969 by SSS International. The record was produced by Shelby Singleton and contains much of Adams’ 1960s output. SSS stands for Shelby Sumpter Singleton.

In 1968, Singleton signed Johnny Adams. He is a soul singer with a remarkable voice. The song Release Me had little success until Johnny signed with Singleton and reissued it on the SSS International label. This time, it reached #34 R&B and #82 pop when issued at the end of 1968. For a follow up, he tried another country song “Reconsider Me” with Shelby Singleton producing and Adams going through an amazing vocal workout which reached #8 R&B & #28 Pop.

I’m Gail Nobles and you’re listening to Podcast and Blues. Today’s topic is Johnny Adams.