Johnnie Taylor – Who’s Making Love – The Stax Singles 1966-1970 – Kent UK CD

Having previously brought you well-received collections of the US singles A’s and B’s of Stax mainstays William Bell and Isaac Hayes, it came as no surprise to Ace records that we would already be asked ‘who’s next?’ in what has, in short order, become an essential mini-‘series’.

This month Ace can reveal that we are affording the same treatment to perhaps Stax’ biggest traditional soul artist of the post-Otis Redding era, with the first of two volumes that will cover the singles of Johnnie Taylor from 1965 through to the end of 1973 – a job long overdue, even if we do say so ourselves.

Across our two volumes it’s possible to trace JT’s musical evolution from bluesy soul contender to bonafide soul superstar, from the consistent but comparatively modest hits he enjoyed during the label’s ‘blue’ era to the non-stop top 10 R&B/Top 50 Pop success that came his way after ‘Who’s Making Love’ (a song he hated, incidentally!) put him front and centre in the Soul winners circle in 1968.

This compilation features all of Taylor’s ‘blue’ singles and carries his hit streak of the ‘yellow’ Stax era through to the end of 1970 with ‘Steal Away’. Being a singles compilation we have endeavoured to use mono masters where we were able to find them. Some of these mono mixes differ considerably from the stereo versions that the world has become familiar with, and a number being reissued here for the first time ever.

As always, the superb remastering here is complemented by a booklet that features the usual high standard Kent annotation and a wealth of label shots and ephemera that makes the package as good to look at as it is to listen to!

In the wake of the undoubtedly positive reception we are sure this collection will receive you can look forward to the fact that the second and final volume of Taylor’s 45s will hopefully be with you by the end of 2025 or early 2026.

tracklist:
01 I Had A Dream
02 Changes
03 I Got To Love Somebody’s Baby
04 Just The One I’ve Been Looking For
05 Little Bluebird
06 Toe-Hold
07 Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
08 Outside Love
09 You Can’t Get Away From It
10 If I Had It To Do Over
11 Somebody’s Sleeping In My Bed
12 Strange Things (Happening In My Heart)
13 Next Time
14 Sundown
15 I Ain’t Particular
16 Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire
17 Who’s Making Love
18 I’m Trying
19 Take Care Of Your Homework
20 Hold On This Time
21 Testify (I Wonna)
22 I Had A Fight With Love
23 I Could Never Be President
24 It’s Amazing
25 Love Bones
26 Mr. Nobody Is Somebody
27 Steal Away