The R&B singer and songwriter Marv Johnson was one of the first artists to be signed to the Tamla by Berry Gordy, although his records came out on United Artists, as the fledgling Motown set-up was not ready to handle him. Born in Detroit, his early musical influences included gospel and blues, but he began his singing career with a doo-wop group, the Junior Serenaders, in the mid-1950s. He was discovered by Gordy while performing at a carnival, continued recording for United Artists as he racked up a string of hits and recorded several albums before rejoining Motown in the ‘60s.
This 52-track collection includes the A & B sides of his singles on the Kudo and United Artists labels from this era, plus the titles from his albums Marvelous Marv Johnson, More Marv Johnson and I Believe not otherwise released on singles. It features all his chart entries from these years, including the pop and R&B Top 10 hits You Got What It Takes and I Love The Way You Love and his other pop and R&B hits Come To Me, I’m Coming Home, Ain’t Gonna Be That Way, All The Love I’ve Got, You’ve Got To) Move Two Mountains, Happy Days and Merry-Go-Round. He was a versatile song stylist, with his records encompassing the spectrum of pop and R&B styles, and also taking in gospel-flavoured material on the I Believe album.
Despite his early success in the United States, Johnson ultimately enjoyed more popularity overseas than in his native country. Johnson died of a stroke on 16 May 1993, in Columbia, South Carolina, at the age of 54 and in 2015, he was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. This collection offers a comprehensive overview of his early years, as well as an entertaining showcase for his distinctive talent.
TRACKS
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
My Baby-O |
Marv Johnson |
2
|
Once Upon A Time |
Marv Johnson |
3 |
Come To Me |
Marv Johnson |
4 |
Whisper |
Marv Johnson |
5 |
I'm Coming Home |
Marv Johnson |
6 |
River Of Tears |
Marv Johnson |
7 |
You Got What It Takes |
Marv Johnson |
8 |
Don't Leave Me |
Marv Johnson |
9 |
Love Is Here To Stay |
Marv Johnson |
10 |
When I Fall In Love |
Marv Johnson |
11 |
This Heart Of Mine (Will Surely Sing) |
Marv Johnson |
12 |
All The Love I've Got |
Marv Johnson |
13 |
(You've Got To) Move Two Mountains |
Marv Johnson |
14 |
I Need You |
Marv Johnson |
15 |
Happy Days |
Marv Johnson |
16 |
Baby, Baby |
Marv Johnson |
17 |
Merry-Go-Round |
Marv Johnson |
18 |
Tell Me That You Love Me |
Marv Johnson |
19 |
How Can We Tell Him |
Marv Johnson |
20 |
I've Got A Notion |
Marv Johnson |
21 |
Oh Mary |
Marv Johnson |
22 |
Show Me |
Marv Johnson |
23 |
Johnny One Stop |
Marv Johnson |
24 |
Easier Said Than Done |
Marv Johnson |
25 |
With All That's In Me |
Marv Johnson |
26 |
Magic Mirror |
Marv Johnson |
27 |
He Gave Me You |
Marv Johnson |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
That's How Bad |
Marv Johnson |
2 |
Let Yourself Go |
Marv Johnson |
3 |
That's Where I Lost My Baby |
Marv Johnson |
4 |
September In The Rain |
Marv Johnson |
5 |
Summertime |
Marv Johnson |
6 |
S'Wonderful |
Marv Johnson |
7 |
I Can't Get Started |
Marv Johnson |
8 |
Almost Like Being In Love |
Marv Johnson |
9 |
Love Is Here To Stay |
Marv Johnson |
10 |
When I Fall In Love |
Marv Johnson |
11 |
This Heart Of Mine (Will Surely Sing) |
Marv Johnson |
12 |
Clap Your Hands |
Marv Johnson |
13 |
When You've Lost Your Love |
Marv Johnson |
14 |
What A Need |
Marv Johnson |
15 |
Let Every Living Creature Praise The Lord |
Marv Johnson |
16 |
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot |
Marv Johnson |
17 |
How Long Has It Been Since You Prayed |
Marv Johnson |
18 |
He's Got The Whole World In His Hands |
Marv Johnson |
19 |
I Believe |
Marv Johnson |
20 |
Ride The Chariot |
Marv Johnson |
21 |
You Better Mind |
Marv Johnson |
22 |
When I've Done The Best I Can |
Marv Johnson |
23 |
I'm Going To Work Until The Day Is Done |
Marv Johnson |
24 |
If I Can Help Somebody |
Marv Johnson |
25 |
Everytime I Feel The Spirit |
Marv Johnson |