Johnnie Johnson: "I'm Just Johnnie" (2025) CD Review

Pianist and songwriter Johnnie Johnson worked with Chuck Berry in those early days of rock and roll, and in 2001 was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. While having an incredible influence on the course of rock and roll, Johnnie Johnson was mainly into the blues, and played in Albert King's band. He also had his own band, releasing solo albums like Blue Hand Johnnie, on which he covered "Johnny B. Goode," re-titling it "Johnnie B. Goode" (and why not, since supposedly it was inspired, at least partially, by him anyway), and Johnnie B. Bad (and, yeah, that album's title track has something of that rock and roll thing happening). Johnnie Johnson died in 2005, but twenty years later we got a new album of his recordings, stuff he was working on in the last few years of his life, and it's excellent. The album contains both original material and covers. He has some special guests playing with him on this album, including Bruce Hornsby, Johnny Rivers, John Sebastian and Bonnie Raitt, in addition to the regular members of Johnnie's band. It's actually a two-disc set, the first disc containing music, and the second disc featuring an interview conducted by Pat St. John. The great Bonnie Raitt can be heard on both discs.

Disc One

The album opens with its title track, and right away we are treated to some delicious stuff on piano, Johnnie Johnson's work creating the kind of vibe that makes you want to get up and dance. And the horns second that almost immediately. Jim Manley is on trumpet, and Ray Vollmar is on saxophone. Johnnie Johnson also sings lead on this one, and in the main lines there is a little reference to "Johnny B. Goode": "I'm doing what I like/I'm doing what I should/I'm just Johnnie, and I'm trying to be good." He delivers a cool, straightforward vocal performance. It is in the piano work where most of the energy is. This track also contains a good lead by Tony T on electric guitar. Liz Henderson provides some wonderful backing vocal work. "I'm Just Johnnie" is followed by another original number, "I Get Weary," a great, slow blues number with that familiar sound. Johnnie Johnson is on piano, and Paul Willett is on organ, and their work is at the heart of this track. I especially love Johnnie's lead in the middle. Charles Glenn takes over lead vocal duties on this one. "I've got to be strong now/I must move on now/But I get so weary/So tired and alone." Yup, I think many of us are in touch with that. This track also contains a strong guitar lead, this time by Max Baker. As the song begins to fade out, we're treated to more great stuff on both piano and organ.

Johnnie Johnson then gives us a cover of "Every Day I Have The Blues" that is hopping. On this track, Bruce Hornsby joins Johnnie Johnson on both piano and lead vocals. Johnnie sings the first verse. Both deliver excellent leads on piano, just as you'd expect. It's such a treat to hear them exchanging solos. And there's even more talent on this track, for Bonnie Raitt is on slide guitar. Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby and Pat Liston also provide backing vocal work. Bob Hammett is on guitar, Gus Thornton is on bass, Greg Trampe is on organ, and Kenny Rice is on drums. This song was written by John Chatman (Memphis Slim). This rendition is great fun. It is followed by a cover of Johnny Rivers' "Lo Down." And Johnny Rivers is on guitar here, delivering some really good stuff. This is a song that Johnny Rivers included on his 2004 album Reinvention Highway. Henry Lawrence sings lead on this one. "I'm going down to the roadhouse/And find myself another girl/And if she gives me some good loving/I'll take her all around the world." Johnnie delivers some wonderful work on piano. Larry Smith is on baritone saxophone, Gus Thornton is on bass, and Mark Kersten is on drums.

There are several songs with the title "Let The Good Times Roll" (or some slight variation of it), and they're all good. On this album, Johnnie Johnson covers the one written by Sam Theard (misprinted as "Thread" in the disc's liner notes) and Fleecie Moore, and originally recorded by Louis Jordan. This version features Bonnie Raitt on slide guitar and backing vocals, helping to make this track stand out. "Play the blues, Bonnie," she is urged at one point, and certainly does. Kenny Rice is on lead vocals as well as drums. "Hey, everybody, let's have some fun/You only live for once, and when you're dead, you're done." Exactly. So enjoy your lives. This is it, friends. Johnnie Johnson and company give us a really good rendition here. There is plenty of great stuff on piano, and this track features the brass section of Elliot Doc Simpson on trumpet, Tom O'Brien on tenor saxophone, and Ray McAnallen on trombone. Don't be surprised if you find yourself joining the backing vocalists, echoing the song's title line, for when Kenny says, "Everybody sing," he doesn't just mean the backing vocalists on the track, he means everybody. Everybody. Then Johnnie Johnson is on lead vocals, as well as piano, for a cover of "Three Handed Woman," a song that Louis Jordan also recorded. This rendition has the band jamming a bit before Johnnie comes on vocals. We even get a cool lead by Tony T on guitar before any lines are sung. "She's right-handed, left-handed and underhanded too." There is a very cool vibe to this track.  Gus Thornton is on bass, and Richard Hunt is on drums. These guys jam again toward the end.

"Broke The Bank" is an original number, a lively and fun song featuring a brass section. Johnnie sings lead on this one too, and here he is joined on harmonica by John Sebastian, who delivers some delicious stuff, including a cool lead after a great, extended lead by Johnnie on piano. I was fortunate to get to see John Sebastian play harmonica at that Wild Honey Lovin' Spoonful show back in early 2020, just before the pandemic made live music all but impossible. Tom Maloney is guitar, Ray Vollmar is on tenor saxophone, and Bill Sextro is on trumpet. Amy Thorn, Bob Hammett and Gene Ackmann provide backing vocal work on this one. "We could have made a new start/But then she went and broke my heart." That's followed by "Blues In G," the album's first of two instrumental tracks. It's a cool, somewhat laid-back blues number, featuring Tom Maloney on guitar. Gus Thornton is on bass, and Kenny Rice plays drums. I especially like Johnnie's lead on piano in the second half of the track.

Johnnie Johnson delivers a totally enjoyable cover of "Stagger Lee." Interestingly, the liner notes credit the song to "R. Hunter - J. Hurt," but the Grateful Dead song "Stagger Lee," written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter is quite a bit different from the Missisippi John Hurt song, and both of those are different from the "Stagger Lee" song that Lloyd Price recorded. And it is the Lloyd Price song that Johnnie Johnson does here. Henry Lawrence is on lead vocals. Bob Hammett is on guitar, Gus Thornton is bass, and Kenny Rice is on drums. This track also features some excellent stuff by Ray Vollmer on tenor saxophone and Bill Sextro on trumpet. Bob Hammett, Gene Ackmann, Laura Hanson, Liz Henderson and Pat Liston all contribute backing vocal work to this track. That's followed by "Johnnie Johnson Blues." What might be surprising is that a song titled "Johnnie Johnson Blues" was not written by Johnnie Johnson, but rather by Johnny Rivers. Rivers included it on that Reinvention Highway album, and on this rendition he plays guitar. Johnnie Johnson is on lead vocals and piano. "They call me Johnnie J/And I sure like to play," he sings at the beginning. Oh, that is clear from everything we're hearing. This track contains some wonderful stuff on piano. In the second half, there is a sudden change, as things take a jazzy turn, leading to a cool jam.

Charles Glenn sings lead on "Heebie Jeebies," and is also on percussion. This is an original and playful number. "I've seen a lot of people with a screw loose or two/But I ain't never seen the likes of you." Laura Hanson provides some wonderful backing vocal work, and Johnnie Johnson delivers another delightful lead on piano. The horn section is made up of Elliot Doc Simpson on trumpet, Tom O'Brien on tenor saxophone, Larry Smith on baritone saxophone and Ray McAnallen on trombone. Max Baker is on guitar, Dickie Steltenpohl is on bass, and Andy O'Connor is on drums. The album, or at least the first disc, concludes with a cover of Sonny Thompson's "Long Gone," the second instrumental track. Tom Maloney delivers some good stuff on guitar, but it is Johnnie Johnson's piano work that gives this track its delightful vibe.

Disc Two

The second disc, as already mentioned, contains an interview with Johnnie Johnson. It is divided into two tracks. On the first track, Pat St. John introduces him by saying, "He's been called the Music Man, he's been called Johnnie B. Goode, he's been called Johnnie B. Bad, he's been called Johnnie J." And Johnnie replies, "I'm just Johnnie." And we are treated then to a little work on piano, and Johnnie plays little bits on piano throughout the interview, which is cool. Pat St. John is clearly a fan of Johnnie's work, even before he says he's a fan straight out. Johnnie talks about playing the piano in his home when he was a kid, and holding a song in his head until he could sit down at the instrument. They talk about some of the many famous musicians that Johnnie Johnson has played with, including Chuck Berry (Johnnie plays the beginning of "School Days"). And he talks about not being able to read music, which is crazy. While the conversation might be focused on the blues, Johnnie Johnson does get a chance to play a bit of "Misty." And they talk about the album, about the special guest stars and the tempo. This first track is approximately twenty-four minutes.

Then for the second track, Johnnie Johnson and Pat St. John are joined by Bonnie Raitt and album producer Gene Ackmann. Bonnie starts this track: "Johnnie Johnson really is the bridge to me between what was blues and jazz and R&B and what became rock and roll." She talks about what a giant he is, regarding his influence on music. Gene talks about Bonnie's involvement in the project, and tells some cool anecdotes, as about Bonnie calling Johnnie up on stage on his birthday. He also mentions how Johnnie played in Bob Weir's band. Johnnie talks about one crazy tour he did many years ago, and about the night he was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Johnny Rivers is also part of this interview, though not mentioned on the back of the CD case. This track is approximately twelve and a half minutes.

CD Track List

Disc One

1. I'm Just Johnnie
2. I Get Weary
3. Every Day I Have The Blues
4. Lo Down
5. Let The Good Times Roll
6. Three Handed Woman
7. Broke The Bank
8. Blues In G
9. Stagger Lee
10. Johnnie Johnson Blues
11. Heebie Jeebies
12. Long Gone

Disc Two

1. Johnnie And Pat In The Studio
2. Johnnie, Bonnie, Gene, And Pat

I'm Just Johnnie was released on August 29, 2025 on Missouri Morning Records.