Chairmen Of The Board - The Complete Invictus Studio Recordings 1969-1978 (2014) [9CD Box Set]

Motown’s legendary songwriting/production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland, left the fold in 1967, to establish their own Invictus/Hot Wax group of labels. They had worldwide hits with their flagship act, Chairmen Of The Board, debuted the first album by Parliament, as well as scoring a UK #1 with Freda Payne’s ‘Band of Gold. Chairmen Of The Board were unusual at the time, with all the group members being featured vocalists in its line-up. This 9CD, 97-track anthology includes Chairmen Of The Board’s four studio albums for Invictus, as well as the Invictus solo albums released by General Johnson, Danny Woods and Harrison Kennedy. The two bonus discs include alternate versions, non-album singles and selected mixes, including two Tom Moulton remixes of their two biggest UK hits ‘Give Me Just A Little More Time’ and ‘(You’ve Got Me) Dangling On A String’, which were first released in 2014. The 36-page booklet includes a 6,500+ word liner note by Dean Rudland.

~ amazon

Chairmen of the Board

Best known for the stuttering number three single "Give Me Just a Little More Time," the Chairmen of the Board were one of the smoothest and most popular soul acts to emerge from Detroit in the early '70s. Although their time at the top of the R&B charts was brief – their first Top Ten arrived in 1970, their last in 1973 – they recorded a handful of '70s soul classics, all distinguished by the high, trembling vocals of General Norman Johnson, who also wrote the bulk of the group's material.

Born and raised in Norfolk, VA, Johnson began singing in the church choir when he was a child, eventually forming his first vocal group, the Humdingers, when he was 12. During high school, he formed the Showmen, and in his senior year, the group recorded the rock & roll tribute "It Will Stand." The single scraped the pop and R&B charts in 1961, and Johnson stayed with the Showmen for the next seven years, releasing a series of singles on Minit and Swan Records that became regional hits. By the end of the group's career, they had become staples on the beach music circuit on the East Coast. Johnson decided to leave the group for a solo career in 1968, eventually working his way to Detroit, MI, where he signed with former Motown producers and songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland's fledgling Invictus record label. Johnson formed a group with former Showman Danny Woods; ex-Stone Soul Children Harrison Kennedy; and Eddie Curtis, who had formerly sang with Lee Andrews & the Hearts and Huey Smith & the Clowns. Originally, the group was called the Gentlemen, but they quickly changed their name to the Chairmen of the Board.

the Chairmen of the Board's first single, "Give Me Just a Little More Time," was an instant hit, reaching number three on the pop charts and number eight R&B in early 1970, putting Invictus on the map. Two other singles, "(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String" and "Everything's Tuesday," followed, which established them as R&B chart contenders, but they failed to climb past 38 on the pop charts. Although the subsequent "Pay to the Piper" reached number 13 on pop, it was their last Top 40 hit. Between 1971 and 1974, the Chairmen of the Board received more support from the R&B audience, with songs like "Chairman of the Board" (1971) and "Finder's Keepers" (1973) reaching the Top Ten. Despite this constant stream of singles, the band stopped recording in 1971, which led to a temporary breakup. The following year, they re-formed and toured throughout the Southeast beach music circuit, where their singles were continually regional hits. Although the Chairmen were having trouble reaching the charts, Johnson's songs became hits for the likes of Clarence Carter ("Patches"), Freda Payne ("Bring the Boys Home"), and Honey Cone, who had no less than three hits – "Want Ads," "Stick Up," "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" – with his compositions.

the Chairmen of the Board continued touring and releasing albums until 1976, when they disbanded, with each member releasing solo albums. Johnson and Woods continued performing under the Chairmen name for a short time before Johnson moved to Arista in the late '70s. He had a handful of hits for the label, all of which demonstrated contemporary disco influences, before reuniting with Woods as the Chairmen in the early '80s. Over the next two decades, the duo regularly toured the Southeast to much success.

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG

The explosive "Give Me Just a Little More Time" had Four Tops written all over it. From the in-your-face vocals, the insatiable beat, and spirited backing, the song was a bonafide, can't-miss hit. A rousing "You Got Me Dangling on a String" again features General Johnson's (formerly of the Showmen) unusual, quivering lead on another song that seem tailored for the Tops. The country-influenced "Patches" is the most interesting song here; it was later recorded by Clarence Carter, becoming one of his biggest hits. The group's versatility is showcased, as each member – General Johnson, Danny Woods, Eddie Curtis, and Harrison Kennedy – leads at least one song. The problem is, each has a different agenda: Woods is hardcore R&B, Curtis likes '60s easy listening, Kennedy is a rocker, and General Johnson is General Johnson. The assorted leads give the album a quilting effect.

by Andrew Hamilton, AMG

Tracklist:

01. Give Me Just A Little More Time 02:43
02. Come Together 03:51
03. Bless You 02:59
04. Patches 03:33
05. Since The Days Of Pigtails (& Fairy Tales) 02:43
06. I'll Come Crawling 02:38
07. (You've Got Me) Dangling On A String 02:59
08. Bravo, Hooray 03:00
09. Didn't We 02:43
10. Feelin' Alright? 03:43
11. My Way 04:00
12. Tricked & Trapped 03:19

Another good release by the hand-picked group, "Chairmen of the Board" is a rocking, swaggering slice of braggadocio where the lead boasts about his mastery over his woman. "Everything Tuesday" is one of the lyrically clever concoctions that Invictus/Hot Wax became known for; a good snappy beat didn't hurt matters either. "Pay to the Piper" provides an excellent vehicle for soul singer extraordinaire Danny Woods to display his vocal prowess; Woods could belt 'em out with the best of them. Due to the popularity of Clarence Carter's remake, the original "Patches" is included on the group's second LP as well as the first. "When Will She Tell Me She Needs Me" is definitive General Johnson; Johnson sounds like he's being choked as he sings the aching lyrics. Good tunes are in abundance on In Session, as "All We Need Is Love" and "Hanging on to a Memory" are additional gems.

by Andrew Hamilton, AMG

Tracklist:

01. Chaimen Of The Board 03:36
02. Everything’s Tuesday 02:50
03. Pay To The Piper 03:08
04. Twelfth Of Never 03:13
05. All We Need Is Understanding 02:55
06. Patches 03:32
07. It Was Almost Something 02:40
08. Bridge Over Troubled Water 05:17
09. Hanging On To A Memory 04:13
10. I Can’t Find Myself 02:33
11. When Will She Tell Me She Needs Me 03:04
12. Children Of Today 03:14

After the departure of Eddie Custis, the Chairmen of the Board found themselves pared down to a trio for their 1972 release Bittersweet. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it allowed the group to eliminate the middle-of-the-road ballad covers that Custis favored and resulted in their most consistent overall album to date. The impressive "Men Are Getting Scarce" provides the album with an energetic opener and its combination of wah-wah guitar and pulsing keyboards isn't too far from the funky, message-oriented soul sound that the Temptations were scoring with at the time. Other notable tunes on this album include the title track, a breakup ballad with an unusual but effective slow-fast-slow structure, and "Working on a Building of Love," an infectious up-tempo tune that blends a piano-pounding, gospel-tinged melody with a clever lyric worthy of Smokey Robinson. However, the album's finest moment is "I'm on My Way to a Better Place," a spiritual ballad built on a soaring, string-laden melody that features an intensely moving vocal performance from General Johnson. The other tunes don't command the attention as strongly as the songs mentioned here, but each is well-crafted and adds to the album's smooth, consistent feel. The result lacks the consistent, high level of inspiration to be judged a masterpiece but it will definitely please anyone who enjoys the Chairmen of the Board's hits.

by Donald A. Guarisco, AMG

Tracklist:

01. Men Are Getting Scarce 05:19
02. So Glad You’re Mine 04:14
03. Working On A Building Of Love 02:56
04. I’m A Sign Of Changing Times 05:44
05. Elmo James 04:20
06. I’m On My Way To A Better Place 04:05
07. Bittersweet 05:07
08. Saginaw County Line 04:09
09. Weary Traveler 05:16

For what would be their final album, the Chairmen of the Board teamed up with producer Jeffrey Bowen to create an album that was radically different from all of their previous output. Instead of the Motown-styled harmony soul that earned the group their pop-chart success, Skin I'm In was built on a psychedelic funk-rock sound that was very close to the music George Clinton was exploring around the same time. A look at the album's credits reveals why the album sounds like this: the backup band includes several members of Funkadelic and Parliament, including Bernie Worrell and Eddie Hazel. The result is a surprisingly effective combination of pop-soul hooks and funky grit: "Everybody Party All Night" pits smooth harmonies against a staccato wah-wah guitar hook to create an energetic, rhythmic slice of soul and "Finders Keepers" weaves punchy horn charts into its soulful keyboard-driven melody to create a funky toe-tapper of a tune. The album's centerpiece is an epic cover of Sly Stewart's "Life and Death" that blends the song's pulsating melody with flowery instrumental passages built of Mellotron and synthesizer. The album balances this funk-rock attack with lovely ballads on the album's second side, including a heartbreakingly soulful cover of "Only Love Can Break a Heart." In the end, Skin I'm In is so different from past efforts that it may alienate fans of the Chairmen of the Board's early hits but it is definitely a worthwhile listen for fans of funk music, especially those who love Funkadelic and Parliament.

by Donald A. Guarisco, AMG

Tracklist:

01. Everybody Party All Night 04:07
02. Skin I'm In 04:17
03. Morning Glory 02:20
04. Life & Death (Part 1) 01:35
05. White Rose (Freedom Flower) 01:40
06. Life & Death (Part 2) 03:50
07. Let’s Have Some Fun 03:44
08. Love At First Sight 03:53
09. Only Love Can Break A Heart 05:32
10. Live With Me, Love With Me 02:10
11. Finder’s Keepers 04:07

General Johnson

Leader of Chairmen of the Board and a top R&B songwriter/producer as well, General Johnson enjoyed a long career stretching from his debut during the mid-'50s glory days of R&B to his status as a turn-of-the-century beach music icon. Born and raised in the seaside city of Norfolk, VA, Johnson began singing in church with his father at the age of six, and made his recording debut at 12 when his group the Humdingers recorded a few unreleased sides for Atlantic. Several years later, after a change of name to the Showmen, Johnson and the group moved to the New Orleans hit factory Minit for the 1961 rock & roll anthem "It Will Stand." The single charted both in 1961 and 1964, but the Showmen only recorded a dozen sides for Minit and Swan before breaking up in 1968.

General Johnson briefly attempted a solo career, but wound up in Detroit attached to the fledgling Invictus label helmed by Motown hitmakers Holland-Dozier-Holland. With Danny Woods (from the Showmen), Harrison Kennedy, and Eddie Custis, Johnson formed Chairmen of the Board. Their first single, "Give Me Just a Little More Time," became a big pop hit in 1970, closely followed by "(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String" and "Everything's Tuesday." Johnson wrote another of the group's moderate hits, "Pay to the Piper," and several of his songs became hits for other artists: "Patches" made the Top Ten for Clarence Carter (Jerry Reed also recorded a country hit), and fellow Invictus act Honey Cone hit the charts with his "Want Ads," "Stick Up," and "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show."

Chairmen of the Board slipped from the charts during the mid-'70s, and while General Johnson and Danny Woods stuck together for a time (as the Chairmen), Johnson finally earned his solo career in 1979. His self-titled album for Arista was a minor hit, translating soul into the contemporary sounds of disco. Johnson reunited with Woods early in the '80s, and the pair toured the Southeast beach music circuit to much success. The early '90s brought another album, What Goes Around Comes Around, also recorded with Woods. General Johnson died at his home in suburban Atlanta, GA on October 13, 2010, reportedly from lung cancer. He was 67 years old.

Biography by John Bush, AMG

Tracklist:

01. Saginaw County Line 04:11
02. God’s Gift To Man 03:57
03. It Was Almost Something 02:40
04. Every Couples' Not A Pair 04:43
05. All We Need Is Understanding 02:55
06. Everything’s Tuesday 02:50
07. I Never Get Tired Of You 05:21
08. My Credit Didn’t Go Through 03:37
09. Things Are Bound To Get Better Later On 06:16
10. Mary Lou Thomas 05:06

Harrison Kennedy

Best known as the lead vocalist on the Chairmen of the Board blues classic "I'm the Chairman of the Board," Harrison Kennedy was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, before moving to Detroit to join up with the Chairmen, a group started as part of the new Holland-Dozier-Holland label Invictus/Hot Wax. In the mid-'70s, Kennedy left the group and struck out on a solo career. Over the years he has been able to pull from styles as varied as funk, soul, R&B, folk, rock, and gospel. In 2008, Kennedy was nominated for Best Blues Recording in Canada's Juno Awards.

by Chris True, AMG

Tracklist:

01. Hypnotic Music 05:21
02. Closet Queen 03:22
03. Night Comes Day Goes 06:43
04. Sunday Morning People 03:09
05. Gimme A Glass Of Water 03:07
06. Come Together 03:52
07. You Hurt Your Mother Again 05:56
08. Up-The Organisation 03:14
09. Children Of Toda 03:14





Tracklist:

01. Everybody’s Got A Song To Sing 04:04
02. Let Me Ride 03:03
03. Roller Coaster 03:43
04. Try On My Love For Size 03:31
05. It Didn't Take Long 03:32
06. Working On A Building Of Love 02:56
07. Funny How Time Slips Away 05:19
08. Two Can Be As Lonely As One 04:02
09. I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) 07:16
10. Danny Boy 05:11





Tracklist CD1:

01. Savannah Lady / General Johnson 02:29
02. I'm In Love Darling / General Johnson 02:45
03. Men Are Getting Scarce / Chairmen Of The Board 03:14
04. Hanging On To A Memory / Chairmen Of The Board 02:29
05. Elmo James / Chairmen Of The Board 03:30
06. Bittersweet / Chairmen Of The Board 03:26
07. Let Me Down Easy / Chairmen Of The Board 02:43
08. Roller Coaster / Danny Woods 02:55
09. Everybody's Got A Song To Sing / Chairmen Of The Board 02:38
10. Everybody’s Tippin' / Danny Woods 02:54
11. Up-The Organisation (Instrumental) / Danny Woods 03:15
12. Finder's Keepers"I (Instrumental) / Chairmen Of The Board 03:43


Tracklist CD2:

01. Finder's Keepers (Vocal) / Chairmen Of The Board 03:24
02. Only Time Will Tell / General Johnson 03:40
03. Only Time Will Tell (Instrumental) / General Johnson 04:07
04. Skin I'm In / Chairmen Of The Board 03:20
05. Everybody Party All Night / Chairmen Of The Board 03:00
06. You’ve Got Extra Added Powe In Your Love (feat Prince Harold) / Chairmen Of The Board 03:30
07. Someone Just Like You (feat Prince Harold) / Chairmen Of The Board 02:53
08. Come On In & Dance / Chairmen Of The Board 03:32
09. What's The Use (First Release 2014) / Chairmen Of The Board 02:45
10. Where There Is Faith, There Is Hope (First Release 2014) / Chairmen Of The Board 03:05
11. You’ve Got Me Dangling On A String (Tom Moulton Remix) / Chairmen Of The Board 04:48
12. Give Me Just A Little More Time (Tom Moulton Remix) / Chairmen Of The Board 04:21



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