Jhonny "Guitar" Watson

"Reinvention" could just as easily have been Johnny "Guitar" Watson's middle name. The multi-talented performer parlayed his stunning guitar skills into a vaunted reputation as one of the hottest blues axemen on the West Coast during the 1950s. But that admirable trait wasn't paying the bills as the 1970s rolled in. So he totally changed his image to that of a pimp-styled funkster, enjoying more popularity than ever before for his down-and-dirty R&B smashes "A Real Mother for Ya" and "Superman Lover."

Watson's roots resided within the fertile blues scene of Houston. As a teen, he played with fellow Texas future greats Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland. But he left Houston for Los Angeles when he was only 15 years old. Back then, Watson's main instrument was piano; that's what he played with Chuck Higgins' band when the saxist cut "Motorhead Baby" for Combo in 1952 (Watson also handled vocal duties).

He was listed as Young John Watson when he signed with Federal in 1953. His first sides for the King subsidiary found him still tinkling the ivories, but by 1954, when he dreamed up the absolutely astonishing instrumental "Space Guitar," the youth had switched over to guitar. "Space Guitar" ranks with the greatest achievements of its era -- Watson's blistering rapid-fire attack, done without the aid of a pick, presages futuristic effects that rock guitarists still hadn't mastered another 15 years down the line.

Watson moved over to the Bihari Brothers' RPM label in 1955 and waxed some of the toughest upbeat blues of their time frame (usually under saxist Maxwell Davis's supervision). "Hot Little Mama," "Too Tired," and "Oh Baby" scorched the strings with their blazing attack; "Someone Cares for Me" was a churchy Ray Charles-styled slow-dragger, and "Three Hours Past Midnight" cut bone-deep with its outrageous guitar work and laid-back vocal (Watson's cool phrasing as a singer was scarcely less distinctive than his playing). He scored his first hit in 1955 for RPM with a note-perfect cover of New Orleanian Earl King's two-chord swamp ballad "Those Lonely Lonely Nights."

Though he cut a demo version of the tune while at RPM, Watson's first released version of "Gangster of Love" emerged in 1957 on Keen. Singles for Class ("One Kiss"), Goth, Arvee (the rocking introduction "Johnny Guitar"), and Escort preceded a hookup with Johnny Otis at King during the early '60s. He recut "Gangster" for King, reaching a few more listeners this time, and dented the R&B charts again in 1962 with his impassioned, violin-enriched blues ballad "Cuttin' In."

Never content to remain in one stylistic bag for long, Watson landed at Chess just long enough to cut a jazz album in 1964 that placed him back behind the 88s. Along with longtime pal Larry Williams, Watson rocked England in 1965 (their dynamic repartee was captured for posterity by British Decca). Their partnership lasted stateside through several singles and an LP for OKeh; among their achievements as a duo was the first vocal hit on "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" in 1967 (predating the Buckinghams by a few months).

Little had been heard of this musical chameleon before he returned decked out in funk threads during the mid-'70s. He hit with "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" for Fantasy before putting together an incredible run at DJM Records paced by "A Real Mother for Ya" in 1977 and an updated "Gangster of Love" the next year.

After a typically clever "Strike on Computers" nicked the R&B lists in 1984, Watson again seemed to fall off the planet. But counting this remarkable performer out was always a mistake. Bow Wow, his 1994 album for Al Bell's Bellmark logo, returned him to prominence and earned a Grammy nomination for best contemporary blues album, even though its contents were pure old-school funk. Sadly, in the midst of a truly heartwarming comeback campaign, Watson passed away while touring Japan in 1996.



Johnny Guitar Watson - Ain´t that a bitch (1976)

01 - I Need It
02 - I Want To Ta-Ta You Baby
03 - Superman Lover
04 - Ain't That A Bitch
05 - Since I Met You Baby
06 - We're No Exception
07 - Won't You Forgive Me Baby

the link:
http://www.shareonall.com/Johnny_Guitar_Watson_-_Aint_that_a_bitch_qsel_zip.htm




Johnny Guitar Watson - A real mother for ya (1977)

01 - A Real Mother For Ya
02 - Nothing left To Be Desired
03 - Your Love Is My Love
04 - The Real Deal
05 - Tarzan
06 - I Wanna Thank You
07 - Lover Jones

the link:
http://www.shareonall.com/Johnny_Guitar_Watson_-_A_real_mother_for_ya_gjyp_zip.htm



Johnny Guitar Watson - Funk beyond the call of duty (1977)

01 - Funk Beyond The Call Of Duty
02 - It's About The Dollar Bill
03 - Give Me My Love
04 - It's A Damn Shame
05 - I'm Gonna Get You Baby
06 - Barn Door
07 - Love That Will Not Die

the link:
http://www.shareonall.com/Johnny_Guitar_Watson_-_Funk_beyond_the_call_of_duty_uhdt_zip.htm



Johnny Guitar Watson - Giant (1978)

01 - Miss Frisco (Queen Of The Disco)
02 - Tu Jours Amour
03 - Gangster Of Love
04 - Guitar Disco
05 - Wrapped In Black Mink
06 - You Can Stay But The Noise Must Go
07 - Baby Face (She Said Do Do Do Do)

http://www.shareonall.com/Johnny_Guitar_Watson_-_Giant_racq_zip.htm


Johnny Guitar Watson - Strike on Computers (1984)

01 - You do me bad so good
02 - Boogie down party down
03 - Scratching -85-
04 - Let´s get together
05 - Strike on computers
06 - Byrd ball train
07 - Statue of liberty
08 - Please send me someone to love

the link:
http://www.shareonall.com/Johnny_Guitar_Watson_-_Strike_on_Computers_uboa_zip.htm


Johnny Guitar Watson - Live in Panama City (1990)

1 - A real mother for ya
2 - A real mother for ya-1
3 - Ain´t that a bitch
4 - Gangster of love
5 - I wanna tata you baby
6 - Nothing left do be desired
7 - Party!
8 - Party!-1
9 - Strike on computers
10 - Superman lover
11 - Three hours past midnight

http://www.shareonall.com/Johnny_Guitar_Watson_-_Live_in_Panama_City_1990_bsxp_zip.htm


Johnny Guitar Watson - Bow wow (1994)

1- Bow Wow
2 - Doing Wrong Woman
3 - Hook Me Up
4 - I Dont Think So
5 - It Takes 2
6 - Johnny G is Back
7 - My Funk
8 - Never Too Late
9 - Time Change
10 - What's Up With You

http://www.shareonall.com/Johnny_Guitar_Watson_-_Bow_wow_mttz_zip.htm

Johnny Guitar Watson - The very best of (does it matter?)

01 - Gangster of love
02 - Booty ooty
03 - Ain't that a bitch
04 - Love jones
05 - What the hell is this
06 - It's about the Dollar Bill
07 - Ain't movin'
08 - I need it
09 - A real mother for ya
10 - Strung out

http://www.shareonall.com/Johnny_Guitar_Watson_-_The_very_best_of_bujj_zip.htm

there are a few albums missing according to the AMG roster, but they are from his pre funk era, and primarily blues albums.
i am trying to locate those, but it is proving hard.

his blues stuff is well worth the listen if you feel like it.


and here is the "Essensial Johnny Watson" all from his blues era.

01 Hot Little Mama
02 I Love To Love You
03 Too Tired
04 Dont't Touch Me
05 Those Lonely Lonely Nights
06 Someone Cares For Me
07 Oh Baby
08 Give A Little
10 Ruben
11 Love Me Baby
12 She Moves Me
13 Love Bandit (Gangster Of Love)
14 My Baby And Me
15 In The Middle Of The Night
16 Deana Baby (Master)
16 Ruben
17 Three Hours Past Midnight
22 Three Hours Past Midnight pt 2

the link:
http://rs383.rapidshare.com/files/124594720/Essential_Johnny_Guitar_Watson.zip

for his discography on AMG:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:azfexqtgld0e~T2