General Johnson
General Johnson, born Norman Earl Johnson on May 23, 1943, in Norfolk, Virginia, was a prominent American soul singer known for his work with The Showmen and Chairmen of the Board.
Johnson grew up singing in church from around age six, often with his father, and formed his first group, The Humdingers, by age 12, which signed to Atlantic Records. "General" was a family name, though he preferred Norman early on. He hailed from Norfolk (with some sources noting nearby Huntersville), immersing himself in gospel and R&B influences.
In his teens, Johnson joined The Showmen, a New Orleans R&B group, where he served as lead singer and songwriter. They scored hits like "It Will Stand" (1964), blending soul with swamp pop, and recorded for Minit Records under producer Allen Toussaint. The group disbanded by the late 1960s after several regional successes.
He formed Chairmen of the Board in 1969 in Detroit with Invictus Records (Holland-Dozier-Holland's label), delivering upbeat soul hits like "Give Me Just a Little More Time" (No. 3 US, 1970), "Pay to the Piper (No. 13 US, 1970) and You've Got Me Dangling On a String (No. 5 UK, 1970)." Their sound mixed Motown energy with Johnson's unique vocals and songwriting; he earned a Grammy for co-writing Blue Magic's "Sideshow." The group continued with reunions and solo efforts into the 2000s.
Johnson recorded solo albums like Generally Speaking (1972), and a self-titled album in 1976, and toured extensively, maintaining a loyal soul fanbase. He passed away on October 13, 2010, at age 67 (or 69 per some reports), from complications of multiple strokes in Atlanta.
Generally Speaking
Written-By – G. Johnson, G. Perry 4:16
A2 God's Gift To Man
Written-By – G. Johnson, G. Perry 3:57
A3 It Was Almost Something
Written-By – R. Miner, W. Weatherspoon 3:06
A4 Every Couples' Not A Pair
Written-By – A. Bond, G. Johnson, G. Perry 4:42
A5 All We Need Is Understanding
Written-By – E. Wayne, R.Dunbar 2:55
A6 Everything's Tuesday
Written-By – D. Dumas, E. Wayne, R. Dunbar 3:05
B1 I Never Get Tired Of You
Written-By – G. Johnson, G. Perry 5:21
B2 My Credit Didn't Go Through
Written-By – G. Johnson, G. Perry 3:37
B3 Things Are Bound To Get Better Later On
Written-By – G. Johnson, G. Perry 6:14
B4 Mary Lou Thomas
Written-By – G. Johnson, G. Perry 5:02
Label: Invictus – ST-9803
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
General Johnson's 1972 debut solo album, Generally Speaking, is a classic of Detroit soul that maintains the recognizable sound of his group, Chairmen of the Board. The album has received mixed to positive reactions, often praised by fans of the genre and his work with Chairmen of the Board.
The album is noted for its smooth, upbeat soul sound, characteristic of the work Johnson did with Chairmen of the Board and the Holland-Dozier-Holland-owned Invictus label. It successfully captures the classic 70s soul vibe.
The album features several notable tracks, including "All We Need Is Understanding" and "Every Couple's Not A Pair". It also comprises four tracks otherwise credited to the Chairmen, such as the hit "Everything's Tuesday".
One review from Record Collector Magazine describes the album as "solid" and praises Johnson's voice, noting that the music "addresses your hopes and fears directly", however, some individual listener reviews have found the tracks "disappointing" or "not what I expected," suggesting that while it has its strong moments, not every song resonates equally with all listeners.
The album has been reissued multiple times, including as a 180gm vinyl LP, indicating its lasting appeal among soul music enthusiasts.