In this post Pete Clemons turns his attentions to one of the earliest of Coventry musicians who made a sizable impact on both the Coventry music scene of the 60’s and the music business itself. Johnny Goodison – also known as Johnny B Great. This is that article from the Coventry Telegraph.
Johnny Goodison playing If I had a Hammer
One Mistake – Johnny Goodison
According to Dean Nelson
“Johnny B Great (John Goodison) session singer from Coventry
Johnny B Great’s real name was Johnny Goodisonalso had the songwriting alias Peter Simons. A later group was Johnny B Great and the Quotations, who backed the Walker Brothers, amongst others. Later he was lead singer in an early line up of the Brotherhood of Man, scoring a hit with “United we stand”.
Goodison also worked as a producer and one of the results was the 1968 hit, “Race with the devil” by Gun(Adrian Gurvitz – “We never wanted the laugh on the record at all. We knew it would let us in for a lot of you¹re copying Arthur Brown remarks. Our Producer Johnny Goodison thought it was a good idea so we went along with it.”).
Besides that, he arranged tracks for The Love Affair, Johnny and Russell and Sue & Sunny, toured
for some years with one of the orchestras of James Last. He wrote hit tunes for the Brotherhood of Man and the Bay City Rollers (Give A Little Love), as well as songs for A Song For Europe, in 1968, 1974, 1977 and 1980 respectively.
Johnny Goodison died in 1995. Great man.
Singles
Acapulco/You’ll never leave him – 1964
School is in/She’s a much better lover than you – 1964 – Credited to Johnny B Great and the Goodmen
One Mistake/A Little Understanding – 1970 – Johnny Goodison”
From Pete Chambers – Godiva Rocked to a Backbeat
“Part of the Larry Page stable based at the Orchid Ballroom.”
” Johnny Goodison was a big man with a big voice. Originally a toolmaker in Coventry, he went under the name of Johnny B Good with his band the Goodmen.
Don Kerr – Guitar
Al King – Sax
Ollie Warner – bass
Nigel Lomas – drums
First single – School is in – Decca 1963 (Backing vocals The Orchids) This was the first single released by a Coventry group although it wasn’t a hit. They in return played on the Orchids first single – Gonna Make him Mine.
Johnny performed If I had a Hammer for the film Just for You which featured the Orchids.
They appeared on the B Side of the original Doctor Who Theme.
For a while they went under the name of Johnny B Great and the Quotations, backing the Walker Bros and Little Richard.
More from them on You Tube
Strong Love – Johnny B Goodman and the Quotations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfuz3i6YRAI
In the Midnight Hour – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQKBHHw4kHU
Everythings Gonna Be Alright – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjlWBwJQif0
Johnny was with the Freemen before going solo – see here https://sites.google.com/site/bandsfromcoventrypart2/home/the-freemen
Johnny Goodison with 2nd Tyme Around – Let’s Go (Huggin’ and a Kissin’ in the Moonlight)(UK Glam 75)
Where is the download for first 2 singles?
What was the cause of his death?