Passage – Passage (1981)

posted by albums-update

Formed by bassist Louis Johnson, of the popular band “The Brothers Johnson,” Passage was Louis’ solo project showing the world his love for Jesus Christ and Gospel Music. Joined by his wife Valerie Johnson and former Brothers Johnson percussionist/singer, Richard Heath, the album brought a “funk & R&B” sound to the Contemporary Christian Music scene.

The album was released in 1981, and I enjoyed it then, as well as the radio pop songs by ‘The Brothers Johnson.’ Louis Johnson had the nickname of ‘Thunder Thumbs’ for the way he played the bass guitar, and he does a nice solo in this song.

Louis Johnson (April 13, 1955 – May 21, 2015) was an American musician and bass guitarist. Johnson was best known for his group The Brothers Johnson and his session playing on several hit albums of the 1970s and 1980s including the “best selling album of all time” Thriller, and other albums by Michael Jackson. His signature sound was from the Music Man StingRay bass which Leo Fender especially made for him to first use and promote, and from his slapping technique. He is considered one of the two “grandfathers” of slap-bass playing.  

Track listing

1. Have You Heard The Word  (Louis Johnson, Valerie Johnson)  – 4:29 
2. You Can’t Be Livin’  (Louis Johnson)  – 4:52 
3. Faith Walking People” (Ami Grant)  – 3:34 
4. I See The Light  (Louis Johnson, Richard Heath)  – 4:33 
5. The Great Flood  (Louis Johnson)  – 3:39 
6. Open Up Your Heart  (Louis Johnson, Raymond Crossley, Richard Heath)  – 3:48 
7. Power  (Louis Johnson, Valerie Johnson)  – 4:09 
8. Love Eyes  (Jaime Owen Collins)  – 3:33 
9. The Son Will Come Again  (Louis Johnson, Richard Heath)  – 4:04 

Passage – Passage (1981, Vinyl) – Discogs

Companies, etc.

• Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute
• Copyright © – A&M Records, Inc.

Credits

• Acoustic Guitar – Louis Johnson
• Arranged By [Horns] – David Diggs, Louis Johnson
• Arranged By [Strings] – David Diggs, Gerald Lee, Louis Johnson
• Backing Vocals – Louis Johnson, Richard Heath, Valerie Johnson
• Bass – Louis Johnson
• Drums – John Robinson, Ricky Lawson
• Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Louis Johnson
• Engineer, Mixed By – Jack Joseph Puig
• Flute – Michael Perkins
• Guitar – Curtis Nolen, David Williams, Greg Moore, Louis Johnson
• Keyboards – David Wolinski, Louis Johnson, Raymond Crossley, Rene Moore
• Lead Vocals – Louis Johnson, Richard Heath, Valerie Johnson
• Percussion – Richard Heath
• Piano [Acoustic] – David Wolinski, Raymond Crossley
• Producer – Louis Johnson
• Saxophone [Solo] – Michael Perkins
• Steel Guitar – Al Perkins
• Synthesizer [Bass] – Louis Johnson
• Vocals – Louis Johnson, Richard Heath, Valerie Johnson

Notes
Released: 1981
Mixed at A&M Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA – USA.
Genre: Soul, Funk
Length: 36:46

Label – A&M Records

• Passage