Syleena Johnson | Peace Pipe (Andrew Emil Remixes)
A huge contributor to the “Brooklyn Sound" of the early 1970s, Jeff Lane’s ensemble is the literal convergence of ‘The King Davis House Rockers’’, The Madison Street Express’, and ‘Brothers Trucking’, to finally settle on ‘Brooklyn Transit Express’ aka ‘B.T. Express’.
Written by Mark Barkan & Sammy Taylor, "Peace Pipe" was recorded by B.T. Express and released on the Brooklyn imprint, Roadshow Records (RD 7003), in 1975. Cementing its legendary status over the next decade, this record became a staple at the foundational institutions of American Dance Music, such as The Paradise Garage and Danceteria, and Chicago’s Warehouse, and Muzik Box.
The American R&B singer-songwriter, actress, and talk show co-host, Syleena Johnson (Official) took to music early, growing up with a musical father, Sylvester "Syl" Johnson. Moving his family to Chicago from Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1950, Sly sang and played with blues guitarist Magic Sam as well as Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells, and Howlin' Wolf, in the 1950s.
Her major-label career can be traced back to a chance meeting with a JIVE Records scout in 1997. That contact allowed her to send in a demo tape, which had an immediate impact; days later, she got a callback from a Jive executive with an offer for a deal. Now affectionately known as “the Queen of Chicago,”—2-Time GRAMMY® Nominee—the Truth Award and Chicago Music Award-winning host of Sister Circle Live—daytime talk show—released her 10th studio album in January 2020, titled “Woman”.
Leveraging the original dance classic by Barkan & Sammy Taylor, Johnson fused together her own blend of soulful R&B to deliver a flawless performance that was produced by 4-Time GRAMMY® Nominee Steve Silk Hurley, his world-renowned partner, Shannon "DJ Skip" Syas. Remixing this flawlessly remade classic, this was my second major label project, and just only my third project for the Steve “Silk” Hurley and S&S Records Inc. Global Family label exec, Shannon “Skip” Syas.
Having the time to explore this song and production with confidence—along the way—Steve "Silk" Hurley and DJ Skip became more than just colleagues, offering this VERY early-stage music producer many projects with major recording artists. Through those connections and growing into my own distinct music voice, it was these seminal experiences—afforded to me by Silk and Skip—that aggressively challenged my understanding of excellence in the recording arts.
S&S Records Inc. has curated a special multi-volume project for 2020, as a reactionary and supportive message which needs to be heard. Believing that we must continue to work together—irrespective of our nationality—through the dance music tradition of PEACE, LOVE, UNITY, AND RESPECT, we will make it known that we are not alone in this pursuit to normalize empathy over indifference.
Peace, Love, Unity, Respect (P.L.U.R.) Vol. 1 features a cross-section of various artists from the vastly diverse S&S Records Chicago catalog. It would be a great understatement to say that it’s a real honor to have my Syleena Johnson mixes be chosen to sit alongside the compilation’s exhaustive roster of artist excellence.
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Timeline | Song Life
Peace Pipe [Non-Stop] (1975): bit.ly/38gJILO
Peace Pipe [Silk & Skip Extended Mix] (2013): bit.ly/2NKWGrR
Peace Pipe [Andrew Emil Vox] (2013): bit.ly/3eOdkms
Peace Pipe [Andrew Emil Dub] (2013): bit.ly/3eTcTqM
Peace Pipe [Andrew Emil Instrumental] (2013): bit.ly/2NNLxXb
Various Artists | P.L.U.R. Vol.1 (2020): bit.ly/38pI1vS
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