Crowd's Reaction Carried a Message
Guthrie Theater - Mpls, MN - June 4, 1974
Roy M. Close, Minneapolis Star

Singer-guitarist Michael Johnson, who presented a pair of concerts last night at the Guthrie Theater, is an interesting performer who has never quite developed into an exciting one.

That point was emphasized about three-quarters of the way through the first of Johnson's Walker Art Center-sponsored concerts. After more than 90 minutes of solo performing, Johnson brought two sidemen — Mark Henley and Ted Sherman — to the stage for the final half-hour or so of his show.

The effect was astonishing. Johnson's intensely personal vocalism and sophisticated guitar playing gave way immediately to a much more elemental, foot-stamping sort of music — music characterized by looseness and energy rather than attention to detail — and the audience, which had been applauding politely up to that point, responded with long, loud ovations after each song.

What this segment of his set forcefully suggested is that Johnson must significantly change his approach to performing if he hopes ever to capture more than a small, faithful following.

His principal strength — his exceptionally fine guitar playing — is all too clearly offset by his weaknesses, including an evident preference for message-heavy songs and an undistinguished (although pleasant) voice.

Johnson is not an especially gifted stylist, and therefore needs to choose his material more carefully than he did last night. Songs such as "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," which he delivered unconvincingly, not only demand greater interpretive skills than Johnson brings to them but invite comparisons with other singers' interpretations.

Better suited to his abilities are songs like "Here Comes the Sun," which provide ample opportunities for instrumental embellishment but make comparatively few vocal demands. Johnson gave it an excellent performance.

All of the trio numbers, of course, fell into that category. In each case, the almost uncomfortable intensity that typifies much of Johnson's solo vacalism was muted by the addition of two other voices, while his stylish guitar work remained an instrumental focus.

Notably, the songs presented by Johnson with Henley and Sherman tended to be spirited, uptempo and broadly comic — in sharp contrast to those he presented as a soloist, which tended to be more personal but less stirring.

The audience's reaction seemed almsot one of relief. And not without reason: After 90 minutes of admiring music that is artful but not exciting, it's nice to hear something that invites excitement.

Have finished the memorabilia page at https://mjblue.com/mjmemor.html

Denver, Boise & Johnson material has been added to the Extras section:

https://mjblue.com/mjdbj.html

There are links to the full concerts (and an after concert party) on YouTube along with John's notes on almost every song and the three video songs.

I've taken the DB&J notes from John Marlowe's site at The Cincinnati Dancing Pigs and edited them with his consent. Both of us are still making minor changes. If you want to see notes and music about John Denver, visit his site. 

https://youtu.be/uFFaejx0MXI

Prime Time Country with Hugh Prestwood 1995. Songs: Ghost in This House (duet), The Song Remembers When (Hugh), The Moon is Still Over Her Shoulder (Michael)

Mark Truman Henley, 75, passed away March 28, 2022. He was born October 6, 1946 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Truman and Lola Henley. Mark had a passion for music and after graduating from college worked as a musician and song writer. He also enjoyed the outdoors and worked in landscaping for a time.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are is wife of 44 years, Debra, and son Kyle.

Photo by Judy Weiser.

https://youtu.be/0q1Rmla2qUI

Also, the tab is on the lyrics page.

The CD and tabs were from the Fingerstsyle Guitar magazine 1997.

Article about MJ donating his gold record:

https://mjblue.com/bgold.html

Photo added to the More Photos page.

Earl Pionke (Earl of Old Town), Steve Goodman's mother, Minnette, and MJ
Taken by and sent to me by Marina Jason. 2006.

https://youtu.be/UX2XYpfFkwg
Michael Johnson with Mark Henley - Charlotte's Web, Rockford IL
September 1, 1977, 2nd Set only
Courtesy of Michael Johnson
Songs: The Number and the Name (Steve Gillette), Got You Covered (Biff Rose, Michael Johnson), Weeping Annaleah (Mickey Newberry), One Note Samba (Antonio Carlos Jobim), Circle of Fifths (Raun MacKinnon), Damn It All (Movin' in the Same Circles) (Ron Galbraith), Good to Be With You (Eric Andersen), If Wishes Were Horses (Mike Settle), Pet Store Bird (Mac McAnally), Froggin' (Mark Henley, Michael Johnson), Sermonette (Jon Hendricks), Two In Love (Mark Henley), Lavender Lady (Ted Sherman), The Sunset Years (Mark Henley), Troubled For You (Ted Sherman), Wilson Girl (Michael Johnson, Mark Henley, Ted Sherman), Do It (Jesse Winchester), What's Time to a Hog (Dean Webb, Mitchell F. Jayne)

“Do It” is a personal favorite. An impromptu request, he forgot one line. Official lyrics:
If the wheel is fixed
I would still take a chance
If we're treading on thin ice
Then we might as well dance
So I play the fool
But I can't sit still
Help me get this rock
To the top of this hill
Do it
'Til we're sick of it
Do it 'till you can't do it no more
Friends will pity you
I guess that's what they're for
But they just take you like they find you
When they find you on the floor
But you do it
Til you’re sick of it
Do it til you can't do it no more

MJ and I shared a personal memory after he gave me this tape and we listened to “Do It” as we had a floor incident in our not so recent past. 

Thanks to John Marlowe for de-hissing the concert. 

Music City Tonight 1993
Upon a Christmas Eve, Medley: This Night Won't Last Forever, Crying Shame, The Moon is Still Over Her Shoulder, Bluer Than Blue, That's That, Give Me Wings
https://youtu.be/TyWVTbb3XNo

"As Long As We've Got Each Other"
Soundtrack from Cease Fire
1985
https://youtu.be/fSUhkrjxjVk

"Damn It All (Movie' in the Same Circles)"
In Concert 1977
https://youtu.be/C9NnRNzGI0I