Pete Johnson
I WAS 14 in 1954 when my family moved from Texas to Massachusetts, where I discovered Arnie "Woo Woo" Ginsburg and Joe Smith, disc jockeys who mixed doo wop with rock & roll and street-level rhythm & blues. I began collecting singles in pursuit of their mysteries.
I was a white kid going to a mostly-white high school. We didn't have a TV set and singles came in generic jackets, so I was surprised to learn that most of the artists I liked were Black.
One of the first rock & roll albums I bought was Here's Little Richard, yellow-orange and cover, Richard full face, mid-scream. That album still thrills me and I credit it with teaching me how to hear music. Richard himself was high voltage, but his New Orleans band cooked like a thousand watts.
We moved to Los Angeles in 1958. Radio was less alluring, though there were glimmers like Art Laboe, Hunter Hancock and Huggy Boy. I went to college, majored in English Lit. Saw Ray Charles, Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, Fats Domino, Ike & Tina Turner in local Black clubs.
Started at the Los Angeles Times as a copyboy. After a time I graduated to reporter trainee working the police beat and City Room. My father, a journalist, suggested that I introduce myself to the Entertainment Editor. The editor assigned me a music review. I didn't know how to write a review and my first was clumsy, but it was published. A month later he sent me on another and this time I found my balance.
That was in 1965. Soon the editor hired me as a reviewer and assistant editor. I wrote a million reviews and 500,000 interviews during the next several years. In 1968 KHJ contracted me to write "The History of Rock & Roll." The Times kept me on payroll but when the show aired in 1969 I was burned out. A few months later I left the Times for Warner Bros. Records.
I had a variety of jobs at WBR for 17 years, then bounced around, then went to Apple in 1992. I was there about 11 years, mostly writing, editing, managing writers and coding websites.
Now I'm retired, living in San Jose, California, listening to music, reading novels, walking our greyhounds and playing on the computer.
93 articles
List of articles in the library
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 12 March 1966
Martha and Vandellas True to Motown Sound ...
The Rising Sons: Rising Sons Sing Blue Tunes
Profile by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 18 March 1966
THEY RADIATE a complete spectrum of Pop haberdashery — odd vests, coats of varying cuts, one or two neckties, assorted shirts and a miscellany of ...
Otis Redding, the Rising Sons: Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 2 April 1966
Otis Redding's Southern-Style Blues Band Lets Off Steam ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 1966
Rivers Returns to Discotheque for Another Spin at Vocalizing ...
Profile and Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 1966
"A WOMAN'S place is in the stove," Roger Miller drawled over the babble of four housewives sitting behind him in a plush Encino restaurant. ...
Clifton Chenier, Bob Dylan, Bert Kaempfert: Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde (Columbia C2L 41 028 841)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 1966
Playboy Hops on Dylan Bandwagon ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 1966
POPULAR RECORDS: PASS ASPIRIN, PLEASE ...
The Temptations, Band of Gold: The Trip, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 6 August 1966
Rock Group Packs 'Em In at Trip ...
The Beatles: Revolver (Capitol ST-2576/T-2576)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 7 August 1966
New Beatles Album Best Yet ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 28 August 1966
THIS SUMMER may rank along with most Christmases for the number of seasonal records it has produced — every radio station's hit list is loaded ...
James Brown: Brown Arrives in His Own Style
Report and Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 15 September 1966
JAMES BROWN, who will appear at the Hollywood Bowl for a concert Friday night, has built up a 10-year momentum which catapulted him out of ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 25 September 1966
Monkees Ape Their Betters ...
Simon & Garfunkel: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (Columbia CS-9363, CL 2563)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 20 November 1966
S and G Sing of Sly Sociology ...
The Temptations: Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 1 April 1967
THE TEMPTATIONS, who probably are the best rhythm 'n' blues performing act of the '60s, are pulling in crowds to the Whisky a Go Go ...
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Seeds: Popular Records: Dirt Band and Seeds Sprout Hits
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 2 April 1967
TWO LOCAL groups straddling different sectors of pop music, each of which ripened amid the musical upheaval of the past year, have emerged from months ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 15 April 1967
Blues Singers Make Comeback ...
Profile and Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 19 April 1967
LOU ADLER, one of the best known and most respected record producers, is a defier of stereotypes: ...
The Doors: Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 1967
Doors Rattle Hinges at Whisky a Go Go ...
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Capitol)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 1967
'Hearts' of the Beatles Beat as One on New Disc ...
The Impressions: Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 1967
Impressions Win a Warm Welcome ...
The Supremes: Cocoanut Grove, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 1967
Standing Ovations for the Supremes ...
Moby Grape, The Monkees: The Monkees: Headquarters (Colgems); Moby Grape: Moby Grape (Columbia)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 1967
Monkees Upgrade Album Quality ...
Report by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 1967
MONTEREY — Thirty thousand people swelled the city of Monterey over the weekend for the first International Festival of Pop Music, held in the outdoor ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 1967
Two Pop Groups in Los Angeles Debuts ...
Paul Revere & The Raiders: Revere's Raiders Attack the Treasury
Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 1967
YOU CAN'T identify Paul Revere and the Raiders without a program and to get a program you have to buy it from Paul Revere, the ...
James Brown: the Royal Tahitian, Ontario CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 1967
JAMES BROWN has sustained 12 years of rock solid solid rock popularity, carving his career scream by scream, frantic performance after frantic performance, building a ...
Simon & Garfunkel: Snap, Crackle, Pop World of Simon and Garfunkel
Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 1967
"I WAS NOT prepared for success. My image of myself was not that of a teen star, a Monkees type of scene. I felt very ...
Simon & Garfunkel: Snap, Crackle, Pop World of Simon and Garfunkel
Profile and Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 1967
"I WAS NOT prepared for success. My image of myself was not that of a teen star, a Monkees type of scene. I felt very ...
The Beatles, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane: Pills and Pop Music: A Psychedelicate Subject
Comment by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 1967
One pill makes you larger And one pill makes you small And the ones that mother gives you Don't do anything at all." ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 22 August 1967
Bill Cosby Begins Career as Singer ...
Taj Mahal, Steve Mann: Ash Grove, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 2 September 1967
Taj Mahal Back With Blue Flames Band ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 10 September 1967
New Album From Bobbie Gentry ...
Herb Alpert, Sergio Mendes: A&M Records Tooting Its Own Horn
Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 29 September 1967
ON A 2.3-ACRE lot near the corner of La Brea and Sunset in Hollywood sits one of the most successful record companies in the country, ...
Jefferson Airplane: After Bathing at Baxter's (RCA)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 27 November 1967
Airplane Album to Be Released Friday ...
The Rolling Stones: Their Satanic Majesties Request (London)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 3 December 1967
Can't Tell an Album by Its Cover ...
Blue Cheer, Them: Whisky A Go Go
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 9 December 1967
THEM, THAT is, a group called Them, and the Blue Cheer are the current attraction at the Whisky A Go Go, where they will play ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 10 December 1967
Beatles Back With Another LP ...
The Beach Boys, Van Dyke Parks: Van Dyke Parks: Pop Music's Pilot Through the Aesthetic Shoals
Profile and Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 10 December 1967
WHAT FOLLOWS is an exorbitant number of words about and from an insignificant recording artist named Van Dyke Parks. He is insignificant at the moment, ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 17 December 1967
Biggest Happening in Album Covers ...
Sleeve notes by Pete Johnson, Capitol Records, 1968
EIGHT TRANSCRIPTS of Fred Neil's life rise from a grey-crinkled formica counter, plastic on plastic, half-inch dun highways which had whispered through the antiseptic jaws ...
Taj Mahal: Taj Mahal (Columbia)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 4 February 1968
TAJ MAHAL, a talented blues singer who has kicked around Los Angeles for several years as a soloist and a member of the now-dead Rising ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 13 February 1968
Boston Sound at Cheetah Nightclub ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 25 February 1968
Love's Third Album Out on Elektra ...
Jefferson Airplane: Up, Up and Away With the Jefferson Airplane
Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 25 February 1968
How old are the people in the group? Grace: Oldest group in the country. Spencer: Between 25 and 30. Manager: Between 23 ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 3 March 1968
Aretha Just Keeps Rolling Along ...
T-Bone Walker: Schoenberg Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 12 March 1968
T-BONE WALKER, the Texas bluesman who composed 'Stormy Monday', treated a fair-sized crowd to an extended set of modern and traditional music for the second ...
Nina Simone: Troubadour, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 14 March 1968
ONE OF Nina Simone's songs contains the line "He'll find her waiting like a lonesome queen." Though she is accompanied by a quartet and though ...
Spirit: Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 16 March 1968
FIVE COMPATIBLE first-rate musicians do not necessarily make a first-rate group, nor does excellent music always make excellent entertainment. ...
Dr. John, Tiny Tim: Albums from Tiny Tim and Dr. John
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 17 March 1968
Bless You, Tiny Tim ...
Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 24 March 1968
AT THE AGE of 9, Jim Webb took up the organ, a utilitarian move since his father was (and is) a Baptist minister in Oklahoma ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 25 March 1968
Rock Club Opens in Hollywood ...
Solomon Burke, Laura Nyro: Laura Nyro: Eli and the 13th Confession (Columbia)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 7 April 1968
Laura Nyro Makes a Change ...
The Collectors, The Fugs: The Fugs, the Collectors: The Cheetah, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 22 April 1968
ABOUT 20 people walked out on their first set. The remainder of the audience — about 500 Friday night — tittered as the Fugs preached ...
The Byrds, Penny Nichols: Troubadour, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 27 April 1968
'New' Byrds Make Bow at Troubadour ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 1968
Springfield Plays Farewell Concert ...
The Nazz, Red Beans & Rice (US): The Nazz, Red Beans & Rice: Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 1968
Two Rock Groups at Whisky a Go Go ...
Joni Mitchell: the Troubadour, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 1968
Canadian Singer in U.S. Debut ...
Cream: Wheels of Fire (Atco SD 2-700)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 1968
Cream Rises to Top ...
David Ackles, Cream, Aretha Franklin: Albums from Cream, David Ackles and Aretha Franklin
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 1968
Second Thoughts on Cream Album ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 1968
THE DOORS' concert at the Hollywood Bowl Friday night should have been an exciting event, the high point of the career of a local rock ...
Harry Nilsson: Nilsson: Aerial Ballet (RCA Victor)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 1968
A Second Helping of Nilsson Songs ...
The Doors: Waiting for the Sun (Elektra EKS- 74024)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 1968
The Doors Find Love ...
The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Vanilla Fudge: A Band by Any Other Name...
Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 11 August 1968
SEVERAL WEEKS ago I reviewed an outstanding album titled Music From Big Pink (Capitol SKAO 2955) and identified the group playing as the Band, formerly ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 18 August 1968
Big Brother Album Out ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 26 August 1968
AT THEIR best, wthe Grateful Dead are a wondrous group and they were at their best for a weekend dance concert sponsored by Pinnacle at ...
Steppenwolf: Steppenwolf the Second (Dunhill DS-50037)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 8 September 1968
Steppenwolf's Second ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 9 September 1968
Big Brother in Concert at Bowl ...
Kaleidoscope, Seatrain: the Ash Grove, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 13 September 1968
THE KALEIDOSCOPE is possibly the most underrated rock group in the country, a local group which has been playing for two years waiting for audiences ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 16 September 1968
THE JIMI HENDRIX Experience was too much for the ushers who have managed to confine spectators to their seats during the summer series of rock ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 22 September 1968
Still Undiscovered: Gospel Truth ...
"Mama" Cass Elliot: Mama Cass Will Sing for Her New Kitchen
Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 9 October 1968
WHAT'S A poor working girl to do when she needs a new kitchen, one "big enough to sit around in, drink coffee, hang out, you ...
Eric Clapton, Cream: Cream Guitarist a Reluctant Idol
Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 13 October 1968
ERIC CLAPTON is a guitarist who has had the misfortune of being nearly deified by rock 'n' roll fans at the age of 23. Clapton ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 27 October 1968
Sun Hasn't Set on British Sound ...
Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young: Neil Young Charts His Own Course
Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 28 October 1968
"MAYBE SOME group will come along and be big, you know, but who cares," Neil Young says in his slow country way. "It's just happened ...
The Asylum Choir, Marc Benno, Leon Russell: The Asylum Choir: A Home Set Up Beats the System
Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 25 November 1968
ROCK ARTISTS have been spending increasing amounts of time in recording studios during the past couple of years. Many contemporary albums now require several months ...
The Beatles: The Beatles (Apple SWBO 101)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 8 December 1968
Another Beatles Winner ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 19 January 1969
Second Album for Clearwater ...
Dusty Springfield: Dusty in Memphis (SD 8214)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 2 February 1969
Down Dusty Music Road to Memphis ...
Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin (Atlantic SD8216)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 2 March 1969
Zeppelin: Fresh Sound ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 7 March 1969
SLIM HARPO, a harmonica-playing Southern bluesman, is headlining at the Whisky a Go Go through Sunday with the Illinois Speed Press, a hard rock quintet ...
Crazy Horse, Neil Young: Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Troubadour, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 13 March 1969
Neil Young Featured in Show at Troubadour ...
Taj Mahal: The Natch'l Blues (Columbia CS 9698)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 23 March 1969
Monumental Album From Taj ...
Albert Collins: The Ash Grove, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 28 March 1969
ALBERT COLLINS, appearing at the Ash Grove through this weekend, is an electric Texas bluesman who appears destined, for — and deserves — the kind ...
Delaney & Bonnie: Delaney and Bonnie: The Original Delaney and Bonnie (Elektra EKS 74039)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 20 April 1969
Debut Album for Duo ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 22 April 1969
In Southland Concerts, Creedence and Ellis Perform ...
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 29 April 1969
THE JIMI Hendrix Experience was an unpleasant one at the Forum in Inglewood Saturday night. ...
Joe Cocker: With a Little Help From My Friends (A&M SP 4182)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 1969
Singer Has Help From Ray Charles ...
Wild Man Fischer: An Evening With Wild Man Fischer (Bizarre 6332)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 1969
A RATHER unusual album froze me between my loudspeakers one late night last week and, though I am not sure it is entertainment and would ...
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 1969
Bettye Swann's "Soul" ...
Van Morrison: Astral Weeks (Warner Bros. 1778)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 1969
VAN MORRISON is one of the rock vocalists. He was lead singer and primary writer for Them during their 'Gloria', 'Baby Please Don't Go', 'Here ...
Brewer and Shipley, Laura Nyro: Laura Nyro, Brewer & Shipley: the Troubadour, Los Angeles CA
Live Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 1969
LAURA NYRO reminded me that she is my favorite female singer Thursday night at the Troubadour, where she will appear through Sunday for two reserved-seat ...
Elvis Presley: From Elvis in Memphis (RCA LSP-4155)
Review by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 1969
Voice Saves Elvis in Memphis ...
Booker T & The MGs, Carla Thomas: Stax Horns Into the Pop Market for Sound Success
Profile and Interview by Pete Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 1969
MEMPHIS — A run-down movie theater in a threadbare black neighborhood is the home of Stax Records, a label whose 40 employees and 10 or ...
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