Twinight Records
Encyclopedia
Twinight Records was a minor American recording label, founded in Chicago 1967 by Howard Bedno and Peter Wright, who later added E. Rodney Jones as a partner. Specializing in R&B and soul music
, for a few months the label was called Twilight Records until it was discovered that another company already owned the Twilight name. Over five years, the label released (or at least recorded) 55 singles and charted seven times. The label’s star was Syl Johnson
, an established R&B performer who had had a number of hits for King Records
and who would have his biggest hits for Hi Records
in the 1970s.
Johnson’s hits at Twinight included "Come on Sock it to Me" (1967), "Sorry ‘Bout Dat", "Different Strokes", "Is It Because I'm Black" (1969), and "Concrete Reservation". Some of these songs were recorded with Willie Mitchell in Nashville, which would later prove the undoing for the company, as Mitchell would ultimately lure Johnson away to Hi Records in 1971.
The success of Johnson's music permitted the company to scout and record local Chicago talent, making numerous recordings of varying quality. Johnson proved to be an able producer as well as performer, and he often produced the songs on behalf of the company. While many of the artists never went on to later fame, some standout material was produced including singles by Nate Evans (who later joined The Impressions), The Perfections, Velma Perkins (later charting as Vee Allen), Krystal Generation, Johnny Williams, The Notations, The Radiants, and Annette Poindexter. The house band was called Pieces of Peace. Donny Hathaway
got his start at Twinight, penning songs for other artists on the roster before moving on to better things.
Except for Johnson’s hits, the only other artists to chart were The Notations ("I'm Still Here") and falsetto
Renaldo Domino, whose “Not Too Cool to Cry” reached Number 7 on the Chicago R&B charts in 1970. As a rule, the Twinight singles were all relegated to the “lunar rotation” of late night radio, which virtually guaranteed them a place in everlasting obscurity. Within a few months of Johnson’s defection, the label folded early in 1972.
The Twinight name was recently revitalized by Syl Johnson's daughter, the vocalist and songwriter Syleena Johnson
, who used the label for some of her early releases.
In 2006, The Numero Group
issued a compilation of Twinight recordings.
Chicago DJ Bob Abrahamian, who broadcasts on WHPK's "Sitting in the Park," has made it his object since about 2004 to interview personalities from the heyday of Chicago soul. Following are his interviews with artists who recorded on Twinight.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, for a few months the label was called Twilight Records until it was discovered that another company already owned the Twilight name. Over five years, the label released (or at least recorded) 55 singles and charted seven times. The label’s star was Syl Johnson
Syl Johnson
Syl Johnson is an American blues and soul singer and record producer.-Biography:Born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States, Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf in the 1950s, before recording with Jimmy Reed...
, an established R&B performer who had had a number of hits for King Records
King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
and who would have his biggest hits for Hi Records
Hi Records
Hi Records was a Memphis soul and rockabilly label started in 1957 by singer Ray Harris, record store owner Joe Cuoghi, Bill Cantrell and Quinton Claunch , and three silent partners, including Cuoghi's lawyer, Nick Pesce....
in the 1970s.
The success of Johnson's music permitted the company to scout and record local Chicago talent, making numerous recordings of varying quality. Johnson proved to be an able producer as well as performer, and he often produced the songs on behalf of the company. While many of the artists never went on to later fame, some standout material was produced including singles by Nate Evans (who later joined The Impressions), The Perfections, Velma Perkins (later charting as Vee Allen), Krystal Generation, Johnny Williams, The Notations, The Radiants, and Annette Poindexter. The house band was called Pieces of Peace. Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway
Donny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer-songwriter and musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music."His collaborations...
got his start at Twinight, penning songs for other artists on the roster before moving on to better things.
Except for Johnson’s hits, the only other artists to chart were The Notations ("I'm Still Here") and falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
Renaldo Domino, whose “Not Too Cool to Cry” reached Number 7 on the Chicago R&B charts in 1970. As a rule, the Twinight singles were all relegated to the “lunar rotation” of late night radio, which virtually guaranteed them a place in everlasting obscurity. Within a few months of Johnson’s defection, the label folded early in 1972.
The Twinight name was recently revitalized by Syl Johnson's daughter, the vocalist and songwriter Syleena Johnson
Syleena Johnson
Syleena Johnson is a Grammy award-nominated American R&B and soul singer-songwriter and actress.-Biography:...
, who used the label for some of her early releases.
In 2006, The Numero Group
The Numero Group
The Numero Group is an archival record label that creates reissue compilations of previously released music, reissues original albums, and creates album reconstructions from a variety of musical genres...
issued a compilation of Twinight recordings.
External links
Chicago DJ Bob Abrahamian, who broadcasts on WHPK's "Sitting in the Park," has made it his object since about 2004 to interview personalities from the heyday of Chicago soul. Following are his interviews with artists who recorded on Twinight.
- The Notations (interviewed April 2, 2005)
- Ray Forman of Mist and Visitors (interviewed January 28, 2007)
- Elvin Spencer (interviewed June 17, 2007)
- Dynamic Tints (interviewed July 22, 2007)
- Kaldirons (interviewed December 30, 2007)
- Mystiques (interviewed June 8, 2008)
- Renaldo Domino (interviewed September 21, 2008)
- Syl Johnson (interviewed May 30, 2010)