THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Released in 1973 on Patrick Adams’ Perception Records subsidiary label Today, Visions of Paradise is a remarkable soul and R&B album that puts the voice of former member of The Spoilers front and centre. Benny Johnson’s vocals have been described as ‘gutsy’ and on a par with Johnnie Taylor, Syl Johnson and the maestro, Rev. Al Green.
With the backline led by Julius Brockington as musical director and arranger and featuring the same band that recorded Brockington’s The United Chair album, Visions of Paradise is a masterpiece in Black music performance and production. Furthermore, a backing vocal lineup of Young & Company’s Jacqueline Thomas — joined by Phylicia Harding, Joan Cobbs and Beverley J. Wilson — results in sublime harmonies and vocal arrangements that exemplify soul music at its most profound.
Songwriting duties are shared between Perception Records’ in-house producer Maurice Irby Jr. and the prolific Edna Toles — who, between them, also penned songs for Jay & the Techniques, Mary Wells, The Main Attraction, The Cotillions, The Imaginations and Sam the Sham, among others.”
