Sammy Johns by Sammy Johns (1973)

“Sammy Johns” by Sammy Johns (1973)

Release Date: 1973
Produced by Jay Senter, Jefferson Lee, Larry Knechtel
Genre: Country Rock, Folk, Pop
Label: General Recording

Chart Positions: #148 (US)
Certifications: N/A

Singles: “Rag Doll,” #52 (US), #34 (US Adult Contemporary), “Chevy Van” #5 (US), #2 (New Zealand), #8 (Canada), #80 (US Country), “America” (No Chart Data), “Early Morning Love” #68 (US), #79 (Canada), #19 (US Adult Contemporary), #79 (US Country), “Friends Of Mine” (No Chart Data)
Singles Certifications: “Chevy Van” (US Gold)

Other Charting Tracks: N/A
Best Tracks: “Early Morning Love,” “Chevy Van,” "Rag Doll," “Holy Mother, Aging Father”

“Sammy Johns” (Click Here)

Trivia: Sammy Johns was signed to his solo recording contract in 1973 to General Recording Corporation Records (also known as GRC). His first official recording was “Early Morning Love,” which was later released as a single in 1974, it was the fourth single release from his debut album “Sammy Johns.” Johns’ first single release “Rag Doll,” a country influenced ballad came and went without notice. “Chevy Van” was the second single which also came and went without notice. Two more singles were released (“America” and “Early Morning Love”) again no chart action. Finally 18 months after the album was released GRC recognized the hit potential of “Chevy Van” and re-released it as a single in 1975 and promoted the song. This time around it became a huge hit reaching #5 in the US and the top ten in New Zealand and Canada.  Due to the success of “Chevy Van” GRC re-released “Early Morning Love” and “Rag Doll” as singles and like "Chevy Van," both made it onto the charts. Much of the album has a country music character about it. Songs such as “We Will Shine” are reminiscent of John Denver while “Friends of Mine” begins with a twangin’ country music guitar.

"Chevy Van" (1975)

"Chevy Van" was written by Sammy as were most of the songs from his album. The song epitomizes an era when hitchhiking was popular and picking up strangers for a one night stand was a lifestyle for many. The million selling "Chevy Van" struck a chord so much that van sales dramatically increased in the next year, making it one of the most popular vehicles of the time period. "Chevy Van" inspired the 1977 low budget teen film "The Van" in which Danny DeVitto was one of the stars and prominently featured Johns' epic tune.

Sammy's second biggest single "Rag Doll" was written by popular songwriter Steve Eaton. The melancholy song with its open feel and memorable harmony received a fair amount of airplay on some radio stations across the US but failed to reach the heights of "Chevy Van." Despite the song is one of Johns' best recordings and is well remembered by his fans. Songwriter Steve Eaton's songs have been recorded by many top rate artists such as Anne Murray's "Out On The Road," Lee Greenwood's "I'll Still Be Loving You" and probably his best known song "All You Get From Love Is A Love Song" by the Carpenters. "Rag Doll" was first recorded by Sammy Johns but has since been recorded by Art Garfunkel and Glen Campbell.

Link to “Sammy Johns” (Click Here)

SAMMY JOHNS