Libby Johnson
Libby Johnson is an American singer-songwriter. She co-founded indie folk band 22 Brides in 1992, and released her debut solo album, Annabella, in 2006.
Libby Johnson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Germany |
| Genres | Folk, Americana |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Labels | Zero Hour Records Universal Wrong Records |
| Associated acts | 22 Brides |
| Website | libbyjohnsonmusic.com |
Early life and education
Johnson was born on an army base in Germany.[1] She moved around on the East Coast of the United States and moved to Nairobi, Kenya, when she was 13.[1][2] She returned with her family to New Canaan, Connecticut at age 15. She started playing piano at age 7. She and her younger sister, Carrie Johnson, started singing together when they were children. They performed in Kenya, before returning to the United States while in high school. They went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston before moving to New York City in 1983.[1][2]
Career
22 Brides
In 1992, the sisters formed the indie folk duo 22 Brides, and in 1993 they put out the self-released eight-song CD Selling Fruit in Cairo. The band name 22 Brides comes from an Indian folk tale they heard when they were younger. After being spotted during one of their monthly gigs at CBGB's Gallery in New York, the duo signed with indie label Zero Hour Records in 1994. On June 22, 1994, they released their self-titled debut, consisting of remixed songs from their self-released effort plus four new songs. The album was produced by Daniel Wise, with additional production from Godfrey Diamond, and features Jonathan Mover on drums and Mark Bosch on guitar.[2]
On the year-long tour for 22 Brides, and in advance of their second album, Beaker, 22 Brides expanded into a four-member band with John Skehan (guitar, bass) and Ned Stroh (drums) joining Libby Johnson (bass, keyboards, vocals) and Carrie Johnson (guitar, vocals).[3] Produced by Adam Lasus, the album had a more highly produced feel than the folk influences of the band's debut.[4] Following a Zero Hour distribution deal with Universal Records, Beaker was released on Zero Hour / Universal.[5]
On September 9, 1997, Zero Hour released the 22 Brides EP Blazes of Light, which was a sampler of sorts, with songs from their first two albums, "Purified" from their upcoming third album, and a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah".[6]
The band's third LP, Demolition Day, was released in 1998, with a return to the intimate sound of 22 Brides. In an effort to get back to their folk-pop harmonizing roots, the band recorded their vocal tracks live and switched to a trio formation, with Libby Johnson on bass and vocals, Carrie Johnson on guitar and vocals, and Bill Dobrow on drums. The album was also influenced by Carrie's move from New York to Arizona. It was produced by Daniel Wise.[6]
In October 1995, 22 Brides toured with Dick Dale.[3] 22 Brides played at the 1998 Lilith Fair,[7] and also opened for Ani DiFranco and Freedy Johnston.[1]
In 1996, Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti introduced characters based on Libby and Carrie Johnson in their comic book series Ash. They then created a four-book miniseries, 22 Brides, published by Event Comics, revolving around the characters based on the sisters.[8] Palmiotti later created a spinoff series, Painkiller Jane. The first issue, "The 22 Brides", was published on June 4, 2014.[9]
The band recorded a cover of the Graham Parker song "You Can't Be Too Strong" for the 2013 tribute album Piss & Vinegar: The Songs of Graham Parker.[10]
Solo
In 2006, after hearing Johnson's upcoming album, "Annabella", writer-director Bart Freundlich decided to use four of her songs in his film Trust the Man, starring David Duchovny, Billy Crudup, Julianne Moore and Maggie Gyllenhaal. He said that he re-edited scenes around her songs. Johnson also wrote a new song, "Indelible Mark", which plays over the film's end credits, and features Shawn Pelton on drums. The soundtrack and Johnson's solo debut, Annabella, were both released on September 5, 2006, on Wrong Records.[1][11][12][13][14] Annabella features Steve Jordan on drums, and guitarists Mark Bosch, Steve Conte and John Putnam.[15]
Johnson's solo follow-up, Perfect View, was released in 2010 on Wrong Records. It was produced by Daniel Wise, with Mark Boquist on drums, Mick Hargreaves on bass, and guitarists Mark Bosch and Jimi Zhivago, as well as appearances by Lucy Wainwright Roche and Garland Jeffreys.[16]
Discography
22 Brides
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Selling Fruit in Cairo
|
| 1994 | 22 Brides
|
| 1995 | Beaker
|
| 1997 | Blazes of Light EP
|
| 1998 | Demolition Day
|
Solo
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Annabella
|
| 2010 | Perfect View
|
Singles
| Year | Song | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Visions of You" | 22 Brides | 22 Brides |
| 1995 | "Lullabye" | 22 Brides | Beaker |
| 1998 | "Another Distant Light" | 22 Brides | Demolition Day |
| 2013 | "You Can't Be Too Strong" | 22 Brides | Piss & Vinegar: The Songs of Graham Parker |
Film/TV soundtrack appearances
| Year | Song | Artist | Film/TV show | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "No Enemies" | 22 Brides | No Way Home | |
| 2006 | "Indelible Mark" | Libby Johnson | Trust the Man | |
| "Don't Mean You Lost Your Love" | Libby Johnson | |||
| "Rain" | Libby Johnson | |||
| "Every Broken Curve" | Libby Johnson | |||
| 2008 | "Don't Mean You Lost Your Love" | Libby Johnson | The Riches (FX) | Season 2, episode 4 |
| "Under the Gate" | Libby Johnson | Smallville (The CW) | Season 8, episode 10 | |
| 2009 | "Mi La Vie" | Libby Johnson | Steven Seagal: Lawman (A&E) | Season 1, episode 2; season 1, episode 10; season 2, episode 7 |
References
- Jeremy Leeuwis, “Libby Johnson to release Annabella,” Music Remedy, August 15, 2006.
- Jim Bessman, “N.Y.’s 22 Brides Find A Music Biz Mate In Fledgling Independent Label Zero Hour,” Billboard, May 28, 1994, pp. 8, 69.
- Jim Bessman, “22 Brides Say ‘I Do’ To New Band Members,” Billboard, August 12, 1995, pp. 10, 16.
- Jim Bessman, “Radio, Retailers Eager As Zero Hour’s 22 Brides Return To Their Folk Roots,” Billboard, April 18, 1998, pp. 9, 13.
- Melinda Newman, “Zero Hour Makes New Distribution Deal’ White Zombie’s ‘Astro Creep’ Remixes,” Billboard, August 10, 1996, p. 14.
- “Ready To Deliver,” Billboard, September 27, 1997.
- Mikael Wood, “Libby Johnson: Annabella,” Boston Phoenix, December 11, 2006.
- Terri Horak, “Zero Hour’s 22 Brides Find Comic Alter Ego,” Billboard, July 20, 1996, pp. 10, 30.
- Doug Zawisza, “Painkiller Jane: The 22 Brides #1,” Comic Book Resources, June 4, 2014.
- Jordan Becker, “They Say It’s Your Birthday: Graham Parker,” Cover Me, November 18, 2014.
- “When Libby Met Maggie,” Billboard, August 14, 2006.
- Mike Joyce, “Libby Johnson ‘Annabella’ Wrong,” Washington Post, January 12, 2007.
- Bill Friskics Warren, “Libby Johnson – Annabella,” No Depression, October 31, 2006.
- E! Entertainment News, October 25, 2006.
- Scott D. Lewis, “Libby Johnson: Annabella,” In Music We Trust, 2006.
- Mark S. Tucker, “FAME Review: Libby Johnson – Perfect View,” acousticmusic.com, 2010.
- Eric R. Danton, “Two Shows With Libby Johnson,” Hartford Courant, November 16, 2006.
