{"product_id":"johnnie-taylor-ever-ready-vinyl-lp-columbia-pc-35340","title":"Johnnie Taylor – Ever Ready (Vinyl LP) | Columbia PC 35340","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Artist\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohnnie Taylor (1934–2000) was one of the most versatile and enduring voices in American soul music. Born in Crawfordville, Arkansas, Taylor came up singing gospel alongside Sam Cooke in the Soul Stirrers before making the leap to secular R\u0026amp;B. He signed with Stax Records in the mid-1960s and became one of the label's biggest stars, delivering a string of gritty, blues-drenched soul hits including \u003cem\u003eWho's Making Love\u003c\/em\u003e (1968), which sold over two million copies and cemented his reputation as a master storyteller with a gift for earthy, relatable themes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor's smooth baritone and charismatic delivery earned him the nickname \u003cstrong\u003e\"The Philosopher of Soul.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e He navigated the shifting tides of R\u0026amp;B with remarkable ease — from deep Southern soul to funk to disco — and in 1976 scored one of the biggest hits of the era with \u003cem\u003eDisco Lady\u003c\/em\u003e on Columbia Records, the first single ever certified platinum by the RIAA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Album\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEver Ready\u003c\/strong\u003e was released in 1978 on Columbia Records (Catalog: PC 35340). Coming off the massive commercial success of \u003cem\u003eEargasm\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eRated Extraordinaire\u003c\/em\u003e, Taylor continued his winning collaboration with producer Don Davis, who had a knack for blending lush orchestration with hard-hitting funk grooves. \u003cem\u003eEver Ready\u003c\/em\u003e captures Taylor at the height of his late-1970s commercial peak — polished enough for radio, but with enough grit and soul to satisfy longtime fans. The album reflects the disco-funk crossover sound that dominated Black radio in 1978, while Taylor's vocals remain unmistakably rooted in the church and the blues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinyl: VG\u003c\/strong\u003e — Carefully cleaned with a Spin-Clean record washer and stored in a new protective plastic sleeve. The record plays flawlessly on a quality turntable with no skips. Minor scuffs are visible under direct light; minor pops and crackles were noted during playback, consistent with the grade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJacket: Good\u003c\/strong\u003e— Shows ring wear and a rip beginning at the top seam, as pictured. Original inner sleeve is included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAll condition details are accurately represented. Photos show actual item.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Portage MCC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47526849216765,"sku":"Storefront Vinyl","price":14.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/9597\/7651\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_c16567b9-d942-420a-bb33-46cf996a8124.jpg?v=1778524685","url":"https:\/\/portagemcc.com\/products\/johnnie-taylor-ever-ready-vinyl-lp-columbia-pc-35340","provider":"Portage MCC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}