BETTER THAN THIS _ Frankie Knuckles Mix!!!

Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years

Track from my 1980s  'Personal' album....

Father, Father

Demo - written by Paul Johnson produced by Dodge  - 1990s

Gotta Move On

My demo (included on the first album) that helped to get me my first solo recording deal - produced by Junior Giscombe, sponsored by Jeff Young... My old friend Bobby Clarke did the drums with percussion by Karlos Edwards... Loads of my friends Paul Lee, Bobby Carr, Angela Barton, Iris Sutherland.... hearing all the off notes but remembering the sheer joy and excitement of that session... 

Intimate Friends

Sayin' Something

Wrote this song with Jon Bull and Glen Goldsmith  - did the vocals on a sunny day... 20 years ago.

Walking

From my Personal Album - revisited this on recently.
Written with Paul Powell.....

In a Circle

One of my favourite tracks from my Paradise days....I will always associate this song with my lasting memories of Bobby and Junior
This version is the revisited and in my opinion improved recording of the title track from the 2nd Paradise album offering.... 

Memories....enjoy

Paradise's - World's Midnight (Paradise)

Peace24 DEMO

I Get Down Messy Demo

Voices

Remix FollowYou

Nobody Seems Know

if we lose our way

Jesus Is A Friend (Demo)

Happy now

Imposter Syndrome

Second nature

Shout It Out

Our Song

You're Not Alone

No Halo

This Love Overrated

In My Feelings

Serenity

I lost my little companion today... my Cairn terrier was with me for over 11 years until today

Charlie

Old skool jam - with Dodge from 'Sayin' Something' - and the talented Rico on keys.

Saying Something...La

Written around 1992/3 - demo with back vocals exists but mis-placed.   So guide vocal.  Written with Mike Stevens and likely Glen Goldsmith.  Played by Norman Jay or a cassette and Subterrania...

Love Is Waiting

Quiet Times (Paradise)

Keep The Fire (Paradise)

Another tease from something in the pipeline - just a taste of a great mix of my track  'Better Than This'.  Really blessed by some very special people willing this project on.... Thank you Brother Dego, Dean and Ozzie

Better Than This-2000Black version d&K

A remix by my friend the legendary Frankie Knuckles 
Comments please...

BETTER THAN THIS (Director's Cut Classic Soul Mix) Excerpt

Paul Johnson is a British singer-songwriter and veteran of the UK music scene, with over 40 years’ experience across gospel, soul, and club music. Born in the UK but raised partly in 1970s New York, Johnson began his musical journey singing in school and church. A formative moment came in 1979, performing Andraé Crouch’s The Blood in his local church — never imagining it would lead to a career spanning international tours, major label releases, and collaborations with musical legends. He was heavily inspired by the soulful, contemporary gospel of Andraé Crouch & the Disciples and the Hawkins Family.

He first gained recognition singing with Paradise, one of the UK’s pioneering contemporary Black gospel bands. Influenced by artists like the Crusaders, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Herbie Hancock, Paradise fused jazz, funk, reggae and faith to groundbreaking effect. Their hit One Mind Two Hearts introduced Johnson’s smooth, expressive voice to a wider audience. He later sang with the London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC) and toured as a guest of Junior Giscombe on the influential Red Wedge tour, where he shared stages with Billy Bragg, Paul Weller, The Smiths, and The Communards.

Johnson’s talent as a vocalist and songwriter led to a deal with CBS Records in the late '80s, signed by Julian Palmer and Muff Winwood. His debut self-titled album, produced by Junior Giscombe, featured the single When Love Comes Calling. The follow-up, Personal, included Half a World Away, a favourite in Jamaica, his parents’ homeland.

Over the years, Johnson worked with Bryan Ferry, Stevie Wonder, Soul II Soul, Mica Paris, Juliet Roberts and many more. He toured extensively across the UK and Europe, performing at venues including Ronnie Scott’s and Sadler’s Wells, and appearing on various UK and European television programmes. He also featured on high-profile remixes with producer Danny D, including Salt-N-Pepa’s Shoop.

Introduced by Juliet Roberts, he joined M-People on tour, performing with Heather Small, Lynieve Austin, and Sarah Brown over a successful four-year period. Johnson also acted as a production coordinator, providing top-tier session singers for the UK and international markets.

With producer/DJ Roger Drakes (aka Dodge) and IG Culture, Johnson scored the underground club hit If We Lose Our Way. His track Better Than This was remixed by the late house music legend Frankie Knuckles, followed by a run of releases on Area Boy Music with Daz-I-Kue of Bugz In The Attic — bridging his gospel roots with polished UK soul and club culture. Though an album project with Dodge was never fully released, unreleased demos including Gotta Move On (featuring jazz trumpeter Byron Wallen) have found a second life online.

One of his proudest achievements was managing and signing soul vocalist Shaun Escoffery through his production company, to Oyster records, helping to launch a career now marked by standout tracks like Days Like These and Space Rider.

While Johnson has since stepped back from full-time performance, he reflects proudly on a dynamic and genre-spanning career: “All of my experiences in the music industry have made me who I am today.”

Paul Johnson

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