You know that feeling when a song starts and the bassline just grabs you by the throat? That’s exactly what happens within the first three seconds of What About My Love by Johnnie Taylor. It’s not just a song; it's a mood. Released in 1982 on Beverly Glen Records, it marked a massive pivot for a man who had already been dubbed the "Philosopher of Soul."
Johnnie Taylor wasn't a newcomer by then. He’d survived the collapse of Stax Records and had already conquered the disco era with "Disco Lady." But by the early '80s, the musical landscape was shifting. Funk was getting slicker. Synthesizers were creeping in. Yet, Taylor managed to stay grounded in the dirt and grit of rhythm and blues while embracing a polished, urban sound.
Honestly, the track is a masterclass in tension.
The Story Behind the Groove
Most people don't realize that What About My Love by Johnnie Taylor almost didn't happen the way we know it. The song was produced by Patrick Moten and Otis Smith. Moten was a genius who understood how to bridge the gap between old-school soul shouting and the new-school "quiet storm" aesthetic.
When you listen to the arrangement, it’s deceptively simple. You’ve got that steady, driving mid-tempo beat. You’ve got those staccato horn stabs. But the real magic is Taylor’s voice. He doesn't just sing the lyrics; he pleads them. He demands an answer to a question that feels like a life-or-death situation for his heart.
Taylor’s career is a fascinating case study in artistic longevity. He started in gospel with the Highway Q.C.'s and then replaced Sam Cooke in the Soul Stirrers. Think about that pressure. Replacing a legend. He carried that gospel fervor into his secular work, which is why "What About My Love" feels so spiritual even though it's clearly about a complicated, messy romance.
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The song appeared on the album Just Ain't Good Enough. While the title track did well, "What About My Love" became the sleeper hit that DJs couldn't stop playing. It peaked at #10 on the Billboard R&B charts, proving that the blues-man from Arkansas still had his finger on the pulse of Black America.
Why the Production Still Sounds Fresh Today
Music in 1982 can sometimes sound dated. The drums often feel thin, or the synths feel like a cheap Casio. Not here. The production on What About My Love by Johnnie Taylor is incredibly thick. It has weight.
- The Bassline: It’s a walking line that anchors the entire track. It never deviates, creating a hypnotic effect.
- The Backing Vocals: They provide a lush, velvet-like cushion for Taylor’s gravelly leads.
- The Phrasing: Taylor uses silence as much as he uses sound. He waits. He lets the beat breathe before jumping back in with a "Lord have mercy" or a sharp "Hey!"
It’s this specific sonic profile that made the song a prime target for sampling decades later. If you’re a hip-hop fan, you’ve likely heard this song without even realizing it. Most famously, Jay-Z sampled the track for "Politics as Usual" on his debut album Reasonable Doubt.
Shoutout to Ski Beatz for that production, by the way. He took the soulful DNA of Johnnie Taylor and turned it into a gritty New York anthem. It’s a testament to the original song’s quality that it could be stripped down and repurposed for a completely different genre and still retain its emotional punch.
The Emotional Stakes of the Lyrics
Basically, the song is an ultimatum. It’s about a man who has given everything—his time, his money, his loyalty—and is realizing the scales aren't balanced. "What about my love?" he asks. He’s not asking for a favor. He’s asking for a return on an investment.
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There’s a raw vulnerability in Taylor’s delivery that sets him apart from the "lover boys" of the 1980s. He isn't trying to be smooth. He’s trying to be heard. When he hits those high notes toward the end of the track, you can hear the strain and the sweat. It’s authentic.
In a world of programmed drums and over-edited vocals, What About My Love by Johnnie Taylor reminds us what it sounds like when a real band and a real singer get in a room and just feel it.
Common Misconceptions About the Track
Some people think this was a Stax record. It wasn't. While Johnnie is synonymous with Stax, this came out during his tenure with Beverly Glen. This was a smaller, independent label run by Otis Smith. Being on an indie label gave Taylor more creative freedom, but it also meant the song had to work twice as hard to get radio play.
Another misconception? That it’s a "breakup song." It’s actually more of a "stand-off song." He’s not leaving yet. He’s standing in the doorway, waiting for a reason to stay.
The Lasting Legacy of the Philosopher of Soul
Johnnie Taylor passed away in 2000, but his influence is everywhere. You see it in artists like Anthony Hamilton or Anderson .Paak—singers who know how to mix the church and the club.
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"What About My Love" isn't just a nostalgic relic. It’s a blueprint. It shows how to grow older as an artist without losing your edge. Taylor didn't try to sound like a teenager in 1982. He sounded like a grown man dealing with grown-man problems. That’s why the song still resonates at family reunions, in late-night lounge sets, and on classic soul playlists.
If you really want to appreciate the track, listen to it on a high-quality sound system or a pair of decent headphones. Don't just play it through your phone speakers. You need to hear the separation between the instruments. You need to hear the way the guitar lick sneaks in during the second verse.
How to Deep Dive Into Johnnie Taylor’s World
If this song has you hooked, don't stop there. The "Taylor Made" sound is vast. To truly understand where What About My Love by Johnnie Taylor fits into the history of American music, you should take these specific steps:
- Listen to the full album Just Ain't Good Enough: It’s one of the most cohesive R&B albums of the early eighties. The sequencing is perfect for a late-night drive.
- Compare it to his 1960s work: Queue up "Who's Making Love." Notice how his voice aged. It got deeper, more textured, and arguably more expressive as the years went by.
- Check out the "B-Side" philosophy: Johnnie was known for having incredible B-sides. Explore his Malaco Records era—specifically songs like "Good Love"—to see how he transitioned into the "Southern Soul" movement that kept him a superstar in the South until his death.
- Analyze the Jay-Z connection: Listen to "Politics as Usual" side-by-side with "What About My Love." Look for how the producer isolated the horn hits and the bassline. It’s a great lesson in how soul music provides the foundation for modern pop and rap.
Johnnie Taylor was a giant. He lived through the evolution of the blues, the explosion of soul, the glitz of disco, and the birth of hip-hop. "What About My Love" is the bridge that connects all those worlds together. It’s timeless, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s undeniably funky. Go play it loud.