Timeless Legend was an American soul group that made four intervalled singles and the 1976 album Synchronized.
Members: Butch Johnson, Allen B. Burney, Jackie Hogg, Donald Harmon, Michael Harmon
Background
Timeless Legend emerged in Columbus, Ohio as a vocal quintet with Butch Johnson, Allen B. Burney, Jackie Hogg, and brothers Donald Harmon and Michael Harmon.
Timeless Legend made their debut appearance on First Annual: Inner-City Talent Expo, a 1972 Columbus compilation of young Black performers. The Suspicious Can Openers back Timeless Legend on “Close to You,” a wah-drenched cover of the Bacharach–David ballad, originated by Richard Chamberlain and popularized by the Carpenters. Johnson surfaced in Ocho.
They linked with manager Carl Fagain, who launched Black Forest Records under Mo-Soul Productions and recorded Timeless Legend at Appalachia Sound Studios in Chillicothe. Fagain and Eddy Parker produced their 1975 single “(Baby) Don’t Do This to Me” (b/w “Where There’s Love There’s a Way”), both sides written by Dean Francis, the ex-Four Mints drummer and future Sun singer. The single remained one of two Black Forest releases along with a 1975 single by Earth’s Delight, “Brother, Wake Up” (b/w “Junkie Hustle”).
Synchronized
Timeless Legend released their debut album, Synchronized, in 1976 on Pendulum Records.
The album presents close-voiced vocal soul with ballads and mid-tempo ensemble numbers, performed by vocalists Jackie Hogg, Allen B. Burney, Donald Harmon, and Michael Harmon. The album contains six originals: four by Hogg, one by Michael Harmon, and one Hogg–Carl Fagain co-write.
Synchronized uses a small rhythm section with bassist Melvin Stewart (Undisputed Truth), drummer Randal Winter, guitarist Duane Tribune, serial keyboardist Skip Anderson, and percussionists Marva Y. Garland (chimes) and Walter Neil (congas), joined by saxophonist Jay Harmon and trumpeter Jim Scatch.
“Lonely Man” lingers on close group harmony and curled horn-line replies. “Love’s Cliche” slows around soft chorus answers and blended vocal cadences. “Checking You Out” saunters on a light dance backbeat as electric-piano turns answer the lead. “River Boat Queen” surges through heavier vocal charge and harder accents. “You’re the Best Thing” exerts polished refrains and close-harmony backing. “Ghost of Love” drifts through effects-washed vocal trails and hazy section changes.
A1. “Lonely Man” (7:32) – Hogg
A2. “Love’s Cliche” (5:37) – Hogg
A3. “Checking You Out” (3:20) – Hogg
B1. “River Boat Queen” (4:33) – Harmon
B2. “You’re the Best Thing” (5:02) – Hogg
B3. “Ghost of Love” (5:45) – Hogg, Fagain
Timeless Legend recorded Synchronized at Kingsmill Recording Studio with producer–arranger Carl E. Fagain and engineer Mark Spangler. Anderson played on subsequent albums by Wax, Kleeer, Cheryl Lynn, Melba Moore, and Lenny White‘s Twennynine.
On the back cover of the original Pendulum release, the group members are listed with their zodiac signs and birth dates: Donald Harmon (Aries: March 28), Michael Harmon (Scorpio: Oct. 25), Allen B. Burney (Leo: July 25), and Hogg (Sagittarius: Nov. 27).
Synchronized appeared in a Darlene Scales cover package with photography by John Ellis. The front cover places a grandfather clock between four solo portrait panels of the group members.
Postlude
After a few years of silence, Timeless Legend issued the 1979/80 singles “Everybody Disco” and “I Was Born to Love You” on Fagain’s Dawn-Lite label. Both songs were written by Hogg. The group (along with the Pendulum imprint) returned once more for the 1985 single “Do You Love Me” (b/w “You’re the One”).
Synchronized underwent three 21st-century reissues with five bonus tracks taken from the group’s singles.
Discography:
- “(Baby) Don’t Do This to Me” / “Where There’s Love There’s a Way” (1975)
- Synchronized (1976)
- “Everybody Disco (Part One)” / “Everybody Disco (Part Two)” (1979)
- “I Was Born to Love You” (1980)
- “Do You Love Me” / “You’re the One” (1985)
Sources:
Artist/Album Pages:
Tierra was an American Latin-rock band from Los Angeles that made a 1973 self-titled album on 20t...
Working Progress was a French jazz-funk band that released a 1975 self-titled album on RCA Victor....
Mémoriance was a French symphonic-rock band that released two albums and a standalone single betwe...
The Sailor Band was an American jazz-rock quartet from Minnesota that self-released the 1974 albu...
Humus was a German jazz-rock band that made the 1976 album Offshore on Pläne. Twelve years later,...
The Carpenters were the American MOR pop duo of pianist–singer Richard Carpenter and his singer–dr...
Teddy Lasry (born 1947) is a French multi-instrumentalist and composer who released numerous libra...
Trevor Rabin (born Jan. 13, 1954) is a South African-born/U.S.-naturalized guitarist, keyboardist,...
Zbigniew Namysłowski (born Sept. 9 1939) is a Polish saxophonist and composer who first recorded w...
The Prime Element was a Manhattan-based Latin-jazz/rock big band headed by Argentinian keyboardist/a...
El Reloj was an Argentine symphonic/hard-rock band that made two self-titled albums in 1975/76 on ...
Charlie and the Pep Boys were an American R&B/rock band from Washington D.C. that released th...
2020 draft:
Timeless Legend were discovered by Carl Fagain, who first recorded the band for his Black Forest label in partnership with Eddy Parker. In 1975, the group made its vinyl debut with “(Baby) Don’t Do This to Me” (b/w “Where There’s Love There’s a Way”). Both sides were written by ex-Four Mints drummer/future Sun vocalist Dean Francis. It was one of two records issued on Black Forest; the other was “Brother, Wake Up” / “Junkie Hustle” by Earth’s Delight (also 1975).
In 1976, Timeless Legend released their singular album Synchronized. Five of the six songs were written or co-written by arranger Jackie Hogg, including “Ghost of Love,” “Checking You Out,” and “Love’s Cliche.” On the back cover of the original Pendulum release, the group members are listed with their zodiac signs and birth dates: Donald Harmon (Aries: March 28), Michael Harmon (Scorpio: Oct. 25), Allen B. Burney (Leo: July 25), and Hogg (Sagittarius: Nov. 27). The album features a handful of instrumentalists, including bassist Melvin D. Stewart (Stargard, Undisputed Truth, Dream Machine) and guitarist Skip Anderson (Wax, Kleeer, Cheryl Lynn, Melba Moore, Lenny White‘s Twennynine).
After a few years of silence, Timeless Legend issued the 1979/80 singles “Everybody Disco” and “I Was Born to Love You” on Fagain’s Dawn-Lite label. Both songs were written by Hogg. The group (along with the Pendulum imprint) returned once more for the 1985 single “Do You Love Me” (b/w “You’re the One”).
Synchronized has been thrice reissued in the 21st century with five bonus tracks taken from the group’s singles.