For fans of the Chicago Sound

[robb_k]

I'm getting all kinds of interesting and surprising information following and researching
things in this thread. Re the Barrett Strong mention if you check wikipedia or the often
disappointing allmusicguide there's no mention of him ever doing anything pre Motown.
That he knew The Dells and in fact later in their careers did go back and work for them
again makes we wonder if they and the Temptations had ever crossed paths. Anyway
on the album Barrett did arrangement they were guested by Theresa Davis who for
almost 4 years sang in The Emotions though allmusic makes no mention of that either.
Wade Flemons went on to be in the first edition of Earth Wind and Fire which Maurice
had to fire as he revealed in his memoirs Wade was trying to take ownership of the group
which he'd built from the ashes of his earlier group, The Salty Peppers....

That move by Barrett to Chicago, recording for other labels, and working in production, was NOT "pre-Motown", it was BETWEEN his 2 stints at Motown. His work in production and songwriting at VJ and Okeh gave him the experience to be re-hired by Motown[[1966), and write for other artists, and significantly, Motown's most important artists, and also work in production of their records [[Temptations and others), upon his return, rather than having had previously written only bluesy songs mainly for himself, and a paltry few for similar Bluesy artists like Gino Parks and Mable John [[1959-61), to work in Motown's top level.