Originally Posted by
danman869
Just going by recording dates that were included in the Ultimate Motown Collection released many years ago, there are at least four songs Jimmy recorded for Motown in 1971. They are:
1. "Change Your Mind" - Allen Story/George Gordy/Lawrence Brown/Bernadette Story - Produced by George Gordy and Allen Story. Working title: "Time And Time Again". Track recorded December 18, 1970, assigned to The Originals; horns added February 22, 1971; JR lead vocal April 12, 1971. Previously unreleased.
2. "I Pray You Still Love Me" - Pamela Sawyer/Jimmy Roach - Produced by Jimmy Roach. Track and lead vocal 9/24/1970, background voices 1/7/1971, horns 1/21/1971, strings 2/26/1971, lead re-recorded, background voices and additional instruments 4/13/71, completed 5/28/71. Previously unreleased.
3. "East Side West Side" - Terry Johnson/Donny Soul/Ron Welser - Produced by Terry Johnson. Working title: "In A Minute I'll Be There." Track 4/27/1970, assigned to The Originals; strings 5/26/1970, horns 6/26/1970, Jimmy Ruffin lead vocal 5/24/1971, background voices 5/28/1971. Previously unreleased.
4. "That's You Girl" - Allen Story/George Gordy/Lawrence Brown - Produced by George Gordy and Lawrence Brown. Track recorded December 18, 1970, assigned to The Jackson 5. JRs lead vocal December 30, 1970, background voices January 21, 1970, second lead vocal November 5, 1971. Previously unreleased.
Granted, recording 3 lead vocals on track in the spring of 1971 and then coming back in the fall to record a last [second/new] lead vocal on a final track [that you'd technically finished almost a year before] wasn't exactly a highly busy run up to the end of a contract or whatever. It makes me think Jimmy may have said, "eff Motown and eff Detroit--I'm going to go move to London and pursue concert work there!" but... it doesn't seem that he completely "benched" his record company at the end of 1970. Could he have does those final vocals under duress or at least begrudgingly? Sure. After what [I've] learned here about his volatility, it could be possible. But certainly there were still producers/writer who wanted to work with Jimmy--even if the material never was released? Plus, Motown released Jimmy's last single in January 1972. That makes me think his contract ended in 1972 and either that final release was obligatory or it was a last [likely half-hearted] attempt on Motown's part to make some money from Jimmy's output. That last record "Our Favorite Melody" had new background vocals recut in late September 1971, so... why would Motown/the producers [George Gordy & Lawrence Brown] bother if Jimmy wasn't still considered an artist worth working with and preparing material for release?
It's sad that Jimmy was so bitter about Motown. Granted, he probably had a good reasons to be in some respects, but... 20 years on? Get some therapy, work through it so you can let it go and move forward.
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