J J Barnes @ Motown

[jsmith]

BG didn't do right by J J Barnes after he bought his recording contract off Golden World.
He sent him out on a few tours starring Motown acts & cut him on many tracks, none of which were released.
It was a good job his contract only had months to run & he soon escaped and signed with the Groovesville label.
He would go on to enjoy a long and successful recording career & would be considered a 'legend' in the UK ...
Other artists / groups were similarly side-lined by BG but I think JJ's treatment was just about the worst case.
Attachment 20415

[jsmith]

[Quinn]

JJ's short time with Motown was a little unfortunate, but there was no way he could win. He didn't sound exactly like Marvin Gaye, but their styles were too similar and there should only be one of anything at a record company. Another thing to look at is the fact that it was a bit of a scare tactic on B.G.'s part to calm the rebellious nature of Marvin. Their opposing viewpoints are legendary and he had the right guy to tame him with at the right time. As for the Material, it was good, but not great and would have been hell on the producers writing for two artists in a similar way. If they have a great song, Marvin is gonna win out by him being the proven talent and J.J. would get neglected. He couldn't be victorious at Hitsville unless the Prince left the building which wasn't going to happen. But B.G. liked J.J. very much and just couldn't find a way to create a pocket for him without letting him go. He released J.J. and allowed him to Continue to do what he was doing before. Him and Don Davis got back together and "Baby Please Come Back Home" hit home.

[jsmith]

One that escaped from the vaults in more recent years ..
Attachment 20416

[jsmith]

JJ was badly served by record companies around the world.
He had plenty of releases in the US & UK but very few elsewhere. A couple of 45's in Canada & little else. 70's UK albums were picked up for release in Italy & Japan [[the Japanese one featuring his 60's Groovesville / Stax tracks).

[jsmith]

Another ol' Motown cut ...

[mysterysinger]

It's also a shame that Motown didn't capitalise more on the Ric Tic catalogue although Tamla Motown UK had a good bash with some of it with that Ric Tic Relics album and singles by JJ Barnes, San Remo Strings, Laura Lee etc. Dunno what sales were like but there clearly was a demand at the time.

[jsmith]

Lots of Ric Tic tracks released in the UK on T/M by EMI ...
Attachment 20419

[Graham Jarvis]

Motown Related: "J.J. Barnes & The The Del-phis" [Vandellas] "Won't You Let Me Know" Rich 1005 1961.

Originally on "Kable Records" and one of the first 45's by J.J. Barnes and also one of the earliest recordings by "Martha Reeves & The Vandellas" [Then The Del-Phis] J.J. Barnes is also one of Detroit Hero's.

A well known Disc Jockey "John 'R' Richbourg" from Nashville spent time in 1961 around Detroit artists including "J.J. Barnes" "James [Jimmy] Hendrix" "Clifford Bins" & Cornell Blakely" to name a few, he was also well aware of "The Funk Brothers" and Motown.

A great record for '61'

[motony]

I love "Won't You Let Me Know".The Delphis [[Martha, Roz, Annette & Gloria) sound GREAT. They made this GREAT. J.J. Barnes is GREAT on it too, sounds nothing like Marvin Gaye.The distictive sound of the Vandellas made Marvin Gayes first 3 hits GREAT.