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J J Barnes
JJ is another great US soul singer who was destined to gain more fame on the UK Northern Soul scene than he ever did at home. Born in Detroit around the same time Major Lance was born in Mississippi in 1943, JJ started off as did many other great soul singers in the gospel style when joining 
"The Halo Gospel Singers" a group which included his Sister Ortheia Barnes. JJ was not only a great singer, but also a respected writer who co wrote most of his own recordings. His first single was released in 1960, a double sider with "My love came tumbling down" on the A side and backed with "Won't you let me know", released on Kable 437. This was to be his only ever release on Kable and the single was also released on Rich 1005 in 1960 and again in 1962 on Rich 1737 and this track is known to be responsible for providing the Vandellas with their first big break. JJ then tried out on with singles on Mickays releasing the excellent "Just One More Time" (1963) then went on to the Scepter label releasing "Just One More Time" and then the Ring label before joining the legendary Ric Tic label where he would perform some of his best work releasing "Please let me in" on Ric Tic 117 (1965) This is an all time personal favourite of mine and another of the all time Northern Soul classics to be introduced to the Wheel by Ian Levine and first played by Les Cokell early in 1969, although first released and virtually totally ignored in 1965. This was re-released much later in the UK on a black TamlaMotown 45 TMG 870 (1973) which also included Real Humdinger and I ain't gonna do it, yep three JJ tracks on one 45.
J.J. BARNES
"The Halo Gospel Singers" a group which included his Sister Ortheia Barnes. JJ was not only a great singer, but also a respected writer who co wrote most of his own recordings. His first single was released in 1960, a double sider with "My love came tumbling down" on the A side and backed with "Won't you let me know", released on Kable 437. This was to be his only ever release on Kable and the single was also released on Rich 1005 in 1960 and again in 1962 on Rich 1737 and this track is known to be responsible for providing the Vandellas with their first big break. JJ then tried out on with singles on Mickays releasing the excellent "Just One More Time" (1963) then went on to the Scepter label releasing "Just One More Time" and then the Ring label before joining the legendary Ric Tic label where he would perform some of his best work releasing "Please let me in" on Ric Tic 117 (1965) This is an all time personal favourite of mine and another of the all time Northern Soul classics to be introduced to the Wheel by Ian Levine and first played by Les Cokell early in 1969, although first released and virtually totally ignored in 1965. This was re-released much later in the UK on a black TamlaMotown 45 TMG 870 (1973) which also included Real Humdinger and I ain't gonna do it, yep three JJ tracks on one 45. Real Humdinger - Ric Tic 110 (1966) Another all-time Northern classic discovered at the Wheel and after which JJ was aptly named "Mr Real Humdinger".
Day tripper - Ric Tic 115 (1966) Yes, the same as the Beatles
Say it - Ric Tic 117 (1966)
JJ then worked on the Golden World label becoming a member of "The Holidays" along with Steve Mancha, Eddie Anderson and Edwin Starr, although it is often said that Edwin's vocals were dubbed rather than him actually being recorded in the studio with the other Group members when recording "I'll love you forever" on Golden World
Like Edwin Starr, JJ's went to Motown when Berry Gordy bought the Ric Tic label and like Edwin, JJ should have fitted in well at Motown as he was already good friends with their moonlighting session musicians (The Funk Brothers) who had supported Golden World - Ric Tic artists for many years. However for some reason Berry Gordy decided not to release any of JJ's records perhaps believing his sound was too similar to that of the already accomplished Motown artist Marvin Gaye and so Gordy instead used JJ for his song writing abilities, which resulted the co written tracks "Show Me the Way" for Martha & the Vandellas (1967) and "Don't Make Hurting Me a Habit" for the Marvelettes (1968). JJ therefore just like Edwin Starr received little actual recording exposure with the Motown label and it was in 1967 when JJ was released to Groovesville to again work with Don Davis and scored early successes with:
Shortly after in 1968 JJ went to Revilot and recorded "Now she's gone" (Revilot 216) and then a track already recorded by Daryl Banks in 1966 and which was to become JJ's monster Northern Soul anthem "Our love is in the pocket" (Revilot 222). Then came releases on several different labels, "Evidence / I'll Keep Coming Back" on Buddah 120 (1969), "Snowflakes / Got To Get Rid Of You" on Volt 4027 (1969) and "My Baby / You're Still My Baby" on Invasion 1001 (1970).
JJ then tried out on a variety of labels including Volt, Buddah, Leo, Magic Touch, Perception and the Invasion label released his following five recordings from 1969 to 1973, none of which were US hits. "Snowflakes (Volt 4027) like many of his other recordings picked up some interest on the UK Northern Soul scene. Perception then released the album "Born again" (1973).
It was about this time that a significant change would occur in JJ's future when his Ric Tic friend Agent OO Soul Edwin Starr decided to try his luck England where he was already extremely popular on the Northern scene in spite of being virtually ignored at home. Edwin then called up JJ and suggested he come over as he was already popular
on the UK Northern scene. On his arrival in England JJ & Edwin worked together and he then signed with the UK Contempo Records releasing "To an Early Grave" and all up about seven singles and the album "Sara Smile". JJ released around five more records including "Think I got a good chance" on Organic and a cover of Little Carl Carlton's "Competition ain't nothing" on Inferno (Burn 7A). JJ then made a brave move releasing a cover of Frank Wilson's Northern Soul anthem "Do I love you (indeed I do)" on Inferno (1985) and a couple of singles on Ian Levine's Motor City label along with the album "Try it one more time". JJ's later work with Ian Levine also included the brilliant "Talk of the Grapevine" on Achievement ART 10011, a superb track that in my opinion seems to have been overlooked in the UK for all the wrong reasons and which just one listen tells you it still cuts the mustard today. The only time I have ever heard this played in Australia was once at Soul Biscuits in Sydney mid 2004 and it had the dance floor packed and afterwards everyone was asking "what was that one?".
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Like Edwin Starr, JJ's went to Motown when Berry Gordy bought the Ric Tic label and like Edwin, JJ should have fitted in well at Motown as he was already good friends with their moonlighting session musicians (The Funk Brothers) who had supported Golden World - Ric Tic artists for many years. However for some reason Berry Gordy decided not to release any of JJ's records perhaps believing his sound was too similar to that of the already accomplished Motown artist Marvin Gaye and so Gordy instead used JJ for his song writing abilities, which resulted the co written tracks "Show Me the Way" for Martha & the Vandellas (1967) and "Don't Make Hurting Me a Habit" for the Marvelettes (1968). JJ therefore just like Edwin Starr received little actual recording exposure with the Motown label and it was in 1967 when JJ was released to Groovesville to again work with Don Davis and scored early successes with:
Baby please come back home (Groovesville 1006 ) co written with Don Davis
Now that I got you back (Groovesville 1008)
Sweet Sherry (Groovesville 555) Another all time classic on the Groovesville label but not an actual official Groovesville release, also released in the UK in 1975 on Contempo, how come this one never made it into the Northern Soul Top 500
Shortly after in 1968 JJ went to Revilot and recorded "Now she's gone" (Revilot 216) and then a track already recorded by Daryl Banks in 1966 and which was to become JJ's monster Northern Soul anthem "Our love is in the pocket" (Revilot 222). Then came releases on several different labels, "Evidence / I'll Keep Coming Back" on Buddah 120 (1969), "Snowflakes / Got To Get Rid Of You" on Volt 4027 (1969) and "My Baby / You're Still My Baby" on Invasion 1001 (1970).
JJ then tried out on a variety of labels including Volt, Buddah, Leo, Magic Touch, Perception and the Invasion label released his following five recordings from 1969 to 1973, none of which were US hits. "Snowflakes (Volt 4027) like many of his other recordings picked up some interest on the UK Northern Soul scene. Perception then released the album "Born again" (1973).
It was about this time that a significant change would occur in JJ's future when his Ric Tic friend Agent OO Soul Edwin Starr decided to try his luck England where he was already extremely popular on the Northern scene in spite of being virtually ignored at home. Edwin then called up JJ and suggested he come over as he was already popular
on the UK Northern scene. On his arrival in England JJ & Edwin worked together and he then signed with the UK Contempo Records releasing "To an Early Grave" and all up about seven singles and the album "Sara Smile". JJ released around five more records including "Think I got a good chance" on Organic and a cover of Little Carl Carlton's "Competition ain't nothing" on Inferno (Burn 7A). JJ then made a brave move releasing a cover of Frank Wilson's Northern Soul anthem "Do I love you (indeed I do)" on Inferno (1985) and a couple of singles on Ian Levine's Motor City label along with the album "Try it one more time". JJ's later work with Ian Levine also included the brilliant "Talk of the Grapevine" on Achievement ART 10011, a superb track that in my opinion seems to have been overlooked in the UK for all the wrong reasons and which just one listen tells you it still cuts the mustard today. The only time I have ever heard this played in Australia was once at Soul Biscuits in Sydney mid 2004 and it had the dance floor packed and afterwards everyone was asking "what was that one?".JJ Barnes, another great Soul artist achieving more success in the UK due to Northern Soul than he ever did in his home country the USA and who's recordings still bring pleasure to thousands of Northern Soul fans all over the World even today.
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