SIXTIES

Meanwhile, Ric-Tic continued to release quality material, with Rose Battiste's double-sider "That's What He Told Me" c/w "Holding Hands" being a good example. For more on Rose see Graham Finch's excellent tribute.

The follow up, Ric-Tic106, was by local guy J.J. Barnes.

Born Jimmy Jay Barnes in 1943, J.J. had begun his solo career in 1960 with a 45 on Kable which was ahead of it's time. It was called "Won't You Let Me Know".

In 1963 he released the first of four 45's for Fred Brown's Mickay's label. Mickays was based on 14th street, just south of the 20 Grand, and was a fair sized operation.

The legendary "Poor Unfortunate Me" followed on Ring before he made the move to West Davison.

J.J.'s first outing on Ric-Tic was another superb song, "Please Let Me In" c/w "I Think I Found A Love". Co-arranged by Richard Parker and Don Davis, it unfortunately failed to chart.

The follow-up "Real Humdinger" c/w "I Ain't Gonna Do It" was equally good and eased the earlier disappointment achieving Pop #80, R&B #18. A cover of the Beatles hit, "Day Tripper" came next before J.J.'s final outing in August '66, the excellent "Say It".

When Motown bought out Golden World a month later, it was the start of a nightmare period for Barnes. Although he cut many tracks is the studio, nothing was released, because it was felt that he sounded too much like Marvin Gaye.

Once his contract had run it's course, J.J. joined Groovesville in 1967 where "Baby Please Come Back Home" charted Pop #61, R&B #9. The follow up, "Now That I've Got You Back" also did reasonably well, R&B #44.

A move to Revilot the following year resulted in another four singles including the classic "Our Love Is In The Pocket".

In the early 70's J.J.'s recordings, like Edwin Starr, would gain a new lease of life via England's developing Northern Soul scene. This led to some new material on John Abbey's Contempo label, which was based in London.

Continued