The Just Brothers gained another member in 1969, when Frank’s best buddy Willie Kendrick joined the group as an additional vocalist.

They had worked together before, at Golden World, when Frank had accompanied Willie to the audition that resulted in his one release for the label “Stop this train” b/w “Fine as wine”.

In late 1969 they were approached by Johnny Nash who negotiated a deal with Johnny Terry for them to join his Jomada label in New York, where the trio recorded one song, “Good time”. Written by Johnny Terry, Jimmy Bryant and Willie Kendrick, the backing track was recorded in Detroit, and produced by Terry and Frank Bryant.

Inexplicably, when the record did come out, white crooner Johnny Daye had replaced their voices, and their contract was subsequently cancelled. “Yeah that was really weird. We did everything on that song. Wrote it, produced it and recorded the track and then they wiped our vocals off. Never did find out what really happened there. And we didn’t get paid either.”

Within a year of the Jomada debacle however, Johnny Terry worked with the brothers again, when he represented them to the Holland Dozier triumvirate.

He had already negotiated a deal with ‘HDH’ to re release “Sliced tomatoes” on their Music Merchant label, and wanted to record new material with the Bryant brothers.

Coincidentally, Jack Ashford was in the process of assembling local artists for his newly formed Pied Piper production company, and was keen to sign the Just Brothers too. He actually went as far as offering them a specific deal with Pied Piper. ”Jack was keen to get us. He really liked our sound but Johnny wasn’t too happy about that ‘cause he wanted us to go with H/D/H. I think he’d kinda promised them or something. We found out later that it was only Willie that he really wanted.”

A compromise of sorts was finally agreed and it was decided that Willie would join Pied Piper, and Frank and Jimmy would record for Music Merchant.

Although a complete album (“Just Brothers” MMA 103) was planned for them,  the Just Brothers only recorded two ‘new’ songs for the label, “Tears ago” and “You’ve got the love to make me over”, and, ironically, they were both paired with “Sliced tomatoes” as single releases.

“Things will be better” was re issued (again!) on Music Merchant.

One unsolved mystery does remain however. Frank distinctly remembers having the photographs for the album cover taken, but has no idea what became of them. “We had this full photo session in a park and on a boat. We saw the contact sheets but that was it.”

music: "Tears Ago" - The Just Brothers (Music Merchant 1002a)

Continued