JJ Barnes – Chains of Love b/w September Asbury 45 Sessions

Mr. J.J. Barnes

“Listen – Chains of Love MP3″

Greetings all.

As much as I hate to say it, this will be the last post this week* as I’ll be joining my Asbury Park 45 Sessions compadres for another smoking soul session this Friday, September 14th at the World Famous Asbury Lanes.

There will be a couple of special guests this time around, including a debut area set by the mighty Vincent from Fufu Stew.
This will also be the debut of the Asbury Park 45 Sessions internet simulcast. The entire show will be streaming live on the interwebs, and archived henceforth for latecomers and repeat players alike. I’m extremely excited about this new wrinkle in the AP45 story, and I hope that those of you that can’t make it in person will hop on the web to join our little e-allnighter.
I know I say this every time, but the Asbury Park 45 Sessions crew brings some serious heat, and the Asbury Lanes are a very groovy hang, complete with cold beer, hot tater tots and even hotter people. If you are within a reasonable distance, it behooves you to fall on by and join the party.
I hope to see you there.
Now…I wouldn’t come back to close out the week without whipping a bit of soul onto the blog to hold you until Friday, so, that said, I present to you a very heavy, very groovy 45 from the legendary J.J. Barnes.
This is an especially appropriate choice as today’s selection; ‘Chains of Love’ was part of my set list from the last 45 Sessions.
If you aren’t familiar with the name, J.J. Barnes is one of the great Detroit soul voices of the 60’s. His mid-60’s discography, for Ric-Tic, Groovesville and Revilot (among many other labels) is filled with classic sides, many of which (especially ‘Real Humdinger’ and ‘Our Love Is in the Pocket’) are held close to the hearts of Northern Soul fans. So much so that Barnes, who is largely – and unjustly – forgotten Stateside, has a huge following in the UK.
‘Chains of Love’, which was released by Groovesville in 1967 is a fantastically tough side. Barnes’ vocal is very heavy, and the placement of the piano and tambourine high in the mix makes the record a solid dancer (thus the Northern love). It’s one of those soul sides that verily grabs you by the lapels and drags you out onto the floor. Once you’re out there, if the beat isn’t enough to make you move, Barnes voice is sure to seal the deal.
I hope you dig the tune, and that I get to meet some of you this Friday. The doors open at 8:00PM, and much groovy wax will be spun.
Peace
Larry

*Unless I get it together to post a recap, which is pretty much a certainty.

PS There’s some groovy garage punk up over at Iron Leg

EMERGENCY UPDATE

BOBBY BYRD / WILLIE TEE R.I.P.

Wow…I just heard that James Brown right hand man and serious soul/funk artist in his own right Bobby Byrd passed away. Byrd – in addition to adding vocals to a number of James Brown records – recorded a grip of very hot 45s on his own, including ‘Hot Pants, I’m Coming’. I don’t have anything digitized and ready to go, but I will have something of Bobby’s up in the next few weeks. Sad news indeed.

I also heard that New Orleans soul/funk great Willie Tee (Wilson Turbinton) died. Willie had a bunch of 45s under his own name (‘Thank You John’), as well as some great funky stuff with the Gaturs. His brother Earl, saxophonist with the Gaturs passed away in the last few months. I just happened to have a Gaturs tune up on the server already, so dig it, and raise a glass in memory of Bobby Byrd and Willie Tee.

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