J.J. Barnes<div hidden>JJ Barnes</div>
James Jay Barnes, known professionally as J.J. Barnes, was an American R&B singer and songwriter born on November 30, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan, and passed away on December 10, 2022.
Barnes grew up in Detroit with seven brothers and one sister, singer Orthea Barnes, attending North Western High School. His musical career started in gospel groups like the Halo Gospel Singers and the Five Seniors before forming J.J. Barnes & The Dell-Fi's, releasing his debut single "My Love Came Tumbling Down" in 1960 on Kable Records.
In the early 1960s, Barnes recorded singles like "Just One More Time" and "Please Let Me In" on Mickay and Ric-Tic labels, which later gained popularity in the UK Northern soul scene. He joined the trio the Holidays with Edwin Starr and Steve Mancha, scoring a #7 R&B hit in 1966 with "I'll Love You Forever." His breakthrough solo single, the self-co-written "Baby Please Come Back Home" on Groovesville in 1967, reached #9 on the US Billboard R&B chart.
Signed briefly to Motown as a songwriter without solo releases, Barnes continued issuing singles on labels like Revilot and Groovesville through the late 1960s. In the 1970s, on Edwin Starr's recommendation, he relocated to England, signing with Contempo Records for singles and the album Sara Smile (1977), embracing the Northern soul audience with reissues of tracks like "Real Humdinger."
Barnes recorded for Ian Levine's Motorcity label in the 1980s and 1990s, covering Northern soul classics such as "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)." His work influenced covers like the Dirtbombs' version of "Chains of Love" in 2001, and he remained active until his death at age 79.
Born Again
A2 Time Is Love (D. Jordan, P. Adams 3:30)
A3 Good Men Don't Grown On Trees (D. Jordan, J. Barnes, J. Thorpe 3:20)
A4 You Are Just A Living Doll (D. Jordan, P. Adams 4:35)
A5 Wishful Thinking (D. Jordan, P. Adams 4:40)
B1 You Owe It To Yourself (Part I) (D. Jordan, P. Adams 5:25)
B2 You Owe It To Yourself (Part II 3:00)
B3 No If's, And's, Or But's (D. Jordan, P. Adams 3:40)
B4 I Just Make Believe (I'm Touching You) (D. Jordan, P. Adams 3:45)
Label: Perception Records – PLP-39
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Soul singer J.J. Barnes' Born Again album marked a stylistic shift from his earlier Northern soul sound to a heavier, more righteous, and introspective soul and R&B style and is known for its deep, emotive performances that reflect the artist's experiences and characterized by slow, soulful tracks and emotionally honest lyrics.
The album is considered a "comeback" album, showcasing a more introspective side of the artist. The music is described as a testament to the enduring power of soul music and a story of personal transformation.
The album is noted for its mature and weighty sound, featuring deep soul tracks and strong, trademark vocals from Barnes. The arrangements were handled by notable figures including Patrick Adams, Eumir Deodato, and Tony Bell. Critics have described it as a "must own album for anybody that takes their R&B seriously".
Later reissues are sometimes titled Born Again, Again!