Johnny and Jackey – Someday We’ll Be Together

By , July 12, 2016 11:04 am

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Jackey Beavers and Johnny Bristol

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Listen/Download -Johnny and Jackey – Someday We’ll Be Together MP3

Greetings all.

The tune I bring you today is the fruit of one of my (many) personal obsessions, that being the – often forgotten – original versions of songs.

I have to admit that I was ignorant of the roots of the 1969 hit by Diana Ross and the Supremes until hearing today’s selection on a satellite radio countdown a few years ago.

It wasn’t so shocking that the song had been recorded before, but rather that even in 1961, that familiar guitar figure was right out there in front.

Johnny Bristol and Jackey Beavers were two southern transplants to Detroit (Bristol from North Carolina, Beavers from Georgia) who would both have long careers writing and recording well into the 1970s, with Bristol having a string of R&B hits.

The duo recorded a string of 45s for Anna and Tri-Phi between 1959 and 1962, having a minor pop hit with ‘Lonely and Blue’ in 1960.

They wrote (with the great Harvey Fuqua) ‘Someday We’ll Be Together’ and recorded it in 1961.

The record opens with the solitary sound of maraccas, soon joined by a booming, picked guitar line (recreated on the Supremes record with guitar and strings), then by their voices. The arrangement is spare, but Bristol and Beavers’ voices really carry it. It’s a refreshing experience to juxtapose it with the Supremes hit.

The duo split up when Tri-Phi (and its publishing) was swallowed by Motown , with Beavers going off on his own and both Fuqua and Bristol joining the larger label.

Apparently Bristol was working on recording the song with Jr Walker and the All Stars when Berry Gordy decided to give the song to Diana Ross (who was on the verge of leaving the Supremes to go solo). The record ended up being the last Supremes hit with Ross on lead, going on to hit Number One on both the R&B and Pop charts.

The song was covered again in 1970 for the country market (where it was a Top 10 hit) by Bill Anderson and Jan Howard (check it out over at Iron Leg).

I hope you dig the tune, and I’ll see you all on Friday.

Keep the faith

Larry

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PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

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