Ian Levine's Top 40 No. 13 - Sidney Barnes - Standing On Solid Ground

Sidney Barnes - Standing On Solid Ground.

Sidney Barnes is one of the more enduring R&B and soul talents of the mid-20th century. A slightly younger contemporary of Smokey Robinson and Ben E. King, he's cut a lasting place for himself in soul music from the late '50s right into the 21st century, if not as well-known a legacy as some of his contemporaries. Starting as a member of the Serenaders, he moved on to become a songwriter and producer, working with acts like the Flirtations and later joining Rotary Connection, sharing the lead vocals with Minnie Riperton as well as writing songs with the group. He subsequently sang with Riperton on several of her solo projects, and also worked with such singers as Edna Wright, Terry Callier, and Deniece Williams, and the group Parliament.

Sidney Barnes was an important part of early Motown, being part of their New York operation, with his partner George Kerr. He recorded solo stuff such as "Standing In The Safety Zone", which didn't come out till years later, and became a cult northern Soul favourite. In 1964, on the V.I.P. label, he was the lead singer of The Seranaders, who recorded the Motown classic, "If Your Heart Says Yes". But it's his two Northern Soul smashes that he became most well known for, "You'lll Always Be In Style", on Red Bird records, and "I Hurt On The Other Side", on the Blue Cat label. My 2001 production of "Standing On Solid Ground", however, became his biggest Northern record ever. Ian Levine tracked down Sidney to re-record "I Hurt On The Other Side" for our Strange World Of Northern Soul project, and then two years later they cut Standing On Solid Ground Together, never dreaming it would finally open the way on the Northern Soul scene for artists to record something new instead of just forty year old records.