Barrett Strong certainly found himself in the right place at the right time in 1946, when his family re-located to Detroit. The city already had an active music scene, and Barrett became part of it when his three sisters included him in their gospel group, The Strong Singers. During the fifties they befriended the local star Jackie Wilson. It was through Wilson that the eighteen year-old Barrett was introduced to Berry Gordy, whose local record label, Tamla, was trying to find its feet. Gordy recognised Barrett’s piano and singing skills and took him on… and the rest became musical history. With its raw enthusiasm and songwriting, this album is a great example of the earliest development of Berry Gordy’s Motown empire. Barrett Strong had bags of talent and helped bolster the company finances with his hits. He was the first major Motown star, and this fine album celebrates his earliest work.
