By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Friday, October 18, 2002 - 07:08 pm:

I've got to thank Julian a million times for sending these scans.

I have never taken note before of a Rayber record label.

I hope someone can give us some more background to this subject.

Has anyone a discography of the Rayber label?

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Friday, October 18, 2002 - 07:13 pm:

B&h Distributors were at 3959 Woodward.

and also at 2930 West Boston Blvd.

The latter being a Robert West Lupine address.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 10:20 am:

Interesting - the matrix numbers (G1/G2) might
mean "Gordy" or then again they might mean
"Goldner" as in George Goldner, whose End label
issued the first Miracles single.

Raynoma Singleton's book probably gives some background to the label - Rayber was a company
formed by RAYnoma and BERry which was set up to
cater to Detroit writers who wanted their songs
recorded. The writer would bring in a song -
Rayber would do supply an arrangement, record the track and try to get the master placed with a
label. I doubt that very much of this stuff ever
saw an actual release - the Wade Jones disc was
probably only released locally. I'll see if I
can find out any more info. It's generally
accepted that the Rayber disc is from early '59
but whether or not it predates Motown I'm not
sure - my guess is yes.

By thecount (64.53.143.173) on Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 12:51 pm:

I can remember "MARV JOHNSON" mentioning some sort of vocal accompaniment with the "Rayber Voices".But this was durring the times of us trying to acchive some "UNITED ARTIST" wax.(Thanx Marv,you made it happen).If this is any fuel to this subject,I think "RAYBER",and THE "RAYBER VOICES" were only released in the DETROIT AREA.With the WADE JONES,"INSANE"i think it was something to do with BERRY and SMOKEY,and could of been one of the first and only,it is a 1958 recording,maybe released in 1959.I'am by no means a record specialist,it's just i have so damm many records that this happens to bring me some more memories of my man "MARV JOHNSON" and my question is ,could there be a boot-leg "RAYBER" record if the one we have here by "WADE JONES" was the only record,or single ever recorded on RAYBER,where did "The 5ive Stars (Lazy Daisy,and Magic)on this lable come from?I heard this was the first song ever recorded by Gordy and Raynoma Liles.Do I have a boot leg here?I never got into the technicle aspects of lables before and have no idea what really goes on there,but since this forum,it has surley given me a new interest and education.I sure would like to know more.I'am going to one of my storage sheds latter today and do some diggin through some boxes of miss. catagory and get a education if someone can talk me through what I've seen here such as MATRIX,ENTRY #'s,ZTSC series,etc.What does all this mean? I do know that if you replace your styleist on your turntable with a #6 penny nail,this diamond ring sounds great.
Thanx all in advance to whoever can help me on this interesting subject.
My next goal is to learn how to type and SPAL.
"COUNT"

By keith (195.92.67.74) on Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 01:56 pm:

Count - yes, your Five Stars is a bootleg. Great news about This Diamond Ring, I have been wondering what to do with it

Davie - LOADS of those early Detroits had G-1 and G-2 as master number (Tamla 101 "Come to me", 54024 Chico Leverett AND 54024 Swinging Tigers, Nick and the Jaguars, Bad girl ....) I dunno what it meant, I don't THINK it's Gordy cos I think there are other Detroits that have the same #s - maybe just meant Side 1 and Side 2 ... "Merry-go-round"/"It moves me" (Tamla 102) has G3 and G4 though!!

David M - thanks for info about B&H. It was a small city back in 58/59. Marv's first 45 was for Robert West, cut at United. I think West was second only to the Fortune when Gordy started up.
Fascinating to think Gordy's first record was distributed by West. Smokey tells the story (in his "autobiography") of how when they cut "Come to me", he and Berry distributed it themselves, in a beat-up car in the middle of winter - I wonder if that was because they were disappointed with Mr West's efforts! There are certainly more copies of Tamla 101 around than there are of Rayber 1001!

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 01:56 pm:

Harry W

I'm interested in knowing if you have identified the earliest master tape in the archives, and what was on it?

Thanks
David

By thecount (64.53.165.90) on Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 09:42 pm:

THANX KEITH.I figured that much on The 5ive Stars.
Just returned from one of my storage sheds and after going through boxes and boxes,I come across so many things I forgotten all about.I'am sure this is the case with so many people who saved things for so many years,you just forget about things you dont bother with through out the years.
Some of these things could be "MOTOWN" collectable items,or even "MOTOWN" memormobillia.
If there is an interest here,I'll list them if the respond is seen here.
"COUNT"

By keith (195.92.67.74) on Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 07:10 pm:

Yup, just you list 'em, please.

Skip any Gary Lewis material you may have found - for your own good health and sanity reasons.

/keith

By thecount (64.53.165.90) on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 - 08:23 pm:

OkayKeith,like they say,first come,first served.My uncle owned a Firestone store and they were given different ashtrays with a Firestone tire boarding it.They were mainley for auto parts stores and other businesses with their name in the ashtray bottom.Anyhow I have as follows which can be a "MOTOWN" collectable.
1. Firestone tire ashtray with MOTOWN lable in the glass of ashtray.(a firestone tire today is a collectors item)
2.A 19 inch tall doll of DIANNA ROSS by IDEAL.dated 1969,still in the box with picture of supremes.Never opened.In all honesty,she dont look bad as a doll.(Last time I saw DIANNA she was so skinny she only had one stripe on her pajamas)
3.RARE EARTH,hanging display with picture of the band,brown on white,on MOTOWN.(33"X22")
4.A box of rare warped records many twirl and tamala which is with an RCA car record player,plays record upside down
5.MOREYS ROYAL TWIST LOUNGE business card with JOE "BANANAS" BANOMO
6.Rock and Roll show ticket stubs.(Riviera,Olympia,Apollo,ABC Paramont,Radio Music Hall,etc.
7.A snare drum head wich I used to have celeberties autograph when we "THE 5IVE INVICTAS" would play the record hops.(signed names are,chet cambell,gino washington,del shannon,clark reid,rob e, lee,smokey robinson,mary wells,marv johnson,george young,ron paturka,mickey denton,frantic ernie,from george the count, five teen beats,to steve the count,rod cox,willie frizzel,ron price(alladin and the ginies),harry balk,max crook.
8.Topinka Country House matches
9.Small GAY HAVEN loby card"JAMIE COE AND THE GIGOLOS
10.THE BOARDWALK matches and napkin with Jackie Wilson autograph.
11.Funkadelic Flag one nation under a groove
12.Side Door matches DBRN.Town House
13Crystal Gardens lobby poster of the 5ive Invictas and napkins.
14. Wayne Cochran autograph picture(the white JAMES BROWN)
15JIMMY FREEMANS Mickry Mouse hat
16.Jimmy Freeman Game Board record album autographed.
17. Dick Parkers broken drum stick(one of dels original drummers in the maximillion band).
I guess this is enough for now.I know,very boring but could be of some value to someone.
Thanx for your interest KEITH. "COUNT"

By Keith Hughes (195.92.67.74) on Thursday, October 24, 2002 - 07:29 pm:

The snare drum head, Count ... do I have to re-mortgage?

Keith

By k (195.92.67.74) on Thursday, October 24, 2002 - 07:35 pm:

ps Count if you want to come off-line on this, I'm keith@merlinco.co.uk ...

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Monday, November 04, 2002 - 02:31 am:

What are Wade Jones Rayber 45 sides like. I know they are early recordings (58/9) but do they still have a Motown-style sound to them ??
Ballad or uptempo ??, etc.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, November 04, 2002 - 07:50 am:

John,

I haven't heard them either - I'd guess they're
closer to UA period Marv Johnson than what we came to know as "Motown" style.

By acooolcat (210.201.192.203) on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 06:14 am:

JS
"I Can't Concentrate" is a danceable mid-tempo number and sounds like a typical late 50's song - if you know what I mean? I guess it does have a Motownish sound if you think along the lines of early The Miracles recordings, etc.
"Insane" is a slowy and isn't as catchy; it's too repetative to be a good song IMO.
Cheers, Graham

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 01:50 am:

Acoolcat,
Many thanks for your input. It can really be frustrating when you know sides exist, have even seen a scan of them, but have almost no chance of ever getting to hear them.

Who would own the rights to these tracks ???

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, November 07, 2002 - 04:59 pm:

Hey Gang:
According to a discography book called THE R&B INDIES written by Bob McGrath, the Rayber single was the only one released under that label. As for who would own the rights to the single, that may fall under Motown/Universal.
Regards,
KevGo