By Vandelron (152.163.188.68) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 11:22 pm:

Am I the only person who remebers her and this song--where is she from? It would be a great song for an ad for homemade spaghetti sauce or something--I think she wrote the song.LIke her voice.

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58) on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 11:28 pm:

I know that Rob Prueter details her career in his book "Chicago Soul" which I'm sure you'll find in your local library. This particular song was included on a Chess compilation CD that Robert wrote the liner notes for - a great one to look out for.
Graham

By John Lester (213.123.114.63) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 12:31 am:

This fab song was on the soundtrack for "Hairspray"!

Mama didn't lie
She didn't lie-ie-ie

Jan did a fabulous mock Motown song "Just A Summer Memory" on Chess 1975. Sometimes, I wish I didn't have SO many records to choose from cos gems like this dont get played that often these days.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.100) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 01:28 am:

Vandelron,
I have Jan Bradleys
'your kind of lovin' on Chess(no.2023)c/w
'its just your way' as well as 'mama didnt lie/Lovers like me'which came out twice on
Formal Records(no.1044)as well as the
Chess release(no.1845).

Check these out by Jan,

'Baby what can I do/These Tears' on Chess(no.1851).
'I'm over you/The brush off'on Chess(no.1919).
'you gave me whats missing/nights in New York City' on Chess(no.2043).

'Back in Circulation/Love is the Answer' on
Adanti Records(no.1051).

The rarer 45 on Night Owl Records(no.1055)called 'Behind the Curtains/pack my things(and go).

And another cut on Formal Records(no.1014)called
'we girls/curfew blues'.

The 45 of 'Your kind of lovin'was a rarity on the all-nighter scene around the late 80s.

Yet another underated artist to say the least.
regards
Mel(andthensome)

By Ju (205.188.209.38) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 02:26 am:

I thought Curtis Mayfield wrote it?

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 07:00 am:

Curtis wrote the song and I believe he produced and played guitar on it as well. One of his early non-Impressions hits (other than those with Jerry Butler, et al "He Will Break Your Heart", etc.).

By stillsoulin (81.132.163.8) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 07:44 am:

hi all, i have another fine tune by jan bradley, "tricks of the trade" b/w "i kinda see the light" on DOYLEN recs. worth checking out.
best rob hurcomb

By Joe Moorehouse (64.12.97.7) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 08:06 am:

The Fascinations recorded Mama Didn't Lie first, just a couple months before Jan Bradley, but it didn't take off. Bradley's version was a top 10 R&B hit and a top 15 Pop hit, and it's been in the rotation of most oldies stations for a long time, so it's managed to remain one of the more famous songs of the '60s--deservedly so, I think, because it's really a beautiful vocal performance.

The Impressions do backing vocals on the Night Owl single (Behind the Curtain).

By TonyRussi (68.210.2.104) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 08:21 am:

I mentioned "Mama Didn't Lie" in the Curtis Mayfield thread and I'm pretty sure it was also a "pop" top ten hit as well.We have a horrible Clear Channel Oldies station here in Orlando that is almost impossible to listen to and I never here "Mama Didn't Lie" on it.I will recheck my Billboard Top 40 Book this weekend to make sure of the highest chart position of this song.The simplicity and haunting melody sold it.Great record and performance by all involved.Did the follow up even make the charts?

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 08:29 am:

Jan Bradley "Mama Didn't Lie"
Billboard Hot 100 Januari 1963 Highest postion 14
Billboard R&B chart February 1963 Highest postion 8

Lars

By TonyRussi (68.210.2.104) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 01:51 pm:

I went home for lunch & checked Billboard & right you are it peaked at#14 for 2wks on the Hot 100.

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 05:55 pm:

Wow--Im not alone!I think Jan is written about in book One Hit Wonders--I will check. Does she still perform?

By Scratcher (65.132.79.180) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 05:57 pm:

I remember reading years ago that Jan Bradley became a nurse.

By mhc (172.145.83.138) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 09:26 pm:

A few years ago I got a cassette from a place called The Aircheck Factory, of a Dick Biondi show on WLS from 1962. Among the many great records that he plays (including "Village of Love", and the beautiful "Oh My Angel" by Bertha Tillman) is a really nice one by Jan Bradley called "We Girls", also written by Curtis Mayfield; great lyrics, a lush arrangement with strings, and a great vocal from Jan. According to Pruter's book, this one was a huge local smash in Chicago.