Sidney Barnes – I Hurt On The Other Side

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 VIP 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. Sidney was born in Welch, West Virginia in 1941 and grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. After forming several vocal groups in Junior High and High School (while living in Washington, DC) with school mates including a young Marvin Gaye, Van McCoy and Herb Feimster (of “Peaches and Herb” fame), Sidney felt ready for the big time. In order to increase his chances of success, the Barnes family moved to Newark, New Jersey – as close to New York City as they wanted to be. Sidney formed The Seranaders and landed a recording contract with Riverside records. Their only release on Riverside was a song called “Adios My Love”. Then 1962. Sidney heard through the music grapevine that Berry Gordy was opening a branch office of Motown records and Jobete Music in New York. Sidney, always the leader, was knocking on the new Motown …