07/07/2012

Diamond Jim


DIAMOND JIM
    Diamond Jim was the nickname of James Riley, who owned the label and several others.He was shot dead outside the Club Mozambique in Watts, 1971. The label design was a black background with silver lettering, except for DR 1008 which is blue and silver and 207 which is green lettering on a yellow backdrop. The address for the label is, 3 & 1000 = 8787 Linwood, Detroit, 12328 =  8781 Linwood, Detroit, all others = 12328 Dexter, Detroit. The numbering system for Diamond Jim are closely linked with another Riley logo, Riley's. some of the 45's on Riley's also share the same address as some Diamond Jim releases. Northern Soul plays = yellow.
Cat. Number Artist A-Side/B-Side Mattrix Date


3A E.J. & The Echoes You're Gonna Hurt 3 A 1965
I Had a Hard Time 3 B 1965
R 100 A M. ALi & J. Tucker Shuffle With Ali R 1000 1966
Champs Jerk 4 B 1966
207 Ray & The Royals Baby Please Dont Go DR 013 1966
Midnight Walk DR 014 1966
DR 1001 A Manuel Holcolm & His Band This Genereration DR 1002 A 1966
This Generation (inst) DR 1002 B 1966
1006 Lee Rogers If I Could Streal You Away DR 1005 A 1966
Sweetest Woman Ever Born DR 1005 B 1966
DR 1008 A Lee Rogers Sex Appeal DR 1008 A 1966
Togetherness DR 1008 B 1966
DR 8784 A The Terrifics I'll Get Him Back DR 8784 A 1967
We're So Young DR 8784 B 1967
DR 8787 A E.J. & The Echoes Put A Smile On Your Face DR 8787 A 1967
People Say DR 8787 B 1967
DR 8789 A E.J. & The Echoes If You Just Love Me DR 8789 A 1967
Treat Me Right DR 8789 B 1967
DR 8792 A The Tempos I'll Never Forget DR 8792 A 1968
Disc Jockey Paradise DR 8792 B 1968
DR 8794 A The Steptones Lonely One DR 8794 A 1968
Steppin' High DR 8794 B 1968
DR 9795 A E.J. & The Echoes One Of These Days DR 8795 A 1968
Treat Me Right DR 8795 B 1968
DR 8797 A Mr. Bo & Blues Boys Baby Your Hair Looks Bad DR 8797 A 1969
Night Walkers DR 8797 B 1969
DR 8798 A Manuel B. Holcolm & Band I Stayed Away Too Long DR 8798 A 1969
Kick-Out-Ins DR 8798 B 1969
R 12328 Lee Moore The Heart Of A Woman R 12328 A 1970
The Heart Of A Woman R 12328 B 1970
3208 Freddie Pride The Joy Of Christmas 3208 A 1970
All My Life 3208 B 1970
DR 8798 was also issued in 1970 with a different mattrix numbers (DJ 900-DJ17755/DJ17756)
Research: Mickey Nold/Rod Dearlove
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12 comments:

  1. Unknown18 October 2018 at 08:21

    hi do you know if this label is of value in paticular lee moore heart of a woman

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  2. Mickey Nold18 October 2018 at 09:44

    Copies of Lee Moore are scarce, may be unreleased. Values of other titles for sale can be found here: - https://www.discogs.com/label/50992-Diamond-Jim

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  3. Unknown1 February 2019 at 16:00

    How very well I remember Diamond Jim Riley, he was my street father, he taught me all of that which I learned not to be in life. I am delighted that I met him, he helped me discover the world as we know it. I am still sorry that he had such a tragic end, however he was a very arrogant Man, and in reality his own worst enemy, yet there was a side of his heart that was of pure gold. On the business side, he was a very prolific Black businessman for that time period the sixties who owned several commercial, and residential properties, recording establishments, and a professional gymnasium for prizefighters. A little known accolade of his is a recording that he made of the then known prizefighter Cassius Clay who recorded the song 'Stand By Me' on his 'Big D Label' of which I possessed a copy of that has now, much to my chagrin has gone astray. His fascination with the street life was his major undoing. Frank Charles Dodson.

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    1. Mickey Nold2 February 2019 at 02:48

      Thanks for your memories. Sometimes people live in the fast lane because they realize (in their own case,) life is gonna be short.

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  4. Unknown3 February 2019 at 16:54

    Great point of view Mickey, yet who can say? I was much to young when I knew him to make such an assessment, yet not to young to realize that he was always pushing the envelope with people. When I think about it one of the reasons he allowed me into his close circle was because I was a kind of protection for him, in that people who were gunning for him wouldn't fire on him if he had a youngster around him, and especially one whom he claimed was his son. These are of course the kind of ethics that gangsters of that time period held, ethics which of course no longer exist. As a writer I always fascinated by him, and wanted to write a book on him, but abandoned it in favor of more current themes, plus that I have no idea how I would secure the rights from his existing family members. This was a man who was a saint, and a sinner , a megalomaniac, and yet an individual who was potentially a shrewd investor. Every life has significance, and in one way or another has an impact on society, or at the very least their immediate environment. May God continue to bless us all. Frank Charles Dodson, author of 'Wednesday's Child' Xlibris Publishers.

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  5. Mickey Nold4 February 2019 at 02:16

    Thanks again for the memories. The person that came to my mind was Bert Burns, he also was a producer/label owner who was told at an early age his live expectancy would be short and did he get things done. Just read the book about his life, well worth a read, may inspire your book.

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  6. Unknown9 February 2019 at 12:42

    Hi,my name is Doug Allen. In 1967 I wrote a song called 'carefree hearted lover', I took it to Diamond recording on Dexter Blvd,sung it for Jim Riley and he put Eugene Currant and Shirley Harris in charge of collaborating. He gave me a writers contract for that particular song;it was in early September that year,I never heard from him again. He was friendly and helpful and admired my talent as a 16 year old songwriter. Those were some good times. I ended up writing at Sidra Records on Wyoming St with Fred Briggs. I met the Precision's and was invited to a house party as well as free admission to the Olympia theater where I stood backstage speechless,staring at Eddie Floyd,JJ Barnes,and sexy Ruby Andrews. Good,good times.Does anyone know what happened to Eugene Currant and Shirley Harris. Please text allendoug80@yahoo.com or call 574 226-8020.

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    1. Mickey Nold9 February 2019 at 13:03

      Sidra put out some nice stuff, Mike Terry did some nice producing. live shows are always good memories especially for a writer, he/she can assess crowd reactions to lyrics. Good luck finding your lost friends.

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    2. Unknown9 February 2019 at 14:26

      Doug,
      Sorry that your submission 'Carefree Hearted Lover' did not advance to the level that it probably should have. I can't imagine what became of your property. I remember Diamond's Dexter location very well, it was a two story commercial building with the recording studio upstairs, and Diamond's candy, and cigarette shop was downstairs. You are so right Diamond was often quite friendly, and he did know good talent when he saw, and heard it. I feel certain that he probably had good intentions as he gave you a writers contract, but this was a guy that had his hands in a lot of different pies, and I never knew Eugene, or Shirley, heaven only knows how reliable they may have been. So your material probably just fell through the cracks. I hope you had better success with 'Sidra', thanks for reminding me of J.J.Barnes he was a local Detroit star to be sure, whom I met once through Detroit song stylist Teri Thornton. You're right about one thing, those were some "Good Old Times". Undoubtedly you're still around so keep churning those songs out. May God, and his Son Jesus Christ bless you in all of your endeavors.

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  7. Unknown16 February 2019 at 20:14

    Mickey,
    Just now your various blogs have come to my attention, also I've realized that you are a British DJ. during my thirteen years in the United Kingdom from 1972 through until 1984, I listened mostly to Capital Radio, and the Alex Pascall show on broadcast BBC Radio 2 if I remember correctly. The point being I undoubtedly missed the pleasure of your broadcasts. Still a bit of trivia which I would like to share with you, which you may even be aware of occurred in 1973, there was a Soul Food restaurant in London at 333 Fulham Road, in London, SW 10, known as 'Laurita's' it was above 'The Goat in Boots' pub, and was a short lived variety venue which was very hot for the one year that it was in existence. I worked there as a singing waiter, with two separate pianists, the Late Antony Scott, and Texas Bluesman Candy Green who has also passed on. Laurita offered spontaneous appearances from such luminaries as Doris Troy of 'Just One Look' fame, the Late Donny Hathaway, and British hit maker Cat Stevens. The club/restaurant was frequented by such personalities as David Bowie, and Angie Bowie, Peter O'Toole, Film Producer David Hemmings, Marian Faithful, Keith Richards, and Dodi Fayed among many, many others.I have devoted nearly an entire chapter to 'Laurita's' in my book 'Wednesday's Child' published by Xlibris Publishers, which I hope that you will read whenever your time permits. As I say Mickey this is last millennium trivia, but it sure was a lot of fun while it lasted. Respectfully yours, Frank Charles Dodson.

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  8. Mickey Nold17 February 2019 at 06:59

    Again thanks for the info Frank. I get quite upset when I watch UK television documentaries about music, it's London, London, London, you would think the whole country revolved around it. I met Doris at the Opposite Lock club in Birmingham we interviewed her while she dined after her show. We did a special tribute to her music on the radio then. I would have loved to have seen Donny Hathaway, he was special, I had all his stuff on vinyl. Soul music outside London was no existent on the radio in the time you remember, rock, progressive rock and more rock was all you would hear on the radio. That's why I did my own stuff, now looking back it was all a big waste of my time. Anyway I'll check out your book when I find it.

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  9. Unknown17 February 2019 at 19:27

    Mickey,How very right you are, in fact I remember there were some wonderful soul productions presented outside of London. The Birmingham Hippodrome led the United Kingdom with some great productions, (not just pantomimes either) featuring many superb American,and British acts, among them Cliff Richard, Kate Bush, Gilbert O' Sullivan, Shirley Bassey, among the many American acts that toured the UK, just to name a couple of them were Jimmy Ruffin, and Major Lance among many others I'm sure. The Watford Palace in Watford, England loved 'The Four Tops', as well as West End stage star Clarke Peters, formally of 'The Majestics'. Sadly I was confined to London, Brighton, 'Worthing by Sea' in Sussex, and areas south. However 'The Dave Clarke Five', 'Sol Raye of Guyana',and 'Georgie Fame' did great work in England as well I'm rather surprised to learn that you felt that much of your experience was a waste of time, but I salute you for doing your own thing, although I'll bet I would have found listening to you quite interesting. You may google me, and my book 'Wednesday's Child' in order to locate how to purchase it in the United Kingdom. May God continue to Bless you, and what you do. Frank Charles Dodson.

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