Mary Jane Girls

The Mary Jane Girls (whose name underscored James' fondness for marijuana) soon became an actual group, and in the early 1980's, were signed to Motown Records (the R & B powerhouse for which James and his protege Teena Marie had been recording). Rick James did all of the writing and producing on The Mary Jane Girls' self-titled debut album of 1983 (which boasted such hits as the infectious 'Candy Man' and 'All Night Long', with its bassline bearing a similarity to that of Keni Burke's 'Rising To The Top') as well as on the group's maturing effort of 1985, 'Only For You'. That album contained the number 3 R & B hit 'In My House' and the number 10 R & B hit 'Wild And Crazy Love.' The only song James didn't write for the group was a 1986 cover of Frank Valli & The Four Seasons' 'Walk Like A Man,' which was included in the comedy film 'A Fine Mess'. Unfortunately, The Mary Jane Girls never recorded a third album. Rick James had a major falling out with Motown in the mid-1980's, and this would lead to the group's breakup. When Ghant was working at the music-industry trade magazine Black Radio Exclusive in 1986, she told On The Scene Magazine that she hoped to see The Mary Jane Girls continue and work with hit producers/songwriters Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. That never came about and by 1987, the group had officially broken up.