Based in Detroit and a subsidiary of Golden World records. It was the success of "Agent Double 0 Soul" inspired by the James Bond films, performed by Edwin Starr that led to the company being taken over by Motown and leaving the lesser known artists without a recording contract. Golden World and Wingate Records, owned by Ed Wingate, were Motown's biggest competitors and in the same city; Detroit. Motown's Funk Brothers were fined $1,000 each for moonlighting on "Agent Double O Soul", calling themselves The San Remo Golden Strings!
Berry Gordy was apparently 'very unhappy' at Ed Wingate's success with the Ric-Tic label, "Real Humdinger" by J J Barnes didn't help the situation as it was just like a Motown produced track, Berry hated the idea of competition on his own doorstep. Eventually Edwin and some artists joined Motown for a payment of $1 million (1968). Al Kent's 'You've Got To To Pay The Price' takes on an ironic extra meaning as Berry Gordy purchased the Ric-Tic and Golden World acts and recordings. The artists included Gino Washington, JJ Barnes, Laura Lee, Al Kent, Rose Battiste, Freddie Gorman, The Fantastic Four and infuriatingly for Berry, the rights to 'his own session musicians' known as the San Remo Golden Strings in fact the Funk Brothers! This is the reason that in the UKEdwin Starr's hits were released on Polydor rather than Motown as Polydor had previous and existing claim to the UK distribution rights with Ric - Tic USA..
Quite a few Ric-Tic records where obtained by soul enthusiasts in Manchester, from NME adds for USA single or auction lists, the 'Wheel DJ' imported everything he could obtain with Edwins name on it, J J Barnes and a Rose Batiste track and of course the Al Kent Instrumental.
Golden World /Ric-Tic
101 - Sue Perri - I Wonder / Put a Ring on My Finger (1962)
102 - Joyce Webb - You've Got a whole Lot of Living to Do / Closer to the Blues (1962)
103 - Barbara De Costa - Now I Know / The One in Your Arms (1962)
104 - Sue Perri - You Are My Love / Ring Bells Ring (1962)
105 - Rock Heart - Someone Stole My Baby Doing the Twist / When a Teenager Gets Blues (1962)
106 - Terry Warren - I Don't Know / Written All Over Your Face
107 - LeRoy Small - Ain't It a Shame / Girls Are Sentimental (1963)
The Ric-Tic 7inch 45's (1964 - 1968)
100 - Gino Washington - Gino Is A Coward / Puppet on A String (1965)
101 - Freddie Gorman - In A Bad Way / There Can Be Too Much (1965)
102 - Freddie Groman - Can't Get It Out Of My Mind / Take Me Back (1965)
103 - Edwin Starr - Agent Double-O-Soul / Instrumental (1965)
104 - San Remo Golden Strings - Hungry For Love / All Turned On (1965)
105 - Rose Batiste - That's what he Told Me / Holding Hands (1965)
106 - J.J Barnes - Please Let Me In / I Think I Found A Love (1965)
107 - Edwin Starr - Backstreet / Instrumental (1966)
108 - San Remo Golden Strings - I'm Satisfied / Blueberry Hill (1966)
109 - Edwin Starr - I Have Faith In You / Stop Her On Sight (1966)
109x - Edwin Starr - Scott's on Swingers (1966)
110 - J.J Barnes - Real Humdinger / I Ain't Gonna Do It (1966)
111 - Laura Lee - To Win Your Heart / So Will I (1966)
112 - San Remo Golden Strings - Festival Time / Joy Road (1966)
113 - NOT RELEASED
114 - Edwin Starr - Headline News / Harlem (1966)
115 - J.J Barnes - Day Tripper / Don't Bring Me Bad News (1966)
116 - San Remo Golden Strings - International Love Theme / Quanto Sei Bella (1966)
117 - J.J Barnes - Say It / Deeper In Love (1966)
118 - Edwin Starr - Girls Are Getting Prettier / It's My Turn Now (1966)
119 - Fantastic Four - Girl have Pity / Live up to what she Thinks (1966)
120 - Edwin Starr - My Kind Of Woman / You're My Mellow (1966)
121 - Fantastic Four - Can't Stop Looking for my Baby/Just the Lonely (1967)
122 - Fantastic Four - The World Is A Stage / Ain't Love Wonderful (1966)
123 - Al Kent - The Way You Been Acting Lately / Instrumental (1967)
124 - Andre Williams - You Got It And I Want It / I Can't Stop Crying (1967)
125 - Willie 'G' - Money In The Bank / Meet Me Halfway (1967)
126 - NOT RELEASED
127 - Al Kent - You've Got To Pay The Price / Where Do I Go From Here (1967)
128 - Fantastic Four - Romeo And Juliet / You Gave Me Something (1967)
129 - Flaming Embers - Let's Have A Love In / Instrumental (1967)
130 - Fantastic Four - As Long As I Live / To Share Your Love (1967)
131 - Flaming Embers - She's A Real Live Wire / Let's Have a Love In (1967)
132 - Flaming Embers - Hey Mama / Let's Have A Love In (1967)
133 - Al Kent - Finders Keepers / Ooh! Pretty Lady (1967)
134 - Fantastic Four - As Long As The Feeling Is There / Goddess Of Love (1967)
135 - Detroit Emeralds - Show Time / Instrumental (1968)
136 - Fantastic Four - Love Is A Many Splendourd Thing / Goddess Of Love (1968)
137 - Fantastic Four - No Love Like Your Love / Man In Love (1968)
138 - Detroit Emeralds - Shades Down / Ode to Billy Joe (1968)
139 - Fantastic Four - Win Or Lose / I've Got To Have You (1968)
140 - Flaming Embers - Bless You / Same (1968)
141 - Detroit Emeralds - I'll Keep on Coming back / Take me the Way I Am (1968)
142 - Little Ann - Going Down A One Way Street / I'd Like To Know You Better (1968)
143 - Flaming Embers - Children / Instrumental (1968)
144 - Fantastic Four - I Love You Madly / Instrumental (1968)
145 - Flaming Embers - Just Like Children / Tell it like it is (1968)
Ric Tic Records Detroit.
There MUST be lots of stuff on Golden World and Ric-Tik still to re-surface. So why the current owners of Motown don't do so remains a mystery.. Was their some hidden agreement made at that time, ? Berry may know the answer, but never replies to our Emails.