Thanks to Geeselad, Peter99 and Dylan for the correct gender assignment of the name Jody in many soul songs (Songs That Are A Woman's Name).

Here is a short article by Sarah Sicard (Task and Purpose US military website) on the history of the name Jody in songs.  A diminutive of Joe the Grinder, it was/is used in military cadences (marching and running songs) and then appeared in many Blues and R&B songs, before entering the Soul genre.

https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/brief-history-jody-original-mr-steal-girl/

Johnnie Taylor famously had hits with Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone and Standing in for Jody (both Stax), #1 and #13 on Billboard, respectively.

Here are some others:  

Bobby Patterson - Right on Jody (Paula)

Jean Knight - Don't Talk About Jody (Stax)

Bobby Newsome - Jody, Come Back and Get Your Shoes (Spring)

Geater Davis - I Don't Worry (about Jody) (Luna)

Sir Charles Jones - Better Call Jody (Hep'Me)

Tyree Davis - I'm Leaving You in Jody's Hands (Metrolina Soul)

Marvin Sease - I'm Mr Jody (Jive)

Quincy Jones - Boogie Joe the Grinder (A&M)

A female counterpart, Ms Jody (Vertie Joann Delapaz), also recorded a series of (18+) albums for Ecko. See Heikki Suosalo's article:

https://www.soulexpress.net/deep206.htm#msjody

Harder to find are the references within songs, such as James Brown - I'm A Greedy Man (Polydor) "my name ain't Jody, but my name is Brown..."

Any other references to Jody or Joe the Grinder in Soul songs?

 

I always thought that the reference to Jody, was the mythical (back door man) who moved in on the wives of military men while they were away fighting the war in Vietnam?

wonder how jodie as in jodies got your girl gone by ann sexton fits in?? 

Duralcha - Jody Is Gone 

James Reese & The Progressions - Jodys Freeze

Darker Shades Ltd - Trackin' Down Jody

Reggie Soul - I Got Jody

Bobby Newsome - Jody Come Back And Get Your Shoes

Jean Knight - Don't Talk About Jody

Sonny Green - Jody's On The Run

Bobby Patterson - Right On, Jody

Vernon Garrett - Jody Can Ease The Pain

Charles Wright - Run Jody Run

Big John Hamilton - I Finally Caught Up With Jody

Joe Williams Jr - Don't Let Me Catcha Jody

 

Edited September 8, 2024Sep 8 by Modularman
Spelling error

10 minutes ago, Modularman said:

Duralcha - Jody Is Gone 

James Reese & The Progressions - Jodys Freeze

Darker Shades Ltd - Trackin' Down Jody

Reggae Soul - I Got Jody

Bobby Newsome - Jody Come Back And Get Your Shoes

Jean Knight - Don't Talk About Jody

Sonny Green - Jody's On The Run

Bobby Patterson - Right On, Jody

Vernon Garrett - Jody Can Ease The Pain

Charles Wright - Run Jody Run

Big John Hamilton - I Finally Caught Up With Jody

Joe Williams Jr - Don't Let Me Catcha Jody

 

Good to see Duralcha at the top of the list. The ultimate 'jody' for me, what do you do with Jody? You shoot the SOB! 😆

29 minutes ago, Steviehay said:

wonder how jodie as in jodies got your girl gone by ann sexton fits in?? 

I'd have thought perfectly. 

1 hour ago, Micksmix said:

I always thought that the reference to Jody, was the mythical (back door man) who moved in on the wives of military men while they were away fighting the war in Vietnam?

Yes that’s how I understood it as well added that to a recent thread

1 hour ago, Steviehay said:

wonder how jodie as in jodies got your girl gone by ann sexton fits in?? 

Ann Sexton - You've Been Gone Too Long (Impel/Seventy 7) tells us how she succumbed to Jody's charm, because her man's been gone too long.  

As James Brown said "don't leave your homework undone..."

Another "Joe The Grinder" song - 

 

Geater Davis - I Don't Worry (About Jody)

Sam & Dave - Jody Ryder Got Killed

Jimmy Coe & His Gay Cats Of Rhythm - Run Jody Run

Johnny Mitchell - Jody Grande

Tyree Davis - I'm Leaving You In Jodys Hands