Dave's Jukebox - Ska / Rocksteady / Reggae 45s

The Terrors - Assemble Not Thyself / Version

2011-11-10T12:51:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, so here's a killer one!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Terrors - Assemble Not Thyself
B-side: The Terrors - Assemble Not Thyself (Version)

Dennis Alcapone - Rasta Dub / The Upsetters - Rasta Version

2011-10-02T14:28:00.000-07:00

Both sides on the "Keep On Moving" rhythm. One minor skip on the b-side.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Dennis Alcapone - Rasta Dub
B-side: The Upsetters - Rasta Version

The Federals - Penny For Your Song / I've Passed This Way

2011-09-25T14:30:00.001-07:00

Some nice slow-rolling rocksteady from Coxsone's famed studio.

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Federals - Penny For Your Song
B-side: The Federals - I've Passed This Way

Roland Alphonso - Bond Street Special / The Sensations - You Should Have Known

2011-09-12T21:04:00.001-07:00

Back as promised!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Roland Alphonso - Bond Street Special
B-side: The Sensations - You Should Have Known

Dave's Jukebox in San Francisco

2011-08-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

I've just moved to San Francisco, and will be without my recording equipment for about a month. I think I've got some records already recorded that I can post in the meanwhile so stay tuned.

I've visited a few record stores in the area, but haven't really found any spectacular stores for reggae - I've only found one JA 7" even remotely close to my interests after 5 stores. Thankfully it was a Buster production, Derrick & Patsy's "Stab In The Back" backed with "Thank You," which has the Prince himself singing a few lines.

If anyone knows anything about the SF reggae scene, or stores I should check out, please let me know!

Neville Grant - Harry Hippie / Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me

2011-07-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

Originally written by Jim Ford for soul giant Bobby Womack, Harry Hippie appears here on the UK Attack label. The song was a top 10 R&B hit for Womack, showed up as an excellent version on a Jim Ford outtakes album, and Neville Grant's reggae version does the song justice.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Neville Grant - Harry Hippie
B-side: Neville Grant - Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me

Heart & Soul Sunday

2011-07-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

I'll be spinning my records again this Sunday with Heart & Soul Soundsystem at the usual 9pm-2am Lovejoy's gig. Come check it out if you are in Austin for July 4th weekend!

Artwork by Right On Time Designs

Pluto Shervington - Screwface (Can't Frighten Blindman) / Version

2011-06-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

Quality stuff here from Pluto Shervington. If you like this one, also check out the tune "Dat" that I previously posted.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Pluto Shervington - Screwface (Can't Frighten Blindman)
B-side: Pluto Shervington - Screwface Dubb

Sunday Night Reggae w/ Heart & Soul Sound System

2011-05-21T03:40:00.000-07:00

If anyone checking this blog is in Austin, come out to Lovejoys at 6th & Nechez this Sunday (May 22) from 9pm-2am for some heavy, rare ska, rocksteady, and reggae. I'll be spinning alongside Captain Jim from H&S all night!

VA - You Don't Care Rhythm

2011-05-15T16:03:00.000-07:00

For the 150th post, I've decided to do a small compilation of all the tracks that I have on the "You Don't Care" rhythm. I've pulled together 9, one of them I have on JA and UK presses so I've posted pictures of the two but only ripped the UK version.

1. The Techniques - You Don't Care (1967, Duke Reid). This was the original cut with the You Don't Care rhythm, though this version is a 1975 repress according to RKR. The flip is a version with some lazy dub.

2. Nora Dean - Barbwire (1969, Byron Smith). This rhythm shows up with a few producers, and I wish I knew how (or if) the licensing worked on these. It sounds to me like the rhythm track here may be the exact same as the Duke Reid cut, rather than a rerecorded version. The flip to this "Calypso Mama" by The Barons.

3. Winston Wright - Mesh Wire (1970, Byron Smith). Often, if a rhythm ended up being reused, it would be cut with toasting versions and often organ cuts. Here's the organ driven response to "Barbwire." The flip on this one is "Darling Please Return" by The Barons, a killer rocksteady vocal track.

4. Sir Lord Comic - Jack Of My Trade (1970, Joe Gibbs). This relicensing is definitely a rerecorded rhythm track, and is slowed down. It almost doesn't sound like the same rhythm, but I've seen this on other You Don't Care compilations, and its listed in RKR as on the "You Don't Know" rhythm. The flip on this one is another rocksteady scorcher, "Man Beware" by The Slickers.

5. Dennis Alcapone - El Paso (1970, CS Dodd). Again, this one is another rerecorded take, featuring one of my favorite toasters, Dennis Alcapone. I wouldn't list this among his most captivating cuts, but its still fun to listen to. Unlike the previous two, this one also features the "Oh Mama" calls from the Nora Dean "Barbwire" take. The flip to this is "The Pressure Is On" by The Purpleites.

6. Lloyd Parks - You Don't Care (1972, Tony Robinson). Tony Robinson is another producer that tried his luck on this rhythm with a number of cuts. This one starts as an exact cover of the original Techniques cut, but then deviates into different tune. The flip for both the UK and JA versions are the same version track.

[First image not recorded, it is the JA copy of the UK 7" that was recorded]

7. Ranking Joe - A You Mr. Fennigan (1978, Tony Robinson). In the late 70s, a number of toasters emerged with the "Ranking" appellation, including Ranking Joe & Ranking Trevor among the more popular ones. This take features some vocals from the Lloyd Parks take and the flipside is a lightly dubbed version.

8. Winston Scotland - Buttercup (1972, Tony Robinson). This is another toasted take provided by Tony Robinson. This also features some of the vocals from Lloyd Parks version and was the first 7" I got in my collection on this rhythm. The b-side to this is the next tune, "I Care."

9. Roland Wilson - I Care (1972, Tony Robinson). Where there was toasting in the previous take by Winston Scotland, a trombone (I believe) takes precedence with an entertaining but pretty un-imaginary riff.

Enjoy!

Listen & download here:
1. The Techniques - You Don't Care
2. Nora Dean - Barbwire
3. Winston Wright - Mesh Wire
4. Sir Lord Comic - Jack Of My Trade
5. Dennis Alcapone - El Paso
6. Lloyd Parks - You Don't Care
7. Ranking Joe - A You Mr. Fennigan
8. Winston Scotland - Buttercup
9. Roland Wilson - I Care

Or, download a zip set here.

Millie Small Island EP & Bonus

2011-04-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

edit: Next post is #150, I'll try and dig up something cool!

This is the only Island EP I have of the 6 from 1964-65 that are listed on Roots Knotty Roots. There is reason to believe that there are two more though, because RKR lists IEP numbers from 701 to 708, missing 703 and 706. Jackie Edwards seems to have been a featured artist on the series, although this EP features female vocalist Millie Small. To compliment the collection, I've included an extra Millie Small b-side from another Island disc. The a-side to that one skips, but it is the b-side cover of Otis Redding's "That's How Strong My Love Is" that is the better side.

The Island label was founded by Chris Blackwell and the first track on the a-side is a Blackwell production. The 2nd track on the a-side is credited to R. Robinson in RKR and the two b-side tracks are produced by CS Dodd. Finally, the bonus track is a Blackwell production.

Listen & download here:
A1: Roy Panton & Millie Small - Never Say Goodbye
A2: Roy Panton & Millie Small - We'll Meet
B1: Jackie Edwards & Millie Small - Since I Met You Baby
B2: Owen Gray & Millie Small - I Don't Want You
Bonus: Millie Small - That's How Strong My Love Is

Austin Reggae Fest / Heart & Soul @ Lovejoy's

2011-04-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who turned up to Lovejoy's last Sunday or to Charlie's Dub Corner at the Austin Reggae Fest this weekend and caught me spinning with Heart & Soul and Apollo 67 Sound Systems. If you picked up a mix CD, here's the tracklist:

1. Derrick Morgan - I'm Gonna Leave You
2. The Skatalites - El Pussy Ska
3. Peter Tosh & The Wailers - Don't Look Back
4. Lloyd Charmers - Say It To Me Baby
5. Kealyn Beckford - Hey Little Girl
6. The Ethiopians - What A Fire
7. The Inspirations - Have A Little Faith
8. Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - Mabrouk
9. The Youth - Fire Fire
10. KC White - Man No Dead
11. The Hoffner Brothers - King Man Is Back
12. Fitz Walker - St. Thomas Duppy
13. Jacob Miller - All Night Till Daylight
14. Jah Berry - Sufferation & Starvation
15. Spanna & Freddie McKay - Stay A Little Longer

Jah Berry - Sufferation & Starvation / Version

2011-03-24T16:20:00.001-07:00

Killer 1979 cut here. "Mi can't get no job me nah go rob!"

Download & listen here:
A-side: Jah Berry - Sufferation & Starvation
B-side: Jah Berry - Sufferation & Starvation Version

Repost: The Youth - Jesus Keepeth My Soul / Fire Fire

2011-02-28T16:52:00.000-08:00

I'm reposting this one because it is the only one that I've had several email inquiries about. As I've found out from the people emailing me about it, these two were big in Western Africa during the early to mid 70s.

Both are killer tunes, so enjoy! As I probably mentioned in the last post for this record, The Youth was an early psuedonym for Ijahman Levi, the featured vocalist on these tracks.

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Youth - Jesus Keepeth My Soul
B-side: The Youth - Fire Fire

Kealyn Beckford - Hey Little Girl / Combination

2011-02-08T18:51:00.000-08:00

Kiiiiiiiiiller rocksteady!

This is one of my favorites from the new lot. I previously had an Alvin Ranglin production of Beckford performing an awesome version of Paul Simon's "Cecelia," so I was excited about this one. Kealyn found his wasy into the business as the nephew of the famed Theophilus Beckford. These two scorchers feature his youthful voice and are from 1968.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Kealyn Beckford - Hey Little Girl
B-side: Kealyn Beckford - Combination

The Starlites - You're A Wanted Man / Gladstone Anderson - Drummer Roach / GG All Stars - Back To Dubwise

2011-01-21T21:40:00.001-08:00

With two showing up in the new lot, I've got three of these now, all on different collared labels. The yellow one has a different b-side so there are three songs posted below. The orange one will be for sale when I generate the list!

The Starlites features the mento giant Stanley Beckford and had a number of singles with Alvin Ranglin in the mid 70s, this one is from 1973. All three of the singles above have the same b-side label for the GG All Stars "Back To Dubwise," but the yellow one actually contains the much better track, Gladstone Anderson's "Drummer Roach". Furthermore, the yellow one has a different matrix number for the a-side though the songs are the same.

Enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Starlites - You're A Wanted Man
B-side 1: Gladstone Anderson - Drummer Roach
B-side 2: GG All Stars - Back To Dubwise

Buckets and buckets of 90-00's reggae

2011-01-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

I've been contacted about a humongous batch of new, unplayed, store stock 1990s-2000s reggae 45s. Talking 9000-10000 records here. If anyone is interested in buying this lot, or perhaps portions of it, contact Greg & Jackie Berry at nhcastle@metrocast.net.

I was offered the entire lot at 5 cents per record, so these are priced to move! Don't miss out if this is your stuff!

New Records!!!

2011-01-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting for a box of records to show up since mid November, and they finally arrived today. If you are waiting for a list of for sale records from me, please stay patient a little bit longer and once I sort through the new ones, I'll have the list out!

Heart & Soul Soundsystem, Part 4

2011-01-14T10:53:00.000-08:00

I'll be spinning again with Captain Jim and crew from Heart & Soul Soundsystem this Sunday at Lovejoy's in Austin, 9pm-2am. Come check out for some rare ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dub!

The Music Doctors - First Note (Down Torn, 1970)
Leslie Butler - Black Is Boss (Blank, 1972)
The Ethiopians - What A Fire (Blank, 1969)
The Ethiopians - Rim Bam Bam (UK Duke, 1971)
Max Romeo - Let The Power Fall (Pama Supreme, 1971)
Keeling Beckford - Cecilia (GG's Hits, 1970)
The Cables - Salt Of The Earth (Blank, 1970)
Derrick Morgan & George Dekker - Me Naw Give Up (Blank, 1968)
Lennox Brown - Gits Brown (Blank, 1969)
Max Romeo & Gregory Isaacs - Push It Down, Rub It Down (Soul Beat, 1973)
George Dekker - Run Them (Blank, 1969)
Al & The Vibrators - Move Up (Gay Feet, 1968)
Dennis Alcapone & Lizzy - Ba Ba Ri Ba (Duke Reid GH, 1973)
The Techniques - Run Come Celebrate (Treasure Isle Repress, 1968)
The Techniques - I'm In The Mood For Love (Treasure Isle, 1968)
The Gaylads - It's All In The Game (Blank, 1970)
Delroy Wilson - Hey Jude (Blank, 1971)
Rudy Mills - Place Called Happiness (Blank, 1968)
George Dekker - You Treating Me Bad (Blank, 1967)
The Rio Grandes - Soldier Take Over (Blank, 1966)
Derrick Morgan - I'm Gonna Leave You (Blue Beat, 1960)
The Skatalites - El Pussy Ska (Coxsone, 1965)
Lee Perry & The Sensations - Something You've Got (Wirl, 1967)
Winston Stewart - Leave Me Alone (Coxsone, 1964)
The Clarendonians - A Day Will Come (Beverley's, 1965)
Bongo Man - Marcus Garvey (Island, 1965)
Sir Lord Tacky - Badder Man (Blank, 1964)
The Wailers - Dancing Shoes (Coxsone, 1966)
Freddy McKay - Fine Fine Fine (Blank, 1967)
Derrick Morgan - Greedy Girl (Blank, 1967)
Dandy Livingston - Message TO Rudies (Blank, 1967)
The Tartans - What Can I Do (Blank, 1966)
Eric Morris - Pack Up (CDC, 1962)
Winston Samuels - What Have I Done (Blank, 1965)
The Silvertones - Teardrops Will Fall (Blank, 1971)
The Barons - Darling Please Return (Blank, 1969)
The Dynamites - Tribute To Drumbago (Blank, 1969)
The Tennors - Smile (My Baby) (Blank, 1969)
I Roy & The Ebony Sisters - Let Me Tell You Boy (Moodisc, 1971)
The Melodians - Rivers Of Babylon (Beverley's, 1969)
The Paragons - Memories By The Shore (Blank, 1968)
Alton Ellis - Let Them Try (Blank, 1968)
Jimmy Cliff - Come In To My Life (Blank, 1970)
The Music Specialists - Double Dynamite (Blank, 1972)
Mark Anthony & The Jets - More Balls (Chappy, 1970)
The Crafters - Soul Crackshot (Blank, 1969)

VA - Dave's Jukebox Presents: Heavy Monster Sounds

2010-12-30T12:37:00.001-08:00

Here it is... hope you all enjoy this one. This is the first compilation CD I've put together from my 45s and I'll hopefully have more to come over the next year(s). I've recently come across the ClickRepair software, so these have all been treated accordingly.

Some of the tunes have been put on the blog previously, but they appear here as rerecorded versions that have undergone the ClickRepair therapy!

Artwork by Right On Time Designs

1. Dave Barker & Ansil Collins - Monkey Spanner
Year: 1971
Producer: Winston Riley
Label: UK Techniques
Flip: Dave Barker & Ansil Collins - Monkey Spanner (Part 2)

2. The Dynamites - Tribute To Drumbago
Year: 1969
Producer: Clancy Eccles
Label: New Beat Blank
Flip: Clancy Eccles - Feel The Rhythm

3. Beverley's All Stars - Double Action
Year: 1968
Producer: Leslie Kong
Label: Beverley's Blank
Flip: The Maytals - Don't Trouble Trouble

4. The Upsetters - Handy Cap
Year: 1968
Producer: Lee Perry
Label: Upsetter Blank
Flip: Peter Tosh & U Roy - Earth's Rightful Ruler

5. The Music Specialists - Double Dynamite
Year: 1972
Producer: Richard Khouri
Label: FRM Blank
Flip: The Music Specialists - Second Measure Of Pressure

6. Leslie Butler - A Good Draw
Year: 1972
Producer: Richard Khouri
Label: FRM Blank
Flip: Leslie Butler - Black Is Boss

7. The Crafters - Soul Crackshot
Year: 1969
Producer: David Scott
Label: Scotty's Blank
Flip: The Visions - The Girl I Love

8. King Stitt & The Dynamites - Vigorton 2
Year: 1969
Producer: Clancy Eccles
Label: New Beat Blank
Flip: The Dynamites - Silbert Dragon

9. The Dynamites - Silbert Dragon
Year: 1969
Producer: Clancy Eccles
Label: New Beat Blank
Flip: King Stitt & The Dynamites - Vigorton 2

10. Glen Adams - My Girl
Year: 1969
Producer: Duke Reid
Label: Treasure Isle Blank
Flip: The Gladiators - You Were To Be

11. Mark Anthony & The Jets - More Balls
Year: 1970
Producer: Derrick Morgan
Label: Chappy's
Flip: King Tony - Bum Ball Chapter 2

12. Byron Lee & The Dragonaires w/ Winston Wright - Soul Serenade
Year: 1969
Producer: Byron Lee
Label: UK Duke
Flip: Boris Gardener & The Love People - Elizabethan Reggae

13. Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - Testify
Year: 1971
Producer: Duke Reid
Label: Treasure Isle
Flip: John Holt & Slim Smith - Let's Build Our Dreams

14. Lennox Brown - Gits Brown
Year: 1969
Producer: Bunny Lee
Label: Unity Blank
Flip: George Dekker - Run Them

15. Tommy McCook Quintet - Rock Away
Year: 1970
Producer: Duke Reid
Label: Treasure Isle GH
Flip: The Melodians - You Don't Need Me

Download link: VA - Dave's Jukebox Presents: Heavy Monster Sounds

If you enjoy it, show some love and post a comment

Two years...

2010-12-27T21:24:00.001-08:00

Just realized I've passed two years of running this blog! Thanks goes out to everyone who has passed by, and more thanks to those who have returned.

I'm still looking for that Prince Buster "Freedom Street" so send it over if you've got it! Also send me an email if you want on my record selling mailing list!

Stay tuned... BIG BIG up to come in a few days!

DJ Request! Prince Buster - Freedom Street

2010-12-19T18:38:00.000-08:00

So I've been waiting forever for a copy of Prince Buster doing "Freedom Street" to show up again on eBay. The only place I can find to buy a copy online wants 40 GBP for it, which is way too much for me to pay. Can't even find an mp3 of it anywhere...

Does anyone have an mp3 version that they can send me? Drop me a line if you do!

PS. Stay tuned... either the next upload, or the one after that is going to be a big deal and a first for Dave's Jukebox!

The Uniques - Lesson Of Love (Can't Do Without It) / Winston Williams - DJ Choice

2010-12-14T14:30:00.000-08:00

I was surprised to see that I hadn't posted this one yet. One of my all time favorite Slim Smith tunes and with a killer b-side!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Uniques - Lesson Of Love (Can't Do Without It)
B-side: Winston Williams - DJ Choice

Records for sale!

2010-12-10T17:15:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone...

I've currently got about 40 records ready to sell. I'm soon expecting a box of a few hundred records, many of which will likely be duplicates to whats already in my collection, so I'll be able to add more to the for sale list.

I'm going to send an email list of all of the records for sale within the next few weeks. If you have bought records from me before, I'll attach your email to the list. If you would like to receive the email list, please send me an email so I can add you to the recipients!

Thanks for stopping by!

Repost Tabby & The Diamond - Oh No Baby / Version

2010-12-01T20:36:00.000-08:00

***Repost***

Here it is, as promised. Admittedly, its in pretty bad shape, but its a cool piece.

Last time I posted this, it skipped through the intro due to a crack. I managed to adjust the cracked area so that this recording plays right through with no skips, much better than the last upload! The b-side would skip on the first rotation of the b-side, so I had to drop the needle just inside the beginning of the song.

This is the first song recorded for The Mighty Diamonds, under the psuedonym "Tabby & The Diamond". Tabby was the nickname of the lead singer of the trio, Donald Shaw. The recording here is produced by Stranger Cole and released on his personal label, which is a bit of a rarity in itself.

I'll put some super clean records up for the next few to make up for this one.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Tabby & The Diamond - Oh No Baby
B-side: Tabby & The Diamond - Version

Heart & Soul Soundsystem, Part 3

2010-11-15T17:04:00.001-08:00

I DJ'ed again with Captain Jim from Heart & Soul Soundsystem last night! No new artwork this time, but here's what I played, in rough order. Most of this was straight through but towards the end, Jim and I were going one-for-one on records!

Max Romeo - Rasta Bandwagon (Camel)
The God Sons & Glen Brown - Merry Up (Pantomine)
Max Romeo - Jordan River (GG's)
Errol Dunkley - I'm Your Man (Wild Flower)
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Small Axe (Upsetter)
The Hoffner Brothers - The King Man Is Back (Shalimar)
Lloyd Robinson - Fire Fire (Duke Reid)
Max Romeo - The Raid (Pama Supreme)
The Melodians - Rivers of Babylon (Beverley's)
Dave Barker & Ansil Collins - Double Barrel (Techniques)
Dave Barker & Ansil Collins - Monkey Spanner (Techniques)
Dennis Alcapone & Lizzy - Ba Ba Ri Ba (Duke Reid GH)
Tommy McCook Allstars - Buck The Preacher (Duke Reid GH)
Tommy McCook Allstars - Rock Away (Duke Reid GH)
The Skatalites - Guns Of Navarone (Island)
Eric Morris - Drop Your Sword (Treasure Isle)
Baba Brooks - 1st Session (Gay Feet)
Beverley's All Stars - Fly Right (Blank)
The Skatalites - El Pussy Ska (Coxsone)
Eric Morris - Penny Reel-O (Island)
Prince Buster - Call Me (Blank)
The Gaylads - Lady With A Red Dress (Blank)
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - Drink Milk (Treasure Isle)
The Gaylads - It's All In The Game (Blank)
George Dekker - Run Them (Blank)
The Slickers - Man Beware (Pressure Beat)
Derrick Morgan & Johnny Melody - Me Naw Give Up (Blank)
The Hippy Boys - Temptation (Blank)
The Tennors - Smile, My Baby (Blank)
Jimmy Riley - Love Brother (Pee)
Errol Gordon - Reggae Music (Blank)
Pluto Shervington - Screwface (Wildflower)
Pluto Shervington - Dat (Opal)
The Silvertones - Teardrops Will Fall (Blank)
Rupie Martin - Unknown Instrumentals, Organs (Blank)
The Music Specialists - Double Dynamite (Blank)
The Music Specialists - Flip (FRM)
The Music Specialists - Second Measure Of Pressure (Blank)
The Music Specialists - Dynamic Pressure (FRM)
King Stitt - Herbsman Shuffle (Blank)
The Barons - Darling Please Return (Blank)
Alton Ellis - Let Them Try (Blank)
The Visions - The Girl I Love (Blank)
Alton Ellis - A Fool (Blank)
Winston Williams - DJ Choice (Blank)
Dillinger - Platt's Skank (Blank)
I Roy & The Ebony Sisters - Let Me Tell You (Moodisc)
U Roy & The Jamaicans - Peace & Love (Duke Reid GH)
The Mellows - Babylon A Come (High Note)
Rupie Edwards - Irie Feeling (Success)

Coxsone Ustream!!!

2010-10-29T14:56:00.001-07:00

Don't think the video portion of this worked, but the sound is there!

All of the tunes are CS Dodd productions!
1. Clue J & The Bluesblasters - Tombstone (Cariboo, 1960)
2. Don Drummond - Schooling The Duke (D Darling, 1962)
3. Roy Panton & Millie Small - Never Say Goodbye (Island, 1963)
4. The Gaylads - Lady With A Red Dress (Blank, 1965)
5. The Skatalites - Guns Of Navarone (Island, 1965)
6. Peter Tosh & The Wailers - Don't Look Back (Coxsone, 1966)
7. Ken Parker - Have A Good Time (Blank, 1966)
8. Jackie Mittoo - Ram Jam (Blank, 1967)
9. Alton Ellis - Let Them Try (Blank, 1968)
10. Jailbreakers - Work It Up (Blank, 1969)
11. The Ethiopians - You'll Want To Come Back (Blank, 1970)
12. Freddie McKay - Picture On The Wall (Money Disc, 1971)
13. New Establishment - Rock Fort Rock (Iron Side, 1972)
14. Im & Brentford Rhythm Band - Everyday Skank (Studio 1, 1972)

Producer Ustream, final votes

2010-10-26T19:37:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: I've had some things come up at work and will now be doing the show today at 5pm CST rather than 4pm. It will be a CS Dodd Ustream special!

Old.....
I've updated the poll on the right with the 4 top voted producers so far. I'll be doing the broadcast this Friday afternoon at 4 pm CST. For European listeners, I can tell you that that is 10 pm in Liverpool (got some family there), so you can adjust accordingly.

Get your votes in and I'll do a broadcast of who ever has the highest on Friday afternoon!

Hey you

2010-10-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

Take a minute to answer this --->

If you've been checking here semi-regularly, you may have seen some of my Ustream broadcasts, where I stream a clip of 10-15 records. I want to do the next one entirely focused on one producer, so help me choose which one!

Errol Dunkley - You'll Never Know / Version

2010-10-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I'm super busy with school these days. I'm about to finish up my undergraduate physics degree and I'm currently applying for PhD programs in the field. Doing all of the applications, gathering my transcripts, and concerting the entire thing has been very time consuming.

Posts may come slow or sporadically over the next few months but Dave's Jukebox will go on!

I had plans to upload a number of other tunes but this one happened to be sitting on my deck when I decided to post, so it takes the prize, enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Errol Dunkley - You'll Never Know
B-side: Errol Dunkley - You'll Never Know (Version)

Repost Elpedo Burke - Madgie / Mighty Cloud Band - Madgie Dub

2010-09-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'm reposting this one not only because someone requested a fixed link, but because this song is great. I'll correct most fixed links on their original page.

This is no longer the only Abeng label 45" I have, but this is still my favorite of the ones I've picked up. Enjoy!

In the course of reggae, there have been artists that have made it huge on the international scene - Bob Marley & The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Toots & The Maytals... artists who's prominence has been more confined to the Jamaican scene and enthused reggae fans - Prince Buster, The Heptones, Max Romeo, the list goes on... and finally there have been handfuls of artists who released a very limited number of tracks and then simply disappeared. Elpedo Burke falls into the final category here. Nonetheless, this is an absolutely brilliant track all around from 1975.

From the opening few seconds, the band sets the mood of the song with the heavy bass, sweet guitar, and rolling piano. Shortly after, Burke comes in with a solid voice, backed by great harmonies. I'm quite surprised that his vocal ability didn't bring other producers running to commission him for more tracks. The song seems to be somewhat about a girl spreading gossip and Burke's distaste for it. As used here and in Justin Hind's "Carry Go Bring Come," the phrase simply refers to gossiping in Jamaican slang.

This is the only record I have from the Abeng label, and from what I can find out, the label looks like it began releasing singles in 1974 and released about 20 singles total in the 70s. It then put out another 20 or so between the 80s and 90s. Elpedo Burke didn't put any more singles out through Abeng, but did have a few other singles through the late 70s and early 80s. Unfortunately, I haven't come across any of them but I'm certainly on the look out.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Elpedo Burke - Madgie
B-side: The Mighty Clouds - Madgie Dub

John Holt - Working Kind / Unknown Instrumental

2010-09-09T17:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long time between posts! I meant to do this one on Monday, the US's Labor Day, but never quite got around to it. A great 1970 John Holt, Duke Reid production on the a-side and a rootsy instrumental on the back. The b-side gets a little nasty towards the end, so this one is more for the a-side (which isn't the cleanest itself!). If anyone knows the name and artist for the b-side, please share.

Listen & download here:
A-side: John Holt - Working Kind
B-side: Unknown - Unknown Instrumental

Heart & Soul Sound System, Part Deux

2010-08-27T13:40:00.001-07:00

I'll be joining up with the crew from Heart & Soul Sound System again this Sunday (8/29) at Lovejoy's downtown in Austin, TX from 9pm-2am!

Come check out the tunes, I'll be spinning some heaaaavvy rocksteady and ska! Song list will be posted early next week.

Artwork by Right On Time

Here's what I played...

The Music Specialists - Dynamic Pressure (FRM, 1972)
The Crafters - Soul Crackshot (Blank, 1969)
George Dekker (As Johnny Melody) - You Treating Me Bad (Blank, 1967)
The Barons - Darling Please Return (Blank, 1969)
Rupie Edwards - If You Can't Beat Them (Blank, 1969)
The Silvertones - Teardrops Will Fall (Blank, 1971)
The Paragons - My Number One (Blank, 1968)
Hopeton Lewis - Boom Shaka Lacka (Blank, 1969)
The Slickers - Bounce Me Johnny (Blank, 1972)
The Techniques - I'm In The Mood For Love (Treasure Isle, 1968)
Pat Kelly - They Talk About Love (Sunshot, 1971)
Dillinger - Platt's Skank (Blank, 1970)
Unknown Toasting - Horse Racing, Organs (Blank, 1969) *
U Roy & Ken Parker - True True True (Treasure Isle, 1971)
Slim Smith - Can't Do Without It (Blank, 1970)
Al & The Vibrators - Lonesome Lover (Gay Feet, 1968)
Alton Ellis - A Fool (Blank, 1968)
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - Everywhere I Go (Treasure Isle, 1969)
Derrick Morgan & Johnny Melody - Me Naw Give Up (Blank, 1968)
Freddie McKay - Fine, Fine, Fine (Blank, 1967)
The Rulers - Too Late (JJ's, 1966)
The Wailers - Climb The Ladder (Coxsone NY Repress, 1965)
The Gaylads - Lady With The Red Dress (Blank, 1965)
Winston Samuels - Broken Hearted (Blank, 1965)
The Vibrators - Money Or Love (Blank, 1964)
The Tartans - What Can I Do (Blank, 1966)
Beverley's All Star's - Just In Time (Beverley's, 1965)
Beverley's All Star's - Fly Right (Blank, 1964)
The Visions - The Girl I Love (Blank, 1969)**
Jimmy Cliff - Make It Up (Beverley's, 1962)
Jacob Miller - All Night Till Daylight (Arab, 1977)
The Tidals - How Glad I Am (Boss Disco, 1975)
Rupert Martin - War In A Kingston (Spirit, 1975)
Elpedo Burke - Madgie (Abeng, 1975)
Barry Biggs - Sincerely (Afrik, 1977)
Fred Locks - Ali Haile (Dreams Of Zion) (Lyric, 1972)
Junior Byles - Fever (Black Art Repress, 1972)
Delroy Wilson - Your Love (Bunny Lee's, 1973)
The African - Cock Mouth Kill Cock (Roosevelt, 1971)
The Youth - Fire Fire (Pama, 1971)
U Roy - King Tubby Skank (Jackpot, 1972)
Fitz Walker - St Thomas Duppy (R&S Oney, 197?)
The Mellows - Babylon A Come (High Note, 1978)
The Techniques - Run Come Celebrate (Treasure Isle Repress, 1968)
Clancy Eccles - Tribute To Drumbago (Blank, 1969)

* B-side to "Rupie Edwards - If You Can't Beat Them"
** A-side to "The Crafters - Soul Crackshot"

Ustream

2010-08-21T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here's the promised Ustream!

1. Rupert Martin - War In A Kingston (Spirit, 1975)
2. Jacob Miller - All Night 'Till Daylight (Arab, 1977)
3. The Nightingales - Jehovah (Bongo Man, 1972)
4. The Silvertones - Teardrops Will Fall (Blank, 1971)
5. Rupie Edwards - If You Can't Beat Them (Blank, 1969)
6. Unknown toasting - Horse race, organs (Blank, 1969) *
7. John Holt - Working Kind (Blank, 1970)
8. Dillinger - Platt's Skank (Blank, 1973?)
9. Dandy Livingston - Message To Rudies (Blank, 1967)
10. Nora Dean - Man Walk & Talk (Blank, 1967) **
11. Beverley's All Stars (Baba Brooks?) - Fly Right (Blank, 1964)
12. The Mighty Sparrow - Ned (National, early 60s)

* B-side to #5
** B-side to #9

Freddie McKay & Jah Lloyd - The War Is Over / GGs All Stars - Dub Part Two

2010-08-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted much later 70s or any dub stuff on here, so here you go!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Freddie McKay & Jah Lloyd - The War Is Over
B-side: GG Allstars - Dub Part Two

Al T. Joe - Independence Time Is Here / I'm On My Own

2010-08-07T13:50:00.000-07:00

Jamaica celebrated its 48th year of independence from the UK yesterday (August 6), so this one is a bit late, but congratulations Jamaica! I'm sure the festivities will last all weekend!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Al T. Joe - Independence Time Is Here
B-side: Al T. Joe - I'm On My Own

Heart & Soul Soundsystem

2010-08-01T13:04:00.001-07:00

I sold a ton of records to these guys this week and I'll be joining them tonight to spin some of my finest records. If you're in the Austin area, try and make it out!

Artwork by Right On Time Designs

Here's a list of what I played (not including what the other DJs played):
The Dynamites - Tribute To Drumbango (Blank, 1969)
I Roy & The Ebony Sisters - Let Me Tell You Boy (Moodisc, 1971)
Al & The Vibrators - Move Up (Gay Feet, 1968)
The Uniques - My Conversation (Blank, 1968)
The Tennors - Smile, My Baby (Blank, 1969)
Lester Sterling & Stranger Cole - Bangarang (Carifta, 1968)
The Gaylads - Love Me With All Your Heart (Studio 1 Repress, 1967)
The Revolutionaries - SNCC (Disco Mix, 1976)
KC White - Man No Dead (Dynamic, 1972)
The Gaylads - It's All In The Game (Blank, 1970)
Jackie Brown - Feel No Pain (Telegraph, 1974)
Bingy Bunny & Bongo Herman - Mr Parker's Daughter (Version, 1973)
The Mellows - Babylon A Come (High Note, 1978)
The Faithful Brothers - I & I Nah Run (Techniques, late 70s)
The Music Specialists - Double Dynamite (Blank, 1972)
The Skatalites - El Pussy Ska (Coxsone, 196?)
Sir Lord Tacky - Badder Man (Blank, 1964)
Eric Morris - Penny Reel (Island, 1964)
Duke Reid & His Group - Hill & Gully (Treasure Isle, 1964)
The Techniques - Little Did You Know (Treasure Isle Repress, 1965)

The Clarendonians - A Day Will Come / Beverley's All Stars - Just In Time

2010-07-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

Excellent ska here from The Clarendonians and a top notch instrumental b-side.

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Clarendonians - A Day Will Come
B-side: Beverley's All Stars - Just In Time

Ustream!

2010-07-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

1. Randy's All Stars (?) - Unknown Organ Instrumental (Chappy's, Vincent Chin?, early 1970s?)
2. John Holt - Just Out Of Reach (Dyna blank, Bunny Lee, 1970)
3. Errol Dunkley - Runaway Child (Dyna blank, George Phillips, 1971)
4. Delroy Wilson - Hey Jude (Dyna blank, Bunny Lee, 1971)
5. The Ethiophians - The Selah (Sir J.J.'s blank, JJ Johnson, 1971)
6. Fitz Walker - St Thomas Duppy (RS Oney, ??, 1970s)
7. The Upsetters - San-San (Count Shelly, Lee Perry, 1974)
8. The Clintones - Getting Things Together (Clintones, Clintones, 1970s?)
9. The Slickers - Bounce Me Johnny (FRM blank, Stare McCallum, 1972)
10. Theophilus Beckford - Easy Snapping (Wirl blank, Clancy Eccles, 1968)
11. Alton Ellis - A Fool (Wirl blank, Coxsone Dodd, 1968)
12. Roland Alphonso - 1000 Tons Of Megatone (FBL Blank, Bunny Lee, 1969)

Clancy Eccles - Fatty Fatty / The Dynamites - Tribute To Drumbago

2010-07-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

Reggae for sale! Check here for my reggae auctions on eBay!

Big revive hit for Clancy Eccles on the a-side and a kiiiller instrumental b-side.

Listen and download here:
A-side: Clancy Eccles - Fatty Fatty
B-side: The Dynamites - Tribute To Drumbago

Broken Links

2010-06-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

I've been getting a few comments and emails about broken links. I'm not sure why they aren't working because the files are all there on the server. I'm going to try and reupload the broken onees where I can. I don't organize my rip mp3s as well as I should on my personal computer, so I may not have some of the files for the older posts. Here's a list of ones I've gotten complaints about. If you find more, please post a comment here so I can fix it for you to download!

The ones that I have linked are the ones that I have already fixed.

Delroy Wilson - Put Yourself In My Place
Jimmy Riley - Old Kent Road
Owen Grey - Walk All Over
Al & The Vibrators - Check Up
King Stitt & Andy Capp - Herbsman Shuffle
Peter Tosh & The Wailers - The Mark Of The Beast Version
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Mellow Mood
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Mellow Mood In Dub
The Wailers - Dancing Shoes
Peter Touch & The Chorus - Don't Look Back
The Jiving Juniors - I'll Be Here When He Comes
The Soul Vendors - Real Dub
Derrick Morgan - John Crow Skank
Derrick Morgan - Court Dismiss
Freddie McKay - Fine Fine Fine
Dobby Jones - The Wrong They Do
Jackie Brown All Stars - The Wrong They Dub
The Mighty Clouds - Madgie Dub
Monty & Roy - She's Mine
Monty & Roy - Girl Of My Dreams
Dotty & Clive Bonnie - Why Worry
The Ethiopians - Rim Bim Bam
The Gaylads - Africa
The Gaylads - Love Me With All Your Heart
GG Allstars - Champion
The Heptones & Lee Perry - I Shall Be Released
The Heptones & Lee Perry Allstars - I Shall Be Released (Version)
The Heptones - Love Me Only
I Roy & The Ebony Sisters - Let Me Tell You Boy (Version)
Jimmy Cliff - Dearest Beverley
Junior Byles - Beat Down Babylon
The Upsetters - Ital Version
Junior Byles - Fever
King Medious - This World
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - Carry Go Bring Come
Duke Reid & His Group - Hill & Gully
Ken Boothe - Freedom Street
Beverley's All-Stars - Freedom Version
Stranger & Gladdy - Just Like A River
Max Romeo - Let The Power Fall For I
The Original Hippy Boys - Power Version
Max Romeo - Rent Crisis
The Melodians - Rivers Of Babylon
Beverley's All-Stars - Version
Tabby & The Diamond - Oh No Baby
Tabby & The Diamond - Version
The Mohawks - Let It Be
The Mohawks - Looking Back
Music Specialists - Second Measure Of Pressure
Starlight - Healing In The Barnyard
Winston Shand - Throw Me Corn
The Youth - Jesus Keepeth My Soul
The Youth - Fire Fire

Laurel Aitken - I Can't Stop Loving You / El Paso

2010-06-21T18:57:00.000-07:00

Nice cover of the Ray Charles tune here by the legendary Laurel Aitken. Aitken was in the business from the beginning, recording during the 50s on 78s, before 45s became massively widespread. However, this one is from '71. Enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Laurel Aitken - I Can't Stop Loving You
B-side: Laurel Aitken - El Paso

Jimmy Riley (As Chanel 5) - Love Brother / Old Kent Road

2010-06-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

This one was on the most recent Ustream broadcast. I originally thought it was just a mislabeled Slim Smith's "My Conversation" but closer inspection has shown that it really isn't. This cut has lead organ, which I assume is provided by Jimmy Riley. I found his name for this disc through Roots Knotty Roots.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Jimmy Riley (As Chanel 5) - Love Brother
B-side: Jimmy Riley (As Chanel 5) - Old Kent Road

Out Of Town...

2010-06-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

I'm out of town right now, road tripping to the Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, TN.

I might be able to get a post up with some stuff I have archived on my computer, but if not, I'll get one up as soon as I'm back!

Ustream Broadcast, Rocksteady Special!

2010-05-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

Rocksteady special!

1. The Techniques - Run Come Celebrate (Treasure Isle Repress, 1968)
2. The Dynamites - Tribute To Drumbago (Clancy Eccles Blank, 1969)
3. Andy Cap - Pop A Top (Dyna Blank, 1969)
4. The Gaylads - Wha She Do Now (Dyna Blank, 1969)
5. The Barons - Darling Please Return (Baron's Blank, 1969)
6. The Techniques - Man Of My Word (Techniques Blank, 1968)
7. Johnny Melody (George Dekker) - You Treating Me Bad (Beverley's Blank, 1967)
8. The Paragons - My Number One (Supertone Blank, 1968)
9. The Uniques - My Conversation (Pee, 1968)*
10. Delroy Wilson - Rain From The Sky (Coxsone, 1968)
11. Johnny Cool - Girl You've Gone Home (DSR Blank, 196? / 197?)

*The Uniques tune is an unusual one. My copy is printed on a label named PEE as "Love Brother" by Chanel 5. I've seen the song printed on a similar looking label but called LEE instead... I really don't know the story behind this one.

Derrick Morgan & Johnny Melody - Me Naw Give Up / Baba Brooks - Dreadnaught

2010-05-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Kiiilller heavy 1968 rocksteady on the a-side here. I think this is the 5th Derrick Morgan post that I've done, and this song is by far the most exciting. Johnny Melody is a pseudonym for George Dekker of The Pioneers and the two share the vocals equally. The b-side is actually a ska shot from 1964 and both are produced by Leslie Kong from the legendary Beverley's label. The b-side is a bit scratched towards the beginning, but is listenable afterward.

Enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Derrick Morgan & Johnny Melody - Me Naw Give Up
B-side: Baba Brooks - Dreadnaught

Bongo Herman & Stickie - God Step / Glen Brown - Dirty Harry

2010-05-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

Listen & download here:
A-side: Bongo Herman & Stickie - God Step
B-side: Glen Brown - Dirty Harry

K.C. White - Man No Dead / Version

2010-05-13T23:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts and writeups. The end of this semester at school has been particularly busy but it will be over come Monday!

This is excellent reggae here with some good vibes in the lyrics. "While there is life, there is hope. Man no dead, no call him ghost." Great production, great vocals, great tune. Check it out!

Listen & download here:
A-side: K.C. White - Man No Dead
B-side: K.C. White - Man No Dead (Version)

George Dekker - Run Them / Lennox Brown - Gits Brown

2010-05-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

Both of these are usually on heavy rotation for me! The b-side was the 1st track I played on the stream 2 posts back.

Listen & download here:
A-side: George Dekker - Run Them
B-side: Lennox Brown - Gits Brown

The Skatalites - El Pussy Ska / The Maytals - If You Ever Change Your Mind

2010-04-27T18:40:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I've put up a scorching instrumental so here it is. The true a-side may be The Maytals but since The Skatalites' tune is so hot and in better shape, I present it first.

If you've listened to any old ska, you've probably heard The Skatalites or one of their derivative acts. They defined the genre and performed with many producers are countless artists. "El Pussy Ska" is a party instrumental with horns all over the place. The scratched out part underneath the title in the picture will have said "(Scorcher)," an endorsement on some of the earlier Coxsone releases.

The b-side is a bit of a throw away track because of the condition, but I've included it for any Maytals diehard fans out there.

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Skatalites - El Pussy Ska
B-side: The Maytals - If You Ever Change Your Mind

Ustream Broadcast

2010-04-22T21:12:00.001-07:00

I decided to give this a shot rather than a traditional post. Consider it a preview of whats to come. Some of these records will likely show up in the next few postings.

I've come to realize that the recording output on my preamp bypasses the equalizer and high/low pass filters. So, at least for the ones with surface noise, kill the highs and boost the bass and a good chunk of the unwanted sound will disappear.

Lennox Brown - Gits Brown
Slim Smith - Can't Do Without It (My Story)
The Jailbreakers - Work It Up
K.C. White - Man No Dead
Beverley's All Stars - Just In Time
The Gaylads - Lady With The Red Dress
Eric Morris - Penny Reel O
Bingy Bunny & Bongo Les - Mr. Parker's Daughter
Pat Kelly - They Talk About Love
The Federals - I've Passed This Way
Derrick Morgan & George Dekker - Me Naw Give Up
The Visions - The Girl I Love

Prince Buster - Ten Commandments Of Man / Adios Senorita

2010-04-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

I've you've taken a look at the history of reggae, you're probably familiar with Prince Buster; and if you're familiar with him, you're likely familiar with this a-side. It was the title track on one of his biggest albums and even saw release on some US labels. It must have seen many releases in JA and the UK as well because I have 3 different 7" with this as the a-side, but all with different b-sides. So, as you may guess, I'm not posting this one for the a-side; this one's more for the b-side.

While the a-side's rocksteady production matches that of the rest of the LP, the b-side is an entirely different direction, and one that illuminates Buster's broad musical talent. As the title suggests, the song's melodies, lyrics, and backup singers would have you think the song came from Mexico rather than Jamaica. Needless to say, the song is a hit - Prince Buster can seemingly do no wrong with his records.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Prince Buster - Ten Commandments
B-side: Prince Buster - Adios Senorita

The Tennors - Smile (My Baby) / Unknown - Lullaby Angel

2010-04-08T15:34:00.001-07:00

The Tennors are a celebrated group among 60s reggae collectors. They released a good number of sides, although still remained on the obscure side of the track, never releasing a full length and withering away in the early 70s. They worked primarily with producer George Murphy for the majority of their career but did see big hits with names like Coxsone Dodd on their song "Pressure & Slide" from 1967 and Duke Reid on "Hopeful Village," and "Weather Report," all great songs. This one, along with the bside, is from 1969.

Last time that I posted a song that I didn't know the artist, I was helped out by someone reading the blog so please share if you know more about the b-side! The matrix is "WIRL DS 4198" but that number doesn't locate anything in RKR. This one is a pretty cool rocksteady track that I've temporarily named "Lullaby Angel" because that's a main theme in the chorus of the song. It sounds like the song is a duet, and RKR lists a song called "Lullaby Angel" as a duet between Alton Ellis & Eddie from 1960. I haven't heard that version, but perhaps this is an updated version. Don't take my word on that one though!

Please share if you know more about this b-side, thanks.

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Tennors - Smile (My Baby)
B-side: Unknown - Lullaby Angel

1975 - Pluto Shervington - Dat / Version

2010-04-04T21:18:00.001-07:00

1975 here and finally the last post that I'll do in the sequence. This all started back in mid January when I posted the first in the series, 1960. I'm glad to see it finished, because now I'm not restricted each post. I've got loads of things I've been itching to post, and I definitely want to get back to the 60s!

I've been thinking about a podcast recently which will probably eventually happen. For now, I've been doing random live streams of 45s. Check back often and you may catch a feed- I spin for about an hour with a player embedded on the blog.

"Dat" is a really cool track, and was my easy pick from 1975. My collection dwindles quickly beyond '75 and so does my interest in the music. For the thousands upon thousands of tracks though, there are many that the producer got it all right. This, "Dat," is one of them. The production is rich and full and Shervington carries the song impeccably. My first introduction to him was another 7" I have, "Ram Goat Liver," which features as much patois as "Dat." I believe there is a full album of his posted somewhere on You & Me On A Jamboree.

Expect another post soon and check back for live streams!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Pluto Shervington - Dat
B-side: Pluto Shervington - Version

1974 - Jimmie Shandel - Snake In The Grass / Version

2010-03-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

Listen & download here:
A-side: Jimmy Shandel - Snake In The Grass
B-side: The Demons - Version

1973 - Delroy Wilson - Your Love / Caught You Red Handed

2010-03-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

1973 here, and by now Delroy Wilson's voice has matured quite a bit. He's one of Jamaica's artists that started at an impressively young age, so you can hear his voice mature through his catalog. Wilson started his career at 14 years old with Coxsone in 1962. As you'd expect with any 14 year old, his prepubescent voice on his early singles was leagues higher than we hear 11 years later in '73. It's fun to hear how his voice has developed though, so its worth looking out for a chronological compilation of his.

"Your Love" is Wilson's take on The Supreme's megahit, "Where Did Our Love Go." I really don't have much to say about these two tunes except that they're both great. Delroy Wilson is one of favorite singers. He's got an unmistakable and inimitable sound and I rarely find a song in his wide discography that I dislike. Sooo check it out.

1974 and 1975 next, then I'll head back to the 60s for a while, stay tuned!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Delroy Wilson - Your Love
B-side: Delroy Wilson - Caught You Red Handed

1972 - Billy Dyce - Be My Guest / U Roy - Way Down In South

2010-03-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

Fantastic reggae vocal on this one from Billy Dyce. This is the only Dyce tune I have, and there are only a handful listed in RKR. The writing credits on this show that its a Fats Domino tune and if you find a version of the original (check this one out), you'll see that itself features a bit of a ska vibe with its syncopated shots. Great song by Domino, and a great cover here by Dyce.

The b-side features U Roy toasting over another Dyce track, "Take Warning." The Jamaicans were another group to perform this tune in the same year, but I'm not sure who authored it. Anyway, this is U Roy as he was widely recognized. His swagger and shouts are his trademarks that would be copied a million times over by impersonators.

Like I've mentioned, I'm continuing the chronology with these posts even though the 60's series is complete. That puts this tune from '72. I'll likely only continue this for 2 or 3 more postings as the farther we get into the 70s, the music turns downhill a bit in my opinion.

Enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Billy Dyce - Be My Guest
B-side: U Roy - Way Down In South

1971 - The Mighty Diamonds - Girl You Are Too Young / Version

2010-03-13T23:14:00.000-08:00

I'm going to keep running up the years for the next few posts, just in case anyone has been following along and wants to keep it up. The Maytones post last week was 1970, and naturally, this one is 1971. The Mighty Diamonds were quite popular in the mid to late 70s with their LP "Right Time". Before that album, though, they bounced around between producers, releasing a few singles here and there.

According to an interview with one of the Mighty Diamond's three vocalists, they did a few tunes including this one for Rupie Edward. They then moved over to Bunny Lee for a few tunes, and finally to Stranger Cole, with whom they'd record "Oh No Baby." That would become their first single to see release and following it, Edwards released "Girl You're Too Young."

Roots Knotty Roots lists two tunes from '71 from The Mighty Diamonds, "Girl You're Too Young" and "Oh No Baby," one from '72 produced by Derrick Harriott, and then nothing until '74. Perhaps the other songs that the singer refers to in the interview were just never cut, or maybe they were released on compilation albums, I'm not sure!

These guys would go on to work with staples of the late 70's sound - Channel One, Joe Gibbs, Bunny Lee - and would even produce some of their own material. Check this one out, along with the other postings I have of theirs, and go out and grab the album "Right Time"!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Mighty Diamonds - Girl You Are Too Young
B-side: The Mighty Diamonds - Version

1970 - GG All Stars - African Melody / The Maytones - Serious Love

2010-03-10T20:09:00.000-08:00

I haven't decided yet if I like my new cartridge or not. I can't manage to do anything to prevent my recordings from clipping in places. These two were recorded with tracking weight at 1.0 grams, and my mic input levels at at a near minimum. My previous cartridge recorded nicely at about 1.4 grams, and with the mic levels in the same place. I may end up going back to the old one and buying it a new needle... we'll see.

While my 10-part series on the 60's is now finished, this post from 1970 unofficially continues the chronology. The Maytones put out some exciting rocksteady with producer Alvin Ranglin and maintained a successful career in to the 70's. They were a vocal duo of Vernon Buckley and Gladstone Grant. I posted an early hit of theirs, Funny Man, and it's certainly worth checking out. In fact, if you can find a compilation of their rocksteady material, you should pick it up as these guys put out a number of cool tunes. They did a cover King Floyd's funk classic "Groove Me," which turned out to be one of my favorites in The Maytones' catalogue.

The GG All Stars are Alvin Ranglin's house band and they can do much more than just provide the rhythm, as they show on African Melody. The beat pounds and the organist works the keys out through the song. I always love a good instrumental with organ leads, and this is a prime example. Enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: GG All Stars - African Melody
B-side: The Maytones - Serious Love

1969 - Peter Tosh & U Roy - Earth's Rightful Ruler / The Upsetters - Handy Cap

2010-03-04T21:06:00.000-08:00

If you've been following along, this marks the end of the my chronological series of the 60's. This also marks 99 posts, and in celebration of the 100th and of reaching 10,000 visitors a few days ago. For all these reasons I've decided to upload what may be the rarest 7" in my collection. The song in itself isn't particularly hard to find these days on CD, but the 7" is another story.

The song also introduces U Roy, "The Originator," to the blog for the first time and in proper fashion. This is his first recorded effort and it resulted in an immense amount of singles not only from U Roy, but from an onslaught of toasters that followed. His career as a DJ began many years earlier at the sound system dances that characterized the 60's scene. Starting with the small Dickie's Dynamic sound system, he moved up the ranks and after a stint with one of Coxsone's rigs, he became the number one man for King Tubby's Home Town HiFi.

The role of the DJs developed through the 60s and U Roy's style developed as he rhythmically rambled over tunes, making comments and the infamous shouts. As one of Duke Reid's disc cutters, King Tubby had access to print modified one-off copies from the Treasure Isle masters for U Roy to work with. Eventually the style would hit the studios and perhaps the first time for it to do so was here on "Earth's Rightful Ruler."

The introduction on the a-side is unmistakeably Peter Tosh in heavy Jamaican patois. Once that fades out, Lee Perry's bass heavy production kicks in with a very calm U Roy. The hand percussion and Rastafari vibe gives it a very rootsy feel and I'm personally a huge fan of the tune. Most toasting tracks, I just skip over because many are too generic. This one is an exception, and on top of that, a pivotal recording!

I hope you've enjoyed the 1960s series, or atleast a few tunes out of it. I'm a bit relieved to be done, because now I have much more freedom in picking stuff to upload!

Stay tuuuuuuuuned!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Peter Tosh & U Roy - Earth's Rightful Ruler
B-side: The Upsetters - Handy Cap

1968 - Lester Sterling & Stranger Cole - Bangarang / Ken Parker - Someone To Love

2010-03-01T17:56:00.001-08:00

I had a hard time choosing what to post for this year. It was going to be The Federals' "'Penny For Your Song" / "I've Passed This Way;" then it was going to Derrick Morgan & Johnny Melody (George Dekker of The Pioneers) - "Mi Naw Give Up" / Baba Brooks - "Dreadnaught." In the end, I decided on this one despite the fact that the b-side skips. "Bangarang" is a rocksteady anthem and a word that would become tantamount to the genre. And besides, its got a pretty sweet label! More write up to come...

Listen & download here:
A-side: Lester Sterling & Stranger Cole - Bangarang
B-side: Ken Parker - Someone To Love

1967 - The Wailers - Nice Time / Hypocrites

2010-02-22T18:44:00.000-08:00

No history of reggae is complete without an entry related to Bob Marley. Most casual music fans know of Marley through his string of immensely popular international releases with The Wailers in the 1970s. Fewer know of his, and The Wailer's, roots in Jamaica in the 1960s. Marley recorded his first tunes for Leslie Kong under the pseudonym Bobby Martell at 16 years old. He would soon after team up with Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh under the vocal tutoring from Joe Higgs of Higgs & Wilson. While all of these names would reach international fame, this was unfathomable at the time of their meetings in the early 60's in Jamaica's trench town ghetto.

The Wailers spent a period recording with Coxsone Dodd and his Brentford Road studio and released countless ska scorchers. It was actually a Studio 1 Wailers ska compilation that first introduced me to The early Wailers sound and consequentially led me to this endless journey of reggae 45 collecting. Despite an endless string of hits and a doubtless hefty income for Coxsone, the Wailers saw small returns and decided to cut their ties and open up their own shop. Wail 'N Soul 'M records was the result.

The label would only release Wailers tunes and only from 1966-1969 and the results were a continued goldmine of tunes like "Stir It Up," "Don't Rock My Boat," "Thank You Lord," and the two here. Though the Wailers were born in the height of ska, they quickly adapted to the rocksteady and groove and were kicking out classics in no time. The Wailers would revisit both of these two a few years later when they first prepared for an international launch with JAD records. While all versions are good, these two from '67 obviously show a younger and much more raw group. If you haven't explored The Wailers' catalog outside of their mega hits of the 70s, you absolutely need to get a compilation of early Wailers as soon as possible. Their are plenty available and any will do!

1968 on the way!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Wailers - Nice Time
B-side: The Wailers - Hypocrites

1966 - The Clarendonians - After He Breaks Your Heart / Sweet Heart Of Beauty

2010-02-16T20:19:00.001-08:00

Like I mentioned at the end of last week's posting, a sweeping heat wave in the latter 60s brought a shift in the Jamaican sound. The tumbling, fast ska that 'mashed up' the dance floor had to slow down for the lethargic crowd, slowed down by the unforgiving sun. Ska's dominance gave way in the final years of the 60s to rocksteady, whose sound held the earliest roots of the traditional 70s reggae.

In 1966, we begin to hear the sound slow down. I had a difficult time picking which tune to do for this year, because some '66 tunes are straight up ska while others are noticeably slowed down quite a bit. Then there is a handful right in the middle. You can almost literally hear a gradient of tempos over the year. Unfortunately I can only date these to the year, not to the month, but I would imagine that a chronological 1966 playlist would illuminate the switch from the ska to rocksteady sounds.

The Clarendonians were a vocal duo who worked almost exclusively with Coxsone Dodd from their earliest singles in '65 through '67, but would also work with Duke Reid, Prince Buster, and others through the late 60s and early 70s. Their singers, Ernest Wilson and Peter Austin, sang exciting and piercing ska and rocksteady harmonies through their relatively short career as a group. Both singers had work outside of The Clarendonians but as with many, their 60s work is the most prized.

I put this a-side near the beginning of the trend. Another trend I always pick out in the transition is the percussion styles and fills. I'm not a trained drummer so I'd butcher a more detailed description, but in tunes near the beginning of the trend like this, the traditional ska drumming techniques are simply slowed down a bit. Towards the end and in to rocksteady, the drumming style has drastically changed to account for the shift in tempos. The b-side is a ballad tune, a style that was popular during the ska years. Many ballad's are hit and miss for me, and this one is a hit. For more like this, check out "Muriel" by Alton & Eddy here.

On a final note, you may notice this Studio 1 label is different than many of the others I've posted. I've never understood the specifics of all of Coxsone's various imprints, and why some have a certain labels while another will be different. His two main imprints were Studio 1 and Coxsone, but he also had Supreme and others. Furthermore, there are many different styles of labels for each imprint. I'm sure some are to do with originals/repeats, Jamaica/UK pressings, when they were made, etc, but I don't have the specifics. If anyone does, please contact me!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Clarendonians - After He Breaks Your Heart
B-side: The Clarendonians - Sweet Heart Of Beauty

1965 - Winston Samuels - What Have I Done / Broken Hearted

2010-02-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

The most influential female producer in Jamaican music was without question Sonia Pottinger. She produced some scorchers in the later 60s and early 70s after marrying the producer of this disc, Lindon Pottinger. Lindon had been producing Jamaican R&B and ska since the early 60s for his own Gay Disc label and also for another label listed in RKR as SEP. Similar to many of the era's tunes, his work saw release in England on labels like Blue Beat, Black Swan, and Rio. As his wife stepped in to the producing picture, Lindon took second stage after Sonia quickly grew to one of the islands top producers. Nonetheless, his catalogue cannot be overlooked!

Winston Samuels released approximately 40 tunes between '62 and '68 working mostly with Lindon Pottinger, but also with a few bigger names like Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, and Lloyd Daley. This one is with Pottinger and was on the aforementioned SEP label. These two are in the racous upbeat ska style with certain hints of the Jamaican R&B from years past. Samuels has a fitting voice for the style and keeps the vocal sections entertaining. Perhaps the most entertaining part of the two sides is the horn sections, typical for many ska shots! Not only do the tunes both feature solos, they also both have horn lines accenting the rhythms.

As the legend goes, a heat wave hit the island in the latter part of the 60s, readily prompting the DJs and musicians to slow down the groove. The sound system dances continued outside on public lawns or near the beach, and the partygoers would need relief from the spastic upbeat ska sounds. As the sound slowed down, rocksteady music was born. 1966 will be the first year we'll start to see this, and by 1967 we'll be in full rocksteady swing. While ska music did creep into '66, ti's sufficient to say that '65 was ska's final year of dominating the Jamaican's music appetite.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Winston Samuels - What Have I Done
B-side: Winston Samuels - Broken Hearted

1964 - The Vibrators - Money Or Love / Don Drummond - Smiling

2010-02-03T21:38:00.000-08:00

I was originally going to post a Bryon Lee & The Dragonaires 7", but I decided it was time to get to some serious ska before the early 60s run out! While the most celebrated and sought after ska is this type of style, similar to that of The Skatalites, acknowledgement must be awarded to the producers who got the business running.

Alongside Chris Blackwell and Edward Seaga, Byron Lee completes the triumvirate of international embassadors of early Jamaican music. Lee got his first big break when Seaga picked up his band, Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, to perform to at upscale hotels and bars around the island. Lee had his musicians fluent in ska but particularly versed calypso and US r&b which appealed to the wealthy or touristy crowds at these hangouts. The band would eventually be sent by Seaga with Jimmy Cliff, Prince Buster, and Millie Small to New York's 1964 World Fair in an effort to promote the island's music; the trip would be far from successful. Upon return, Lee purchased Seaga's W.I.R.L. collection of studios, renaming them collectively Dynamic Sound. Lee would continue over the next decade to promote Jamaica's music around the carribbean and the USA, quickly becoming one Jamaican music's first indigenous millionaire.

Back to the disc at hand though, THIS is ska. When I think of ska music, the two styles represented on either side of this disc represent the genre's epitome. If you've been following this anthology, the styles are a natural progression (albeit a quick one), from the styles of the earlier 60s. The a-side is The Vibrators vocal shot "Money Or Love." I am almost certain that this is not the same Vibrators band performing with Al & The Vibrators, but I could certainly be wrong. The b-side here is from Jamaica's most celebrated trombonist, and one who would meet international acclaim, Don Drummond. A classically trained, Alpha Boys School musician, Drummond's compositions are innovate and exciting; this track, "Smiling," is no exception.

The two appear here on a blank, but their labelled counterparts showcase the Top Deck label's stamp. Top Deck's catalogue is highly collected, click here to see the tremendous prices the singles fetch on eBay. Rightfully so, the music is top notch on all sides. I couldn't find much about the producer, Justin Yap, but there is a nearly full label discography of Top Deck on RKR here. You can see that he worked with all of the big early names - Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso, Jackie Opel, and The Skatalites. Much of the discography has been rereleased and can be purchased on colored vinyl. I almost bought a set of 25 of the rereleases on eBay a few days ago!

On the way... 1965!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Vibrators - Money Or Love
B-side: Don Drummond - Smiling

1963 - The Maytals - I'll Never Grow Old / Part 2

2010-01-31T14:28:00.000-08:00

I updated my for sale page! Also, expect to see more records added to the list over the next few months!

This posting marks the first in this decade set that is produced by one of the original sound system bosses, Sir Clement "Coxsone" Dodd. While some of the business-oriented producers of early ska music pushed more commercial music that they believed would sell internationally, the sound system men were spreading Jamaica's ghetto music. Unlike their business counterparts, these sound system names like CS Dodd and Duke Reid would grow to become synonomous with reggae music. Coxsone perhaps stands above the rest though. A search for his productions in the Roots Knotty Roots database returns 3433 tunes - and this is ONLY tunes released on 7", so it doesn't include most full length LP tracks or even some of the rarer singles. For comparison, other major names come in with the following marks - Duke Reid - 935, Bunny Lee - 1551, Prince Buster - 847, and Lee Perry - 1104.

The Maytals are no small name either. They were one of the few Jamaican names that would grow to mega international stardomn among names like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff; they would do so, however, under the more familiar psuedonym Toots & The Maytals. They began their recording career in 1963 with Coxsone, who would license most 63 shots to the Chris Blackwell's UK-based Island label. Most of these Island releases, however, would have the artist listed as "The Vikings." Over the next few years, the Maytals would hook up with other big name producers such as Prince Buster, Lindon Pontinger, and Leslie Kong, with whom they would have quite a long stint.

This song is in the traditional ska style of 1963. You can hear that the Jamaican groove has certainly taken over from the US r&b that dominated Jamaican recordings in the previous years. Hibbert's hollering style is in full force hear and in their first year as a recording act, The Maytals sound like well seasoned musicians.

This release is actually form 1977. The a-side was the version released in '63, but it was originally released on a different label - "Rolando & Powie" - one that I don't think I've ever seen. This rerelease has the "part 2" on the b-side which is a dub version of the tunel or atleast the closest that ska can get to dub. As the dubbing techniques of the later 70s and early 80s grew in popularity, Dodd began rereleasing some older tunes with small edits that reflected the remix's era. For instance, I recently bought a rerelease of Delroy Wilson's LP, "Feeling Good All Over." This rocksteady LP was rereleased by Coxsone probably in the 90s in his New York distribution center and has all the original tunes and artwork, but some of the tunes end with vocal cutouts and dub-inspired reverbs that epitomize the era.

Coming up next, 1964!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Maytals - I'll Never Grow Old
B-side: The Maytals - I'll Never Grow Old, Part 2

1962 - Jimmy Cliff - Make It Up / Eric Morris - Cinderella

2010-01-28T18:38:00.001-08:00

This disc is the first Jamaican release I've put in this mini anthology, but we still haven't seen any native Jamaican producers. Alongside Chris Blackwell and Edward Seaga, Leslie Kong, the producer of these two tracks, is yet another huge name in the island's history of recorded music that was not natively Jamaican. Kong's background was Chinese, a quality that would become a picking point for Prince Buster in his fued between Kong and Derrick Morgan (read here for more!).

Kong and his brothers ran an ice cream parlor and record shop in Kingston called "Beverley's" and, after discovering the young Jimmy Cliff, they decided to enter the recording world. The resultant label by the same name grew to become a foundation in Jamaican music. The green label design on this 7" was the earliest design released on the Beverley's label. They only released a handful of singles on this label before moving to the more familiar red, white, and black label (see it here).

Two the sides on this are both fabulous ska hits by some classic artists. I've already posted a record by the young Jimmy Cliff here, and this one is from the shortly after. "Make It Up" resembles the syncopated r&b groove of "Hurricane Hatty" more so than the ballad-styled "Dearest Beverley." As you probably already know, Cliff would retain his popularity and grow to international stardom.

Eric Morris was another Jamaican musician to retain popularity through the 60s ska/rocksteady wave. His career extended into the 70s but tapered off by the late 70s. His early ska songs are the favored part of his catalogue for many collectors. This one has the same upbeat type of groove and horns as the a-side, just with Morris substituted in on vocals. On this one, he sings a pretty straight forward melody but it's still enjoyable. The band really kicks it up a notch when the brass solos kick in, which are perhaps the better parts of the song. The same may be the case for a number of earlier ska shots - many of the house musicians were highly trained in jazz, latin, r&b, and classical styles!

The sound is certainly progressing from what it was in 1960 and 1961. Next we'll hear some ska from 13 Brentford Road's Coxsone Dodd for the 1963 entry so stay tuned!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Jimmy Cliff - Make It Up
B-side: Eric Morris - Cinderella

1961 - Jackie Edwards - Whenever There's Moonlight / Heaven Just Knows

2010-01-20T18:42:00.000-08:00

We'll continue the story on the same label, Starlite, but with the other producer mentioned in the previous post, Chris Blackwell. Blackwell can perhaps be credited with revolutionizing the distribution of Jamaican music. He was the first to take it abroad, securing a deal with this Starlite label. Back at home in Jamaica he also opened up the distribution. At the time, sound system giants and producers would cut their discs and only supply limited amounts to a few local shops that they knew, similar to in the movie The Harder They Come. Blackwell, not being a sound man, was able to treat his ventures as a purely business affairs. According to Jimmy Cliff, "he knew the way he could get the most out of the music business was to get his records to as many shops as possible."

His story is almost mythical. According to Lloyd Bradley's This Is Reggae Music, Blackwell was a "white, planter-class-wealthy, Jamaican-born Harrovian" who discovered Jamaica's ghetto music after he had been rescued by a group of Rasta fisherman after he had been knocked unconscious while stranded on a reef. After they treated his wounds, Blackwell left determined to promote culture and music hidden in Jamaica's ghettos. His first artist was the famous Laurel Aitken. Blackwell's continuous development of his distribution networks, ultimately led to today's Island Records that is owned by Universal Music Group.

The Wilfred Edwards here is an early pseudonym for the more familiar Jackie Edwards. Along with giants such as The Wailers, Alton Ellis, John Holt, Desmond Dekker, and so on, Edwards was a winner of the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour. This was variety show offered in Kingstons city area in the mid 50s that quickly became the generation's comparative "American Idol." The show offered "singers, dancers, comedians, trick cyclists," etc, and hosted an uproariously demanding audience; so much so that a poor performance would likely not make it to the end before being hissed off stage. He recorded with Blackwell's crew almost exclusively through the 60s and would team up with Bunny Lee for the majority of his remaining career.

You can hear the similarities in style between this and the last - the piano rhythms, the r&b influence - and can also here some evolutions such as the emphasized syncopation. This is a trend that will continue over the next few years! Enjoy this, 1962 on the way!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Jackie Edwards - Whenever There's Moonlight
B-side: Jackie Edwards - Heaven Just Knows

1960 - Higgs & Wilson - Lover's Song / It Is A Day

2010-01-18T09:26:00.000-08:00

This post marks the beginning of a ten part series that I'll be doing - a set of 10 postings documenting 1960-1969 in Jamaican music, one year at a time. This one is from 1960, the next will be 1961, then 1962, and so on. This one has seen better days, but keep in mind that this record is 50 years old now! Other records on the list will be in better shape! Enjoy!

The mid-1940s saw the beginnings of a music culture that would sweep for Jamaican island people for decades to come. Workers on ships bound south from ports such as New Orleans, Mobile, and Houston would carry US records to Jamaica that would disperse through people. It wouldn't take long for enthusiasts and shop owners to begin playing these records over loud systems to attract business or draw crowds. Over the next decade, these gatherings developed in to Jamaica's sound system dancehall scene. Names like Duke Reid, Coxsone Dodd, and Tom The Great Sebastion would hosts dances where they would set up their competitively large stereos and man the turntables. These soundmen took on extravagant attitudes to draw attention and develop loyalties as local sound systems grew rivalrous.

Factories with primitive capabilities of cutting records were in Jamaica around the same time. As technologies developed, names like Stanley Motta and Ken Khouri emerged with their respective studios. Motta was a sound system owner and specialized in calypso and mento (Jamaica's native folk music) recordings. Khouri opened Federal Records Limited that struck a contract with the US label Mercury as it looked to expand in to the Caribbean. Ken and his brother Richard would produce and release singles over the next few decades but their company would turn in to one of Jamaica's busiest pressing facilities.

While the soundsystem kings did begin to cut their own tunes in the mid to late 50s, their competitive nature led them to cut very few pressings and not to distribute many copies. This way, the songs at their dances would be exclusive and monster tunes would ensure a consistent crowd. In this manner, some of the most successful early producers in Jamaica were not these famous, native Jamaican names, but were of more aristocratic foreign ancestry that took advantage of the island music for international exploitation. This is where we will begin our story, in 1960, with Higgs & Wilson's "Lover's Song" / "It Is A Day."

A year prior, the duo Joe Higgs & Manny Wilson cut one of Jamaica's first recordings that stepped away from the US r&b swing, "Manny Oh," with the same producer, Edward Seaga. Seaga was Boston born to Jamaican parents of Syrian descent. He moved back to Jamaica with his parents at 3 months of age but would eventually receive a Harvard education in anthropology in African music and religion. When he returned to Jamaica's ghetto, he was well equiped to put his interest in the black community to work in the music industry. He did so for a short while, starting the West Indies Records Limited (WIRL) label, but would ultimately sell the label and pursue a political career.

Joe Higgs went on to a prolific career, releasing a plethora of succesful solo work and even mentoring the young Wailers trio and Jimmy Cliff. His early work in this duo is sought after by many collectors as their early work showcases the reggae music in its infant stages. These two were released in Jamaica on Seaga's WIRL records and in the UK on Starlite, a label that Chris Blackwell had secured a licensing deal with. Starlite would release Seaga's and Blackwell's tunes in England as a forerunner to other labels that would do so in the future such as Blue Beat and Island.

Coming up next, 1961!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Higgs & Wilson - Lover's Song
B-side: Higgs & Wilson - It Is A Day

Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - Bother Ration / Vincent Hinds - Mouth Trombone

2010-01-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Justin Hinds is one of my favorite singers and is another artist who successfully spanned all incarnations of the early Jamaican reggae, from the early 60s through the late 70s. This one is from 1971 and was his second version of the tune; he had previously recorded it in 1965 for the same producer, Duke Reid. A number of Hinds' early ska tunes show up again in his 1970s catalogue, such as this one and Carry Go Bring Come.

This one has a nice relaxed, open groove. Hinds' unmistakable voice fills the space with his uncanny knack for melodies, rhythms, and lyrics. If the pops and crackles weren't as sharp it may be more obvious, but a major player in this one for me is Duke Reid's production. The backup vocalist's shouts and tone are memorable at the least, as is Hinds re-imagining of the song.

The b-side is the same rhythm track with an extended solo throughout. To be honest, I'm not sure what instrument it is, but I imagine it has to be either a trombone, a mouth, or Tommy McCook's tenor sax. To me, it sounds like it could be any of the three, but it is a great track nonetheless!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - Bother Ration
B-side: Vincent Hinds - Mouth Trombone

NYC

2010-01-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

Any record stores in NYC with a decent reggae selection? I'll be there next week so please let me know!

Edit:
Found Coxsone's Music City in Brooklyn, Clement Dodd's New York operations base. From what I understand, he moved up to NY in the 80s and opened this shop that he managed until his death in 2004.

The place doesn't have any originals, only reprints, but I still picked up some goodies:

Delroy Wilson - Good All Over LP (1969)
Jackie Opel - Cry Me A River LP (1965)
Jump Jamaica Way - VA Ska Compilation LP (1963)
The Techniques - Little Did You Know / Run Come Celebrate 7" repress (1968)

As I have mentioned, I'm quickly approaching 100 posts. I wanted to do something special to honor the number and considered just putting up a mega rarity, putting up a full length compilation of some of my favorite singles, putting up a "decade of (insert producer here)" compilation, etc. What I have decided on is to make posts 90-99 display a short history of reggae music from 1960-1969 respectively. So the 90th post will be 1960, 91st - 1961, 92nd - 1962, and so on. Then for the 100th post, I'll either do a 1970 tune or pick out one of my mega rarities to post.

Stay tuned!

Derrick Morgan - Should Be Ashamed / Marjorie

2010-01-07T11:50:00.001-08:00

I've put a string of Derrick Morgan tunes up over the past few months, this being the 4th 7". The first was a rocksteady classic, "Tougher Than Tough." The second, "Court Dismiss," was an anti rude boy anthem very similar in style to the Prince Buster Judge Dread series. The third, "John Crow Skank," embodied the loud revive sound of the early 70s and was one of Morgan's closest attempts at toasting. This one is from 1962 and shows a young Morgan performing in the style of ska's earliest imaginations. Furthermore, it's produced by Prince Buster who produced many of ska's biggest names such as Eric Morris, Owen Gray, and The Maytals.

Both tunes represent the common sound of 1962 fairly well. The US r&b influence is still evident but the Jamaican syncopation has certainly taken over and the saxophone solos are decidedly ska creations. Aside from a few of Morgan's rocksteady tunes, this period is my favorite of his. The man released hundreds of singles between 1960 and the late 70s, so it's easy to get lost in any area of his catalog.

I was talking to a neighbor recently about records and he said to me that collecting 45s is an endless road, and it only gets more and more expensive. The first part is absolutely true for Jamaican 45s. The 60s spawned a music culture that infected the island. I believe I've read that the country released the most 7" singles per capita than any other country through late 60s and maybe even the 70s.

If this blog continues to grow, I'd love for it to eventually grow into a sort of Jamaican 7" compendium where other collectors post rips and pictures. A sort of Roots Knotty Roots but with audio files included. Lofty goals, but who knows! On that note, if anyone else is interested in posting some rips, please contact me!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Derrick Morgan - Should Be Ashamed
B-side: Derrick Morgan - Marjorie

John Holt & Slim Smith - Let's Build Our Dreams / Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - Testify

2010-01-03T19:48:00.000-08:00

Haaaaappy New Year! After just over a year on the blog, I'm quickly approaching 100 posts and this one marks the 50th reggae posting. With this post, I've decided to make the blog primarily focused on reggae for now. I haven't done much collecting of anything else recently and I much prefer doing the reggae postings on here. I hope I don't lose any listeners for this so if you have any opposition to this then please voice it.

I'll likely be playing with the blog layout over the next few days so bare with me!

Just like I mentioned about Jimmy Cliff in the previous post, John Holt is another artist that is hit or miss for me. Holt had an immensely prolific career and released hundreds of singles through the late 60s and 70s, working with producers such as Duke Reid, Bunny Lee, CS Dodd, Prince Buster, Harry Mudie, and the list goes on. Whenever I dig through a new batch of singles, his records always pop up; only a few however really catch my eye and this is one of them.

It's from 1971 and produced by Duke Reid on his Treasure Isle label. While the label doesn't credit him, the song also features Slim Smith for one of the verses. This tune has the classic roots revive sound. This period of Jamaican music saw the search for a new direction after the rocksteady period of the late 60s and before the reggae generation of the mid 70s.

This is the first post of mine featuring Slim Smith's vocals. I've mentioned him in a few posts as one of Jamaica's most soulful singers and he truly is. A falsetto star of the 60s, he lit up tons of rocksteady tunes and is much sought after by today's collectors. I've got a handful of his singles that will certainly make it on the blog eventually so stay tuned!

The b-side is an impressive instrumental featuring Tommy McCook, a founding member of the foundational Skatalites. After the disbanding, McCook continued to work as a central figure in the Jamaican music scene and provided countless rhythms and instrumentals for various producers such as this one, "Testify," for the Duke.

Listen & download here:
A-side: John Holt & Slim Smith - Let's Build Our Dreams
B-side: Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - Testify

Jimmy Cliff - Come Into My Life / Viet Nam

2009-12-28T07:01:00.000-08:00

Jimmy Cliff's repertoire is generally hit or miss for me, and this a-side is a certain hit. Unfortunately, the b-side is hideously noisy but, once again for continuity, I've uploaded it anyway.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Jimmy Cliff - Come Into My Life
B-side: Jimmy Cliff - Viet Nam

The SPM Singers - Auld Lang Syne / Silent Night

2009-12-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Listen & download:
A-side: The SPM Singers - Auld Lang Syne
B-side: The SPM Singers - Silent Night

Link Wray - Rumble / The Swag

2009-12-18T16:12:00.000-08:00

As of tomorrow morning, I'm on a cruise in the Caribbean for a week! I've got a few blog posts scheduled to go up while I'm gone so stay tuned!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Link Wray - Rumble
B-side: Link Wray - The Swag

I Roy & The Ebony Sisters - Let Me Tell You Boy / Version

2009-12-14T03:31:00.000-08:00

I generally don't care too much for toasting singles, but every now and then one will catch my eye - this is one of those. After U Roy, "The Originator," opened the floodgates for DJs and toasters to release records, a string of toasters popped up with similar styles and even names, such as I Roy and Little U Roy.

I usually turn away from them because I feel they tend to quickly get repetitive and are more rarely innovative than other reggae forms. However, when the right DJ is teamed with the right producer and rhythm, magic can happen as it does on this track by I Roy & The Ebony Sisters, "Let Me Tell You Boy," A Harry Mudie production from 1971.

The rhythm is pounding and features the Ebony Sisters' wailing a calling chorus that I Roy proudly responds to. When the sisters take intermission, a loud horn section fills the space while I Roy does his DJ job and maintains the flow of the track. The sisters kick back in and the song follows the theme through the end.

The instrumentals for many toasting tracks are provided by versions of other songs and this is no exception. This one is an extension of The Ebony Sisters' song by the same name, also produced by Mudie but from 1969, which explains the rocksteady vibe to the song. Enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: I Roy & The Ebony Sisters - Let Me Tell You Boy
B-side: I Roy & The Ebony Sisters - Let Me Tell You Boy (Version)

Delroy Wilson - It Hurts / Put Yourself In My Place

2009-12-10T00:08:00.000-08:00

I'm putting this one up as a bit of a follow up to the Al & The Vibrators post I did about a week ago because it too is a Sonia Pottinger production.

Mrs. Pottinger was the most influential and important woman in the history of the Jamaican music business. After being the first female producer to even make a dent in the producing scene, she went on to be produce huge names such as Stranger Cole, Ken Boothe, Jackie Brown, The Ethiopians, The Melodians - the list goes on. She headed the Gay Feet label and produced nearly all of the hundreds of records produced on the imprint.

Like the Al & The Vibrators post, these two tracks are true rocksteady scorchers from 1968. Delroy Wilson was a big player in all eras of Jamaican music and "It Hurts" is an absolute classic. Wilson's voice, like always, is undeniably powerful and well controlled. His signature sound developed in the late ska years and was perfected by the time he recorded these two tunes. Through the end of the 60s and in to the 70s, Wilson's voice matured but retained all allure and most any tune of his is a keeper.

As a tip to Pottinger's production, the rhythm here is consistently powerfully, a key element to timeless scorchers. I can't remember the source, but I recently read an interview where it was said that the most important element to any reggae tune is the rhythm or the groove. It's what guides your ears and bodies through the song and is often the most memorable part. A weak rhythm can cause a tune to be quickly overlooked. This is, however, not the case for these two tracks. Enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Delroy Wilson - It Hurts
B-side: Delroy Wilson - Put Yourself In My Place

For Sale Page

2009-12-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

Updated 3/24/2010

I've got way too many records to sell at the moment to list. If you are interested in purchasing any records (not the ones posted on the site) then please contact me with what artists/labels/etc you may be interested in. I've got over 200 to sell at the moment, most are 70s, some are 80s, and less are 60s. Contact me at davesjukebox.blogspot@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Derrick Morgan - John Crow Skank / Give Thanks

2009-12-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

Derrick Morgan's career spanned all areas of Jamaican music from 1960 on as a both a popular singer and producer. This disc showcases both skills with two self produced sides from 1971 on England's Pama Supreme label.

The two sides are arguably closer to instrumentals or toasting tracks than they are to full blown songs but are certainly both worth listening to. "John Crow Skank" carries a funky groove and Morgan's directives. The instrumentation is pulsing with a sparse backing hidden underneath interjections by pianos, organs, horns, guitars, and more.

If you have been reading along with the posts, you may remember that this Max Romeo post was produced by Derrick Morgan. This b-side, "Give Thanks," features the same rhythm with Morgan's variation of the song. Compared to Romeo's version, Morgan's has more a powerful sound and instrumentation all around. It's also more of an instrumental take than Romeo's. I'm not sure which version I like more, enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Derrick Morgan - John Crow Skank
B-side: Derrick Morgan - Give Thanks

Al & The Vibrators - Move Up / Lonesome Lover

2009-12-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

Today marks the blog's 1st birthday hoooooraah!

Yep, that's right. One year ago today I posted 3 records - Sam Cooke's "I'll Come Running Back To You," The Wailers' "Dancing Shoes," and Guitar Slim's "The Things That I Used To Do" - marking the beginning of Dave's Jukebox. Unfortunately, the Guitar Slim posting has since been deleted by the host.

In the past year, the blog has grown to 7000 hits with thousands upon thousands of tunes played. I started the blog with about 40 reggae 7"s and about 75 rock/r&b 7"s and have since bought over 900 reggae 45s and sold over 300. I've enjoyed keeping the blog going and collecting all the 45s so I have no plans on stopping anytime soon! As a bonus for everyone who's been listening, I'm including a 3rd track killer track on this one.

Anyway, this is a an absolutely FANTASTIC set of tunes here by Al & The Vibrators. Better yet, they are in practically pristine condition. All are produced by Sonia Pottinger and released on the Gay Feet label. "Move Up" was prepared for the 1967 Jamaican Independence Festival annual song contest. This is a festival that began in 1966 and still occurs annually. "Move Up" lost the 1967 contest to The Jamaicans' "Ba Ba Boom," but this still easily is one of my favorite rocksteady tunes. The rhythm is unforgettably powerful and Linval Martin's lead vocal is immaculate. He would only release a handful of singles as Al & The Vibrators and would go down as a band that you'd hope to have a more extensive career.

The lyrics celebrate the Jamaican independence from England in 1962, a common theme for festival songs. This tune was also cut as a calypso version for a 2nd entry the same year. The calypso version was actually the first I heard of the song and features the same tempo and strong vocals. I've got the 7" of that one too, so I'll be sure to put it up!

"Lonesome Lover" is another rocksteady scorcher that's in great condition. Linval Martin continues to show his voice off and the band does not fail to keep up. The 3rd song on the playlist is "Check Up," and was released shortly after "Move Up." As you may guess, the two tunes are very similar, even sharing some of the same melodies. Even so, all three tunes are absolute killers. I wouldn't put up something mediocre on the 1 year mark!

Enjoy and thanks again for continuing to listen!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Al & The Vibrators - Move Up
B-side: Al & The Vibrators - Lonesome Lover
Bonus: Al & The Vibrators - Check Up

Much thanks goes to diamondrecordingltd for selling me this one and sending me the mp3s of the auction I lost ("Check Up")!

Owen Gray - Walk All Over / Alton & Eddy - Muriel

2009-11-30T22:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there!

Today I received in the mail a shipment of nearly 200 reggae 45s and have been going through them all afternoon and finding some real gems. This one is however not a new one for me, but is a classic nonetheless. The a-side is from 1962 and the b-side from 1960, enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Owen Gray - Walk All Over
B-side: Alton & Eddy - Muriel

Dobby Jones - The Wrong They Do / Jackie Brown All Stars - The Wrong They Dub

2009-11-23T19:07:00.001-08:00

The most recent batch of 100 records that came in the mail didn't turn up as fruitful as I hoped concerning 60s records. However, it did manage to fill my collection with some good tunes from the early to mid 70s like this one from '74. There also came a bunch of late 70s and 80s tunes that I will likely be selling. I'll either have them on eBay or I may even just list them here on the blog. If you're interested in buying any records, please contact me!

Even more new records should be arriving soon!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Dobby Jones - The Wrong They Do
B-side: Jackie Brown All Stars - The Wrong They Dub

Fats Domino - Telling Lies / When The Saints Go Marching In

2009-11-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the long delay between updates again! School has been exceedingly busy recently...

Fats Domino was an early rock and roll pianist and vocalist from New Orleans. His work was largely influential in the shaping of both rock and roll and the New Orleans sound. His career began in the late 40s with Imperial records, where he would record arguably his finest work through the early 60s.

As his sound developed in the USA through the 50s, Jamaican music began to shape around the American 45s being brought in by ship workers and crew. With New Orleans being one of the largest ports of the southeastern US, this city's music flooded the Jamaican scene. In the days of the earliest Jamaican soundsystem dances, DJs like Duke Reid and Clement Dodd would spin these US 45s to the insatiable crowds. Specifically, Fats Domino pervaded the music enough to inspire Justin Hinds to name his backing band, "The Dominoes," in honor.

Listen and download here:
A-side: Fats Domino - Telling Lies
B-side: Fats Domino - When The Saints Go Marching In

Winston Shand - Throw Me Corn / Darling Remember

2009-11-12T15:55:00.000-08:00

Here is the rocksteady scooorcher I promised! The a-side begins a bit noisy but 30 seconds in it is nearly crystal clear!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Winston Shand - Throw Me Corn
B-side: Winston Shand - Darling Remember

Monty & Roy - She's Mine / Girl Of My Dreams

2009-11-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

Found the camera!

I apologize for the lack of updates recently. I couldn't find my camera for a few days and that kept me from uploading this one, but everything is back in order now!

One of the main reasons I wanted to upload this one was because of the old Beverley's label its on. I'm not sure how many were released on this green and yellow label before they switched to the more common red, white, and black label. Another notable early artist released on this early label was a very young Bob Marley under they pseudonym Bobby Martell. An original copy of one of those discs would fetch an enormous price.

Monty & Roy here are the duo of Eric "Monty" Morris and Roy Panton. My first introduction to Eric Morris was through the song "Penny Reel", the disc I previously uploaded of his. That one was from '64 and these two are from '62, and you can certainly here a the difference between the two years. These two are early ska tracks that sound almost like US r&b where "Penny Reel" 2 years later is a raucous ska shot.

Roy Panton's career was not quote as prolific as Morris's, although he did release a number of duet singles with several female vocalists of the time along with a few solo releases. I can't recall any of his other tunes to be honest. I may have some buried on my hard drive somewhere but no more 7" to upload!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Monty & Roy - She's Mine
B-side: Monty & Roy - Girl Of My Dreams

If you like this one, check out The Jiving Juniors and Keith & Enid.

Derrick Morgan - Court Dismiss / Freddie McKay - Fine Fine Fine

2009-10-25T20:15:00.001-07:00

Double post today! Check out this one and the one below it, Max Romeo's "Let The Power Fall For I".

Update! I also added a new section on the column to the right, reggae by producer. I've added tags to each reggae posting with the tracks' producer and you can now browse by producer. I've been meaning to do this for a while so here it is!

Hopefully you've been introduced to Derrick Morgan and Freddie McKay at least through my previous posts here and here. Unfortunately as of now, this post exhausts my Freddie McKay collection, but there are many many more Morgan tunes to come.

"Court Dismiss" is a tune very similar to Judge Dread series by Prince Buster and the previous "Tougher Than Tough" by Morgan. Both are rocksteady takes from a court room with a judge incarcerating a group of rude boys. Plenty of the standard "lion, iron, zion," and "rough and tough" that can be found in both Buster's Judge Dread series and Morgan's "Tougher Than Tough." I'm sure there have been other artists producing songs like these at the time, I'll have to have a look through my collection and see if I can dig up some more rude boy court setting songs.

"Fine Fine Fine" is a rolling rocksteady tune with bouncing horns and an active group of background singers. McKay recorded his earliest tracks with Prince Buster in 1967 and this is from just later in the same year from producer Leslie Kong of Beverley's. '67 was a fantastic year for rocksteady music and this song has all the early trademarks of the ska to rocksteady transition. Many collectors would argue that mid-late 60s are the most exciting period of Jamaican music and I tend to agree. This song is a pretty good representation of that style!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Derrick Morgan - Court Dismiss
B-side: Freddie McKay - Fine Fine Fine

If you like this one, check out Prince Buster, Eric Morris, or more Derrick Morgan.

Max Romeo - Let The Power Fall For I / The Original Hippy Boys - Power Version

2009-10-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

The first I heard of Max Romeo was his 1976 War Ina Babylon album and its more militant style of reggae didn't really grab me. It wasn't until I started collecting singles and found some earlier Max Romeo singles that I started paying more attention to him. Romeo began his career with The Emotions in 1965 but they didn't release a single until 1967's "Buy You A Rainbow" on the Caltone label. They released a few other singles under the name on the Caltone label before Romeo was ready to step up to solo work.

Romeo's solo career began in 1968 working with Bunny Lee. Over the next few years he released a steady flow of singles with various producers such as Lee Perry, Vincent Chin, Joel Gibson, and Derrick Morgan who produced this one. He even released a number of full length LPs through the 70s and 80s. Needless to say, he's not a one hit wonder.

I really enjoy the a-side here, I only wish the record was a bit cleaner. The lyrics read almost like a prayer and the tune has a humbling sound throughout. Harmonies fill out the sound behind the scarce instrumentation and there are a few organ lines to boot. If you like this one, check out the previous Max Romeo post I did, "Rent Crisis."

Listen & download here:
A-side: Max Romeo - Let The Power Fall For I
B-side: The Original Hippy Boys - Power Version

If you like this one, check out Freddie McKay, Elpedo Burke, or more Max Romeo.

Junior Byles - Beat Down Babylon / The Upsetters - Ital Version

2009-10-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

Didn't realize this one was so noisy until it was done recording, but its still a great track.

I would this blog to eventually become very browse-able using the artists/record label links to the right, tabs at the bottom of the posts, and links within posts. I'd prefer to have a number of artists/labels that have multiple discs on here so you can here more than just 1 or 2 tunes from an artist if you like a certain disc. That being said, at least the next few will be from artists already represented here.

Listen & download here:
A-side: Junior Byles - Beat Down Babylon
B-side: The Upsetters - Ital Version

If you like this once, check out The Maytones, King Stitt & Andy Capp, or more Junior Byles.

Little Junior Parker - Dangerous Woman / Belinda Marie

2009-10-11T15:23:00.001-07:00

As with many of the artists on this blog, I found Junior Parker while digging through stacks of 45s. The previous Parker post I did was the first I'd heard of him, but I subsequently found a handful of singles of his. This is easily one of my favorites of Parker's, and entirely for the a-side.

These two tracks are from 1959, 4 years before "If You Don't Love Me" and "I Can't Forget About You" from the previous post. It's a powerful rocking blues and Junior Parker's voice is velvety smooth and without a hint of and littleness. Parker was in his late 20s by the time of this release and would drop the "little" prefix from his name in next few years.

I enjoy the very late 50s and early 60s rock as I feel some of the music illustrates a transition from some of the more orderly styles of the 50s to the raucous 60's rock with the likes of The Beatles. I feel that this a-side fits the trend nicely so enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Little Junior Parker - Dangerous Woman
B-side: Little Junior Parker - Belinda Marie

If you like this one, check out The Clovers, Roy Milton, and more Junior Parker

The Heptones & Lee Perry - I Shall Be Released / Version

2009-10-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

This is a remix of the "I Shall Be Released" that I previously posted by The Heptones. As you can see, this one was made with the notorious Lee Perry commanding the soundboard. I originally thought this was from the 80s, but it could very well be from the later 70s or even much more recent, I'm really not sure.

Perry adds his classic touch to the song, giving it a cloudy, pulsing, nearly dub feel. I haven't intently compared the two tracks, but I believe they contain the same vocal cut and many of the same instrument cuts. The b-side here is not the typical "version" of a song, in fact its an entirely different song altogether. It's an instrumental cut, something that Perry has mastered.

I really don't know too much about the origins of this disc. I am convinced that it is either a reissue or it is a very recent issue of a remix that was previously unreleased. And for anyone who's interested, I bought this one at the same time and place as this and this :).

Enjoy and please vote on which version of "I Shall Be Released" you like best!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Heptones & Lee Perry - I Shall Be Released
B-side: The Heptones & Lee Perry Allstars - I Shall Be Released (Version)

The Heptones - I Shall Be Released / Love Me Only

2009-10-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

I was originally going to upload another Justin Hinds & The Dominoes 7" this time but then I remembered I had this version of "I Shall Be Released" by The Heptones. I figured I may as well put it up to give another cover version way different than the cover in the previous post.

I also have a 7" of the remix of this Heptones version from the early 80s with some overdubbed instruments. I don't like it nearly as much as this version but I may put it up next just for the sake of completeness. Enjoy!

By the way, thanks for helping me reach 5000 hits with this post!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Heptones - I Shall Be Released
B-side: The Heptones - Love Me Only

If you like these two, try: The Melodians, Pat Kelly.

The Box Tops - I Shall Be Released / I Must Be The Devil

2009-09-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

If you aren't familiar with The Box Tops, they were a 60's pop/rock group best known for their widely covered single "The Letter." Two of my favorite covers of the song were done by Joe Cocker and Peter Tosh. This single is from 1969, two years after "The Letter."

The a-side is a cover of a Bob Dylan song that I particularly like which is one of the main reasons I bought this one. The Tops produced a good take on the song but the the more exciting track on this disc is found on the b-side. "I Must Be The Devil" is a 6/8 piano driven blues rhythm and is a much more aggressive song than the a-side. I also find it funny that the a-side's suggests a sort of religious faith and the b-side sings of the devil.

Enjoy!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Box Tops - I Shall Be Released
B-side: The Box Tops - I Must Be The Devil

If you like these two, try Jim Ford

The Music Specialists - Double Dynamite / Second Measure Of Pressure

2009-09-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

***Edit***

Big thanks to Prince Horror from Ba-Ba-Boom! for telling me the artist/track names for this 7". The entry below was written when I didn't know the artist. It's a treat to know the artists on great tunes like these. I hope my next posts with unknown artists will turn out as fruitful as this! Be sure to check out Prince Horror's blog here for more smoooooth reggae sounds.

Amongst the thousands of ska and rocksteady tunes released in the 60s were tons of instrumental tracks. Instrumentals by the big names such as The Skatalites, Tommy McCook, Augustos Pablo, and Jackie Mittoo could be very exciting and would attract many listeners. I generally favor vocal takes but some instrumental cuts can be great fun to listen to, so I figured its about time to get some on the blog.

The a-side on this one is a strong groove with a cutting lead organ that dominates the track for its length. The organ parts are mesmerizing and mighty funky. At times this track sounds like a straight up funk track. The b-side here is a little more somber with its piano lead. It carries a simple melody but the lazy rhythm with which the pianist plays adds a load of depth to the tune. I think I may favor the b-side instrumental out of the two, but they are both great.

Unfortunately, I have no clue who this is! It can be hard to figure out the artist on blank 7s, especially on instrumental cuts. Generally for blanks, some combination of the matrix number, the lyrics, and whether or not I recognize the artist/track helps me label the tracks correctly. For a two sided instrumental disc, I usually have to rely on just the matrix number entirely. The matrix for the a-side is FRM-737, but its etched really lightly so that may be incorrect. The b-side matrix is even more illegible, but looks like FRM-(?)3(?). The a-side has "Double Dynamite" written on the disc and the vocalist shouts that just before the song starts, but I can't find any tunes named "Double Dynamite." If anyone recognizes this tune or knows the artists, pleeeease help me out!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Music Specialists - Double Dynamite
B-side: The Music Specialists - Second Measure Of Pressure

If you like these two tracks, try: Phil Pratt All Stars, GG Allstars

Eric Morris - Penny Reel / Dotty & Clive Bonnie - Why Worry

2009-09-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

This one may look like a blank, but hidden on the a-side are remnants of an Island records label. This is the same Island that released the Jimmy Cliff track I previously posted, but a different label design (check here for a clean image). The Cliff one was WI-012, an early Island release from 1962 and 130 records later, this is WI-142 from 1964. Island released Jamaican records in England from as early as 1962 and today are a mega name with international distribution.

The a-side's "Penny Reel" is an exciting ska shot by Eric Morris, a prolific Jamaican vocalist. Morris first released with Blue Beat in 1961 and has worked with all of the big names in the early business. This one was produced by Duke Reid and the trumpet on the track was provided by Baba Brooks, a popular musician of the time.

This link that I posted above shows the artist for the b-side to be Duke Reid's Group. The b-side for this disc is also credited to Duke Reid's Group but most certainly isn't the same group. Roots Knotty Roots lists the artist as Dotty & Clive Bonnie, who released a number of hits in Jamaica, so I've labeled the track appropriately.

The b-side is a ska ballad. Early ska was influenced from US r&b 7"s that crossed the gulf to Jamaica and these sort of tunes were the result. I find that a handful of these are genuinely exciting and sometimes inspired, but some fall short. This one falls somewhere in between, so it's a good track, but the a-side is the real gem to this one!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Eric Morris - Penny Reel
B-side: Dotty & Clive Bonnie - Why Worry

If you like the a-side, try: Jack Sparrow & The Wailers, Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
If you like the b-side, try: Keith & Enid, The Jiving Juniors

Dyke & The Blazers - Shotgun Slim / We Got More Soul

2009-09-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

Listen & download here:
A-side: Dyke & The Blazers - Shotgun Slim
B-side: Dyke & The Blazers - We Got More Soul

The Techniques - I'm In The Mood For Love / There Comes A Time

2009-09-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Techniques were formed in the early 60's and had their first Jamaican success in 1965 with producer Duke Reid, head of the mega-label Treasure Isle. The earliest lineup had the famed Slim Smith on vocals but by the time of this release, 1968, Pat Kelly had joined to fill the gap left when Smith departed in 66. Both the singers utilize powerful falsetto which is a sound that defined The Techniques through the 60s.

As I've touched on in previous reggae postings, the formative years of reggae music were full of innovation. The progression from mento/folk/calypso to ska to rocksteady and on to full blown reggae is exciting to trace. It's almost as though just from listening to a tune from the 60s, you can decipher tts specific year by the track's sound and style. For me, this sound fits nicely in 68' and '69, two of my favorite years in reggae music.

Both of these tracks are great rocksteady scorchers. Pat Kelly is flawless through both and the harmonies add even more soulful depth. You absolutely can't miss this disc!

Listen & download here:
A-side: The Techniques - I'm In The Mood For Love
B-side: The Techniques - There Comes A Time

Peter Tosh & The Wailers - The Mark Of The Beast / Version

2009-08-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

My reggae obsession began after I first heard the early Wailers Studio One singles on a compilation. They recorded an immense number of singles in Jamaica during the 60s prior to their full lengths gaining international success. Including the solo careers of Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, this makes for a seemingly endless catalog of Wailers music. I particularly like the Wailers cuts with Tosh on vocals and I hadn't even heard of this one before it came in the mail.

Tosh self produced this one in 1973 at Treausre Isle studios, where he would go onto record his internationally famous debut Legalize It 3 years later. Here, he showcases his cutting voice while the band and Bunny Wailer's harmonies hold true Wailers form. All Wailers tracks are worth checking out and this one is no exception so check it out!

Listen & download here:
A-side: Peter Tosh & The Wailers - The Mark Of The Beast
B-side: Peter Tosh & The Wailers - Version

Jimmy Cliff - Dearest Beverley / Hurricane Hatty

2009-08-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Listen & download here:
A-side: Jimmy Cliff - Dearest Beverley
B-side: Jimmy Cliff - Hurricane Hatty

James Brown & The Famous Flames - I've Got The Feelin' / If I Ruled The World

2009-08-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Killer a-side, but a noisy b-side... enjoy it!

Listen & download here:
A-side: James Brown & The Famous Flames - I've Got The Feelin'
B-side: James Brown & The Famous Flames - If I Ruled The World