|
Don Henry, Lynn Taitt, Jets - As Long As I Live / Pulus - Sow To Reap
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967/ 1966
N/A
Henry Buckley, who was also a Rocksteady star of the Federal in addition to Hopeton Lewis, released this up-tempo song 'As Long As I Live' in 1968. Remarkably, Judy Mowatt's the Gaylettes backed this song. 'Sow To Reap' was originally released on the B-side of Roland Alphonso's 'How Soon' in 1966 on Federal label. Reissued from the original master tape.
Gaylettes, Lynn Taitt, Jets - Silent River Runs Deep / I Like Your World
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
N/A
Judy Mowatt used to form a group called the Gaylettes in her early career although she is known for touring all over the world as a member of I Threes and the Wailers. 'Silent River Runs Deep' is the most known song and a hit for the group. 'I Like Your World' was also originally released on the A-side of another record released on Merritone label. Those recordings of this double A-sided single are certainly great enduring female Rocksteady songs of all time.
Tartans - Real Gone Sweet / It's Not Right
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥1980 (US$13.18)
This vocal group called the Tartans was indeed a Rocksteady dream group that consisted of Prince Lincoln, Cedric Myton, Devon Russell and Berg Lewis. The veterans worked on this fine love song ‘Real Gone Sweet’ in their early career. Their energetic performance can be fully heard on their sweet harmonies.
Joe Higgs, Lynn Taitt, Jets - You Hurt My Soul / Lynn Taitt, Jets - Why Am I Treated So Bad?
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥1980 (US$13.18)
Joe Higgs was a mentor for many young artists and taught them how to sing as well as about the recording industry. Many followed and learned his lessens and passed it on to coming generations. ‘You Hurt My Soul’ is one of his early recordings with his distinctive singing style. Side B is Merritone cut to the classic reggae instrumental ‘Bad Treatment’. The recordings were released in 1968 and reissued from the original master tape.
Hopeton Lewis, Merritone All Stars - Let Me Come On Home / Hardships Of Life
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
N/A
Leslie Butler's Jazz approach, which can be heard in the beginning, obviously secures elegance of 'Let Me Come On Home'. Hopeton Lewis also sings sufferer's song on the flipside. Both side are taken straight from the original master tape for this reissue.
Cables - What Kind Of World / Lester Sterling, Skatalites - Peace And Love (Original Stamper)
Studio One 1968/ 1965
N/A
Tomorrow's Children - Bang Bang Rock Steady / Rain (Rock Steady)
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
Tomorrow's Children were probably favored by uptown youths rather than downtown Rudies because of their funky, hard hitting sounds and lyrics. With those elements, they successfully created own killer style, which can be undoubtedly heard with ‘Bang Bang Rock Steady'. The group also versioned the Beatles' 'Rain' in fine Rocksteady style. The original record was released in 1967.
Ghost - Breathless / Ghost, Nitty Kuchie - Girls Is Mine
Monster Shack US / 24x7 Records JPN 2010
N/A
Zodiacs - Walk On By / Royals (Merritone Singers) - House Upon The Hill
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
This is a Rocksteady cut of the Zodiacs' 'Walk On By' released in 1967. They recorded the original Ska cut at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle. Rare Rocksteady classic with beautiful harmonies on a profound rhythm. On the B-side, this previously unreleased material 'House Upon The Hill' features an unknown vocal group called Merritone singers.
Lynn Taitt, Jets - Bat Man / Joker
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
N/A
Lynn Taitt remakes theme songs from the movie "Batman" in killer Rocksteady style. Those cheerful instrumentals, which well represent the distinctive sound of Marritone label, were originally released in 1968.
Renegades - Mr. Hops / Oswald Sewell - Oh My Love
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$9.18)
The Renegades consisted of Winston 'Pipe' Matthews, Lloyd 'Bread' McDonald and George 'Buddy' Haye and later became a group called the Wailing Souls. Definitely, ‘Mr. Hops’ is the most powerful Rocksteady vocal song among the whole Merritone catalogue. Originally released in 1966 and one of the rarest records you could never find. This record also features previously unreleased Ska vocal recording 'Oh My Love' from the original master tape.
Phyllis Dillon - One Life To Live / Tommy McCook - My Best Dress
Treasure Isle 1969
B: My Best Girl
N/A
Terry Linen - Couldn't Be The Girl For Me / Danny Brownie, Dean Fraser - Girl For Me
Raggedy Joe 2003
N/A
Skatalites - Black Joe (Coloured Vinyl) / Lord Creator - Passing Through
Randys US 1965
¥1980 (US$13.18)
Lukie D - Break Up To Make Up / Wayne Lyrics, Comfort - Party Nite
Supatech UK 2006
Info: Adapted
N/A
Renegades - Big And Fine / Oswald Sewell - Where Can He Go
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$9.18)
The Renegades showcase one of their valuable early works to perfection. 'Big And Fine' was originally released 1966 and collectors would say the record is one of the most sought after records by the group. It also features Oswald Sewell 's previously unreleased Ska vocal material 'Oh My Love' from the original master tape on the B-side.
Jam Rock / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US 1987
N/A
From 1987, a piece of one-away digital fire, "Serious Thing" by Suru Board. Originally released on Tuff Gong studio's 56 Hope Road label, and produced by Tuff Gong mainstay and Jam Rock label boss Denzel Bowford, alongside the late Wailers' associate Trevor Bow. This is prime digital reggae, a scorching riddim with killer synths, and fantastic vocal from the young Suru Board (please note, the spelling of "Surn" Board on the original label was a typo!) Like the lyrics say, "serious mi serious, and me nah mek no joke!", serious digital reggae, deservedly available again.
Henry Buckley - Beware Of All Those Rude Boys / If I Am Right
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1980 (US$13.18)
Merritone label endorsed Henry Buckley as a star singer of the label during the Rocksteady period. He sings "Beware of all those rude boys going around with their guns, spoiling everybody's fun" to warn behaviors of Rude Boys. It seems Rudies were everywhere when the song was released in 1966. He also showcases his conscious lyrics with song ‘If I Am Right’. The artist tried to deliver profound messages to youths. Those recordings were taken straight from the original master tape for the reissue.
Ethiopians - You Got To Be Clean / Miss Nora
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$9.18)
Previously unreleased material from the original master tape. Ethiopians recorded a couple of songs for Merritone label in 1976. During this proto-reggae/roots period, they surprisingly recorded this roots song ‘You Got To Be Clean’ with lyrics referring to “Zion” in 1966. Side B is a love song that expresses sentimental feelings of a boy who fail in love with a girl.
Prince Alla, Explosions - Solid Locks / Mighty Massa, Explosions - Soild Locks Dub
Explosions JPN 2011
N/A