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Hopeton Lewis - Take It Easy With The Rock Steady Beat
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A fundamental album released in 1966 that determined the way Rocksteady was going to journey. In 1966, Rude Boys were at the peak of the fame with their notorious behaviors, while Ska gradually started to slow down its tempo. This album paved the way for a newborn music, Rocksteady, with rather slower and tighter rhythm approach. This album should be considered as one of the ten most important albums in Reggae history. The descent from Ska, which had its derivation from Jazz or Rhythm and Blues, to Rocksteady, with its various potential elements which would be passed to the next decade of Reggae, has been allegedly created in this album with Trinidadian guitarist Lynn Taitt and his band The Jets as the backing band. Entitled “Take It Easy With The Rock Steady Beat!”, most of the tunes featured in this album were written for praising dancehall as if he’d have known this genre was going to rule the dance floors. Among the tunes in this album, “This Music Got Soul” was the coolest of all and called out the dawn of the Rocksteady era. This tune had a huge influence on the future developments of Reggae music.
Dub Store Records JPN 1964- 1965
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Missing masterpieces of the original Jamaican Ska. Recorded at the Federal Studio between 1964 to 1965 and released on Ken Khouri's Kentone label.
Ernest Ranglin - Guitar In Ernest
Info: ライナーノーツ付
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Internationally acclaimed guitarist Ernest Ranglin with piano genius Leslie Butler in a dazzling quartet. Recorded in 1965.
Ernest Ranglin - Mr. Ranglin With Soul
¥3680 (US$23.66)
Unlike all the other musicians in those days, Ranglin was not allowed to go between studios to record and release music as he wished because he was an exclusive employee of the Federal records. Thus it’s really hard to find a Rocksteady record with his name on it. Although whenever he finds a spare time, he would go to Duke Reid’s studio and play the guitar and bass as a sideman, often playing sessions with Lynn Taitt. According to Ranglin himself, “I felt really comfortable being at Duke Reid’s studio”, though sadly there have not been a single release of his solo guitar tune which was recorded there. So here comes the album, it’s the rare Rocksteady instrumentals by the man himself. Some of the main features would be “Summertime”, “Flamingo” and “Hold Me Tight”, the wickedest selection of the moist Rocksteady that will certainly catch your heart. Other than that, it’s got an exotic intro and uptempo “Sling Shot”, relatively arranged towards pop direction “Don’t Sleep In the Subway” and some ballads to represent the Federal’s widely ranged style that won’t go off after a long time, exactly how this one of the biggest leading labels in Jamaica had thought of. This may not make Rude Boys in downtown growl, although it will clearly last eternally as Ranglin’s 60s best album to the future generations.
Leslie Butler - We've Only Just Begun
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Because of his superior talent and intense personality, one of the most ingenious pianists Leslie Butler had a lack of releases, however he was given an exceptional chance by the Federal Records to record this one of the most peculiar albums in the history of Jamaican music. This beautifully finished Jamaican Jazz Funk/Rare Groove album is mostly constructed with the traditional covers that all Jamaicans will know although with the wonderful arrangement, and very Jamaican, ensemble stripping aesthetics give the album a whole new character that can’t be heard elsewhere.This masterpiece should make it to the shelves of not only reggae fans but soul and jazz fans as well. Leslie always committed on making a serious piece of music - never liked to make either of Jamaican popular music or business-like commercial music. He had a strong belief of not letting others to control his talent. Therefore there were often conflicts between him and producers or he was not even given a chance to record anything at all. It’s a really sad story, but this unfortunate musician’s lifestyle can be heard on the recordings such as “Guitar In Ernest – Ernest Ranglin (DSR-LP / CD-501)” and “Reggae Rhapsody – Leslie Butler (DSR-FEDS12-001).” Perhaps with this album in addition, it might be all enough.
Winston Edwards, Dennis Bovell (Blackbread) - Dub Conference At 10 Downing Street
Studio 16 UK 1978
¥3480 (US$22.37)
Kiddus I - Rockers: Graduation In Zion 1978-1980 (2LP)
Dub Store Records JPN 1978- 1980
Info: 2枚組、豪華見開きジャケット、帯付き、ライナーノーツ付
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Various - Rhythm 2 Rhythm Volume 1: Sleng Teng And Duck Dance
Black Arrow UK / Jammys 1985- 1990
Sleng Teng B: Duck
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Voice Of Progress (Junior Reid, Sammy Tracy, Terry McDermott) - Mini Bus Driver
Negus Roots UK 1981
¥4980 (US$32.02)
Bullwackie, Chosen Brothers - I'll Be Good (Japanese Press)
Alpha Enterprise JPN (Org) 1989
帯付き、ライナーノーツ付 Info: Original Press
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