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Gaylettes, Lynn Taitt, Jets - Silent River Runs Deep / I Like Your World
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
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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.
Don Henry, Lynn Taitt, Jets - As Long As I Live / Pulus - Sow To Reap
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967/ 1966
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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.
Tartans - Real Gone Sweet / It's Not Right
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥1980 (US$12.73)
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$12.73)
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
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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.
Ghost - Breathless / Ghost, Nitty Kuchie - Girls Is Mine
Monster Shack US / 24x7 Records JPN 2010
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Tomorrow's Children - Bang Bang Rock Steady / Rain (Rock Steady)
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
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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.
Cables - What Kind Of World / Lester Sterling, Skatalites - Peace And Love (Original Stamper)
Studio One 1968/ 1965
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Phyllis Dillon - One Life To Live / Tommy McCook - My Best Dress
Treasure Isle 1969
B: My Best Girl
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Zodiacs - Walk On By / Royals (Merritone Singers) - House Upon The Hill
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
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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
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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.
Terry Linen - Couldn't Be The Girl For Me / Danny Brownie, Dean Fraser - Girl For Me
Raggedy Joe 2003
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Skatalites - Black Joe (Coloured Vinyl) / Lord Creator - Passing Through
Randys US 1965
¥1980 (US$12.73)
Mr. Vegas, Shaggy, Josey Wales - Sweet Jamaica (Remix) / Mr. Vegas - Sweet Jamaica
Clifford Ray 2011
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George Nooks - Working My Way Back To You (Slight Edge Warp) / Professionals - Dubbing My Way Back To You
Globe International / Mixing Lab 1980
¥600 ¥299 (US$1.92)
Lukie D - Break Up To Make Up / Wayne Lyrics, Comfort - Party Nite
Supatech UK 2006
Info: Adapted
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Renegades - Mr. Hops / Oswald Sewell - Oh My Love
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$8.87)
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.
Roland Alphonso - Sai Pan / Black Brothers - Born To Rule
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$8.87)
This deep Ska instrumental 'Sai Pan' features a beautiful solo by Roland Alphonso. The most sought after record of Merritone Ska and a crucial for all Ska lovers. On the flipside, the record features a mid-tempo Rude Boy Ska anthem 'Born To Rule' by Black Brothers, the song was taken straight from the original master tape for this reissue. Another hard to find record released in 1966.
Ethiopians - You Got To Be Clean / Miss Nora
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$8.87)
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.
Conroy Smith - Love Affair / Love Affair Version
Jammys / Dub Store Records JPN 1987
¥1280 (US$8.23)
From its heart-shaking intro, Conroy Smith’s fresh and piercing voice echo to deliver an intense song ‘Love Affair’. Considerably, the song is known for popularity within the Jammys catalogue. Recorded to the same rhythm track ‘In Thing’ by Wayne Smith.
Josey Wales - Water Come A Mi Eye / Admiral Bailey - Mi Ah The Danger
Jammys / Dub Store Records JPN 1987
¥1680 (US$10.80)
Josey Wales ‘s ‘Water Come A Mi Eye’ on another Jammy’s popular rhythm ‘Love Punaany Bad’ starts with a flight attendant (Josey himself) welcoming boarding people to New York. He drops his tears as he experiences hard times in New York. Although Admiral Bailey is well known for his massive hit ‘Punanny’ at the Jammys and lyrical content, the deejay bring a rough badman anthem with ‘Me A The Danger’ this time.
Prince Alla, Explosions - Solid Locks / Mighty Massa, Explosions - Soild Locks Dub
Explosions JPN 2011
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