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Hopeton Lewis, Lynn Taitt, Jets - Everybody Rocking / Lynn Taitt, Jets - Rocking Mood
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
N/A
A fantastic Rocksteady song by Hopeton Lewis. At that time, the song come out as a 7inch single and became a hard-to-find record. Featuring previously unreleased horn instrumental track on the B-side.
Renegades - Knocking On My Door / Hopeton Lewis - Pick Yourself Up
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
N/A
The Renegades consisted of Winston 'Pipe' Matthews, Lloyd 'Bread' McDonald and George 'Buddy' Haye and later became a group called the Wailing Souls. ‘Knocking On My Door’ is one of their earliest Rocksteady works and it was originally released in 1966. It is also one of the rarest records hardly ever found. The record features previously unreleased Ska vocal recording ' Pick Youreself Up' by Hopeton Lewis from the original master tape.
Hopeton Lewis - Don't Cry / A De Pon Dem
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
N/A
Hopeton Lewis’ vocal matches perfectly with alto sax, which you hear backing ‘Don’t Cry’. In addition to this minor-coded love song, the flipside features another rough and tough Rocksteady hit.
Tartans - I'm Ready / Rolling Rolling
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$8.86)
A debut song by Tartans, the group consisted of Prince Lincoln, Cedric Myton, Devon Russell and Berg Lewis. Beautiful Rocksteady songs on both sides. Interestingly, the master tape was credited under the name of “Eufhonies” instead of Tartans.
Henry Buckley - Thank You Girl / Take Me Back
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$8.86)
Originally released in 1966 and reissued with same songs on both sides for the first time. This love song simply symbolizes fine style of the Merritone recordings.
Hopeton Lewis - Rock A Shacka / I Don't Want Trouble
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$8.86)
Those rare songs did not appear Hopeton Lewis’s classic Rocksteady album Take It Easy. ‘Rock A Shacka’ is truly a Rocksteady classic of all times. It’s a must item for all Rocksteady fans. With his dearest hope, he calmly sings ‘I don’t want no trouble now, no no no. I just can’t take troubles now, no no no. So let’s together in unity, let’s togther in prosperity’ backed by version accompanying heavy bass.
Minstrels, Lynn Taitt, Jets - Hey There Lonely Girls / Hey There Lonely Girls (Acappella)
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
A very rare and beautiful Rocksteady tune that collectors are after for many years. The Minstrels released mere amount of records but all of them were top-notch recordings. This 1967 released powerful ‘Hey There Lonely Girl’ is crucial for every Rocksteady fans. Acappella version of the song is included on the B-side.
Cables - What Kind Of World / Lester Sterling, Skatalites - Peace And Love (Original Stamper)
Studio One 1968/ 1965
N/A
Man Kind / Digikiller / Deeper Knowledge US
N/A
"Them a Hustler" is on a killer one-away digital riddim, which utilises the sleng teng bassline, yet stands alone. "
Ernest Ranglin, Selected Group - Free Form / Skalvouvia
Kentone / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
N/A
One of the most rare double A-sided singles recorded under direction of Ernest Ranglin, who was the musical director of Federal Recording Studio at the time. While this jazzy instrumental features superbsolos by trumpet and alto saxophone, Ernie leads this minor track from beginning to end and showcases his mighty guitar playing. On the flipside, remarkable solos by trumpet and alto saxophone are again featured on the bright mid-tempo track. The original 7inch format is almost impossible to find. These recordings are simply elegant Ska Instrumentals.
Roland Alphonso - Stranger For Durango / Sounds Of Silence
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
N/A
'Stranger For Durango is a bright instrumental performed by Roland Alphonso. Ska/Rocksteady lover's delight! The song also features remarkable solo on keyboard. The musician remakes Simon & Garfunkle's 'Sound of Silence' in a graceful Rocksteady style. Those recordings were originally released in 1966 and reissued from the original master tape.
Admiral Tibet - Running From Reality / Running From Reality Version
Jammys / Dub Store Records JPN 1988
N/A
Admiral Tibet maintained himself as one of forefront cultural singers during the 80’s and the early 90’s. He consciously warns his girl friend about their love relationship with his melodious lyrics. “May be, Might be, Could it be, Girl you are running from reality”
Barrington Levy - Come; Dub / During Making Love; Dub
Jah Life / Bond Export / Deeper Knowledge US
N/A
This twelve-inch from Mr. Levy is some bad bad mid '80s Barrington on one of the most killer licks of the 'revolution' (aka 'black roses'/'here I come') riddim…always hard to find! Two different mixes on this 12", vocal & dub on each side.
Carlton Livingston - Itch It Up Operator / Western Kingston Dub
Dub Irator / Bond Export / Deeper Knowledge /
¥1180 (US$7.58)
arlton Livingston's "Itch It Up Operator" is a heavy sound man tune, never widely available on single. The B-side dub on this one is a wild previously unreleased dubplate mix!
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.
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.
Tartans - Dance All Night / What Can I Do
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$8.86)
‘Dance All Night’ is a hit song released by the Tartans, a Rocksteady legendary group that consisted of Prince Lincoln, Cedric Myton, Devon Russell and Lindberg Lewis, in 1966. Emphasized on double basses and piano, the song was made to praise sound system dances and it became one of the good old Rocksteady anthems of the Rude Boy era. On the B-side, the group sings ‘What I can do to save your life’ and warns rude boys for their action.
Hopeton Lewis - Cool Collie / This Poor Boy
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
N/A
Originally released in 1966, 'Cool Collie' is sometimes considered as one of the first Rocksteady recordings. With hard hit paformance by the back band, Hepetone Lewis sings to free Ganja which is the one of the essential elements of Jamaican music tradition.B-side, Mr. Rocksteady performs a bitter love song in a minor key.
Jah Works Sound System (Oga) - Feel Jah Love Volume 2: Roots, Culture & Lovers Mix
Jah Works JPN 2012
¥1296 (US$8.33)
Pad Anthony - Murderer / Tullo T - None Ah Dat
Jammys / Dub Store Records JPN 1987
N/A
King Jammy recorded two outstanding songs on the foundation ‘Heavenless’ rhythm among many others. Although Pad Anthony’s ‘Murderer’ is perhaps the most well known soundclash standard, Tullo T aka Papa Tullo showcased his conscious lyrics with fast-rapping style on the same rhythm.