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Bobby Ellis, Desmond Miles Seven - Step Softly / Derrick Harriott - Walk The Streets
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
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Another enduring Rocksteady instrumental masterpiece by Bobby Ellis and Derrick Harriott’s timeless love song echoes sweet and bitter. Cool and dark ‘Step Softly’ is one of the most signature songs for Bobby Ellis and the greatest Rocksteady instrumental of all. The flip side is a best example of Harriott’s distinctive sound in Rocksteady era. The set of recordings are now reissued with original songs on both side.
Keith & Tex - Stop That Train / Bobby Ellis, Jets - Feeling Peckish
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
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Without any explanation, ‘Stop That Train’ by Keith & Tex is a true Rocksteady classic of all times. The song stands tall in Reggae music history and a biggest hit among Derrick Harriott’s catalogue. Side B features Memphis Soul Rocksteady instrumental, just like a trendy song from Stax Records. Now reissued for the first time with these original recordings on both sides.
Derrick Harriott - Solomon / Bobby Ellis, Jets - Emperor
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
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Derrick Harriott’s original cut to sound system foundation rhythm ‘Solomon’. Derrick sings comically about Solomon, who was given wisdom amongst of all mankind from God in the Old Testament: “Solomon was the wisest man but he didn't know the secrets of? a woman” The hit rhythm has been versioned many times over last four decades. On side B, there is a nice & cool horn instrumental entitled ‘The Emperor’ by Bobby Ellis, its title might imply Derrick Harriott productions had a good taste in music at that time.
Derrick Harriott - Reach Out I'll Be There / Bobby Ellis, Crystalites - Illya Kuryakin
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1980 (US$13.08)
Derrick Harriott versions a Motown hit ‘Reach Out I Will Be There’. His killer version is a dancehall shaker and many might has been searching for this rare vinyl records as an essential for DJ selection. The Four Tops originally released the song in the mid 60’s. The mid-tempo organ instrumental ‘Illya Kuryakin’ feartures Ike Bennet’s powerful organ solo on the filpside.
Derrick Harriott - Do The Jerk / Derrick Harriott, Paulette - Dance Romeo
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1965/ 1962
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This reissue features a cool vocal Ska song from 1964 and Jamaican Soul song by boy and girl duo recorded in 1962. Amount of releases was not so remarkable for Derrick Harriott in the Ska era, which could be said as a blank period of his career but despite of the fact, this is simply an authentic and cool minor code dance anthem. The flip side features an excellent Soul duet that was an unusual set at the time. This hot dance number was played in early days of sound systems.
Cables - What Kind Of World / Lester Sterling, Skatalites - Peace And Love (Original Stamper)
Studio One 1968/ 1965
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Jah Life / Bond Export / Deeper Knowledge US 1988
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"Come Down" was made in the same sessions as Kong's massive "He Was a Friend" (reissued by DKR a while back on 12", and still available!), and never released until now. Pure uptempo digital fire!
Ben Harper, Skatalites - Be My Guest / Toots & The Maytals - I Want You To Know
Imperial US 2012
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Hopeton Lewis - Cool Collie / This Poor Boy
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
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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.
Flick Wilson - Ready Fe Dem / Ready Fe Dub
Jah Life / Bond Export / Deeper Knowledge US 1984
¥1380 (US$9.12)
A massive unreleased tune from Flick Wilson, cut at Channel 1 around 1984. The backing band sounds a lot like the Gifted Roots Band who were resident at Channel 1 around this time. We are big fans of Flick and feel he was really under-recorded, so unearthing this gem was a pleasure, killer vocal and a rock-hard riddim.