|
Dennis Brown - Silhouettes / Augustus Pablo, Crystalites - Bass & Drum Version
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1972
N/A
'Silhouettes' is one of Dennis Brown's earliest recordings and a good old Reggae hit. The flip side features Augustus Pablo's melodica cut to the A-side. This peaceful piece proves that the early sound of King Tubby is the greatest of all.
Augustus Pablo - Bedroom Mazurka / Scotty - Children Children
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1973/ 1970
¥1380 (US$8.92)
On Keith & Tex' classic tune 'Tonight,' Augustus Pablo's melodica echoes along the entire track mysteriously, while the fascinating female vocalist Fay quotes breathy lines from the popular German soft porn film Bedroom Mazurka. The flip side features Scotty's DJ version to 'Tonight.'
Augustus Pablo - Bells Of Death / Scotty - Sesame Street
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1972/ 1970
N/A
Another popular tune in Harriott's production, performed by melodica wizard Augustus Pablo. Although this is another movie theme, this piece is a straight and great instrumental version of a Rocksteady classic, featuring melodica and bongo percussion. Scotty's wicked deejay appears on the B-side again.
Derrick Harriott - Let Me Down Easy / Crystal Generation - Hell Below
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1972
N/A
A classic Reggae Soul tune by Derrick Harriott is now reissued in an extended version which is connected to a tender dub afterword. The B-side features a unique and mysterious Funky Reggae instrumental by Crystal Generation, the special unit by Crystalites and Now Generation, which gave a taste of the new wave of Reggae that would arrive later in the decade.
Hopeton Lewis - Take It Easy With The Rock Steady Beat
N/A
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.
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.
Scotty - Draw Your Brakes / Worry
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1971
N/A
The main DJ of Harriott's production, Scotty, skillfully handles Keith & Tex' Rocksteady classic 'Stop That Train'. This is one of the most popular piece of music in Harriott's production. The flip side is available for the first time on vinyl that features Scotty's DJ cut to Derrick Harriott's moving ‘Do I Worry' track.
Keith & Tex - Tonight / Lynn Taitt, Desmond Miles Seven - You've Caught Me
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
A star duo at the Harriott’s production, Keith & Tex’s‘Tonight’is also the everlasting masterpiece in the history of Reggae music. There were many essential songs in his production from 1967 to 68 but‘Tonight’is obviously the most indispensable one. Lynn Tait plays a beautiful instrumental version to Melodians’ hit ‘You’ve Caught Me’ on the flip side. Reissued with these original recordings on both sides.
Keith & Tex - Hypnotizing Eyes / Down The Street
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
N/A
By Keith & Tex, a vocal duo who represented Derrick Harriott's production, 「Hypnotizing Eyes」 was a hugely popular tune released at the end of Rocksteady era. The B-side,「Down The Street」was a pioneering sound of up-tempo Reggae that became the major style in 1969. From 1968 to 69, they recorded enough songs to make an album and amazingly all of them were top-notch. Re-issued original songs on both sides.
Derrick Harriott - Loser / Derrick Harriott, Bobby Ellis, Desmond Miles Seven - Now We Know
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
‘The Loser’is gloriously considered as one of the most significant songs as well as rhythm tracks in the history of Reggae music. Also entitled as‘The Winner’, the song is easily adapted to sound system dubplates. Talking about the genre of Rocksteady, this song cannot be ignored.‘Now We Know’on the flip side is to be released on 7 inch single for the first time ever.
Ramon, Crystalites - Golden Chickens / Bongo Herman, Les - Hail I
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1970
¥1380 (US$8.92)
Minor chorded and wicked organ instrumentals by Crystalites. It is worth to be mentioned that in this song, listeners can experience the rare toasting of Ramon The Mexican who was the resident deejay at Harriott's Musical Chariot Sound System and later changed his name to Ambelique. Both sides are the two of the best Early Reggae tunes.
Dennis Brown - Lips Of Wine / Crystalites - Stranger In Town
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1970
¥1380 (US$8.92)
Being known as Crown Prince of Reggae, this is Dennis Brown's commemorated first single and it was written and composed by Dennis himself. This is, of course, before he started recording at Studio One and is one of his best heartwarming songs. Crystalites' killer keyboard instrumental is featured on B-side and has been admired to listeners who have great appreciation for 1969-70’s up-tempo instrumentals.
Derrick Harriott - Message From A Black Man / Message From A Black Man (Miss Credit)
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1970
¥1980 (US$12.79)
American Civil Rights Movement hit Jamaica in late 60's and this tune is undoubtedly one of the best Funky Reggae tunes produced by Derrick Harriott. It is the best example of how Derrick was influenced by the Black Power Movement. B-side features a great Funky Reggae Soul performed by Chosen Few. From that time, Derrick started establishing a genre called "Reggae Soul."
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.
Derrick Harriott - Do I Worry / Bobby Ellis, Crystalites - Shuntin
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
N/A
‘Do I Worry’is as important Rocksteady tune as Derrick Harriott’s other hit‘The Loser’in his vast catalog. The B-side features powerful horn blow and Bobby Ellis’ trumpet solo is nicely done. Reissued with these original recordings on both sides.
Keith & Tex - Run To The Rocks / Let Me Be The One (This Is My Song)
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1969
N/A
Originally released on 1969 by Keith & Tex, who were the favorite duo in Rocksteady era, this up-tempo tune introduced the beginning of Reggae's new style. This duo never disappointed everybody's expectation by their high quality tunes. Re-issued original songs on both sides.
Karl Bryan, Crystalites - Slippery / Crystalites - Tonight
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1969/ 1970
¥1980 (US$12.79)
'Slippery' is a beautifully arranged minor-chorded sax cut to Harriott production's classic rhythm, "Tonight." B-side is a piano instrumental version to the flip side.
Chosen Few - People Make The World Go Round / Derrick Harriott - Brown Baby
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1972/ 1973
N/A
One of the best cover versions of a Philadelphia Soul classic, "People Makes The World Go Round" is performed by Chosen Few, who were idolizing The Stylistics so much. The flip side “Brown Baby" is another Funky Reggae vocal sang by the producer Derrick Harriott himself
Count Owen & His Calypsonians - Calypsos Down Jamaica Way
N/A
Crucial recordings of the multifaceted Jamaican Music from the early 1960's. Funny and sharp, with the catchiest tunes – foundation music to move your feet!
Ernest Ranglin - Mod Mod Ranglin
N/A
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 picked one of 10 pieces of the most important album of Reggae history.
Derrick Harriott - Reach Out I'll Be There / Bobby Ellis, Crystalites - Illya Kuryakin
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
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.
Junior Soul - Glendevon Special / Magic Touch
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
N/A
As Junior Soul, Junior Murvin recorded definitely the greatest Rocksteady tune,「Glendevon Special」 on early days of his recording career. This tune is also unique among Derrick Harriott's catalog and it proves how wide varieties his production was. This song is rare that many collectors have been looking for years.
Chosen Few - I'm Sorry / Melting Pot
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1970
Info: Adapted
N/A
"I’m Sorry" is one of the loveliest tunes by Chosen Few, the group consisting of Noel Brown, Richard McDonald and Federals, who were the Soul songs covering experts at the time. The flip side "Melting Pot" is another great Reggae Soul by Chosen Few. This record is a rare piece and a popular item amongst record collectors.
Toots & The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number / Pressure Drop (Off Center)
Beverleys UK 1969
¥2180 (US$14.09)
Dub Store Records JPN 1964- 1965
N/A
Missing masterpieces of the original Jamaican Ska. Recorded at the Federal Studio between 1964 to 1965 and released on Ken Khouri's Kentone label.
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.