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Don Drummond - Don D Special / Fidel
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
¥2080 (US$13.73)
The miraculous take of 'Fidel' which never came out back then! This is one of the most killer yet wonderfully tasteful masterpiece out of all the Don Drummond recordings. You wouldn’t call them fans if they didn’t know about ‘Fidel’, however this particular version has only been released on CD in the 90’s when Sir Coxsone compiled the “In Memory Of Don Drummond”. The monumental piece with the well deserved name, ‘Don D Special’ on the flip.
Liberation Group - Namibia (Original Stamper) / Jay Tees - Buck Town Corner
Studio One 1977
B: Foggy Road
N/A
Charlie Organaire - Bad Boy Charlie / Soul Brothers - Thunderball
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2080 (US$13.73)
Double A-sided 7” featuring a killer Ska inst. From Jamaican harmonica virtuoso and Soul Brother’s killer horn Ska instrumental! One of the Studio One titles that the collectors have been looking everywhere to get hold of. Featuring no other than Rude Boy Charlie although it was stated as Bad Boy Charlie on the master-tape. An extremely rare take of Thunderball arranged by Jackie Mittoo on the flip side.
Roland Alphonso - Ska Culation / Jack Sparrow - Ice Water
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$14.39)
The Skatalites’ killer shot interpretation of the world’s famous electric guitar inst, and the fully carnival-mode Ska played by a luxurious bunch of musicians. Originally played by the American electric guitar band, this is the proof of how Jamaicans won’t miss no trends. Guaranteed killer up-tempo Ska! Identical to the originals on flip by Jack Sparrow later known as Leonard Dillon of the Ethiopians, this praiseworthy piece features the Wailers on the backing vocal.
Soul Vendors - Last Waltz / Hamlins - Sentimental Reason
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.39)
The Soul Vendors’ horn inst cover of a mellow Latin tune, backed with the authentic Studio One Rocksteady masterpiece. This gorgeous horn inst Rocksteady features a superb arrangement from King Cannon a.k.a. Carl ‘Cannonball’ Bryan and Roland Alphonso. Like the originals on the other side here comes the one that Island was certainly familiar with back then, the Nat King Cole’s excellent vocal cover from the Hamlins.
Bassies - Checking Out (Original Stamper) / Derrick Morgan - Darling You Are Mine
Studio One 1966/ 67
N/A
Derrick Harriott - Some Guys Have All The Luck / Kim Harriott - Just Want To Be Your Joy
Crystal / Wild Flower / Dub Store Records JPN 1974/ 1975
¥2180 (US$14.39)
It is an obvious fact that Dreadlocks culture was the trend of the time when this tune was released, but how could we ever imagine Derrick Harriott wearing Dreadlocks? He was wearing Afro instead and showed how he could easily cover Persuaders’ Soul hit. The flip side features another cover of a US Soul track that was transformed to a sweet Lover’s Rock by Harriott’s relative, young Kim Harriott. Apparently Harriott’s surroundings at this time were all wearing Afro even if it was the Dreadlocks era.
Lester Sterling, Lyn Taitt, Jets - Check Point Charlie / A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1980 (US$13.07)
The Merritone trademarked, a refined and lustrous Rockstready piece along with the cover ballad inst of a popular song. This Rocksteady inst represents another one of those utterly rare Merritone singles, backed with the original coupling song.
Joe Higgs - Dinah (Original Stamper) / Peter Austin, Freedom Singers - Have Faith
Studio One 1966
N/A
Derrick Harriott - Groovy Situation / Candy
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1970/ 1971
Info: Adapted
¥1980 (US$13.07)
Covering US hits was Derrick Harriott's specialty and this tune is no exception. This is his cover version of Gene Chandler's hit that was popular on the radios at the time in Jamaica. B-side features early Lovers Rock tune by Derrick Harriott.
Dennis Alcapone - Fever Teaser (Original Stamper) / Glen Miller - Have A Little Faith
Studio One 1972
A: Fever
N/A
Skatalites - Freedom Sounds / Freedom Sounds (Early Take)
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1964
¥2180 (US$14.39)
‘Freedom Sounds’ is the glorious introduction to the iconic Ska LP “Ska Authentic from Studio One”, and also known as the opening theme for the band’s live performances. What’s more exciting is the early take unearthed for the very first time! Although it nearly got released with the 64-65’ masterpiece ‘From Russia With Love’, then eventually got cancelled due to the release of “Ska Authentic” LP. Compare to the ordinary recording that we’re familiar with, the unreleased take comes rougher but that is also brilliant and it will sound miraculously to all the Ska fans. There have been occasions that the band played this version at number of gigs, though it depends on who was leading the performance.
Jamaicans - Chain Gang / Jackie Mittoo, Soul Brothers - Do The Bogaloo
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
¥2180 (US$14.39)
A great cover version of a Sam Cook hit with beautiful chorus and a killer instrumental that blended Jamaica’s Caribbean roots and Afro-Cuban essence. Jamaica’s favorite American singer, Sam Cook’s hit was beautifully transformed into a sweet and peaceful vocal Ska when it went through Studio One’s unique filter. The tune was taken straight from the master tape. The flip side features a mixed style of Caribbean-decent music that Soul Brothers could play best at and Jackie Mittoo’s burning keyboard maneuver made this killer instrumental best of the best.
Augustus Pablo - Bells Of Death / Scotty - Sesame Street
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1972/ 1970
¥2180 (US$14.39)
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.
Rheuben Alexander, Sugar Belly - Un Poquito (Original Stamper) / Part 2
Studio One 1978
¥850 (US$5.61)
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.
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.
Soul Brothers - Freedom Sounds / Freedom Sounds Take 2
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$14.39)
The astonishing take of previously unpublished Rocksteady - reveals new facts about Studio One’s Ska and Rocksteady! A few years after the Skatalites recorded the famous “Freedom Sounds”, the band has reconstructed as the Soul Brothers and this is the astonishing, previously unpublished take of them playing the Rocksteady version. By the look of the master-tape, it has never even planned to be released as a single and kept especially for the LP release, which might have meant to be the Soul Brothers version of the Skatalites’ iconic “Ska Authentic” album. This seriously rare recording is a must-check for everyone from the beginners of the Jamaican music to the Ska masters. Though as might be expected, we may never be able to measure the depth of the foundation studio.
Jennifer Lara - Woman Of The Ghetto / Jackie Mittoo, Sound Dimension - Side Walk Doctor Version
Dub Store Records JPN / Studio One 2004
¥2180 (US$14.39)
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.
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.
Johnny Osbourne - Road Block / Little John - Come Fe Mash It
Prince Jammys Dub / Dub Store Records JPN 1985
Billy Jean B: Stalag
N/A
Johnny Osbourne, who recorded many of numerous hit tunes for Jammys, sings a killer number 'Line Up', which is favored by 80's dancehall lovers. On the Side-B, Little John severely performs extraordinary dubplate special 'Come Fe Mash It' on 'Stalag' rhythm.
Gladstone Anderson, Lynn Taitt, Jets - Glad Sounds
N/A
Trinidad born legendary guitarist, Lynn Taitt, who brought the first wave of Rocksteady to the Island, and Gladdy Anderson who is well known for a Skatalites' pianist, they both got together to record this Rocksteady instrumental album 'Glad Sounds' at Federal Studio in 1968. Released from the Merritone label, which was managed under the Federal. The album depicts the hay day and best sound of Rocksteady as well as label itself. First time to be reissued by Dub Store Records. The forth reissue of the Story Of Federal program by Dub Store Records. The original UK issue was released on the Big Shot label with a different jacket design. Album tracks consist mainly of cover versions of popular tracks, which were produced by Coxsone Dodd, Bunny Lee and Sonia Pottinger. Lynn Taitt and Gladstone Anderson added gentle flavors to their versions by their distinctive instrumental plays. Also Federal's recording facility made possible to maintain this sound quality. Certainly, this is another classic album to add to your collection shelf!!
Termites - We Gonna Make It / Ethiopians - We Gonna Be Free
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
The Termites consisted of Lloyd Parks and Wentworth Vernal and they recorded a very small amount of works except for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One. 'We Gonna Make It'is the rarest recording of the group on Merritone label. On the Side-B, the lead vocalist of the Ethiopians, Leonard Dillon sings 'We Gonna Be Free' with his familiar voice. Released in 1967.
Henry Buckley - I'd Like To Know / Lynn Taitt, Jets - Soul Shot
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966/ 1967
¥1380 (US$9.11)
Although Hopeton Lewis recorded many songs for the Merritone, Henry Buckley was also a prolific singer who recorded many songs for the label. Federal was probably recording with him for his never released debut album. Side-B features a Rocksteady instrumental, which appeared on LynnTaitt’s debut album.
Derrick Harriott - Look Over Your Shoulders / Dancing The Reggae
Wild Flower / Dub Store Records JPN 1975/ 1976
¥2180 (US$14.39)
It was the Dreadlocks bandwagon in the mid 70’s, but Harriott, who started his career in the music business in the early 50’s, persisted his Afro hairstyle and his signature style of music, Reggae Soul and Lover’s Rock. At that time, music fans only approved serious Roots works but his music choices proved that his production was equally true and great Reggae music. Moreover his music brought to listeners a certain comfort, compared to the heavy weight Roots music that was mainly produced during this period.
Tartans - What You Gonna Do Now / Lynn Taitt, Jets - Pata Pata
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1980 (US$13.07)
The Tartans were like the 70’s reggae all-stars, and this is their early big hit along with a rare Lynn Taitt’s instrumental! Formed by Prince Lincoln, Cedric Myton and Devon Russell, the Tartans brilliantly represent the “oldies but goodies’”vibe on the A-side. Flipping over to the B-side is the Lynn Taitt’s interpretation of the Miriam Makeba’s hit tune. Mysteriously it’s been unknown if this rare piece has been put out as a single or still being unreleased.