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Aces - Can The Poor Survive (Original Stamper) / Charmers, Herman, His City Slickers - Lonely Boy
Studio One 1961
¥850 (US$5.38)
Various Artists - Gay Feet: Every Night featuring Baba Brooks and his Band
¥3680 (US$23.28)
Ska, Jump Up and Soul! The authentic early sixties sound of the Caribbean
A shimmering showcase of the wonderful work of Jamaica’s first and foremost female record producer, Mrs Sonia Pottinger, featuring the inimitable talents of Oswald ‘Baba’ Brooks and his Recording Band with their 1966 debut album.
Wailers - Rock Sweet Rock / Jerk In Time
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$13.79)
The Wailers have recorded a number of tunes for Studio One, however this release still gets talked a lot as its specialty. Recorded just before they left Studio One, this double A-sided single includes two of the best tunes that lead by Bunny Wailer himself. It’s even possible to hear in this excellent music that the time has come to ripen for the band to see the vision of starting up their own Wail ‘N’ Soul ’M’ label. Both sides are identical to its original release.
Patsy Millicent Todd - Loving Love / Loving Love (Alternative Take)
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
¥1580 (US$9.99)
Vigorous Patsy vocal and soulful saxophone solo on bouncy ska rhythm. Previously unreleased alternative take on the B-side.
Blues Busters - I Won't Let You Go / Love Me Forever
Kentone / BMN / Dub Store Records JPN 1964
¥2180 (US$13.79)
The big hit Ska classic everybody loves, sang by one of the top groups of the 60’s!! Along with the Maytals and the Wailers, the Blues Busters were one of the top groups at the time, however commercially they were going more of a mainstream than the others. Since their career goes way back in the late 50’s, they must have been idolized by so many of those who made their debut later in the Ska era. This is an essential mainstream Ska classic by the brilliantly skilled duo in their best form backed by no other than Byron Lee.
Llans Thelwell, Celestials - Llans Plays It All
¥2880 (US$18.22)
Miraculously recorded in 1965 when Ska was at its best, this is one of the rarest and killer LP to date. Llands Plays It All is constructed with a Caribbean coast vibe such as Ska, Jazz, Afto, R&B, Soul, Jump Up, Cha Cha Cha to name a few. However this killer Montegonian band is surprisingly tight, presenting second to none great performances. LP starts with “Jive Samba” by Cannonball Adderley, brilliantly arranged in the Afro-Caribbean Jazz style. Then moving on to some Jamaican R&B, to the featured track of the album “Mughead Ska”, a slightly longer version than the 7” cut (DSR-RN7-01), furthermore there is“Golden Horns”, this is an ultimate selection for all DJ’s and Selectors. This is definitely a must-have for shelves of the Jamaican music lovers.
Various - Merritone Rock Steady 1: Shanty Town Curfew 1966-1967
Dub Store Records JPN 1966- 1967
¥2780 (US$17.58)
American rhythm & blues fervour, boosted by a multitude of sound systems playing 78rpm records on increasingly larger sets, gripped Jamaica from the late forties onwards but, towards the end of the decade, the American audience began to move towards a somewhat softer sound. The driving rhythm & blues discs became increasingly hard to find and the more progressive Jamaican sound system operators, realising that they now needed to make their own music, turned to Kingston’s jazz and big band musicians to record one off custom cut discs. These were not initially intended for commercial release but designed solely for sound system play on acetate or ‘dub plates’ as they would later be termed. These ‘specials’ soon began to eclipse the popularity of American rhythm & blues and the demand for their locally produced music proved so great that the sound system operators began to release their music commercially on vinyl and became record producers. Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd, Duke Reid ‘The Trojan’ and Prince Buster, who operated his Voice Of The People Sound System, were among the first to establish themselves in this new role and the nascent Jamaican recording industry now went into overdrive.
In 1954 Ken Khouri had numbered among the first far sighted entrepreneurs to produce mento records with local musicians (mento is Jamaica’s original indigenous music) before progressing to opening Jamaica’s first record manufacturing plant. Three years later he moved his operation to Foreshore Road (later renamed Marcus Garvey Drive) where, with the assistance of the inestimable Graeme Goodall, he updated and upgraded his recording studio. The importance of this enterprising move was critical to the development of Jamaican music and its influence both profound and far reaching.
Roland Alphonso - From Russia With Love / Cleopatra
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
¥2180 (US$13.79)
The both-sided killer Ska instrumental masterpiece - all Ska collectors have been searching for! The Skatalites playing the theme of James Bond’s “From Russia With Love” is a true Ska instrumental masterpiece, which needs no introduction. Like the original release, it’s gorgeously backed with “Cleopatra” on the B-side. Taken straight from the original master-tape, this is a dream come true single!
Don Drummond - Last Call / Last Call Take 2
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
¥2180 (US$13.79)
Known as a synonym for “killer”, this is one of the best singles released on Studio 1 by Don Drummond, including another precious take that’s been previously unreleased. Compare to any other artists, the extreme tension that Don Drummond brings into his sessions were next level. His trombone skills were above genius and it is clear to hear his strong personality and humanity through his music. With his works being released on Studio One and other productions, he had established the “Far Eastern Sound” which still lives today in Jamaica. The fact all the music that was influenced by this sound has been evaluated since therefore it is a proof of how his music is universality. It is interesting that all the unreleased Skatalites tracks from this era have different solo phrases each time, showing how valuable these recordings are for the archive.
Soul Brothers - James Bond Girl / Summertair Girls - My Heart Cries Out
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$13.79)
Another classic killer ska from the short-lived Soul Brothers. As of the original on the other side comes a sweet female lovers vocal from a night before the Rocksteady era. Succeeding the authentic ska from the legendary Skatalites then evolving it to the sound of Rocksteady, a fluid session band of Studio One, the Soul Brothers bring another classic instrumental ska tune. Like you can almost smell the perfume of Rocksteady era at its best, here comes a cool and cute lovers tune from Kingston on the other side. When the Soul Brothers were active after the Skatalites, they have certainly lost the thrill of solo performances, though this might have been the Skatalites were just too great.. Recorded from the master tape itself, this take contains slightly different solo compare to the original single.
Roland Alphonso, Soul Brothers - Sca-Balena / Tommy McCook (Miss Credit) - Two For One (Miss Credit)
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
¥2080 (US$13.16)
Both sides are extremely rare unreleased takes of ska instrumentals by Roland Alphonso, Tommy McCook and the Soul Brothers. Sca-Balena is a famous cover in which you can enjoy the brilliance of Roland Alphonso, and a completely new latin take of “Two For One” originally played by Tommy McCook. It is really hard to expect what will come out of the warehouse of well-established label like Studio One, although Sir Coxsone knew exactly where everything was being placed. We’re sorry that the “Bridge View” is a misprint instead of “Two For One” Both have been recorded from the original master-tapes.
Skatalites - Freedom Sounds / Freedom Sounds (Early Take)
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1964
¥2180 (US$13.79)
‘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.
Roland Alphonso - Ska Culation / Jack Sparrow - Ice Water
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$13.79)
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.
Clive Wilson, Skatalites - One Ska, One Ounce Of Weed, One Beer / Federal Singers - Love Is All I Have
Federal / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
¥2180 (US$13.79)
Based on the Rhythm and Blues classic, this is a super rare uptempo Ska cover and for all Ska Man and the DJ's!
Originally sung by Amos Milburn, in the 50's this had been a sound system classic in Jamaica. There is nowhere else in the world but Jamaica could produce such a cover version and utterly convincing Drummond's solo works nicely as a spice of this tune. Originally released on a blank label although it's a super rare one to find - a proud copy to own and must have for all Ska Man. On the flip is a great vocal Ska yet the singer's detail is completely unknown. *Recommended to pair this title with the instrumental version by Don Drummond on this very same series(DSR-FW7-04)
Stranger Cole, Patsy Millicent Todd - You Took My Love / Webber Sisters - Good Thing Come To Those Who Wait
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2080 (US$13.16)
Patsy's classic slow ska backed with Webber Sisters previously unreleased rock steady piece pushing forward til their day comes.
Llans Thelwell, His Celestials - Mughead Ska / Free For All
BMN / Dub Store Records JPN 1965
¥1480 (US$9.36)
One of the most wanted Ska titles to date, this is an ultimate killer Ska instrumental for all DJs. An exclusive reissue of the utterly rare and unique title amongst all the Ska instrumentals! Some say the title of this super killer masterpiece was taken from the musician Barry Malcolm’s nickname “Mughead”. Backed with an excellent B-side ‘Free For All’just like the original release. There are no more instructions needed for this great release!
Skatalites - Ball & Fire / Paulette (Tonnets) - Every Time (Original Stamper)
Studio One 1965/ 1961
N/A
Blues Blenders - Shuffling Jug (Original Stamper) / Don Drummond - Scandal
Studio One 1963/ 1960
N/A
Soul Brothers, Wailers - Gujara Ska (Original Stamper) / Jackie Opel - Try Me
Studio One 1964/ 1965
N/A
Skatalites - Black Joe (Coloured Vinyl) / Lord Creator - Passing Through
Randys US 1965
¥1980 (US$12.52)