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Ken Parker - A Change Gonna Come / Val Bennett - Jumping With Val
Bunny Lee / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Glen Adams - Hold Down Miss Winey / Glen Adams - I Remember
Bunny Lee / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥1480 (US$9.85)
Pat Kelly & The Uniques - Little Boy Blue / Glen Adams - I Can't Help It
Bunny Lee / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Val Bennett - The Russians Are Coming / Glen Adams - Lonely Girl
Bunny Lee / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Historically renown Dave Brubeck’s Take 5 covered in rocksteady style. It later became one of reggae’s standard repertoire.
The Gaylads - It's Hard To Confess / The Gaylads - I Need Your Loving
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2080 (US$13.84)
The Harmonizers - My Queen / The Valentines - Blam Blam Fever (Gunfever)
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Johnny & The Attractions - Let's Get Together / Cross My Heart
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1580 (US$10.51)
The most sought after Gay Feet rock steady rarity. Johnny & The Attractions draws a clear line between them and rock steady artists back then ? diggin’ deep into the sounds. Seems obvious that they were already doing the style later known as roots reggae.
Dawn Penn - I'll Let You Go / Diane Lawrence - Hound Dog
Bunny Lee / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Highly sought after double A-sided female rocksteady vocals. Dawn Penn cut of The Uniques ? Let Me Go Girl. On flip side is another popular female vocal tune by Dian Lawrence that was also covered by Norma Frazer for Studio One
Bobby Ellis, Desmond Miles Seven - Step Softly / Derrick Harriott - Walk The Streets
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
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.
Various Artists - BMN Ska & Rock Steady: Always Together 1964-1968
Dub Store Records JPN 1964- 1968
¥3980 (US$26.48)
Marvellous music from Ronnie Nasally… one of the founding fathers of the Jamaican music business
Includes vital vocals from The Blues Busters and The Maytals, eccentric Chinese rock steady from Stephen Chang and one of the first deejay records, ‘Ska-ing West’, from the legendary Sir Lord Comic. Incomparable!
Gaylads - Looking For A Girl / Aren't You The Guy
Links / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.50)
For all collectors here is a great reissue of rare rocksteady from The Gaylads. Wonderful chorus works by the group that are thought to be some of the greatest works the Gaylads after Studio One era.
The Afrotones - If I'm In A Corner / Lynn Taitt & The Jets - The Hip Hug
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1580 (US$10.51)
Moving rocksteady vocal from Delroy Williams, George Allison, Ricky Grant a.k.a The Afrotones backed with killer funky instrumental from the maestro.
Delano Stewart - Rocking Sensation / The Gaysters - One Look
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Stephen Cheng - Always Together / Sam Carty - Rich Man, Poor Man
BMN / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Extremely rare rocksteady masterpiece recorded in 1967. Curiously sang in Chinese, this novelty record was originally pressed and spread within the Chinese community in Jamaica. Even though comparing to its entire population this island has exceptionally high rate of musical recordings, this could possibly be the only verified track solely sang in Chinese. One that has always been spoken about due to its oddity and should be succeeded eternally.
The Uniques - Gypsy Woman / Never Let Me Go
Bunny Lee / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Rocksteady cover of the undoubtable Impressions’ anthem. Out of many rocksteady tunes this one stands out with its splendid arrange and engineering genius. Backed with The Uniques legendary “Never Let Me Go”.
Henry Buckley - Beware Of All Those Rude Boys / If I Am Right
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1980 (US$13.17)
Merritone label endorsed Henry Buckley as a star singer of the label during the Rocksteady period. He sings "Beware of all those rude boys going around with their guns, spoiling everybody's fun" to warn behaviors of Rude Boys. It seems Rudies were everywhere when the song was released in 1966. He also showcases his conscious lyrics with song ‘If I Am Right’. The artist tried to deliver profound messages to youths. Those recordings were taken straight from the original master tape for the reissue.
Hopeton Lewis - Rock A Shacka / I Don't Want Trouble
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1380 (US$9.18)
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.
Various - Merritone Rock Steady 2: This Music Got Soul 1966-1967 (2LP)
Dub Store Records JPN 1966- 1967
¥5380 (US$35.79)
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.
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.
Roland Alphonso - ABC Rocksteady
¥3680 (US$24.48)
Rare and seriously sought after instrumental album of Gay Feet rocksteady hits from 1968.
Eleven elegant instrumental tracks, and one female vocal, showcasing the tenor sax artistry of master musician Roland Alphonso, ably assisted by Aubrey Adams on organ and the inestimable Lynn Taitt on guitar, interpreting a selection of Mrs Pottinger’s most memorable hits of the era.
Various Artists - Dancing Down Orange Street
¥2880 (US$19.16)
A seriously sought after classic album of rocksteady and uptempo reggae hits
from 1969
Soul Brothers - Freedom Sounds / Freedom Sounds Take 2
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$14.50)
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.
Johnny, Attractions - Call Of The Drums / Leslie Butler, Count Ossie - Call Of The Drums Rhythm 2
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2080 (US$13.84)
Marvellous binghi rock steady masterpiece by Count Ossie led Johnny & The Attractions. An unreleased alternative instrumentalal cut on flip.
Conquerors - Sweet Little Angel / Treat Me Right
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1580 (US$10.51)
Stranger Cole & The Seraphines - We Shall Overcome / We Shall Overcome (Alternative Take)
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1580 (US$10.51)
Released as The Seraphines prior to the formation of Stranger & Gladdy, fabulous chorus gem backed with previously unreleased cut on flip.
The Afrotones - Something New In My Heart / The Conquerors - Come To The Dance
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1580 (US$10.51)
A pair of soulful rock steady classics from two of the finest choir groups that Gay Feet label had introduced, The Afrotones & The Conquerors.
Carlton Manning - We Will Live & Love / The Soul Lads - I Am Yours Forever
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1580 (US$10.51)
The debut song from Carlton Manning - elder brother of Lynford and Donald of The Abyssinians and later known for his Carlton and The Shoes releases for Studio One. On the flip side it’s a previously unreleased tune from The Soul Lads - later re-recorded and released on Treasure Isle with another cut which could be why this never saw the light of day.
Derrick Morgan - Ain't That Crazy / Nehemiah Reid - Give Me That Love
Hop / Reggae Fever EU 1968
¥1630 (US$10.84)
Blues Busters - There's Always Sunshine / Maytals - Sometimes (Love Is A Special Feeling)
Sunshine / BMN / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.50)
A magnificent Rocksteady piece in one-off style sang by one of the groups that represent the golden age of Ska. Since the number of their recordings decreased devastatingly after the Ska era, this truly is a rare Rocksteady made in its top form with the veteran’s dignity. In addition, this is the own Rocksteady cover version of one of their first ever recordings at the Coxsone’s in 1960.
Techniques - Man Of My Word / Time Has Come
Techniques / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Dave Barker - Your Love Is A Game / Techniques - Lonely Man
Techniques / Dub Store Records JPN 1969
¥1980 (US$13.17)
Glen Adams - I Want To Hold Your Hand / Ann Reid - Remember Me
Bunny Lee / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Glen Brown pleasantly covering the familiar Beatles classic not to mention stunning arrangement by Bunny Lee. Backed with popular female rocksteady vocal
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.
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.
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.
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.
Derrick Morgan - Want More / Roland Alphonso, Beveley's All Stars - Goodnight My Love
Pyramid UK / Beverleys 1968
¥1880 (US$12.51)
Phyllis Dillon - Don't Stay Away / Tommy McCook, Supersonics - Starry Night
Treasure Isle UK 1967
¥2180 (US$14.50)
Toots & The Maytals - Hold On / Roland Alphonso - On The Move
Pyramid UK / Beverleys 1969
¥1880 (US$12.51)