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Owen Gray - Give Me A Little Sign / Raver
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.10)
A perfect, yet low-keyed, Studio One Rocksteady double A-sided masterpiece!! Recorded in 1967 while Clement Dodd and Soul Vendors were on tour in the UK. The former Jamaican popular singer Owen Gray, who had already been living there then, voiced these unique pieces. It sounds very different from the ones recorded at Brentford Road, although both tunes certainly have the “Coxsone Sound” – A masterpiece that is refined, and maximize the talent of this one-time star. Only ‘The Raver’ was recorded from the original master-tape.
Valentines - Stop The Violence (Peace Treaty) / Stop The Violence (Peace Treaty) (Alternative Take)
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1580 (US$10.22)
Blues Busters - There's Always Sunshine / Maytals - Sometimes (Love Is A Special Feeling)
Sunshine / BMN / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.10)
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.
Stephen Cheng - Always Together / Sam Carty - Rich Man, Poor Man
BMN / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.10)
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.
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.
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.
The Harmonizers - My Queen / The Valentines - Blam Blam Fever (Gunfever)
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.10)
Paragons - Talking Love / If I Were You
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
‘Talking Love’ is a classic hit recording and known as one of the songs that represents Merritone label. Originally released in 1967 and features a Jamaican Soul on the B-side from the master tape.
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.
Soul Brothers - Freedom Sounds / Freedom Sounds Take 2
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$14.10)
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.
Jimmy Riley & The Three Tops - You Should Have Known / The Three Tops - Great 68 Train
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2080 (US$13.45)
Hortense Ellis - Groovy Kind Of Love / The Three Tops - A Man Of Chances
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$14.10)
Stranger Cole & The Seraphines - We Shall Overcome / We Shall Overcome (Alternative Take)
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1580 (US$10.22)
Released as The Seraphines prior to the formation of Stranger & Gladdy, fabulous chorus gem backed with previously unreleased cut on flip.
Patsy Millicent Todd - Just Like It Is / I Tell Myself
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1966/ 1968
¥1580 (US$10.22)
Johnny & The Attractions - Coming On The Scene / Anything You Want
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1580 (US$10.22)
Stranger Cole & Patsy Millicent Todd - Your Photograph / Tell It To Me
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥1580 (US$10.22)
The Melodians - Swing & Dine / I Could Be A King
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.10)
Patsy Millicent Todd - I Don't Want To Be Hurt / Stranger Cole & Patsy Millicent Todd - Certify My Love
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1580 (US$10.22)
Val Bennett - The Russians Are Coming / Glen Adams - Lonely Girl
Bunny Lee / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.10)
Historically renown Dave Brubeck’s Take 5 covered in rocksteady style. It later became one of reggae’s standard repertoire.
Ken Parker - A Change Gonna Come / Val Bennett - Jumping With Val
Bunny Lee / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.10)
Pat Kelly & The Uniques - Little Boy Blue / Glen Adams - I Can't Help It
Bunny Lee / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.10)
The Paragons - Memories By The Score / My Number One
Supertone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥1980 (US$12.81)
Keith & Tex - Stop That Train / Bobby Ellis, Jets - Feeling Peckish
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
N/A
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.
David Anthony - All Night / Derrick Harriott, Crystalites - Tickler
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥1980 (US$12.81)
A fine vocal Rocksteady'All Night'is known as a killer dubplate owned by Duke Vin, who is regarded as a pioneer of sound system culture in UK. The flip side'The Ticker'was more popular than the A-side and in UK, allegedly no one else besides Duke Vin owned the vinyl until 90's. The song must have been a special attachment in his Dub Plate box.
Phyllis Dillon - Don't Stay Away / Tommy McCook, Supersonics - Starry Night
Treasure Isle UK 1967
¥2180 (US$14.10)