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Hopeton Lewis - Take It Easy With The Rock Steady Beat
¥2500 (US$16.82)
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.
Toots & The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number / Pressure Drop (Off Center)
Beverleys UK 1969
¥2280 (US$15.34)
The Paragons - Man Next Door / Left With A Broken Heart
Supertone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$14.67)
The Afrotones - If I'm In A Corner / Lynn Taitt & The Jets - The Hip Hug
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1580 (US$10.63)
Moving rocksteady vocal from Delroy Williams, George Allison, Ricky Grant a.k.a The Afrotones backed with killer funky instrumental from the maestro.
Carlton Manning - We Will Live & Love / The Soul Lads - I Am Yours Forever
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥1580 (US$10.63)
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.
Al & The Vibrators - Devil Woman / Check Up
Gay Feet / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥1580 (US$10.63)
Up tempo Jamaica Festival Song, “Check Up”, on flipside is a groovy rare rocksteady “Devil Woman” both Al & The Vibrators’ highly refined vocals.
Hopeton Lewis - Happy Christmas / Lester Sterling, Lyn Taitt, Jets - Lester Sterling Special
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967/ 1966
¥1380 (US$9.28)
A festive Christmas piece presented by the Federal ambassador, Hopeton Lewis, along with a previously unreleased cool Rocksteady instrumental. Hopeton Lewis, a.k.a. the Mr. Rocksteady celebrates the festive season with this happy piece. Flip is the Merritone trademarked, an elegant, yet respectable instrumental. As this has never seen the light of day, all the inst fans should have one in your collection.
Gaylettes - If You Can't Be Good / Mike Thompson - Rocksteady Wedding
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥1380 (US$9.28)