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Derrick Harriott - Loser / Derrick Harriott, Bobby Ellis, Desmond Miles Seven - Now We Know
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$13.68)
‘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 Vendors - Swing Easy / Soul Vendors - Ringo Rock
Soul Jazz Records UK / Studio One 2026
¥3040 (US$19.07)
Tomorrow's Children - Bang Bang Rock Steady / Rain (Rock Steady)
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$13.68)
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.
Zodiacs - Walk On By / Royals (Merritone Singers) - House Upon The Hill
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$13.68)
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 - Reach Out I'll Be There / Bobby Ellis, Crystalites - Illya Kuryakin
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$13.68)
Derrick Harriott versions a Motown hit ‘Reach Out I Will Be There’. His killer version is a dancehall shaker and many might has been searching for this rare vinyl records as an essential for DJ selection. The Four Tops originally released the song in the mid 60’s. The mid-tempo organ instrumental ‘Illya Kuryakin’ feartures Ike Bennet’s powerful organ solo on the filpside.
Derrick Harriott - Do I Worry / Bobby Ellis, Crystalites - Shuntin
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$13.68)
‘Do I Worry’is as important Rocksteady tune as Derrick Harriott’s other hit‘The Loser’in his vast catalog. The B-side features powerful horn blow and Bobby Ellis’ trumpet solo is nicely done. Reissued with these original recordings on both sides.
Bobby Ellis, Desmond Miles Seven - Step Softly / Derrick Harriott - Walk The Streets
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$13.68)
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.
Renegades - You've Lost The Love / Merritone Singers - Rude Boy A Wail
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1966
¥2180 (US$13.68)
The Renegades consisted of Winston 'Pipe' Matthews, Lloyd 'Bread' McDonald and George 'Buddy' Haye and later became a group called the Wailing Souls. ‘You've Lost The Love’ is one of their earliest Rocksteady works and it was originally released in 1966. It is also one of the rarest records hardly ever found. The record also features previously unreleased Ska vocal recording ' Rude Boy A Wail' by the Merritone Singers from the original master tape.
Keith & Tex - Tonight / Lynn Taitt, Desmond Miles Seven - You've Caught Me
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$13.68)
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.
Keith & Tex - Hypnotizing Eyes / Down The Street
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$13.68)
By Keith & Tex, a vocal duo who represented Derrick Harriott's production, 「Hypnotizing Eyes」 was a hugely popular tune released at the end of Rocksteady era. The B-side,「Down The Street」was a pioneering sound of up-tempo Reggae that became the major style in 1969. From 1968 to 69, they recorded enough songs to make an album and amazingly all of them were top-notch. Re-issued original songs on both sides.
Keith & Tex - Run To The Rocks / Let Me Be The One (This Is My Song)
Move & Groove / Dub Store Records JPN 1969
¥2180 (US$13.68)
Originally released on 1969 by Keith & Tex, who were the favorite duo in Rocksteady era, this up-tempo tune introduced the beginning of Reggae's new style. This duo never disappointed everybody's expectation by their high quality tunes. Re-issued original songs on both sides.
Karl Bryan, Crystalites - Slippery / Crystalites - Tonight
Crystal / Dub Store Records JPN 1969/ 1970
¥2180 (US$13.68)
'Slippery' is a beautifully arranged minor-chorded sax cut to Harriott production's classic rhythm, "Tonight." B-side is a piano instrumental version to the flip side.
Owen Gray - Give Me A Little Sign / Raver
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2180 (US$13.68)
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.
Ernest Ranglin - Mr. Ranglin With Soul
¥3980 (US$24.97)
Unlike all the other musicians in those days, Ranglin was not allowed to go between studios to record and release music as he wished because he was an exclusive employee of the Federal records. Thus it's really hard to find a Rocksteady record with his name on it. Although whenever he finds a spare time, he would go to Duke Reid's studio and play the guitar and bass as a sideman, often playing sessions with Lynn Taitt. According to Ranglin himself, "I felt really comfortable being at Duke Reid's studio", though sadly there have not been a single release of his solo guitar tune which was recorded there. So here comes the album, it's the rare Rocksteady instrumentals by the man himself. Some of the main features would be "Summertime", "Flamingo" and "Hold Me Tight", the wickedest selection of the moist Rocksteady that will certainly catch your heart. Other than that, it's got an exotic intro and uptempo "Sling Shot", relatively arranged towards pop direction "Don't Sleep In the Subway" and some ballads to represent the Federal's widely ranged style that won't go off after a long time, exactly how this one of the biggest leading labels in Jamaica had thought of. This may not make Rude Boys in downtown growl, although it will clearly last eternally as Ranglin's 60s best album to the future generations.
Ken Boothe - Can't You See / I Remember Someone
Links / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥2180 (US$13.68)
A pair of all time classics, soulful lovers rocksteady vocals sang by the Mr. Rocksteady a.k.a. Ken Boothe.
Jackie Mittoo - Chinese Chicken / Put It On
Studio One / Dub Store Records JPN 1967
¥2080 (US$13.05)
The killer Rocksteady-Ska like a vital bridge between both of them, backed with a Mittoo’s nice vocal tune. Throned from the Skatalites to the Soul Vendors, this is the last form of the Studio One Ska and it’s very much like the Soul Vendor’s party piece. Along with the B-side, Jackie Mittoo had directed both and his marvelous creativity can be seen allover. Each of them recorded from the original master-tape.
Gaylettes - If You Can't Be Good / Mike Thompson - Rocksteady Wedding
Merritone / Dub Store Records JPN 1968
¥1380 (US$8.66)





















