A great 1972 version of the famous Steve Mancha Detroit classic. Not as rare but convincingly soulful and a fantastic song in its own right.

A typical "Crossover" Soul tune - not as rough as many Sixties productions but still not as smooth as many Seventies tracks.

Another nice Northern style Crossover dancer. The group also recorded for the related FANIA label which gained reputation for some fine Latin Soul.

This track has already been featured as a PICK OF THE WEEK

LP-only track from the album "The many grooves of Barbara Lewis" which she recorded in 1969 for ENTERPRISE, a STAX subsidiary. Just recently discovered that there is a German pressing, too.

Some funky influences on this one. Found it by surprise when I plugged the flip of "Save a foolish man" which was the song I had bought the record for.

Lesser known song by the famous Soul sister. For me, this one is far better than many of her commercially successful tunes. Full of energy and tough lyrics!

This track has already been featured as a PICK OF THE WEEK

Has been featured already on SoulSurgery's 1st Anniversary compilation in 2003. Given the facts that the CD was limited in copies and that not many people in Germany know this song, I thought I could well give it a bit more publicity since it's just great!

This track has already been featured as a PICK OF THE WEEK

Years before they scored hits with their Philly recordings they already made great tunes for BELL and IMPERIAL. Two fantastic mid-tempo outings from this very popular group. Would be worth a small fortune if it was rarer. Certainly I wouldn't play it right after Mary Moultrie when deejaying but I wanted to get the stunning vocals more attention so I put it right in the middle of the tape. Highly recommended!

Beat ballad styled song that had been on my wants list for quite some time. Finally rewarded myself with a copy some months ago and it still sounds great to me...

This track has already been featured as a PICK OF THE WEEK

French version of the Ray Charles classic, as good as the original and fortunately far from getting over-played. Heard it for the first time on a mate's tape compiled by a Mod DJ from Berlin (seemed to have been taken from an album though). Took me two years to get a copy...

This track has already been featured as a PICK OF THE WEEK

Late Doo Wop, early Soul. Fantastic vocals!

From his outstanding album "Jealous kind of fella" which contains several great (and rather expensive on 7") tracks.

Nice ender. The other side is "Losin' boy", a good mid-to-uptempo dancer which he re-recorded for STAX a few years later. I like the early version better though.

The traditional music in Jamaica was Mento which is not quite the same as Calypso, a style that originally hailed from Trinidad. But with the commercial success of e.g. Harry Belafonte, entrepreneurs in the growing Jamaican tourist industry couldn't resist the lure for easier money by promoting the local music also under the label of 'Calypso'.
The track by Al & The Vibrators captures the spirit of confidence and optimism as it prevailed on the island shortly after JA getting her independence in 1962. A few years later the group re-recorded the song as a Rocksteady, again for producer Sonia Pottinger.

I'm not very much into Dancehall Reggae any longer. But for all of you who are it might be interesting to know that General Degree used the riddim for his song "Spark Plug".

Interesting piece of Jamaican musical history! Sounds a bit like Lord Creator, doesn't it? In fact, the song was written by the man a.k.a. Kentrick Patrick. Melodywise, Edwards' tune from 1964 is obviously a first version of Creator's own "King and queen" which was recorded the year after and, a few more years later (in 1970) became the immortal "Kingston Town" for Producer Clancy Eccles in the new fashionable Reggae style.

One more of his many collectable goodies, recorded in 1964.

Recorded in the same year, musically this track is still in the R&B style, but the lyrics already praise the upcoming new dance craze!

Ska at full blast! One of the lesser known instrumentals by the famous trombone player. The flip features the Skatalites and despite its title, "Russian Ska fever" is 100% Jamaican R&B. Bought this one in 1990 or '91 I think and didn't see it elsewhere since.

Great duet by "Mr. Skinhead Reggae" (of later years) and sweet-voiced Patsy. When selector Friedy from Cologne played it at a do we had together a few years back, I immediately liked the tune and it has remained one of my vocal Ska fav's since.

Fine harmonies, vocal Ska at its best! The track appeared on an Italian bootleg sampler in the early 90ies but is still underrated. The UK release of this Treasure Isle recording from 1964 was on the Ska Beat label under the name of "The Mellodites", paired with its original flip "Occupation" by Don Drummond & The Skatalites.

Smashing Rocksteady in his unique style! Actually I had bought the record for its more uptempo flip "Johnny Dollar", a cover of the Soul track "A quiet place" by Garnett Mimms on United Artists.

Owen Gray certainly is one of Jamaica's best and, at the same time, most underrated vocalists. Top production, great lyrics. The flip is good, too. A must for Rocksteady lovers!

Hopeton Lewis of "Boom-sha-ka-lacka" fame (Jamaican Festival winner in 1970) recorded many great Rocksteady tunes, this combination with Glen Brown being no exception. Lynn Taitt & The Jets providing a tight backing track.

The girls who did a fast Reggae version of "Son-of-a preacher man" a few years later. As usual with Merritone recordings, the sound quality is very convincing.

Another one from the highly collectable British label named after its owner, producer Clancy Collins. Only a few more than a dozen releases on the label documented so far. All sheer quality! Trombone player Rico Rodriguez in his solo plays a figure that he would use similarly many years later in the song "A message to you, Rudy" by The Specials. Try if you recognize it!

This nice example of Jamaican humour was a Skinhead fave on most Ska festivals I attended in the early nineties. Not getting much play nowadays. Ripe for reactivation! Also featured on TROJAN Records' V.A. compilation "20 Reggae Hits Vol. 4".

Proto-Dancehall track outta Brentford Road over the now famous "Answer" riddim. The DeeJay keeps it bubblin' 'til the very last drop...

Instrumental of the highly sought-after (and therefore rather expensive) Skinhead Reggae monster tune "Lick it back" on the same label. Ok, the vocals add an extra flavour, but the backing track itself is just fine and sounds great in its own right! Fantastic organ work on this UK produced gem.

Alton Ellis is definitely one of JA's greatest artists ever! Listen to this essential classic and you'll know why they dubbed him "Mr. Soul of Jamaica".

What a soulful voice! Got this LP from a mate who, for whatever reason, wanted to part with it. What would I give to have this extraordinarily gifted singer (and dancer) seen performing...