|
|
||
|
Throughout this time, few were more influential than trombonist, DON DRUMMOND and saxophonists, TOMMY McCOOK, and ROLAND ALPHONSO, all three of whom were not only major figures in their own right, but in addition, founder members of the legendary Skatelites. Formed in the summer of '64, The Skatelites represented the cream of Jamaican talent, and also featured celebrated saxophonist, LESTER STIRLING, trumpeter JOHNNY 'DIZZY' MOORE, drummer Lloyd Knib, bassist Lloyd Brevett, guitarist 'Jah' Jerry Haines and Donat Roy 'Jackie' Mittoo on Keyboards. Following their inception, the group recorded on countless sessions and often performed anonymously - as was the case with many of their sides for Arthur 'Duke' Reid, who issued much of their work crediting The BABA BROOKS Band. Oswald 'Baba' Brooks was an exceptionally talented trumpeter who also acted as musical arranger for Reid's recordings throughout the early sixties and was also frequently employed in both capacities by a number of other Kingston-based producers, most notably, Prince Buster, Richard Khouri, Justin Yap and both, Lynden and Sonia Pottinger. The Skatelites continued to dominate the local music scene until the close of '64, but while still at the height of their popularity, were dealt a blow from which they never fully recovered. In a fit of rage during the early hours of January 1st 1965, Don Drummond murdered his girlfriend, Marguerita Mahfood. The trombonist, who had long suffered from a mental disorder, was subsequently arrested and convicted, spending his final four years within the confines of the Bellvue Sanatorium. His incarceration sparked the break-up of The Skatelites and by the close of '65, the group's leading members had formed new outfits. One of the most notable of these was Tommy McCook & The Supersonics. Featuring McCook alongside fellow ex-Skatalites, Johnny Moore and Lloyd Knibb, the group also included trombonist Danny Simpson. HERMAN MARQUIS on sax, pianist GLADSTONE ANDERSON (aka Gladdy Adams), WINSTON WRIGHT on organ, Clifton 'Jackie' Jackson on bass and either George Tucker or Ranny 'Bop' Williams on guitar. Shortly after forming, Knibb left to be replaced by Hugh Malcolm, around which time the group became Duke Reid's in-house band at the producer's famed Treasure Isle Studio in Bond Street. For the next few years, Tommy McCook & The Supersonics help Reid create some of the finest Rocksteady and Reggae sounds to emanate from Jamaica, but sadly, by the close of the decade, the group disbanded due to internal differences. Another group to make substantial impact on the sound of Jamaican music in the latter half of the sixties was LYN TAITT & THE JETS. Led by Trinidadian guitarist Nearlyn 'Lyn' Taitt, The Jets featured Bryan Atkinson (bass), Gladdy Anderson (piano), Bobby Ellis (trumpet), Lynford 'Hux' Brown (rhythm guitar), Joe Isaacs (drums), Ike Bennett (organ) and 'Deadly' Headly Bennett (sax). Within months of their inception, early in 1967, the group became Federal Studios' regular session crew and went on to regularly work with many of Jamaica's leading producers - including Prince Buster, Sonia Pottinger, Joe Gibbs, Derek Harriott and Leslie Kong (for whom they recorded as BEVERLY'S ALL STARS). Taitt's decision to relocate to Toronto, however, led to the group folding around the end of '68. Also much in demand during this period were The Carib Beats. Led by guitarist, Bobby Aitkin, the backbone of the group consisted of bassist Vincent White, Winston Grenon on drums and keyboard player, Bobby Kalphat, while other occasional members included saxophonist Alphanso Henry, trombonist Dave Parks and trumpeter Mark Lewis. Among the producers with whom The Carib Beats often worked were J.J. Johnson (as THE J.J. ALL STARS) and Edward 'Bunny' Lee, for whom they often backed soloists such as Lester Sterling and VAL BENNETT - the latter being another veteran of the music scene, who had performed with various local groups since the forties. His memorable sax work can be heard on The Upsetters' 1969 hit, "Return To Jango", although Bennett went unaccredited on the UK release of the single. By the close of the sixties, Tommy McCook & The Supersonics, Lyn Taitt & The Jets and The Carib Beats had all disbanded and among the most successful of the new groups formed in their wake were The Dynamites (aka Gladdy's All Stars). The core of Dynamites consisted of Gladdy Anderson (piano) Hux Brown (lead guitar), Jackie Jackson (bass), Winston Grennon (drums), Neville Hinds (organ) and Wallace Wilson (rhythm guitar), while others who recorded with the group included Hugh Malcolm (drums) and Winston Wright (organ). Throughout the early seventies, the group worked with for a plethora of producers, including Leslie Kong, Harry Johnson, Alvin Ranglin and Lee Perry - who respectively credited them as Beverley's All Stars, THE HARRY J ALL STARS, THE G.G. ALL STARS and THE UPSETTERS. Another combo who worked closely with Perry around this time (and also had their material issued as The Upsetters) were the young quartet of guitarist Alva Lewis, organist Glen Adams and brothers Aston 'Family Man' Barrett and Carlton Barrett, on bass and drums respectively. The group, who also recorded as THE HIPPY BOYS, represented a new generation of musicians who were to play an increasingly important role in the development of Reggae. Of the up and coming soloists, few had a more dramatic effect upon the sound of Jamaican music than AUGUSTUS PABLO (real name Horace Swaby), who was the first to popularise the melodica in the early seventies. Others to exert a notable influence on Reggae during this period were organist LLOYD 'CHARMERS' Tyrell and bassist BORIS GARDINER, both of whom were equally adept at singing, producing and performing. In closing, whilst it is not possible to identify all the individuals who contributed to the music on this set, it would be remiss not to mention those likely to have participated somewhere along the line. So due respect is paid to drummer Arkland 'Drumbago' Parks; percussionists Larry McDonald, Noel 'Scully' Sims, Bongo Herman, Denzil Laing and Issiah 'Sticky' Thompson, trumpeters Frank Anderson, Percival 'Rupert' Dillon and Dave Madden, trombonist's Ron Wilson and Vincent Gordon (aka 'Don Drummon Junior'), pianists Theophilus Beckford, Aubrey Adams and Lloyd 'Richard Ace' Richards, and saxophonists, Robert 'Bobby' Gaynair, Cedric Brooks, Stanley Ribbs and CARL 'CANNONBALL' BRYAN and finally, harmonica player, ROY RICHARDS. To these and all the other musicians who helped to create the wonderful sounds on this compilation, we give a genuine and wholehearted thanks. |
||
|
DISC 1 |
DISC 2 |
DISC 3 |
|
Liquidator |
The Russians Are Coming (Take Five) |
Clint Eastwood |
|
Time - 51:45 |
Time - 45:21 |
Time - 50:50 |
|
|
||
|
All material © Copyright Trojan Records |
||
