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Derrick Morgan – Moon Hop – Best of the Early Years 1960-1969

Released on 23 June 2003.

Focusing on the most successful period in Derrick's recording career, 'Moon Hop' brings together his most popular Ska, Rocksteady and early Reggae recordings from the sixties. Compiled chronologically, the selection illustrates the ease with which he was able to remain at the forefront of the industry, despite various changes in style that occured over the most significant decade in Jamaican music history. Many of these sides have remained unavailable to the general public for well over forty years and fetch vast sums on the collector's market - now you can enjoy over 50 of them for less than the price of just one original 7" single!



A journey through 1960's Jamaican Music. Almost a documentary in itself, all the nuances and styles from boogie woogie, American copies through to Ska. And all Derrick Morgan. The set opens in 1960 with a boogie Fat Man and closes (almost) with the 1968 version.

54 tracks in all, every year of the decade represented except 1964. 1962 and 1963 being particularly prominent (almost a third of this album)and including duets with Patsy Todd and mostly done with Leslie Kong. A mellow bouncy fractured beat and distinctive vocal, prominent at the time of Jamaican Independence. The Hop, Forward March, Blazing Fire and the faster Look before you leap being the pick. Housewives choice is still regarded as one of the biggest selling Jamaican records in the UK.

1965 saw a move to Duke Reid with some classics like Around the Corner, Don't call me Daddy and My lover has left me, being the most well known. Rocksteady was emerging come 1966 and the scaled down beat was perfect for a cover of It's Alright, and Coxsone who he cut it for.

There followed a return to Beverly's and Leslie Kong and a return to the charts picking up more on the themes of the day, not hard core consciousness but awareness such as I want to go Home (of Africanism) and Tougher then Tough (Street life generally). The sounds were coming thick and fast 16 tracks from 67 and 12 from 1968 and is my favourite period on here. Hardly a dud track, Kill me Dead is a killer (sic) rhythm. No Dice has a sweet sow soulful delivery, but it is the upbeat sounds complete with catchy melodies and vocal harmonies (I mean it) that are really superb, evoking memories of teenage dancehall's and youth clubs up and down the country. Do the beng beng, Revenge (with Desmond Dekker), Real ding Ding, Horse dead Cow fat, I am the ruler, Want More, Woman a Grumble Ben Johnson Day , Copy Cat (with George Agard) and more duets this time with Pauline Morgan (especialy Someone) they just keep on coming.

By 1968 that purple period was coming to and end but also where we come full circle back to the later version of Fat Man, but also Hold your Jack (to a rhythm everyone will know from Wet Dream and more), through to the skinhead anthem and title track Moon Hop.

Great stuff especially for me CD2.

2-CD SET

  DISC 1:

  Fat Man (1960 version)

  Feel So Fine (with Patsy Todd)

  Teach Me Baby

  The Hop

  See And Blind

  Forward March

  Housewives Choice (with Patsy Todd)

  Be Still (1962 version)

  Are You Going To Marry Me (with Patsy Todd)

  Blazing Fire

  No Raise, No Praise

  Look Before You Leap

  I Found A Queen

  Don't You Worry (with Patsy Todd)

  Street Girl

  I Am A Blackhead Again

  Starvation

  Heart Of Stone (with Naomi)

  Around The Corner

  So Wonderful (with Naomi)

  Don't Call Me Daddy

  My Lover Has Left Me

  It's Alright

  I Want To Go Home

  Tougher Than Tough (Rudie In Court)

  Greedy Gal

  Kill Me Dead

  DISC 2:

  No Dice

  I Mean It

  Do The Bang Beng

  (What A) Revenge (With Desmond Dekker)

  You Never Miss Your Water (with Pauline Morgan)

  Got You On My Mind

  Real Ring Ding

  Horse Dead, Cow Fat

  Someone (with Pauline Morgan)

  Do You Love Me (with Pauline Morgan)

  I Am The Ruler

  Conquering Ruler

  Gimme Back

  Woman A Grumble

  Want More

  King For Tonight (with Pauline Morgan)

  Don't Say (with Pauline Morgan)

  Me Naw Give Up (with George Agard)

  Ben Johnson Day (with George Agard)

  Copy Cat (with George Agard)

  What's Your Grouse

  Johnny Pram Pram (with Desmond Dekker)

  Be Still (1968 version)

  Fat Man (1968 version)

  Hold Your Jack

  Seven Letters

  Moon Hop





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