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reviewedTrojan Jamaican R&B Box Set
Released on 16 September 2002
Massive 50 tracker of early 60's Jamaican R&B. Clearly I am unable to concentrate on all tracks but I will make comments on some of those that do it for me. I don't particularly care for the jazzy, jamma, boogie woogie, Louis Jordan, Jim Dandy to the rescue, sort of material and there is plenty here if you like that kind of thing. It is however extremely relevant in plotting the early career of the likes of Rico Rodriguez and Roland Alphonso in pre Skatalites times.
This set is predominantly, as the title would suggest, pre ska but the ska beat is starting to emerge and it is on these tracks that there is a certain freshness and defiance as Independence approaches and overtakes.
If you are into early Jamaican things then there is gonna be something on here for you, and some cracking stuff too.
The tracklisting with my comments inserted:-
1. I wanna love - Jiving Juniors & Duke Reid Group
For me the Jiving Juniors are the best thing on the entire album and there are a number of tracks to choose from. They all possess true vocal harmonies more in a doowop style than straight R&B. I believe that the group was led by Derrick Harriott on these early Duke Reid productions.
2. Drinkin' whiskey - Aitken, Laurel
Also on the set is the early material from the great laurel Aitken including this almost straight R&B with twangy guitar and erratic drums.
3. Pleading for mercy - Blues Busters & Luther 'Wee Williams' Orchestra
Smooth shmaltzy ballad, almost teen pop
4. Japanese Girl - Lloyd Clarke
Getting into Ska terittory here from 1962, great track
More early cuts from one of the great names of Ska later on, Owen Gray, one of several tracks featured.
6 I don't want to cry Jimmy James with Hersang Combo
Good track and I'm sure this is a straight US cover even though it is not credited as such. I know the track or at least one extremely similar, it'll come to me!
7 I won't cry - Derrick Harriott
Derrick showing his soul roots and influences again on this searing soul ballad.
8. Sweeter than honey - Chuck & Dobby/Duke Reid Orchestra
9. My hearts desire - Jiving Juniors & Duke Reid Group
Doowop almost Rock n Roll, great vocals once again.
10. Low Down Dirty Girl - Aitken, Laurel
Laurel starts to really cook on this one, choppy beats are emerging, stronger than R&B smoothness
11. Worried over you - Keith & Enid/Trenton Spence Group
12. Continental Shuffle - Rico with the Matador All Stars
13. Mash it (parts 1 and 2) - Gray, Owen
14. Oh my - Morgan, Derrick
Along with the other greats of Ska we also have Derrick Morgan on this wonderful and influential Duke Reid cut in 1960
15. Walkin' down the street - Beckford, Theo & Sir Dee's Group
16. Till the end of time - Chuck & Dobby/Duke Reid Orchestra
17. Album of memory - Mellowlarks & Kenneth Richards Band
18. Judgement day - Aitken, Laurel & Kenneth Richards/Harmonisers
Killer cut by Laurel with solos by Rico Rodriquez, great groove to this and impassioned vocal.
19. Parapinto Boogie - Lloyd Clark with Duke Reid and his Group
20. Lollipop girl - Jiving Juniors & Duke Reid Group
Twee lyrics but Oh so fine vocals again - the Juniors are really stand out tracks for me on this album
21. Bridgeview Shuffle - Roland Alphonso with The Matador All Stars
More Boogie Woogie
22. Oh my love - Derrick & Patsy
Derrick Morgan of course
23. Jenny Lee - Gray, Owen
Rock and Roll type number including the sax break
24. Lost my baby - Blues Busters
25. Tonight and ever more - Cosmo & Dennis
Another fine cut with the ska beat starting to pre emanate, also odd in that when the horn break comes in it is very much old style jazzy beats
26. Hey diddle diddle - Brown, Kent & Sir Dee's group
27. Now I know the reason - Clarke, Lloyd & Smithie's Sextet
Great slowie with excellent soulful vocals
28. Honey girl - Aitken, Laurel
29. Magic - Rico & Duke Reid All stars
30. I love you - Jiving Juniors & Duke Reid Group
Straight doowop
31. Early one morning - Blues Busters with Luther Wee Willie Williams
32. The Wasp - The Bubbles
Jimmy McCracklin - The walk - kind of beat
33. Come on baby - Gray, Owen & Sonny Bradshaw Quartet
34. I need some lovin' - Blues Busters & Luther 'Wee Williams' Orchestra
35. Rosabel - Magic Notes & Drumbago/Jazz Beat
Kind of Doowop again but this time with a harder drum beat as is usual with Drumbago with African and Rasta sensitivities
Shirley and Lee meet Derrick & Patsy
Awesome track which previously appeared on a "hideously rare" German compilation some 20 years ago. I recall it as being fairly common so I was astonished that there was only a run of 300
One the Independence compilation and comments elsewhere
Starts of a bit Boogie Woogie until the vocal kicks in and then it metamorphosises into a ska beat.
43. Dearest darling - Jiving Juniors & Duke Reid Group
Can't help but comment on the Juniors - good stuff again
The boy girl duets were extremely popular, most don't do much for me but this one has a certain charm, but I think it's the driving beat and instrumental breaks that hit rather than the vocal accomplishment!
Great track with religious/ rasta lyrics in a chanting style
46. Blues from the hills - Rodriquez, Rico
47. Rocking in my feet - Gray, Owen & The Jets
Great downbeat track
Driving instrumental and the best of it's ilk on this compilation...by far
I don't think I've commented thus far on the Blues Busters but they are worthy of mention - don't quite make it to the ranks of the Juniors in my humble opinion but good nevertheless and all of their featured tracks are strong
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