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Symarip – Skinhead Moonstomp

Released on 16 February 2004. -

All the tracks come from the period 1969 to 1971 and as Symarip, Pyramids or Seven letters these guys were extremely busy. The sleeve notes explain how and why there were various names so I won't replicate the reasons here.

As Symarip the songs were cult, indeed Moonstomp was and is probably the ultimate in cult. They saw the market place and went for it. Moonstomp, jamboree, skinhead girl, Phoenix city and the like are humorous and fitting to the era, but I'm a puppet and Must catch a train are great songs with wonderful harmonies. Even Fung Shu was of the moment given the penchant for kung fu movies.

You might think that each different name would have it's own style but that wasn't really the case. As Seven Letters there was again humour, instrumentals, and plaintive male vocal harmonies such as There goes my heart.

Similarly the mainstay outfit of the Pyramids had the out and out screaming skin reggae such Geronimo, catchy instrumentals like Stingo, and vocals like To Sir with Love, Teardrops falling and All for you.

Indeed the whole thing is pretty bizarre but all in all this is a good package from the memories that the 'anthems' invoke, but also for some great vocal cuts. In fact the latter is the most surprising because i don't really remember them from that perspective.

 

SYMARIP - THE PYRAMIDS AND SEVEN LETTERS: Skinhead Moonstomp: The Best Of (TJACD154)

 

Format: CD album
Released:
Availability: Not in stock: order for despatch in 3 to 28 days
Price: £8.20




As Symarip- the group cut the ever-popular title track of this compilation that belatedly made its way onto the UK listings in 1980- following The Specials' celebrated live rendering of the song- featured on their best-selling Live EP. The track is of course included here- along with a number of hard-to-find Skinhead classics from the late sixties and early seventies- while- as an added bonus- the set closes with their first recording as Symarip in more than 30 years- 'Back From The Moon'.

 

 

Tracklisting

  Skinhead Moonstomp (as Symarip) - Listen

  Geronimo (as The Pyramids) - Listen

  Skinhead Jamboree (as Symarip) - Listen

  Stingo (As The Pyramids) - Listen

  I'm A Puppet (as Symparip) - Listen

  To Sir With Love (as The Pyramids) - Listen

  Flour Dumpling (as Seven Letters) - Listen

  Telstar (as The Pyramids) - Listen

  Skinhead Girl (as Symarip) - Listen

  Mosquito Bite (as The Pyramids) - Listen

  The Fit (as Seven Letters) - Listen

  Feel Alright (as The Pyramids) - Listen

  Parson's Corner (as Symarip) - Listen

  Can't Leave Now (as The Pyramids) - Listen

  Phoenix City (as Symarip) - Listen

  Reggae Shuffle (as The Pyramids) - Listen

  There Goes My Heart (as Seven Letters) - Listen

  All For You (as The Pyramids) - Listen

  La Bella Jig (as Symarip) - Listen

  Bam Bam Baji (as Seven Letters) - Listen

  Stay With Him (as The Pyamids) - Listen

  Fung Shu (as Symarip) - Listen

  Teardrops (as The Pyramids) - Listen

  Must Catch A Train (as Symarip) - Listen

  Back From The Moon (New recording as Symarip) - Listen

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