Review | Dennis Walks – Belly Lick

Harlem Shuffle Records, based in the UK, is once again making a strong impact with a series of captivating new releases. This reissue label is steadily advancing, consistently delighting us by reviving forgotten treasures that have been lost to time—treasures that usually fetch outrageous prices in the second-hand market because of how rare they are.

Among reggae fans, Jamaican artist Dennis Walks is no stranger, his name forever linked to iconic tracks like The Drifter and Heart Don’t Leap—recorded under the guidance of producer Harry Mudie in the late 1960s. However, before his success with Mudie, he recorded a series of tracks for a then-up-and-coming producer, Joe Gibbs, one of which was the memorable Belly Lick. Issued in 1968 in the UK via the Blue Cat label and in Jamaica on Gibbs’ Amalgamated Records, Belly Lick artfully combines the raw energy of early reggae with the time-honored mento style, generating a repetitive yet infectious beat that pulses with fun and vitality.

Switching sides, we find Drumbago & The Blenders. Jamaican drummer and bandleader Drumbago, born Auckland Alvin Parkes, was a vital force behind the development of Jamaican music despite his premature passing in 1969. His track, The Game Song, is a spirited instrumental that hurtles forward like a roller coaster, buoyed by a robust horn section and an electrifying jittery guitar riff that elevates its ecstatic feel. Wicked!