Here we have a 2CD collection from the above years, featuring recordings from the above years and released on the Creole label. Many of these have never appeared on CD before and these four albums have been unavailable for over 50 years. In the mid-’60s, Bruce White and Tony Cousins formed the Artists Management Company Entertainment and signed up many of Jamaica’s top artists. In late 1968 Reggae exploded onto the international music scene and Creole Music Ltd was set-up and started putting out quality material. The first artists to record were The Hippy Boys who, with Lee Perry were recording as The Upsetters, this was late 1969. They recorded the album ‘The Good, The Bad & The Upsetters’ and it was licensed to Trojan Records. Further artists recorded and Trojan issued the ‘Reggae Steady Go Vol 1’ album. Rhino records was launched by Bruce and Tony and on the Creole imprint they had their first UK hit with Bruce Ruffin’s ‘Mad About You’. We now take a look at a selection of the tracks from the four featured albums along with bonus tracks.
DISC ONE
THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UPSETTERS
1. CAPO. After an organ intro this moves into a fast instrumental sound. The organ returns from time-to-time throughout and although the track does go around-and-around it is very catchy and a good start to the collection. 3. GUNS OF NAVARONE. This is a well known tune and off course as on a vast amount of The Upsetter recordings we hear the organ and some fine instrument playing and this is a laid-back instrumental. Apart from this album the tune appears on the various artist album ‘Guns Of Navarone’ amongst others. 5. STRAIGHT TO THE HEAD. Starting off with a spoken intro it moves into another fast-moving slice of instrumental Reggae that has some fine organ work along with laid-back drumming. This tends to go nowhere but is a typical Upsetter recording. 8. FAMILY MAN. Organ is the dominant sound on the rhythm track and along with with drumming it come across as a catchy number and gets the feet-tapping. Released on Trojan (7″) in 1970. 10. MAMA LOOK. On the original 7″ single the title was prefixed by in brackets Monkey Man and it is nothing more than a version of the Toots & The Maytals recording. It actually lends itself well to this recording and again is foot-tapping material. Released in UK 1970 (7″) as b side to ‘Capo’. 12. THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY. This starts off with heavy drumming before going into a version of the film theme. The tune lends itself well to this genre and is another typical Upsetter recording. This was co-written by Glenroy Adams who was a member of the Upsetters.
VARIOUS ARTISTS – REGGAE STEADY GO Vol. 1
13. TO SIR WITH LOVE – The Pyramids. Naturally this is a version of the film theme and comes with a full-on vocal over a punchy rhythm track. This has some floating orchestral sounds and makes this a commercial sound. The Pyramids ended up as Symarip a few years later. Released on Trojan label (7″) in 1970. 15. FEEL ALRIGHT – The Pyramids. Comes with a good vocal and again has a punchy rhythm track. The Pyramids were one of the UK’s leading Reggae bands and this shows the listener why this was. Released in UK on Duke label (Trojan Records) in 1970. 18. MADEMOISELLE NINETTE. This comes as a fast sound by Desmond Dekker’s backing band and they do a fine job on this. Good organ work on a laid-back rhythm track. Pleasing recording this and the song was also recorded by The Soulful Dynamics, whoever they were. 20. HOLD IT BABY – Al Barry. This is a fast punchy Reggae sound on which the listener hears Al Barry who sang with The Cimarons and The Aces. This is a pleasing slice of top Reggae and finishes off this disc competently.
BONUS TRACKS
21. ALL FOR YOU – The Pyramids. Starting of slowly it then goes into a fast Boss Reggae sound with a pleasing vocal. The overall make-up of this is catchy and the track appears on the ‘Skinhead Moonstop’ cd, by this time The Pyramids had become Symarip. 24. REGGAE SHUFFLE – The Pyramids. Produced by Bruce Anthony this is a fast instrumental on which the lead guitar is the dominant sound. Not really a classic Reggae recording, just pleasant.
DISC TWO
VARIOUS ARTISTS – READY STEADY GO
1. MAD ABOUT YOU – Bruce Ruffin. This is a fast sound and one that made the UK charts back in 1972. This is commercial Reggae and comes with some funny comic style vocals around half way through and some good on-and-off trombone. Probably a hit due to being very catchy and released on the Rhino label. 3. SHACKATAC – Dave Barker. This is not unlike the sound found on ‘Double Barell’ when Dave was joined by Ansel Collins. It has an on-and-off semi-vocal with a fast rhythm track that is very catchy. Another recording that came out on the Rhino Label in 1972. 5. SAVE THE PEOPLE – Bruce Ruffin. This is a self-penned recording that has a clear and pleasing vocal along with a punchy rhythm track. Although this comes without any orchestration it still has the commercial feel. Released in UK on Rhino label in 1972. 7. STINGO – The Pyramids. Another fast sound which has the piano as the prominent instrument. The rhythm track comes fast and punchy and again it is a catchy instrumental recording.
VARIOUS ARTISTS – BIG 12 – REGGAE STEADY GO
8. CRAZY PEOPLE – Bruce Ruffin. Bruce was a top vocalist and it shows this fast-moving sound. It has a commercial feel and has some light percussion. Overall this is very likeable. Another Rhino label release. 9. BE MY BABY – Honey Boy & The Aces. This is a cover version of The Ronettes big UK/US hit from the early 60’s and it is a good version. On the original 7″ it was credited to The Aces but now has Honey Boy is given a credit. This comes as commercial Reggae with some floating strings and the main vocal also comes with a group chorus. The Reggae beat is not pronounced, overall a good version of a good song. 12. BLUE MOON – Winston Francis. This is a fast commercial cover of The Marcels hit from way back. Winston does a fine job on the vocal, helped-out by a further backing chorus. This stands-up well to the above mentioned recording and could well have made the UK charts, but didn’t. Winston has always been an underrated singer. 15. MOTHER’S BATH – The Pyramids. This is a fast Boss Reggae instrumental sound with a punchy rhythm track. Organ takes the lead for the backing track and even though it is not the most inventive recording, it is catchy. 18. CAN’T LEAVE NOW – The Pyramids. This is a mid-tempo sound that has a punchy rhythm track and a clear vocal which becomes a group vocal at times, there is also some percussion on-and-off. Overall this is a pleasant enough recording. Released on a blue/white Creole label in 1971. 19. SMOOTH AND SORTS – DAVE BARKER. If you have liked Dave Barker over the years then this will not disappoint. Dave does not really sing on this, more of a talk-over. The rhythm track is just a punchy organ that dose not really go anywhere, a catchy number nevertheless. 21. MOSQUITO BITE – The Pyramids. This has a punchy rhythm track and a vocal that is hard to understand. The vocal is a combined group effort and doesn’t come across as anything special. Not one of the better tracks on this collection. 23. BUTLER’S CROSS – The Chequers. This was the b side to the previous instrumental track by this outfit, ‘Everyday’ and is a mid-tempo sound. Organ is the prominent instrument on a punchy rhythm track and overall it is a catchy toe-tapping recording. Released on Rhino label in 1972. 24. TEARDROPS – The Pyramids. This starts off with organ and percussion before going into a fast Boss Reggae sound on which the lead vocalist is joined by a female backing chorus. This was the b side of the previously reviewed track ‘Can’t Leave Now’ and as the final track on the collection it is pleasant enough.
CONCLUSION
Creole Records were a highly influential record company and this is a good collection of their recordings from the early ’70s. Jamaican music recorded and produced in Britain created a thriving music industry in the UK and one can see why from the reviewed tracks. It is good to have a collection based around a British record label and one thanks Cherry Red Records for making this available on the Doctor Bird imprint. At £14 99p it will enhance any Jamaican music collection.