At long last a second post.
Today three tunes from probably the greatest musical nation on earth...Jamaica! Not to mention from that decade of greatness...the 1960s.
Anyone who knows me will as a DJ (in London at least) will tell you I play Ska/Rocksteady and not much else. This is a totally unfair pigeon holing of my broad tastes and talents but does reflect my passion for said styles! Actually I make a very good wedding DJ (always available for hire) and have an almost equal passion for soul, funk, rhythm n blues, roots, dancehall, jungle, hip hop, avant-garde rock etc etc etc.
So these three Gotham City greats are from, as the title says, the moody end of the spectrum. There is an inherent menace and growl to them - not threatening, just potent!
First up, 'Coming on the Scene' by Johnny & the Attractions. This was released in 1968 on the Gayfeet Record label and produced by Sonia Pottinger, the only female Jamaican record label owner/producer in the 60s. Not much is known about the band as they only released four 45s, but each of the seven tunes they recorded is outstanding. The lead singer, Johnny, is reportedly an artist named Johnnie Johnson who now lives in Florida and who also sang with the Techniques at some stage. There is another name on the 45, Dudley Williamson, but I'm unaware as to his relationship to the tune, perhaps composer or a guest lead singer? Regardless the song has a unique feel and rhythm. A friend of mine thinks it sounds too rock, but to me it has a classic 60s psychedelic feel and an irresistible keyboard line and rock steady beat.
Next up is the Kingstonians with ‘Put Down Your Fire’ on a blank JJs record label. Carl 'Sir JJ' Johnson owned a record or juke box outlet at 133 Orange Street from where he set up his record label in 1966. He produced several tunes with the Kingstonians, the best known of which is Winey Winey a popular tune in the late 60s in the UK. Put Down Your Fire came out in 1968 and in it Jackie Bernard implores the protagonist to, “put down your fire, you want some water”. He needs to calm down his aggression because “you act this way and you’ll never have no friends”. The musical backing is provided by Lynn Taitt & The Jets (also on ‘Coming On the Scene’) and pops and swings in inimitable Lynn Taitt style. Nerlynn Taitt, was born in San Fernando, Trinidad where, he took up the guitar aged just 14 (gotta love Wikipedia). He moved to Jamaica in 1962 and until august 1968 when he emigrated to Canada he was one of the islands best band leaders, musical directors/arrangers and not least guitarists! The little flick of the Lynn Taitt ‘ting’ is almost ubiquitous in the best Rock Steady tunes in 1967/68. Lynn died in 2010 and is sorely missed.
So finally to tune three – Shanty Town by the Soul Brothers on the Island label from 1966. This was the year that Ska started slowing down and eventually metamorphosing into Rock Steady. This is a take on Summertime and features the Studio One ‘house’ band the Soul Brothers led by Roland Alphonso and Jackie Mittoo. This was one of the two bands that came out of the breakup of the Skatalites, the other being Tommy McCook and the Supersonics at Treasure Isle. I must admit that Summertime (along with Ain’t No Sunshine!) is one of my favourite melodies and I’m a complete sucker for any cover version. This one however has a completely different feel to most – it is strained, almost strangulated and has more of the sadness of the tune to the fore. Oh and it pumps along very nicely!
Next time some more Studio One. Goodnight from Gotham city!
