"...Baba Boom Time..."
Continuing their fabulous excavation of all
things Trojan Records and their many related labels - England's Doctor Bird
Records dig deep this time and come up with a 60ts Rock Steady LP giant. Then
they festoon it with an unreleased album and more unreleased/first-time-on-CD
nuggets than you can shake a Moody Ska at (a whopping 50 cuts). They’ve even
got the uber-rare B-sides to TR 001 and TR 002 on here as bonuses – the first
and second Trojan 45s in the summer of 1967 (see Disc 1). Get your sax out
folks (and I mean that in the nicest possible way)...
UK released Friday, 8 March 2019 (15 March 2019
in the USA) - "Greatest Jamaican Beat - Rock Steady - Baba-Boom Time"
by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Doctor Bird DBCDD-033 (Barcode 5013929273337) is a
50-Track 2CD Reissue and 'Expanded Edition' Remaster of the 1967 LP "Greatest
Jamaican Beat" that plays out as follows:
Disc 1 (78:18 minutes):
"Greatest Jamaican Beat" UK LP
released June 1967 on Doctor Bird DLM-5009
Side 1:
1. Baba Boom (Festival Song 1967) - THE
JAMAICANS (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7012, A-side)
2. Tommy's Rock Steady - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (August 1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7016, B-side of
"Ain't That Loving You' by Alton Ellis And The Friends; also pressed on
Trojan TR-004 in 1967)
3. Drink Wine - THE TECHNIQUES (first
appearance on this LP, later UK-issued 1968 7" single on Treasure Isle
TI-7031, A-side)
4. Hot Rock - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (first appearance on this LP)
5. Release Me - PHYLLIS DILLON (first
appearance on this LP)
6. Hey Leroy (Your Mama's Calling You) - SAM
JONES (first appearance on this LP)
Side 2:
7. Queen Majesty [aka "Majesty And
Queen"] - THE TECHNIQUES (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7019,
A-side)
8. Soul Serenade - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7013, B-side of
"The Same Song" by The Paragons)
9. Mercy Mercy - THE PARAGONS [with Tommy
McCook & The Supersonics] (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7011,
A-side)
10. Don't Touch Me Tomato - PHYLLIS DILLON
(first appearance on this LP)
11. You Don't Need Me - THE MELODIANS (1967 UK
7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7006, A-side)
12. Down On Bond Street [aka "Don On Bond
Street" and Travelling on Bond Street"] - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7001, B-side of
"You Don't Care")
BONUS TRACKS:
13. You Should've Known Better - THE TREE TOPS
(1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7008, B-side of "Do It
Right" credited as 3 Tops)
14. I've Got A Pain - THE JAMAICANS (1967 UK
7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7007, B-side of "Things You Said You
Loved")
15. Lie Low - THE GLADIATORS (not originally
released)
16. Fight Too Much - JUSTIN HINDS & THE
DOMINOES (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7005, B-side of
"Carry Go Bring Come" - for A-side see Track 19 on Disc 1)
17. I Know Just How She Feels [aka "Far
Away Love"] - THE MELODIANS (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle
TI-7022, B-side of "I Caught You")
18. What Kind Of Fool - THE TREASURE ISLE BOYS
(June 1967 UK 7" single on Island WI-3047, B-side of "1, 2, 3
Kick" - for A-side see Track 16 on Disc 2)
19. Carry Go Bring Come (Rock Steady Version) -
JUSTIN HINDS & THE DOMINOES (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle
TI-7005, A-side - for B-side see Track 16 on Disc 1)
20. Matthew, Mark, Luke & John - NORMAN
GRANT (not originally released)
21. I'm Am Sorry - GLORIA & FRANKLIN
(previously unreleased in the UK)
22. Tears In My Eyes - ERIC MORRIS (not
originally released)
23. Once A Man (Alternate Version) - JUSTIN
HINDS & THE DOMINOES (not originally released)
24. You Have Caught Me (Alternate Version) -
THE MELODIANS (not originally released in the UK)
25. Do It Right (Alternate Version) - THE TREE
TOPS (not originally released in the UK)
Disc 2 (77:05 minutes):
"Soul-Rock-Steady" by TOMMY McCOOK
& THE SUPERSONICS
Track 2 is credited to Lynn Tait with Tommy
McCook and The Supersonics
Track 6 is credited to Lynn Tait with Tommy
McCook and Lester Sterling
Previously Unreleased, An Unissued 1968 UK
12-Track Album on Treasure Isle
Side 1:
1. Soul Rock (December 1967 UK 7" single
on Trojan TR-009, Tommy McCook B-side of "Wise Birds Follow Spring"
by Alton Ellis and The Flames)
2. Spanish Eyes (1966 UK 7" single on
Doctor Bird DB-1047, A-side with Lynn Tait)
3. Never To Be Mine [aka "O Solo Mio"
and "It's Now Or Never"] (July 1967 UK 7" single on Trojan
TR-001 by Roland Alphonso (with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics), B-side to
Duke Reid doing "Judge Sympathy")
4. Indian Love Call (1967 UK 7" single on
Doctor Bird DB 1053, A-side)
5. Starry Night (July 1967 UK 7" single on
Trojan TR-002, B-side to "Fook Sang" by Tony & Dennis)
6. The Yellow Basket [aka "A Tisket, A
Tasket"] (1967 UK 7" single on Doctor Bird DB 1059, B-side to
"I've Got A Date" by Alton Ellis and The Flames
Side 2:
7. Inez - LESTER STERLING with TOMMY McCOOK and
THE SUPERSONICS (1966 UK 7" single on Doctor Bird DB-1057, A-side)
8. Sir Don [aka "Yeh Yeah"] - TOMMY
McCOOK and THE SUPERSONICS (December 1967 UK 7" single on Trojan TR-011,
B-side of "I Am A Loving Pauper" by Dobby Dobson)
9. Saboo - THE MOVING BROTHERS (June 1967 UK
7" single on Island WI-3049, B-side of "Darling I Love You" and
reissued later in 1967 with the sides reversed on Treasure Isle TI-7018 -
"Saboo" as the A)
10. What Now? [Theme from Dr. Zhivago] - TOMMY
McCOOK (1967 UK 7" single on Doctor Bird DB-1061, B-side of "Don't
Stay Away" by Phillis Dillon)
11. Zazuka - THE TREASURE BOYS [featuring Tommy
McCook & The Supersonics] (January 1968 UK 7" single on Trojan TR-010,
B-side to "Love Is A Treasure" - both sides originally credited to
The Treasure Boys)
12. Train to Ska-Thedral (Winchester Cathedral)
(first appeared on the 1967 Various Artists UK Mono album "Duke Reid
Rock's Steady" on Island ILP 958)
BONUS TRACKS:
13. Wall Street Shuffle - TOMMY McCOOK &
THE SUPERSONICS (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7004, B-side to
"Rock Steady" by Alton Ellis and The Flames)
14. Sweet And Gentle - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (May 1967 UK 7" single on Island WI-3045, B-side to "On
The Beach " by The Paragons)
15. Moody Ska - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (first appeared on the 1968 UK Various Artists Mono LP
"Jamaican Memories" on Blue Cat Records BCL-1)
16. One, Two, Three Kick - TOMMY McCOOK &
THE SUPERSONICS (June 1967 UK 7" single on Island WI-3047, A-side, for
B-side see Track 18 on Disc 1)
17. Jam Session - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (1967 UK 7" single on Doctor Bird DB-1058, B-side of
"Jezebel" by Lloyd and Glenn)
18. Sweet Lorna - BOBBY ELLIS with TOMMY McCOOK
& THE SUPERSONICS (not originally released in the UK)
19. Nocturn - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (previously unreleased)
20. Continental - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (1970 Jamaican 7" single on Duke Reid Records, B-side to "You
Made Me Happy" (a Blood Sweat & Tears cover). But in the UK it was
issued as "Duke's Reggae" on the B-side of a 1970 UK 7" single
on Duke Reid DR-2512, A-side is "You Made Me So Happy" by Alton
Ellis)
21. The Shadow Of Your Smile - TOMMY McCOOK
& THE SUPERSONICS (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle TI-7020, B-side
of "Cool Down" by The Silvertones)
22. Persian Cat (Once In A Persian Market
Place) - TOMMY McCOOK & THE SUPERSONICS (1967 UK 7" single on Treasure
Isle TI-7017 as "Once A Man", B-side of "Persian Cat" by
Justine Hines)
23. Real Cool - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (1967 UK 7" single as "Soul Serenade" on Treasure
Isle TI-7013, B-side of "The Same Song" by The Paragons)
24. Our Man Flint [aka "Sway"] -
TOMMY McCOOK & THE SUPERSONICS (1968 UK 7" single on Treasure Isle
TI-7039, A-side)
25. Michelle - TOMMY McCOOK & THE
SUPERSONICS (not originally released in the UK, Beatles cover)
Long-time collector and Soul/Reggae aficionado
TONY ROUNCE has penned the deep detailed liner notes in the pleasingly fat
16-page booklet. The album was released in the UK first in 1967 with a text
sleeve front and rear (I've never seen one) and amazingly both sides are
depicted here along with the different artwork and labels for the Jamaican
pressing issued later that same year. There are press adverts for the
'Ba-Ba-Boom!' sure shot, Tommy and his Supersonic crew looking suitably
silver-suited lounge club as they catch that last train to Skasville and of
course, pages of those gorgeous British and Jamaican 45 label repros -
including one with the rare slightly Psych looking Doctor Bird label bag - a
very hard-to-find item in Britain and something that used to get collectors
excited in Reckless whenever they were scampering through the New Arrivals
Reggae boxes. But best of all is the 3M Magnetic Master Tape pictured in full
on Page 13 for the unreleased Mono 1968 LP by Tommy McCook & The Supersonics
- "Soul-Rock-Steady" - its 12-tracks lined up on CD here as they were
on the original reel. Fantastico...
Compiled by Trojan Records keeper-of-the-flame
LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT and mastered by one of my fave Audio Engineers ANDY
PEARCE and I'm frankly ready to touch my tomato down on Bond Street (no matter
what Phyllis Dillon might think – see Track 10 on Disc 1) and go ba-ba-boom
baby (if you know what I mean). Let's get to the music before we get arrested
for enjoying ourselves too much...
I think Andy Pearce had his work cut out for
him on this one - lo-fi is the word. Having said that and even forgiving the
terrible Phyllis Dillon cover of Englebert Humperdinck's "Release Me"
- stuff like The Techniques hitting those top notes on "Queen
Majesty" (they wanna meet her) and the cool Instrumental "Hot
Rock" or even the utterly infectious "Ba Ba Boom" - a festival
winner in 1967 - it all sounds better than I've heard it before. Just don't go
expecting audiophile miracles. Digging the decidedly fruity (and I don't five a
day) "Don't Touch Me Tomato" where Phyllis Dillon don't mind you
rubbing up her Pumpkin or Potato but its no go for the round plumb ones. Fab
drum whacks on the "I've Got A Pain" by The Jamaicans where the poor
lad's heart is in flitters and the doctor's little blue pill ain't helping his
pining a whole lot. Body swaying dancers will shuffle to the cool breeze that
is "Lie Low" by The Gladiators - the boys telling neighbours to love
each other and stop the aggro of an evening. Rock Steady collectors will surely
have a soft spot for the recorded-in-a-bucket but oozing fun "Fight Too
Much" where going to certain schools is a precarious business. Of the
unreleased, a real find is "I'm Am Sorry" - an atmospheric
done-you-wrong smoocher from Gloria Crawford and possibly Franklyn White (of
The Techniques). Pretty too is "Tears In My Eyes" by Eric Morris -
the closest the whole 2CD set gets to Soul-Reggae.
Over on CD2 we get the impossibly rare
unreleased album "Soul-Rock-Steady" which sounds a lot like its title
- a slew of shuffling Reggae instrumentals based on Tommy's horn playing - Rock
Steady beats with a hint of Soul in the fills. With limp covers of
"Spanish Eyes" and "Never To Be Mine" - it feels at time
like budget compilation until you get to the cuts like "Soul Rock"
and the jaunty "Sir Don" - a cool cover of Georgie Fame's "Yeh,
Yeh". The production on the "Saboo" track suddenly lifts up -
probably the best cut on the LP - Tommy's trumpet pace so languid (it would
become both an A and B-side). All aboard
the last "Train To Ska-Thedral" - a wicked finisher that rightly
earned its place on the ludicrously rare "Duke Reid Rock's Steady" LP
in 1967 (an Island Records compilation). Off the Bonus Tracks - you gotta love
the "1, 2, 3 Kick" organ-and-rhythm groover (gorgeous stuff) and
"Real Cool" lives up to its sexy title - a nicely recorded Sax and
Shuffle dancer and for me one of the 2CDs highlights.
Not for everyone, but those who dig their real
Rock Steady will be licking their lips on this one, and as you can see from the
list below, England's Doctor Bird Records are fast winning hearts out there in
the Reggae shires and hedgerows. Moody
Ska indeed...
2017 and 2018 Doctor Bird Records CD Reissues
(Featuring Larges Amounts of Trojan Records, Treasure Isle, Pama 60s & 70s etc)
(Featuring Larges Amounts of Trojan Records, Treasure Isle, Pama 60s & 70s etc)
1. BOB ANDY & MARCIA GRIFFITHS - Young, Gifted And Black/Pied Pier (May 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-014 - Barcode 5013929271432)
2. ERROL BROWN/THE REVOLUTIONAIRES – Dubb Everlasting/Dub Expression [1977 and 1978 High Note 2LPs on 1CD] (November 2017, Doctor Bird DBCD-07 – Barcode 5013929270732)
3. DAVE & ANSEL COLLINS – Double Barrel (June 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-016 - Barcode 5013929271630)
4. DESMOND DECKER & THE ACES – Action!/Intensified (August 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCD-025 – Barcode 5013929272538)
5. DESMOND DEKKER – You Can Get It If You Really Want (September 2018 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-015 - Barcode 5013929271531)
6. DESMOND DEKKER – Double Dekker [1973 UK 2LP set onto 1CD] (November 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-018 – Barcode 5013929271838)
7. PHYLLIS DILLON – One Life To Live (September 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-021 – Barcode 5013929272132)
8. ETHIOPIANS – Reggae Power/Woman Capture Man (January 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-10 – Barcode 5013929271036)
9. MARCIA GRIFFITHS – Naturally/Steppin’ [1978 and 1979 2LPs on 1CD] (August 2017 CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-002 – Barcode 5013929270237)
10. DERRICK HARRIOTT & THE CRYSTALITES – Psychedelic Train (October 2017 CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-05 – Barcode 5013929270534)
11. HARRY J. ALL STARS - Liquidator (June 2008 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-012 - Barcode 5013929271234)
12. JUSTIN HINDS & THE DOMINOES – From Jamaica With Reggae (February 2018 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-09 – Barcode 5013929270930)
13. THE KINGSTONIANS – Sufferer (September 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-03 – Barcode 5013929270336)
14. THE MAYTALS – Monkey Man/From The Roots (July 2018 2LPs on 1CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-017 – Barcode 5013929271739)
15. THE PIONEERS – Long Shot/Battle Of The Giants (September 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-019 – Barcode 5013929271937)
16. THE UNIQUES - Absolutely The...Uniques (January 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-011 - Barcode 5013929271135)
17. THE UPSETTERS – The Upsetter/Scratch The Upsetter Again (October 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-022 – Barcode 5013929272231)
18. THE UPSETTERS – Return Of Django/Eastwood Rides Again (May 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-013 - Barcode 5013929271333)
19. VARIOUS – Dancing Down Orange Street [Trojan 1969 LP] (September 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-04 – Barcode 5013929270435)
20. VARIOUS – Gay Feet, Every Night (October 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-06 – Barcode 5013929270633)
21. VARIOUS – Greater Jamaica Moonwalk Reggae/Reggay At Its Best (October 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-030 – Barcode 5013929273030)
22. VARIOUS – Hot Shots Of Reggae (November 2017 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-08 – Barcode 5013929270831)
23. VARIOUS – King Size Reggae (November 2018, Doctor Bird DBCD-026 – Barcode 5013929272637)
24. VARIOUS – No More Heartaches/What Am I To Do? [2LPs from 1969 and 1970 onto 1CD] (August 2017, Doctor Bird DBCD-01 – Barcode 5013929270138)
25. VARIOUS [Duke Reid and Treasure Isle Productions] – Soul Of Jamaica/Here Comes The Duke (August 2018 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-024 – Barcode 5013929272439)
2019 Doctor Bird Records CD Reissues
1. ROLAND ALPHANSO & THE ORIGINAL ORCHESTRA – ABC Rock Steady (April 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 43 Bonus Tracks, Doctor Bird DBCDD-023 – Barcode 5013929272330)
2. DENNIS BROWN – Just Dennis/Deep Down (April 2019 2CD Expanded Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-027 – Barcode 5013929272736)
3. ERROL BROWN & THE REVOLUTIONARIES – Culture Dub & Medley Dub (12 July 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 25 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-038 – Barcode 5013929273832)
4. ERROL BROWN & THE SUPERSONICS – The Treasure Dub Albums Collection (13 September 2019 2CD Expanded Set with Eight Previously Unreleased, Doctor Bird DBCDD-043 – Barcode 5013929274334)
5. ALTON ELLIS – Greatest Hits/Mr. Soul Of Jamaica [known as Greatest Hits in the UK] (11 October 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 47 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-045 – Barcode 5013929274532)
6. THE ETHIOPIANS – Engine No. 5 (17 May 2019 1CD Expanded Set with 17 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-035 – Barcode 5013929273535)
7. THE GAYLADS – Fire And Rain (14 June 2019 1CD Expanded Set with 13 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-036 – Barcode 5013929273634)
8. JOHN HOLT – Like A Bolt (January 2019 Expanded CD, Doctor Bird DBCD-029 – Barcode 5013929272934)
9. THE MELODIANS – Rivers Of Babylon (9 August 2019 Expanded 1CD Set with 15 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCD-041 – Barcode 5013929274136)
10. DERRICK MORGAN – Moon Hop/Derrick Morgan In London (April 2019 Expanded 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-032 – Barcode 5013929273238)
11. DERRICK MORGAN – Derrick Morgan And His Friends (12 July 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 24 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-039 – Barcode 5013929273931)
12. SONIA POTTINGER – Put On Your Best Dress: Ska & Rock Steady 1966-1967 (14 June 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 35 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-037 – Barcode 5013929273733)
13. LORD TANAMO & FRIENDS – Festival Jump-Up [1965] (15 November 2019 Expanded 2CD Reissue of 1965 LP with 40 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-046 – Barcode 5013929274631)
14. LINVAL THOMPSON – The Linval Thompson Trojan Roots Album Collection [including two LPs by Big Joe & The Trinity called “African Princess” and “Rock In The Ghetto” and one Linval Thompson LP called “I Love Marijuana”) (11 October 2019 Expanded 2CD Set with 10 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-044 – Barcode 5013929274433)
15. LINVAL THOMPSON & THE REVOLUTIONAIRES – Negrea Love Dub/Outlaw Dub [1978 and 1979] (15 November 2019 Reissue featuring 2LPs onto 1CD (no bonus), Doctor Bird DBCD-047 – Barcode 5013929274730)
16. THE UPSETTERS featuring LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY – Clint Eastwood/Many Moods Of The Upsetters (April 2019 2CD Expanded Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-034 – Barcode 5013929273436)
17. VARIOUS – The Down Town Albums Collection [Down Town Label] (February 2019 2CD Set, Doctor Bird Records DBCDD-020 - Barcode 5013929272033)
18. VARIOUS – Gay Jamaican Independence Time – Boom Sha-Ka-La (17 May 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 35 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-028 – Barcode 5013929272835)
19. VARIOUS – Greatest Jamaican Beat... (March 2019 2CD Set, Doctor Bird DBCDD-033 – Barcode 5013929273337)
20. VARIOUS – Independence Jump Up Calypso (9 August 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 46 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-040 – Barcode 5013929274037)
21. VARIOUS – The Treasure Isle Ska Albums Collection (January 2019 2CD Set [4LPs and more], Doctor Bird DBCDD-031 – Barcode 5013929273139)
22. VARIOUS – You Can’t Wine/Music Alone Shall Live (13 September 2019 2CD Expanded Set with 33 Bonus, Doctor Bird DBCDD-042 - Barcode 5013929274235)
