Get Ready, It's Rocksteady; The Story Of Jamaican Music

[Pete S]

HISTORY OF JAMAICAN MUSIC PART 5: GET READY, ITS ROCKSTEADY * * * * *

With the Rudeboy sound taking over from Ska, and with Jamaica in the grip of a particularly hot summer, the frantic sounds of Ska inevitably gave way to the smoother, slower, more soulful sounds of rocksteady. And whereas the instrumentalists ruled the Ska era, Rocksteady was the golden age of both solo and group sounds, particularly male groups. Here comes some of the greatest Jamaican music ever put onto vinyl. + + +

Regular listeners will be familiar with many of the tracks on this particular podcast but they can be listened to hundreds of times over and never lose any of their power and beauty. I must have listened to The Techniques You Dont Care over two thousand times. I could listen to it another two thousand times and never become bored with it. The Treasure Isle label dominates this era but look out for great tracks by Erroll Dunkley, Llloyd & Devon, and in particular the most soulful rocksteady record ever cut, Derrick harriotts immortal The Loser. Sadly, Rocksteady only lasted for around 20 months. At the end of this session, listen to the tracks by The Eternals and The Uniques and you will hear the beginnings of what came to be known worldwide as Reggae Music.

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https://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/4425/episodes/28294

Honeyboy Martin Dreader Than Dread (Caltone) /

Mr. Foundation See Them A Come (Studio One) /

Errol Dunkley The Scorcher (Amalgamated) /

Dobby Dobson Loving Pauper )Treasure Isle) /

The Ethiopians The Whip (Doctor Bird) /

The Techniques Queen Majesty (Treasure Isle) /

Alton Ellis Rocksteady (Treasure Isle) /

The Techniques You Dont Care (Treasure Isle) /

Derrick Harriott The Loser (Island) /

Prince Buster Shaking Up Orange Street (Fab) /

Derrick Harriott Walk The Streets (Island) /

The Melodians You Dont Need Me (Treasure Isle) /

Desmond Dekker & The Aces 007 (Pyramid) /

Prince Buster Too Hot (Blue Beat) /

The Paragons On The Beach (Treasure Isle) /

The Paragons The Tide Is High (Treasure Isle) /

The Jamaicans Baba Boom (Treasure Isle) /

Lloyd & Devon Red Bum Ball (Island) /

The Uniques Gypsy Woman (Island) /

The Conquerers Lonely Street (Treasure Isle) /

Keith & Tex Stop That Train (Island) /

The Sensations Those Guys (Duke) /

The Melodians Last Train To Expo 67 (Treasure Isle) /

Erroll Dunkley Youre Gonna Need Me (Rio) /

The Paragons Only A Smile (Treasure Isle) /

Desmond Dekker & The Aces Fu Man Chu (Pyramid) /

The Uniques Love And Devotion (Nu Beat) /

The Eternals Queen Of The Minstrels (Coxsone) /

The Uniques My Conversation (Island) .