Sanctuary Records Group – Trojan

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Various Artists: Trojan Ska Rarities Box Set (TJETD238)

A whole bunch of rarities from the golden age of Ska 1964 to 1966. Well after starting with the wonderful Slim Smith and the Tachniques on track 1 this set can do little wrong. From the melodic to the frantic, from the Instrumental to group harmony.

The Four Aces before DD feature on the sublime Just one little girl (and Hoochy Koochie and Swing Low). Very early and familiar Maytals but actually not a very good track, but the Delkins Isabelle is, luscious vocals over a pumping horn. Also have a soft spot (over the Pioneers at least) for the Slickers and also the Sensations both of whom are featured here. Fredie McClean is in fact the late Freddie McKay on th esoulful Fine fine fine.

For me I have to say (probably to the point of boredom now) that it is the harmony groups that do it for me but that’s not to decry the effect and importance of the instrumentalists who are still heavily featured, Upsetter, baba, Skats plus the great producers pricipaly here Leslie Kong and duke Reid.

Other tracks worthy of note are the Clarendonions and Alton Ellis, and an interesting piece of downbeat moody instrumental jazzy ska the Fugitives.

Some great stuff on show all released for the first time on Cd.

Various Artists: Trojan Ska Rarities Box Set (TJETD238)

Format: Treble CD album Released: Feb 21 2005 Price: £12.99 With all the recordings making their debut on CD, this compilation is every Ska fan's dream. Featured are some of the giants of the age, including leading instrumentalists Tommy McCook, Don Drummond and Baba Brooks, top vocal groups The Maytals, The Techniques and The Clarendonians, and popular vocalists Stranger Cole, Joe White and Fredie McKay. Elsewhere, blistering performances from such obscure acts as The X-Rays, The Delkins and The Sneer-Towners illustrate that quality doesn't always bring success. So don't watch that, watch this - 50 Ska rare tracks for the price of an Indian take-away!

Tracklisting

3-CD SET

DISC 1:

No One - The Techniques

Just One Little Girl - The Four Aces

One Nation - Joe White & Chuck

My Daily Food - The Maytals

Isabelle - The Delkins

How Many Times - Owen & Leon

The Word Is Wind - Stranger & Patsy

I Want To Take A Chance - The Slickers

Do You Keep On Dreaming - The Cherry Pies

Last Time - The Sensations

Fine, Fine, Fine - Freddie McLean

Your Wife And Mother - The Virtues & The Ambassadors

A Rockin' Good Way - The Silvertones

Open The Door - Baba Brooks & His Band

Hoochy-Koochy Kai-Po - The Four Aces

Windfall - Tommy McCook & The Supersonics

Trojan - Lloyd Briscoe

DISC 2:

Samphey Man - The Rio Grandes

Wildcat - The Upsetters

I Love You - The Techniques

Alcatraz - Baba Brooks & His Band

Him Say You Say - The Sneer-Towners

Breeze Of The West - Raymond Harper & Drumbago's Orchestra

A Day Will Come - The Clarendonians

You Are The One To Blame - Alton Ellis

You Are The One (I Love) - Winston Samuels

Love Will Be Mine - Lyn Carby & The Originals

Raindrops - The Silvertones

Lord Have Mercy - Dion Cameron & The Three Tops

Low Minded People - Joe White & Chuck

So Long - Lester Sterling

We Ain't Got Nothing - Billy & Bobby

Mally Sally - Stranger & Gladdy

DISC 3:

(Swing Low) Sweet Chariot - The Four Aces

My Darling - Eddie Perkins

J.F.K.'s Memory - Don Drummond & The Skatalites

You Took My Love - Patsy Millicent Todd

Mey Bien (My Friend) - The Clarendonians

Wanna Go Home - Joe White

The Clock - Baba Brooks & His Band

Feel So Lonesome -The Three Tops

Country Girl - The Upsetters

Why Worry - Dotty & Bonny

Living Soul - The Fugitives

Big Brother - The X-Rays

Spiritual Mambo - Lord Briscoe

Amen - The Virtues & The Ambassadors

Remember I Told You (aka Don't Do It) - The Techniques

Chances - Stranger & Gladdy

Rocket Ship - Tommy McCook

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