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Tommy McCook: Real Cool (TJDDD230)

From 1966 to about 1978 following on from the Skats there are some great jams on here. If you like sax wnich I will do this will excite. Altogether a smoother groove athn the Skats I feel, less jerky but infectious Oh Yes. A lot of this is to do with the move towards Rocksteady which was more suited to the melodious happy cool jazzy grooves., a lot of which was recorded at Duke Reids, and most were also written by Tommy. Nothing smoother than Real cool in this period.

He moved into Reggae beat territory at an early stage around 1969, again with Duke Reid, and the excellent progressive Reggay.

Into the 70’s the vibe cahnged again and hardened and particular good are the tracks with Bobby Ellis, including the wonderfully titled The Great Tommy McCook. A one off, on this album anyway, and possibly the most well known rhythm is Cloak and dagger with Lee Perry and the Upsetters, great tune.

By the mid 70’s with the Aggrovators it was much much aharder and Dubbier but nontheless effective, with Bunny Lee at the Controls – Catchy Dub catches me.

Tommy McCook: Real Cool (TJDDD230)

Format: Double CD album Released: Jan 24 2005 Price: £13.99 This collection takes up the Tommy McCook story where the recently issued Skatalites & Friends set off, highlighting the saxophonist's best-known instrumental recordings from the mid-sixties through to the late seventies. Almost every hit of note recorded by the master musician during this time is included, with styles ranging from the driving Ska of 'Out Of Space' to the less frenetic 'Rockers' stylings featured on 'Riding West'. This long-overdue anthology provides the best ever opportunity to hear the musical talents of one of the true greats of Jamaican music.

Tracklisting

2-CD SET

DISC 1:

Out Of Space

Ska Jam

Riverton City

A little Bit Of Heaven - The Tommy McCook Band

Inez - Tommy McCook & Lester Sterling

Persion Cat Ska

Spanish Eyes With Lyn Taitt

Indian Love Call

One, Two, Three, Kick

Continental

Caltone Special

Tommy's Rocksteady (Aka Comet Rocksteady)

Real Cool

The Shadow Of Your Smile

Soul Serenade

Sweet Lorna

Music Is My Occupation

Our Man Flint

Mad, Mad, Mad

Heatwave (Aka Moving)

Flying Home

Second Fiddle

Ode To Billy Joe

Ranglin On Bond Street - With Ernest Ranglin

Progressive Reggae

Black River - Tommy McCook's All Stars

DISC 2:

Wailing (Aka Mabrouk)

Stupid Doctor

Psalm 9 To Keep In Mind - Tommy McCook & The Observers

More Music - Tommy McCook & Ron Wilson

Bad Cow Skank - Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis

Green Mango - Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis

The Great Tommy McCook - Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis

The Watergate Affair - Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis

The Right Track - Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis

Cloak And Dagger - Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis With The Upsetters

Move Out - Tommy McCook & The Aggrovators

A Dancing Dub (Aka A Dancing Version) - Tommy McCook & The Aggrovators

A Version I Can Fell With love - Tommy McCook & The Aggrovators

Dub The Duke (Aka The Duke Of Earl Dub) - Tommy McCook & The Aggrovators

Behold Dis Ya Dub Of Class - Tommy McCook & The Aggrovators

Rock By Sir Dee's Scorcher - Tommy McCook & The Aggrovators

La Paloma - Tommy McCook & The Aggrovators

You'll Never Find (Aka You Will Always Find) - Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis

You Have Caught Me (Aka Catchy Dub) - Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis

Rock It On A Dub Land

Hot Lava - Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis

Riding West - Tommy McCook & The Aggrovators

The Night Of Sheron - Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis

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