Greetings Reggaelovers!

Welcome to another Podcast by The Vineyard.
Since you seem to love soulreggae as much as myself I decided to make another Soulreggae Podcast.
If you should have missed the first one, make sure you heard it too.
http://thevineyard.podomatic.com/entry/2009-05-23T10_15_34-07_00

In this second chapter of Soulreggae we'll be taking a look at some classic covers as well as some original Jamaican soul. Many tracks were made in Studio 1 and you'll find even a hint of Disco and Funk in this podcast.

I really hope the message of love, peace & unity is not lost. We all need some more togetherness.

Please make a comment if you enjoyed this mix or if you know some fun fact not covered here.
Make sure you tell your friends as well. Thanks for listening and for your support.

Here's the Tracklist. Enjoy.


Otis Gayle - I'll Be Around

Originally this is by The Spinners from their debut in 1872. You can see a wonderful clip of them in action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfG47NsWVYA&feature=related
The song was included on the group's 1972 self-titled album on Atlantic Records, their first album release for the label. It was initially released as the B-side of the group's first single on Atlantic Records, with "How Could I Let You Get Away" being the A-side. Radio deejays, however, soon opted for "I'll Be Around" which led to Atlantic flipping the single over and the song became an unexpected hit, eventually spending five weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and reaching number three on the U.S. Pop chart in the fall of 1972.
Here we have Otis Gayle covering it brilliantly. Migrating to Canada in 1967, Gayle travelled all over the country doing shows, and even winning a Juno award in 1985 for his hit song, Heaven Must Have Sent You.
Born January 28, 1946 in Kingston, Gayle, singer, songwriter and veteran Studio One artist, began his musical career as a vocalist with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. The singer performed with the group on the international circuit before he settled in Canada. Gayle also recorded a series of solo hits, notably this one. He returned to JA in 2005 where he continues to perform today.


Johnny Osbourne - We Need Love

If you prefer a visual version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y3Abv2ovkU
You obviously hear the same riddim as last song but here Johnny shows us his masterful talent for lyrics and song at its best. A true diamond of a song.


Earl Brown - Get Together

As far as I know, this is our first original soulreggae from JA, preformed by Earl Brown, who apart from this song was more a rhytm and blues sorta guy. Very little is known about this artist. This track used to be a rare gem, untill Souljazz releaced this again for the masses on their Jamaica Soul CD. Earl appeals for more unity and love in a true MoTown fashion.


Lloyd Charmers - I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More Baby

A beautiful cover by Lloyd Charmers of Barry White classic lovesong. Apparently this song was voted number one in the song people want to hear the most when they're making love. The origonal the song was a #1 hit on the U.S. R&B chart for two weeks, peaked at number three on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and reached #23 on the UK singles chart. The single was also certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.
Lloyd Charmers' professional career began in 1962, when he performed as The Charmers with Roy Willis on Vere Johns' Talent Hour, starting a recording career soon after. When The Charmers split, he joined Slim Smith and Jimmy Riley in The Uniques. Charmers subsequently moved on to a solo career, releasing two albums in 1970, and also recording x-rated tracks such as "Birth Control", and the album Censored, these more risqué outings appearing under his real name or as 'Lloydie and The Lowbites'. He later went on to producing, helping Ken Booth to rocket to the top of his career.

Jackie Mittoo - Deeper And Deeper

This is a continuation of the same song in a classic rendition by keyboard wizard Jackie Mittoo.


Richard Ace - Can't Get Enough

Another Barry White cover by Richard Ace, better know for his keyboard plays with The Gladiators, The Abyssinians and Burning Spear. He was a real soul/disco fan as he also made a cover from Staying Alive by the Bee Gees among some very nice other covers, worth checking out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjuWsmzOeNg&feature=related


Devon Russell - Make Me Believe In You

This song was written by Curtis Mayfield and performed by a soul singer who had seen far insufficient spotlight; Patti Jo. Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, rhythm and blues, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions and composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly. From these works and others, he is highly regarded as a pioneer of funk and of politically conscious African-American music. Patti Jo was only sixteen at the time of recording the song. Unfortunately, little more is known about this terrific performer.
Ofcourse, here we hear an entirely different sound: the classic Techniques "You Don't Care" riddim and even some of the lyrics are adjusted. The tune was alse redone by Nora Dean with Barbwire, a.k.a Oh Mama. Who's popularity caused a dispute between session engineer Byron Smith and label owner Duke Reid over ownership of the song.


Noel Brown Bunny - It's Too Late

It's Too Late is a song from Carole King's 1971 album, Tapestry. It was covered by the Isley Brothers in a wonderful style and here as well by Bunny Brown. Bunny also features as a backing vocalist with B.B. Seaton and is another soul affectionado, making several more soul covers in his career.


Lloyd Parks - We'll Get Over It

A real original Jamaican Soulreggae classic, Lloyd is a former meber of Skin, Flesh & Bones but he started as a Rocksteady singer with The Termites. He also sang with The Techniques. His big song, ‘Officially’, was recorded in 1970 at Randy’s Studios. It was number one for six weeks on all Jamaican radio stations, and has played continuously on the local stations for over three decades. Another big song for Mr. Parks is Mafia. There are not many reggae musicians who have been in demand for 30 years. Parks' current band 'We The People' continue to be an engaging and impressive live force.


Sugar Minott - Love Gonna Pack Up

Originally by The Persuaders this song is probably known better for the version by Sly, Slick & Wicked. This seems a curse of the Persuaders since many of their other songs also became hits after other people covered them. Such as: Some Guys Have All The Luck (ironic), Thin Line Between Love and Hate and Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.  
Sugar began his singing career as part of The African Brothers in 1969, along with Tony Tuff. Later became a studio apprentice at Dodd's Studio One, working as a singer, guitarist and percussionist, and soon began recording his own singles. He is regarded as pioneering the dancehall style that would dominate the early 1980s. He released over 60 albums and hundreds of singles. Minott died on 10 July 2010 at the University Hospital of the West Indies in St. Andrew, after being admitted there earlier that day with heart troubles. He will be missed by many reggae fans.


B.B.Seaton - Lean On Me

B.B started singing and writing songs from his high school days, and grew up listening to groups like Platters, Drifters, Temptations and the Four Tops. He had his first big hit in Jamaica when teaming up with Delano Stewart and Maurice Roberts to form "The Gaylads”. Seaton was the first reggae artist to be signed by Virgin Records, leading to the creation of the Front Line label.
Lean On Me is originally from Bill Withers in 1972. You can see the original here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaVXfHZv50Y
Withers' childhood in the coal mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia was the inspiration for "Lean on Me", which he wrote after he had moved to Los Angeles and found himself missing the strong community ethic of his hometown. He lived in a decrepit house in the poor section of town. You know him from his other great hit: Ain't no Sunshine.


Ken Boothe - Let's Get It On

Let's Get It On is the twelfth studio album by American soul musician Marvin Gaye, released August 28, 1973 on Tamla Records. It has been noted by critics for its sexually-suggestive lyrics, and was cited by one writer as "one of the most sexually charged albums ever recorded". Let's Get It On became the most commercially successful album of Gaye's recording career, and it further expanded his creative control during his tenure with Motown.
You can see a wonderful live version recorded in Belgium here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_IeKcPamWg&feature=related
Ken Boothe needs no introduction since he has been a reggae legend since the 50's and made many classic rocksteady and reggae songs. He teamed up with e formed a duo with his neighbour Stranger Cole  at the start of his career but has since made countless solo songs as well as team-ups with artists. Boothe released "Everything I Own" on Trojan Records, which reached Number One in the UK Singles charts in 1974. He was awarded the Order of Distinction for his contribution to Jamaican music by the Jamaican government in 2003.


Marcia Griffiths - Children At Play

In 1970, as a duo, Marcia and Bob had an international hit with “Young Gifted And Black”. This track comes from her second album, produced by Lloyd Charmers for Trojan Records. The I-Threes first came together with Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley singing harmony on stage for Marcia. They then started to record and began touring with Bob Marley and the Wailers, from the release of his Natty Dread album onwards. This songs captures the essence of life as well as a true Jamaican Soulreggae tune.


Devon Russell - You Found Heaven

Devon was a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae singer and record producer who recorded between the 1960s and the 1990s, both as a solo artist and as a member of The Tartans and Cultural Roots. He was a deep lover of soul and he made numerous soul/funk/reggae songs as well. In 1996 his fourth album, Darker Than Blue, was a tribute to Curtis Mayfield wholly comprising Mayfield cover versions. This is an original I believe and a real beauty at that.


Willie Williams - No One Can Stop Us

A gem of a cover of McFadden & Whitehead's Ain't No Stoppping Us Now, which is an uptempo disco song. You can see the original here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVKjC_simy8
Willie Williams take however adopts a mellow soulful sound with perfect voice and sweet backing vocals by Jennifer Lara.
Willie He is known as the "Armagideon Man" after his hit, "Armagideon Time", first recorded in 1978 at Studio One in Kingston. The song was covered by The Clash as the flipside of their "London Calling" single.


Myrna Hague - Touch Me Baby

Myrna Hague, known as 'Jamaica's First Lady of Jazz', is a Jamaican lovers rock and jazz singer and actress. This lovers/soul conversionhas that distinct Studio 1 feel all over.


Cornell Campbell - My Baby Just Cares For Me

"My Baby Just Cares for Me" is a jazz standard written by Walter Donaldson with lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was written for the 1930 film version of the 1928 Ziegfeld musical comedy Whoopee!, starring Eddie Cantor. It is known as the signature tune of singer and pianist Nina Simone but there's a recognised rendition from Nat King Cole as well.
Cornell Campbell aka Don Cornell or Don Gorgon is best known for his trademark falsetto voice, his recordings at Studio One in the late 1960s and his later work with Bunny Lee in the 1970s. He was member of The Sensations, The Eternals and The Uniques.


The Heptones - Choice Of Colours

A number 1 hit by the Impressions & Curtis Mayfield from 1969. It's message is still very relevant. This brilliant song speaks for itself.
The Heptones were a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s, the band consisted from Leroy Sibbles, Earl Morgan and Barry Llewelyn. They have been the musiscians on many a Studio 1 track as well as recording countless songs themselves. Leroy and Jackie Mittoo were the chief studio arrangers at Studio 1.


Winston 'King' Cole - Black Magic Woman

"Black Magic Woman" is a song written by Peter Green that first appeared as a Fleetwood Mac single in various countries in 1968, subsequently appearing on the 1969 Fleetwood Mac compilation albums English Rose (US) and The Pious Bird of Good Omen (UK). It became a classic hit by Santana and sung by Gregg Rolie in 1970, reaching #4 in the U.S. and Canadian charts, after appearing on their Abraxas album, becoming more closely associated with Santana than Fleetwood Mac.
Cole grew up at the same time Tosh, Marley and Burning Spear were taking off. He first major gig was with Zap Pow. He later moved to Canada where he opened a music store and created a band called Well Charged.
I know this cover didn't really fit the soulreggae bill but it snuck into the tracklist and sounded nice so I kept it here.


Hortense Ellis - People Make The World Go Round

Originally from The Stylistics this song is one of those classic community conscious soultracks. The Stylistics were one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. They formed in 1968, created from the remaining members of two defunct Philadelphia groups, The Percussions and The Monarchs.
Michael Jackson covered it with different lyrics in his 1972 hit album Ben.
It also featured on The Vineyard's first Soulreggae Podcast.
Here you can hear Hortense Ellis' version, she was a reggae musician, and the younger sister of Alton Ellis.  Her father worked on the railways while her mother ran a fruit stall. She was 18 years old when she appeared on the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, then Jamaica's foremost outlet for young undiscovered talent. Her version of Frankie Lymon's "I'm Not Saying No At All" so impressed both audience and panel that she was invited back the following week. Ellis went on to enter many more competitions and showcases and she reached six semi-finals and four finals. In 1964 she was awarded a silver cup as Jamaica's Best Female Vocalist and went on to repeat this feat five years later.


Lloyd And Devon - Push Push

An incredible Funksoulreggae tune by Lloyd Robinson & Devon Russell.
Lloyd was one of the masters of the Studio 1 discomixes, especially with Devon with him at the mic.
Bus' it now star!


Leroy Brown - Color Barrier (7- Horns Version)

Leroy is backed here by Clint Eastwood, the album originally acredited it to Bad Bad Leroy Brown and His Defence Force. It features lots of those nice space-lazer sounds that we love so much.
The original: Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City is a 1974 R&B song written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh and first recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland. A well-known cover of the song is by the hard rock band Whitesnake, who included it on their 1978 debut EP, Snakebite.
You can see that version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSwRXaUbQzE&feature=related
This one is a reocurrance as it also featured in a different version on our previous Soulreggae Podcast, but it was to good to pass up...
The excessive sound FX are not by me but curtesy of Mr. Eastwood.


Irving Al Brown - Listen To The Music

"Listen to the Music" is a song recorded by The Doobie Brothers on their 2nd album Toulouse Street. This song remains a concert staple and is one of, if not the most famous song The Doobie Brothers have ever recorded.
See the original here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29RvK7OI2Fg


Jimmy Riley - Sexual Healing

Marvin Gaye's classic comeback song from 1882. Gaye began his comeback with a series of European concerts, first in England and then two shows in Belgium, the second show being televised for Belgian television. I always prefer the slower versions like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxUWaX0Ta_Q
The writers had actually gotten their inspiration from listening to reggae music while in England. Gaye recorded the song in Ohain, Belgium, with the final mixes recorded in Waterloo. In the final lyric to the song, Gaye sings "Please don't procrastinate, it's not good to masturbate" as the music fades out.
Jimmy Riley grew up in the city's Waterhouse district and attended Kingston Senior School along with Slim Smith
He decided to form his own group, The Sensations, along with Cornell Campbell and later joined The Uniques. When he went solo Riley topped the UK reggae chart with this version.


Chosen Few - Theme From Shaft

The Chosen Few's take on Isaac Hayes' composition for the film of the same name.


Leroy Sibbles - Groove Me

At first, "Groove Me" was a B-side to another Floyd song, "What Our Love Needs." New Orleans radio DJ's started playing "Groove Me" and the song became a local hit. Atlantic Records picked up national distribution of "Groove Me," which topped the United States R&B chart and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. This disc sold over one million copies, and received a gold disc.


The In Crowd - Mango Walk

The In Crowd were a popular Jamaican reggae showband of the late 1970s. Led by Fil Callender  (vocals and lead guitar), the band also included Errol Walker (lead vocals), Clevie Browne (drums, vocals), Tony Lewis (bass guitar, vocals), Freddie Butler (keyboards), and Wigmore Francis (guitar). The band also featured a horn section of Egbert Evans and Barry Bailey. Browne had previously been a member of The Browne Bunch.
The band were best known for two hit records, "We Play Reggae" and "Back a Yard", but also had reggae hits with "His Majesty Is Coming" and "Born In Ethiopia". They recorded two albums during their lifetime, His Majesty Is Coming and Man From New Guinea, the latter released on Island Records.
Callender went on to a solo career, while Browne became half of one of Jamaica's pre-eminent rhythm sections and production teams, Steely & Clevie


Lloyd Williams - Reggae Feet

Little is known about Lloyd, a.k.a. Senor Soul. This is original Jamaican Funk and features a bubbling bouncing bassline.  


Norma White & Brentford Disco Set - I Want Your Love

This is an Funk/Disco song composed by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of Chic. The track appeared on their 1978 album, C'est Chic. Originally intended for then-protégés, Sister Sledge, "I Want Your Love" went on to become a slightly-less successful follow-up to their classic smash, "Le Freak".
You can see the original here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UFhdYhE9ko
The Brentford Disco Set, also known as Brentford All Stars, Brentford Rockers and Brentford Reggae Band were another famous instrumental group who, apart from being known for backing Willie Williams on Armageddeon Time, are quite obscure.
 
 
Jennifer Lara - I Am In Love

With this tune we have officialy entered the disco portion of this podcast. The original is by Evelyn 'champagne' King and can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv_VjHNzoos&feature=related
King was discovered while working with her mother at Philadelphia International Records as a cleaning woman. A producer, Theodore T Life, overheard her singing in a washroom and began coaching her. This song reached #1 on the R&B singles chart and dance chart in August 1981
Jennifer Lara was a highly talented female singer who was under-rated. Lara joined the Studio One family in 1969, and soon afterwards released Studio One Presents Jennifer Lara, which would be her sole album on that label. Over the decades that followed, the entertainer continued to sing professionally, releasing several singles through Studio One, and singing backup vocals for a number of artists on the label. Her best-known single was an original titled Consider Me.

Jenny Taylor - Come Lay Some Loving On Me
Frequently compared to Aretha Franklin, singer Margie Joseph earned neither the fame nor the critical success lavished upon the Queen of Soul, but a series of excellent records for Atlantic during the 1970s nevertheless won her a spot in the pantheon of soul cult favorites. This tune was written by Paul Kelly.
As susual, there is nothing to be found on Jenny but we can all agree she takes this song to a next level.
 

Blood Sisters - Ring My Bell

"Ring My Bell" is a 1979 popular disco song by Anita Ward. It was originally written for Stacy Lattisaw, but when she signed with a different label, Ward was asked to sing it instead and it became her only major hit. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvueI_5T2uk&feature=related
This version of the Blood Sisters became extremely popular after it featured on K-Jah radio in the GTA computergame.
Recently Mo'Times made a non-comissioned remake with Sizzla. You can get it for free here: http://www.reverbnation.com/motimes


Judy Mowatt - Rescue Me

We all know this song from Fontella Bass. See the original here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXSocE_M1G4
It would prove the biggest hit of Bass's career, reaching the number one spot on the R&B charts for four weeks and placing at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965. The song is often miscredited for one of Aretha Franklin but in fact, Ms. Bass had co-written the song.
Judy Mowatt started her career as part of the all-female singing group, The Gaylettes in 1967. In 1974, she got her big break by joining Bob Marley's backing vocal trio the I-Threes. Formerly a member of the Rastafari movement, in the late 1990s she converted to Christianity and now sings Gospel music.


Delroy Wilson - Funky Broadway

This is a song written by Arlester "Dyke" Christian. It was originally recorded by his band, Dyke & the Blazers, in 1967, and was made into a hit by Wilson Pickett that same year.
Delroy Wilson is one of those teenage wonders, starting recording when he was 13, that continued his success untill he died. Probably known best for his song Better Must Come which was chosen as an election campaign song by the PNP in 1972.
Also listen out for the 'borrowed' Stevie Wonder Uptight and Mustang Sally by Wilson Picket lyrics.


The Chosen Few - Do Your Thing

Another 1972 track by Isaac Hayes for the Shaft movie, once more by the wonderful Chosen Few. If you have the time, make sure you check out the version by Lyn Collins too.


Matumbi - Reggae Stuff

This one is best known as (Can't Get Enough Of That) Funky Stuff by Kool and the Gang.
Matumbi were one of top British reggae bands of the 1970s and early 1980s, and are best known as the first successful band of guitarist and record producer Dennis Bovell. In the early 1970s they acted as a backing band to touring Jamaican musicians in the UK but quickly graduated to become much more.


Hopeton Lewis - Funky Kingston

Hopeton remakes this Funk Classic originally by The Beginning of the End.
The Beginning of the End was a funk group from Nassau, Bahamas. The group consisted of three brothers and a fourth member on bass. The track "Funky Nassau - Part I", covered here, became a hit single in the U.S., peaking at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #7 on the Billboard Black Singles chart.
Hopeton recorded the first 'herb' song ever recorded in Jamaica, "Cool Collie". He worked for Duke Reid as an arranger and backing vocalist, and won the Festival Song Contest in 1970 with "Boom Shaka Lacka".


The Pioneers - Papa Was A Rolling Stone

This song was written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong as a single for Motown act The Undisputed Truth in 1971. Later in 1972, Whitfield, who also produced the song, took "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" and remade it as a twelve-minute record for The Temptations, which was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and won three Grammy Awards  in 1973. While the original Undisputed Truth version of the song has been largely forgotten, The Temptations' version of the song has been an enduring and influential soul classic.
If you'd like to know how to dance to it, check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g7KawdsVSQ&feature=fvw
The Pioneers Were best known for their version of Long Shot Kick The Bucket, after a racing horse of the same name died and producer Leslie Kong wanted a song for it.


Derrick Harriott & The Chosen Few - Message From A Blackman

Message From a Black Man is a Black power song with a militant refrain: "no matter how hard you try/you can't stop me now". Message From a Black Man was a popular radio request in 1969, although the Temptations themselves, who thought the record too forward, never performed it live. Originally it was a song from The Spinners in 1970.
Many Jamaican artists were in love with this tune, it has seen covers from The Heptones as well as other less known versions. This one is by Derrick Harriot, who started his career in the group Jiving Juniors. He had hits with Loser, What Can I Do, The Jerk and Solomon.
In 1971, Swing magazine named Harriott the Top Producer of 1970. He was one of the first producers to use King Tubby mixing talents at his Waterhouse studio, issuing one of the earliest dub albums.

Mixed & arranged by Dj Lightah.

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