The Duff Guide to Ska Fast Takes: The Autocratics "The Autocratics," Soweto "Turn On the Music Again," Wild Man Riddim "Worldwide Frequency," and Doctor Bird Reissues!

(Reviews by Steve Shafer)

The Autocratics The Autocratics (CD, Ska in the World Records, 2017): This powerhouse Japanese band is heavily influenced by 2 Tone--The Specials and Beat, in particular, and The Autocratics shamelessly nick bits of their songs here and there (listen to "Populace Intention," "Nothing Hopeless," "Too Much Too Old," and "The Selection"), but you won't care, since it's all done so well. This album's a blast from start to finish; they must be incredible to see live, too.

Soweto Turn On the Music Again (CD + LP, Liquidator Music, 2017): This album is full of excellent original cuts in a vintage '60s ska sound, with wonderful Skatalites-like instrumentals ("Don in the Arena" and "Last Duel in the OK Corral") and catchy early ska vocal cuts--think Maytals, Gaylads, Jackie Opel, etc. ("Smile," "Please Don't Go," "I Won't Come Back," "Fire in Meh Wire"--their own tune, not a Laurel Aitken cover). Ska traditionalists will love this band and release.

Wild Man Riddim Worldwide Frequency (digital album, Brixton Records, 2017): If fantastic ska-jazz instrumentals played by gifted musicians are your thing ( think NY Ska Jazz Ensemble, The Senior All Stars, The Brooklyn Attractors, etc.), then you'll really take a liking to Norway's Wild Man Riddim. Top tracks include, "The Purpose," "Laptop," "Little Sunflower," and "You Got the Horn"!

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Doctor Bird Reissues: I recently picked up several incredible Cherry Red reissues of late 1960s Doctor Bird rocksteady/early reggae albums from The Ethiopians (Reggae Power and Woman Capture Man), The Uniques (Absolutely...The Uniques), and Derrick Harriott and the Crystalites (Psychedelic Train). Each expanded CD contains loads of bonus tracks (all have about 25 songs--I need to take some time to really listen to them all) and extensive liner notes! Other releases in their series include Justin Hinds and the Dominoes (From Jamaica with Reggae), Marcia Griffiths (Naturally/Steppin'), The Kingstonians (Sufferer), and several compilations (Hot Shots of Reggae, Gay Feet, and Dancing Down Orange Street).

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Jimmy Riley Passes Away at Age 68 in NYC

We missed this last week, but want to remember Jamaican singer, songwriter, and producer Jimmy Riley, who passed away on March 23, 2016 at age 68 in NYC (where he was undergoing treatment for cancer).

Riley was best known for his singing with the top rocksteady groups The Sensations and The Uniques in the mid-to-late 1960s, as well as his production and solo work in the 1970s and 1980s (including his massive dancehall hit "Love and Devotion" off his 1981 Sly and Robbie produced Rydim Driven album).

Laurence Cain-Honeysett recently posted a terrific in-depth overview of Riley's career at Trojan Records, while Billboard, NME, and United Reggae have run obituaries and remembrances.

Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Lloyd Charmers Passes Away at 74

According to an article in the Jamaica Observer, Lloyd "Charmers" Tyrell suffered a heart attack and died in London on Thursday, December 27, 2012 at the age of 74. Charmers was a key ska and early reggae singer, songwriter, keyboardist for acts such as The Charmers, The Uniques, The Hippy Boys (when they worked for Lee "Scratch" Perry, he also named them The Upsetters; in addition, The Hippy Boys recorded with Max Romeo), and Lloydie and the Lowbites--as well as a producer for Ken Boothe ("Everything I Own") and Marcia Griffiths ("Play Me").

Charmers is perhaps best known for the classic "rude reggae" track "Birth Control," later adapted by The Specials for "Too Much Too Young" (which--as all 2 Tone fans know--advocates the use of condoms).

Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.

Update: There is a terrific tribute to Charmers on the Trojan Records website.

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Duff Review: The Jokers "Brixton" b/w Lloyd Charmers "The Premises"

Trojan Records
2011
7" heavyweight vinyl

(Reviewed by Steve Shafer)

The ninth entry in the Trojan Limited Edition 7" Single series focuses on two rare cuts from ska/reggae singer, songwriter, keyboardist (The Charmers, The Uniques, The Hippy Boys, Lloydie and the Lowbites), and producer (Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths), Lloyd "Charmers" Tyrell, best known for the classic "rude reggae" track "Birth Control" (which was later adapted by The Specials for "Too Much Too Young", which--as all 2 Tone fans know--advocates the use of prophylactics, natch).

By 1969, Charmers' productions released on his independent Jamaican label Splash were being licensed in the UK by Pama (and issued on its imprints Nu Beat, Gas and Camel) and Trojan (on the Songbird, Duke and Explosion labels) to help feed the skinhead reggae phenomenon (roughly 1968-1971, when over 20 early reggae singles reached the UK pop charts, including The Upsetters' "Return of Django," Harry J All Stars' "Liquidator," Boris Gardiner's "Elizabethan Reggae," Dave & Ansell Collins' "Double Barrel" and "Monkey Spanner," Desmond Dekker's "Israelites" and "It Mek," Max Romeo's "Wet Dream," The Pioneers' "Long Shot (Kick De Bucket)," Bob & Marcia's "Young, Gifted, and Black" and "Pied Piper," the Melodians' "Sweet Sensation" and Nicky Thomas' "Love of the Common People"; it should also be noted that Laurel Aitken was enormously popular during this period, scoring a string of skinhead reggae hits like "Whoppi King," "Haile Selassie," "Landlords and Tenants," "Jesse James," "Skinhead Train," "Rise and Fall of Laurel Aitken," "Fire in Mi Wire," "Pussy Price," and "It's Too Late").

The two Lloyd Charmers tracks featured on this single, which he wrote, produced, and performed, were recorded with The Hippy Boys--Alva Lewis (guitar), Upsetter Glen Adams (keyboards) and future Wailers, Aston 'Family Man' Barrett (bass) and his brother, Carlton Barrett (drums).

The groovy (and probably slightly naughty) "Brixton," later curiously dubbed "Soul Of England," has a percolating organ line and guitar rhythm that reminds me a bit of Laurel Aitken's awesome "Reggae Popcorn." The vocals alternate between sung and spoken bits (with a Louis Armstrong impression thrown in the mix) that are mostly a string of non-sequitur exhortations like "I love you baby/Like the twilight hour" and "It's nice, ain't it?/Like rice with spice" and "Put all you've got into it, mate!" Whatever is going on here, the feeling that's conveyed is one of good times--and it's very infectious. "The Premesis" (aka "Big Five") is a great propulsive, organ-driven skinhead reggae instrumental typical of the era (think Clancy Eccles, Harry J All Stars, The Upsetters, etc.). Put on either track and watch the dancefloor fill up.

When Trojan says heavyweight vinyl, they're not kidding...this disc is ridiculously and (for vinyl lovers) satisfyingly thick! In this digital age when song files can vanish into the ether with the click of a mouse, it's nice to have your music on something so substantive!

Info regarding other singles released in this series can be found here; next up is "You Are The One" by Romeo & the Emotions b/w "Girls Like Dirt" by Phil Pratt on the Big Shot imprint.

Duff Guide to Ska Grade: A

New Pressure Sounds Release: The Uniques Absolutely Rocksteady

As always, Pressure Sounds continues to drop some of the highest-quality reggae re-issues imaginable. Hot on the heels of the magnificent Sound System Scratch comes Absolutely Rocksteady, a collection of cuts The Uniques recorded with producer Bunny "Striker" Lee in '67-'68. Originally formed out of The Techniques, the version of The Uniques captured here features the vocal stylings of the inimitable Slim Smith (one of the most popular and beloved singers of the rocksteady era), Lloyd Charmers, and Jimmy Riley. The group recorded a string of hits (many of which are included on Absolutely Rocksteady), but disbanded in 1969. (Smith died in 1973 in what appeared to be a freak accident--one night after a party he found himself locked out of his parents' house, so he broke a window to gain entry, but ended up cutting himself so severely on the glass that he bled out before he could be treated--though some have conjectured that he was depressed and let himself bleed to death.)

Absolutely Rocksteady is available on CD and LP through Ernie B's Reggae in the US (I just ordered my copies); the track listing for both formats is listed below:

CD Track Listing:

1. Give Me A Love
2. You Lied To Me
3. Let’s Get Together
4. Stand Up And Fight
5. People Rock Steady
6. Facts Of Life
7. This Feeling
8. Trying Hard To Find A Home
9. Blinded By Love
10. You Don’t Care (You’ll Want Me Back)
11. I’m Lost
12. Love & Devotion
13. Let Me Go Girl
14. I’ll Let You Go (Let Me Go Boy) – Dawn Penn
15. Where Do I Turn
16. Have Pity On Me
17. Build My World
18. The Beatitude (Version Two)

LP Track Listing:

Side One:
1. Give Me A Love
2. You Lied To Me
3. Stand Up And Fight
4. People Rock Steady
5. Facts Of Life
6. This Feeling
7. Trying Hard To Find A Home

Side Two:
1. You Don’t Care (You’ll Want Me Back)
2. I’m Lost
3. Love & Devotion
4. Let Me Go Girl
5. I’ll Let You Go (Let Me Go Boy) – Dawn Penn
6. Where Do I Turn
7. Build My World