Tough Jammys do-over of Cuss Cuss, with dangerous bass and banging dub, and Junior in no mood for messing. ‘Galong before we chop off your hand.’
Wicked little minor-key organ instrumental, with a killer intro and rare toasting by Ramon The Mexican — resident deejay of Harriott’s Musical Chariot Sound System — who later changed his name to Ambelique.
Brilliant jazz lyricism, in the style of Kenny Burrell, by the thirty-three-year-old, at an impromptu 1965 session in the Federal Studio, with pianist Leslie Butler, drummer Carl McLeod and bassist Stephen Lauz.
Instrumentals in ska, mento and other Caribbean styles recorded in 1966, at the threshold of rocksteady. The only one of his eight Federal albums to feature ska. Super-fine LP from Dub Store.
Fire! The Federal musical director walks it like he talks it. Blazing horns and jazzy brilliance all round.
The best of Ern’s sixties LPs. A lovely bunch of rocksteady instrumentals, featuring a cool and deadly Summertime, bumping versions of Hold Me Tight and Flamingo, a moody Story Book Children, some bluesy honky-tonk, and the far-eastern stylings of Sling Shot, to close.
Rock ‘n rolling Reid. With a Little John.
The fledgling Wailing Souls, rocking steady but broken-hearted in 1966; backed with the perfect ska antidote, a previously-unreleased Hopeton Lewis pick-me-up.
Winston Matthews, Lloyd McDonald and George Haye — Wailing Souls to be. From 1966, this is classic vocal rocksteady, one of the certified gems in the Merritone catalogue. Backed with unreleased ska.