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.
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.
Fire! The Federal musical director walks it like he talks it. Blazing horns and jazzy brilliance all round.
Routinely passed over, King Edwards ska is for the gods, so a phase of Dub Store reissues is a mouth-watering prospect.
This opening salvo is low-slung, moody, trombone-led fire.
The leader usually goes by the diminutive Ron, reserving Ran and Rad for his Pantomine sides. He was an Alpha Boys alumnus, a Soul Brother after Don D’s departure, and an Upsetter for Blackboard Jungle.
Wayne and Larry Douglas’ flip is the A-side of the original Rio 45, from 1965: a stomper illumined with sweet lyrics about suffering, gratitude, and fidelity.
Prince Buster rumpus.
Trump-card trumpet version of Joyride, aka Riding West.
Rollicking, mid-sixties, post-Skatalites ska thriller, led by Bobby Ellis and Roland Alphonso, with slightly different soloing to the original release.
Backed with a charming, forsaken, rare Summertairs: ‘I love you, Errol… come back today… but not too late… Errol, my dear.’
Scorcher. Ska at the threshold of rocksteady. Mittoo and Dizzy Moore do it to it.