Laid-back rocksteady soul from Noel, out of the Chosen Few — coupled with a fun Ike Bennett organ workout.

1966 rocksteady, elegantly heartfelt as Nat King Cole.

A sultry version of the Gershwin / Heyward aria, more body-rocking than spiritual, led by an identified singer. and swinging horns; and a rollicking Take The A Train, with solos by Roland Alphonso, Lester Sterling and Don Drummond.
Class.

The Buster selection we’d been waiting for.
A terrific haul of rare and unreleased sides; rocksteady gold, from start to finish.
Macka Osaka connoisseurship.

A storming selection, warmly endorsed by Honest Jons old boy Steve Barrow: ‘Many unreleased and alternate versions of prime-quality ska, produced by a founding father of the genre, featuring great Jamaican musicians like Baba Brooks, Roland Alphonso and Raymond Harper, and various permutations of the premiere group of musicians collectively known as the Skatalites. It includes in-demand collector’s items like the Spanish Town Skabeats’ Stop That Train. All tracks are taken directly from tape. This release is truly a feast for lovers of ska, and Jamaican R&B in general.’

It was Prince Buster who convinced a reluctant Melodisc lawyer to give the go ahead to our London Is The Place For Me series, nearly twenty years ago.

Characteristically bootin’, irresistible version of Huey Smith’s millions-selling New Orleans R&B smash. (What a monster 45 that was, double-headed with Don’t You Just Know It. Huey and his Clowns, fronted by drag queen Bobby Marchan.)
With a spirited Derrick & Patsy duet on the flip, enlivened by handclap percussion.

Pure fire.

With Japanese ska band The Determinations.

Going on fifty Duke Reid ska and r&b sides.
Tommy McCook, Eric Morris, Bongo Man, Stranger Cole, Baba Brooks, Don Drummond…