Irresistible mix of sublime, Impressions-style harmony singing, punchy horns supervised by Tommy McCook, soulful existentialism and rocking steady rhythm; beautifully presented by Far East Records.

The ska originator in his 1964 prime; plus a knees-up Baba Brooks.

Evergreen rocksteady reading of Chip Taylor’s pop-country paean to illicit sex.

Actually this is Tyrone Evans from The Paragons, not Tyrone Davis the Chicago Soul singer, doing over Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell in fine style.
With Dave Barker’s moonstomping classic Funkey Reggae on the flip, poised between Shocks Of A Mighty for The Upsetter, and his international smash with Ansel Collins, Double Barrel.
Then again, “Don’t watch that, watch this.”

Don’t miss the rocking steady Bacharach & David on the flip.

Lovely harmonising by Devon Russell, Prince Lincoln Thompson, Cedric Myton and Lindburgh Lewis, over a chunky rocksteady rhythm. Plus a sweetly imploring Tommy McCook instrumental on the flip, with deft guitar-work by Hux Brown, and a gently rocking brass section.

Terrific close-harmony rocksteady bad tidings from 1967.
The flip doubles the murder rate: Tommy McCook’s Persian Ska, from the previous year.

Classic rocksteady. A sweet but urgent overture by Wentworth Vernal and Lloyd Parks, arranged by Tommy McCook.
As per the original 45 coupling, The Supersonics return on the flip for the surging, funky Soul Remedy, with tight, bluesy guitar, and Winston Wright blasting away on Hammond.
Beautifully done by Far East.

Over several years, Far East Records in Japan has faultlessly reissued more than fifty classic Treasure Isle sevens. Expert selections; impeccably restored labels, beautifully colour-matched, often using metallic inks; and great sound.
Over & Done With is out here for the first time, and it’s murder. Riding a banging bottom-end, with thunderous drum rolls, and magnificent horns with superb soloing, Monty coolly lays out his dignified, devastating dissection of a break-up, with the cutting, expository verve of prime Lord Kitchener.
‘When you came to my rescue, I gave all that I could give. Now that your purse is empty, you’ve left me the same way you came. Loving you is useless, you’re a waste of time, you’ve got no love, no sympathy on your mind… My darling, it’s over and done with.’
Baba Brooks leads the way on the flip, which sounds a lot better here than the original pressing. Killer, tear-up ska.