THE SKATALITES + KEN BOOTHE - Willow weep + Puppet on a string (1967 Studio one)

I'm in a ska mood these days, and this single is just the biggest skatalites tune i've ever heard...It is said to be "willow weep" by the skatalites, but after a short research it looks like it have been first released as "look away ska" from Roland Alphonso in 1966...A friend of mine who is much more specialist than i swears that this should be the soul brothers (that plays in 1966/67) A studio one band lead by...Roland Alphonso ! So let's say there's a big chance that this one was misleaded and made after the skatalites disbanded...
Big theme and progression, this is the kind of tune that the skatalites should play on stage for sure...On the puciture you can see from left to right Lloyd Brevett, Coxsone Dodd, Roland Alphonso and Johnny "dizzy" Moore.
B side is the classic Ken Booth "puppet on a string" cover of the famous Sandie Shaw's tune that won the eurovision in...1967! A true studio 1 classic and one of his biggest hit to date...

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THE ABYSSINIANS - 2010 01 07 @ PARIS Cabaret sauvage

This gig was an alibi to promote the ethiopian christmas...
It was sold out and the crowd was HOT !
Brother Latef (from Dominique island) and his friends started the night with some great nyahbinghi stuff, Rachel (french young singer)came after, and Adana the son of Alpha Blondy warmed up the place before
the Big time with mister Collins, Manning and Morrison !
Hope you like it !

RICO RODRIGUEZ @ JOOL HOLLAND SHOW 31 12 2010

Always nice to see Rico Rodriguez alive and well! He often come to Jools Holland shows, and this time end up 2010 by singing "what a wonderful world" and "enjoy yourself" featuring Jools(on piano) and his rythm & blues orchestra (i think Michael "bami" Rose is in it playing saxophone) plus all the artists of that special for "enjoy yourself", including Toots Hibbert, Roger Daltrey, Kylie Minogue, Alison Moyet, Wanda Jackson and the secret sisters! Yes you'll see the one and only jamaican legend Rico himself singing along Kylie Minogue LOL...ENJOY YOURSELF

ZOOT SIMMS + SOUL DEFENDERS - African + Popcorn reggae (1972 studio 1)

Can't really say that "African" is a studio 1 classic, but it's really a masterpiece to me...I love every tune from Zoot "Scully" Simms i've heard...I'm not a specialist of his discography, but i know he started recording in the 50's with his pal Roy "Bunny" Robinson ("another chance" in 1953, a 78RPM for Dada Tuary), then as Bunny & Skitter or Bunny & Scully, cutting calypsos, rythm&blues and ska, to finally become year after year a studio 1 corner stone, cutting solo tracks in the 60's as "mr foundation". This song is mainly sung in amharic, and is launching conscious lyrics to the face of all the jamaican ghettos. Of course "Scully" remains very know from the roots specialist as one of the main percussionist of the 70's, cutting for almost every artist on the island from the Abyssinians to Yabby you (at least 300LP's and countless singles!)particulary making crazy duos with Lee "scratch" Perry on his crazy mix (Kung fu seen!). The picture is from 2005 and comes from my personal collection. Today i am very proud to say that this legendary duo will come to France very soon, almost 60 years after their official beginning, with the Jamaica all stars including Sparrow Martin and Vin "Don drummond Jr" Gordon! I'll be there for sure.
B side is a soul defenders instrumental named "pop corn", a nice track with a great hornline, this band is from St Catherine, and used to back Freddie Mc Kay, another singer from St Catherine at their beginning of their studio 1 career. Mr Dood will use them then as a backing band for some other of his artists. Note that soul defender's percussionist (and sometimes drummer)is mr Joseph Hill (from Culture' fame)I don't know who jive on that one, maybe someone knows ?

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HORACE ANDY - PARIS Elysée montmartre 30 11 2010

This is Horace Andy on his last tour in France. Her comes a small video of the classic "every tongue shall tell" followed by a great version of "natty dread a weh she want"...Homegrown band has done a great job too...I really wish the pictures could be better but i've done my best...Enjoy it anyway !