VP Records Celebrates 50 Years Of Rock Steady PDF Print E-mail

2016 marks the 50th anniversary for Jamaica’s celebrated musical genre rock steady.

 

Rock steady, which was a successor of ska and precursor to reggae, used elements of rhythm and blues (R&B), jazz, ska as well as African and Latin American drumming. With its irresistible slow tempo beat and more bass-heavy, stripped-down sound, it was a distinct contrast from the more upbeat, big band ska era. Although it lasted only a couple of years (1966-68), rock steady is one of Jamaican music’s most influential genres and produced immortal rhythms that are still sampled and used today.

 

Available July 1 on International Reggae Day

 

17 North Parade, VP Records’ vintage imprint, commemorates the genre this year with First Class Rock Steady, a limited edition vinyl-only box set (exclusive for 2016 Record Store Day) and its CD and digital companion piece that features a more comprehensive 40-track collection (available July 1st). 17 North Parade will celebrate the release in conjunction with International Reggae Day (also on July 1). Details will be announced later this week.

 

The LP’s detailed cover and CD sleeve reflects the excitement of the era when postal mail was the only mode for sharing this burgeoning Jamaican export for worldwide consumption. Playing off of Jamaica’s long history of tourism, the album’s packaging also features images of picturesque postcards and stamps of Cricket (a Jamaican pastime), the Doctor Bird (national symbol) and Montreal’s Expo ’67 (World’s Fair).

 

In addition, the remastered collection’s packaging includes extensive liner notes written by Harry Wise and filled with quotes from the genre’s key players, including living legend Bunny “Striker” Lee, Trinidad and Tobago’s late-great Lynn Taitt and the 2014 fallen icon, Hopeton Lewis.  Rock Steady was also popularized by the likes of Alton Ellis, Desmond Dekker, Johnny Nash, Errol Dunkley and vocal harmony bands like The Gaylads, The Maytals, The Heptones, The Paragons, The Sensations and The Melodians, all featured on this extraordinary historical set.

 

VP Records Co-Founder Patricia Chin remembers the time clearly. “Rock Steady was a time when Jamaican music really came alive. Sound systems were booming and artist competition was fierce. It dramatically changed the music landscape, similar to how dancehall transformed reggae’s prominent sound at the time. Rock Steady music was also great for lovers because it spawned more slow dancing styles and really allowed people to connect.”

 

At the time, Patricia and her husband Vincent Chin owned and operated Randy’s Records, Kingston’s burgeoning record shop and recording studio located on 17 North Parade (hence the name for VP Records’ vintage imprint).  She adds, “when Rock Steady emerged, Jamaica knew we had something really interesting in the culture and that was music.”

 

FIRST CLASS ROCK STEADY TRACK LISTING DISC 1

Take it Easy-Hopeton Lewis

Hold Them – Roy Shirley

I Am Lonely-The Heptones

Dance All Night-The Tartans

Rock Steady-Alton Ellis & The Flanes

Ba Ba Boo,m-The Jamaicans

Pata Pata Rock Steady-Patsy & The Count Ossie Band

Last Train To Expo 67-the Melodians

I’m A Loving Pauper-Dobby Dobson

Please Stop Your Lying-Errol Dunkley

Return Home-Alva Lewis

Just Like A River- Stranger Cole & Gladdy

El Casino Royale-Lynn Taitt & The Jets feat. Cool Sticky

Dreader Than Dread-Honey Boy Martin & The Voices

The Return Of Ezekial-The Jupiters

Live And Love-Carlton Manning

Last Train To Ecstasy-The Melodians

You’re Gonna Need Me-Errol Dunkley

Born To Love You-The Sensations

Sounds And Pressure- Hopeton Lewis

 

FIRST CLASS ROCK STEADY TRACK LISTING DISC 2

You Don’t Care-The Techniques

Little Boy Blue-Pat Kelly

Left With A Broken Heart-The Paragons

ABC Rock Steady-The Gaylads

The Beatitude-The Uniques

Revelation-Alva Lewis

A Change Is Gonna Come-Ken Parker

The Russians Are Coming-Val Bennett

The Great Musical Battle-Derrick Morgan

The Big Takeover-The Overtakers

I Am The Upsetter-Lee Perry

Musically-Keith Blake

Lonely Heartaches-The Clarendonians

Napoleon Solo-Lynn Taitt & The Jets

Intensified-Desmond Dekker And The Aces

Got To Get Away-The Paragons

Hold Me Tight-Johnny Nash

Long Time Me No See You-The Sensations

Seeing And Knowing-Stranger Cole & Gladdy

Darling Jeboza Macoo-Stranger Cole

 



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