Blue Beat and Ska

Blue Beat and Ska – It originated in Jamaica: late fifties early sixties – and gave birth to reggae, it soon came to Britain and if it were to have an alternative name – you might as well call it PRINCE BUSTER!

In the early 1960s in the UK early Blue Beat and Ska was beginning to be noticed.

Elias and his zig zag jive flutes had a hit in 1958 with
Tom Hark

UK top twenty The Magil Five Mockingbird Hill

Along came Millie Small and hit the number one jackpot with MY BOY LOLLIPOP

And Blue Beat records and the SKA genre was off.

Georgie Fame did some versions and we got to hear the Prince and the fantastic SKATALITES.

A great big UK Club hit in the Sixties

The Guns of Navarone and Perhaps were huge hits at London and Manchester’s ‘dive’ clubs.
These were the real deal!
Prince Busters Ten Commandments – Al Capone – the list is literally ENDLESS… as the great man kept on churning out record after record.
Ten Commandments inspired an answer back track from Little Norma.
The Manchester Twisted Wheel played loads of SKA and Blue Beat and so did the Blue Note Club.

An Emergency Case for Dr Ring Ding

Dr. Ring-a-Ding – Rolando Alphonso & The Soul Brothers

Lots of Ska record labels popped up in the sixties and a huge amount from just one guy: Prince Buster. Apart from the main Blue Beat and Island labels most of the others were released from small companies in London, some direct from Jamaica. Atlantic Records USA released some SKA. But just as it got going the genre went underground and did not fully emerge until Bob Marley made his mark; and then it became Reggae!

BLUE BEAT
Collectors’ 45 Vinyl

Blue Beat Records was the label owned by Emile E. Shalit’s Melodisc Records company; formed in London1947, it began releasing Blue Beat and obtained many from Prince Buster and Coxone Dodd.

The label is now a LEGEND.

Chris Blackwell brought ISLAND records to London. He sold them out of the back of his Mini, travelling all around London’s record shops, then Millie was number one in the UK Pop Chart (on the Philips – Fontana Label) and he could then get the main Island label going more commercially. Many many Island 45’s were Ska.

The BLUE BEAT Catalog

Early releases are featured on this CD – Lets hope they come along with the rest as the next years cover the really great stuff!

DISC ONE: SHOCKIN’! THE ‘A’ SIDES

1. Boogie Rock – Laurel Aitken & The Boogie Cats
   (Laurel Antonio Aitken) Cherry Red Songs
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-1A
   Produced by Deonarine ‘Dada’ Tewari / Down Beat Records
   (P) 1959
2. Dumplin’s – Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
   (Doc Bagby, Irving Nathan) Florida Music Co. Ltd. / Songs For Today Ltd.
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-2A
   Produced by Byron Lee / Dragon’s Breath Records
   (P) 1960
3. Manny Oh – Higgs & Wilson with Ken Richards & His Comets
   (Joe Higgs, Ron Wilson) Copyright Control
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-3A
   Produced by Edward Seaga / WIRL Records
   (P) 1960
4. Lollipop Girl – The Jiving Juniors with Duke Reid & His Group
   (Derrick Clifton Harriott) Copyright Control
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-4A
   Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
   (P) 1960
5. My Hearts Desire – The Jiving Juniors with Duke Reid & His Group
   (Derrick Clifton Harriott) Musicare Ltd.
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-5A
   Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
   (P) 1960
6. Worried Over You – Keith & Enid with Trenton Spence & His Group
   (Simeon Smith) Acorn Publishing
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-6A
   Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
   (P) 1960
7. Fat Man – Derrick Morgan
   (Derrick Seymour Morgan) Westbury Music Ltd.
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-7A
   Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
   (P) 1960
8. Cutest Little Woman – Owen Gray with Kenneth Richards & His Band
   (Owen Gray) Westbury Music Ltd.
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-8A
   Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
   (P) 1960
9. Album Of Memory – The Magic Notes with Kenneth Richards & His Band
   (Simeon Smith) Copyright Control
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-9A
   Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
   (P) 1960
10. Jeannie Is Back – Laurel Aitken
    (Laurel Antonio Aitken) Cherry Red Songs
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-10A
    A Regal Records Production
    (P) 1960
11. Send Me – Keith & Enid with Trenton Spence & His Group
    (Simeon Smith) Copyright Control
    Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-11A
    (P) 1960
12. Don’t Cry – Derrick Morgan & The Ebonies
    (Derrick Seymour Morgan) Copyright Control
    Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-12A
    (P) 1960
13. Judgment Day – Laurel Aitken with Ken Richards & His Harmonisers
    (Laurel Antonio Aitken) Cherry Red Songs
    Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-14A
    (P) 1960
14. Easy Snapping – Clue J’s Blues Blasters with vocal by Theophilus Beckford
    (Theophilus Beckford) Oemeron Music Ltd.
    Produced by Clement Seymour Dodd / Worldisc Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-15A
    (P) 1960
15. Time To Pray (Allelujah) – The Mellow Larks with Clue J & His Blues Blasters
    (Basil Glendon Gabbidon, Lloyd Altamont Thomas Robinson) Westbury Music Ltd.
    Produced by Clement Seymour Dodd / Worldisc Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-16A
    (P) 1960
16. Muriel – Alton & Eddy with Clue J & His Blues Blasters
    (Clement Seymour Dodd) New Town Sound Ltd. / Jamrec Music
    Produced by Clement Seymour Dodd / Worldisc Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-17A
    (P) 1960
17. Lover Boy – Derrick Morgan with Duke Reid & His Group
    (Derrick Seymour Morgan) Copyright Control
    Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-18A
    (P) 1960
18. Till The End Of Time – Chuck & Dobby with Duke Reid & His Group
    (Ralph Highland Dobson) Upstairs Music
    Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-19A
    (P) 1960
19. Baby What You Done Me Wrong – Bobby Kingdom & The Blue Beats
    (Laurel Aitken, Bobby Muir) Copyright Control
    A Melodisc Production
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-20A / DA-3115
    (P) 1960
20. Shockin’ – Lynn Hope
    (Henry Glover, Myron C. Bradshaw) Lark Music Ltd.
    A King (USA) Recording
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-21A
    (P) 1960
21. Railroad Track – Laurel Aitken & The Blue Beats
    (Laurel Antonio Aitken) Cherry Red Songs
    A Melodisc Production
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-22A / DA-3083
    (P) 1960
22. Cool School – Chuck & Dobby with Duke Reid & His Group
    (Ralph Highland Dobson, Chuck Josephs) Copyright Control
    Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-23A
    (P) 1960
23. I Wanna Love – Jiving Juniors with Duke Reid & His Group
    (Derrick Harriott) Musicare Ltd.
    Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-24A
    (P) 1960
24. More Whisky – Laurel Aitken with Duke Reid & His Group
    (Laurel Antonio Aitken) Sunbeam Music
    Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-25A
    (P) 1960

Bonus Tracks (The Subsidiaries):

25. Little Vilma – The Blues Busters with Luther ‘Wee Willie’ Williams & His Orchestra
    (Lloyd Osbourne Campbell, Phillip James) Creole Music Ltd.
    A Limbo Records Production
    Original UK release: Limbo, 45/XL-101A
    (P) 1960
26. Jamaica Blues – Azie Lawrence
    (Azie Lawrence) Copyright Control
    A Melodisc Recording
    Original UK release: Melodisc, 45/1563, DA-3066
    (P) 1960
27. Mary Lee – Laurel Aitken & The Blue Beats
    (Laurel Antonio Aitken) Cherry Red Songs
    A Melodisc Production
    Original UK release: Melodisc, 45/1570A, DA-3085
    (P) 1960
28. The Wasp – The Bubbles
    (The Bubbles) Copyright Control
    A Wasp Recording
    Original UK release: Duke, DK-1001A
    (P) 1960
29. Pink Lane Shuffle – Duke Reid & His Group
    (Arthur Stanley Reid) Jack Russell Music Ltd.
    Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
    Original UK release: Duke, DK-1002A
    (P) 1960

DISC TWO: OH, MY! THE ‘B’ SIDES

1. Heavenly Angel – Laurel Aitken & The Boogie Cats
   (Laurel Antonio Aitken) Cherry Red Songs
   Produced by Deonarine ‘Dada’ Tewari / Down Beat Records
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-1B
   (P) 1959
2. Kissin’ Gal – Byron Lee & The Dragonaires with vocal by Buddy Davidson
   (Lester Williams, Byron Lee) Creole Music Ltd.
   Produced by Byron Lee / Dragon’s Breath Records
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-2B
   (P) 1960
3. When You Tell Me Baby – Higgs & Wilson with Ken Richards & His Comets
   (Joe Higgs, Ron Wilson) Copyright Control
   Produced by Edward Seaga / WIRL Records
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-3B
   (P) 1960
4. Dearest Darling – The Jiving Juniors with Duke Reid & His Group
   (Derrick Harriott) Copyright Control
   Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-4B
   (P) 1960
5. I Love You – The Jiving Juniors with Duke Reid & His Group
   (Derrick Harriott) Copyright Control
   Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-5B
   (P) 1960
6. Everything Will Be Alright – Keith & Enid with Trenton Spence & His Group
   (Altamont Stewart, Enid Campbell)
   Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-6B
   (P) 1960
7. I’m Gonna Leave You – Derrick Morgan
   (Derrick Morgan) Copyright Control
   Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-7B
   (P) 1960
8. Running Around – Owen Gray with Kenneth Richards & His Band
   (Owen Gray) Westbury Music Ltd.
   Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-8B
   (P) 1960
9. Why Did You Leave Me – The Magic Notes with Kenneth Richards & His Band
   (Simeon Smith) Copyright Control
   Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
   Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-9B
   (P) 1960
10. If It’s Money You Need – Laurel Aitken
    (Laurel Antonio Aitken) Cherry Red Songs
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-10B
    A Regal Records Production
    (P) 1960
11. People Will Say We’re In Love – Trenton Spence & His Group
    (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) Imagem Music
    Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-11B
    (P) 1960
12. I Pray For You – Derrick Morgan & The Ebonies
    (Derrick Morgan) Copyright Control
    Produced by Simeon Smith / Smith’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-12B
    (P) 1960
13. Yea Yea Baby – Laurel Aitken with Ken Richards & His Harmonisers
    (Laurel Aitken) Cherry Red Songs
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-14B
    Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
    (P) 1960
14. Goin’ Home – Clue J’s Blues Blasters with vocal by Theophilus Beckford
    (Theophilus Beckford) Copyright Control
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-15B
    Produced by Clement Seymour Dodd / Worldisc Records
    (P) 1960
15. Love You Baby – The Mellow Larks with Clue J & His Blues Blasters
    (Basil Gabbidon) Copyright Control
    Produced by Clement Seymour Dodd / Worldisc Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-16B
    (P) 1960
16. Silky? – Clue J & His Blues Blasters, featuring Ernest Ranglin, Rico Rodriquez & Roland Alphonso
    (Cluett Johnson) Copyright Control
    Produced by Clement Seymour Dodd / Worldisc Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-17B
    (P) 1960
17. Oh My! – Derrick Morgan with Duke Reid & His Group
    (Derrick Seymour Morgan) Westbury Music
    Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-18B
    (P) 1960
18. What Makes Honey – Duke Reid’s Group
    (Arthur Stanley Reid) Priestman Music Publishing
    Produced by Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid / Duke Reid’s Records
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-19B
    (P) 1960
19. Go Pretty Baby Go – Bobby Kingdom & The Blue Beats
    (Laurel Aitken, Bobby Muir) Copyright Control
    A Melodisc Production
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-20B / DA-3116
    (P) 1960
20. Blue And Sentimental – Lynn Hope
    (William ‘Count’ Basie, Mack David, Jerry Livingston) Warner Chappell Music International Ltd. / Warner Chappell Music Ltd.
    A King (USA) Recording
    Original UK release: Blue Beat, BB-21B
    (P) 1960
21. Tell Me Darling – Laurel Aitken & The PRINCE did more for Ska and Blue Beat than almost anyone else

AL CAPONE – Prince Buster

Mods could not sit down when this played!

BLUE BEAT info

Blue Beat – Wikipedia

UK Blue Beat releases

45’s

Georgie Fame – Blue Beat @ Guardian news article

One Step Beyond
Prince Buster

A huge favourite in Manchester’s cellar clubs in the 60’s: The Nile in Moss Side, The Blue Note and at The Twisted Wheel and The Jiggy! OO7 Shanty Town

Rude Boy – Desmond Dekker

Blue Beat Records – Wikipedia