Locomotive
Rudi’s In Love- 1968 Locomotive released this fairly pedestrian Bluebeat type song, reminiscent of the rocky steady rhythm. Having said that, became very popular in Birmingham. Locomotive (Band) – Wikipedia
Reggae, Bluebeat, Ska
Lee Perry
1957 – ‘Mad’ Lee Perry worked with Prince Buster and was a ‘little’ (Lee was small) salesman for Clement “Coxsone” Dodd (Downbeat Sound System). By 1967 he had fell out with “Coxone” and went his own way in the 70’s. Apparently, he is still alive, oddly enough. Ska music made it alongside Soul playlists in … Read more
Laurel Aitken
If It’s Money You Need Laurel Aitken ‘The Godfather of Ska’ (was no relation to Jewel Aikens although both did versions of The Birds And The Bees). 1957 Roll, Jordan Roll recorded at Island Records, founded by Englishman Chris Blackwell followed by ‘Little Sheila’ made it big in the Jamaican charts. 1960 Laurel emigrated to … Read more
Justin Hinds And The Dominoes
Rub, Up, Push, Up – Island 1963Here I Stand – Treasure Isle 1967 Died 16th March 2005 – Steertown, Jamaica Ska and Rock Steady Duke Reid producer worked with Justin Hinds from 1963 to 1972. Rub Up and Push Up was another of those suggestive Ska tracks that got a lot of hammer in the … Read more
Judge Dread – The White Reggae Bouncer
Big Six Big Seven Leaves you ‘Ska’d for life’ – he could do – Judge Dread was a bouncer and a one time debt collector. It was during his time as a nightclub bouncer in London that he met Prince Buster and Derrick Morgan which led to his later calling. Judge Dread was a Ska … Read more
Joyce Bond
Do The Teasy / Sugar (WIP 6010), 1967 Pink Island Joyce Bond released Do The Teasy – a ska dance song, quite popular at the Twisted Wheel Manchester and quite a few London Mod scene clubs in the mid 1960’s. Both sides got frequently played at the Wheel and The Blue Note in Manchester. The … Read more
Johnny Nash
Love Ain’t Nothing – (But A Monkey On Your Back) In 1972 Johnny Nash had great success with – I Can See Clearly Now. Johnny Nash was from Houston, Texas another church choir singer who made it in the non secular world of pop and R & B (although there was a strong reggae influence … Read more
Jimmy Cliff
King Of Kings – 1963 Jimmy Cliff’s KING OF KINGS was huge at the first Twisted Wheel and another: released an early track that was played regularly at The Twisted Wheel Give And Take. It had the line ‘You’ve got to live a little … pay the price, make the sacrifice’. He also played live at … Read more
Jackie Mittoo
Last Train To SkavilleDr Ring A Ding (with Roland Alphonso and The Soul Brothers)Ram Jam 1968Killer Diller Last Train To Skaville by Jackie Mitto was introduced to Manchester soul clubs by Roger Eagle. At the Twisted Wheel this track by Jackie Mittoo would result in the adoption of a shuffling dance that everyone did. their … Read more
The Ethiopians
Train To Skaville – Rio 1967 Formed in 1966 Disbanded in 1977 The Ethiopians were an early reggae / rock steady music group. The trio comprised of Leonard ‘Sparrow’ Dillon, Stephen Taylor and Aston Morris but in 1964 Peter Tosh helped Leonard Dillon start a solo career with producers Lee Perry and Coxsone Dodd. He … Read more