Reggae covers - oldies
From: juha@maple.pp.fi (Juha
Vaahtera)
Newsgroups:
rec.music.reggae
Subject: Re: Reggae to the
Oldies
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 18:23:52
GMT
On 27 Sep 1996 03:57:01 GMT,
upsetter@cybercom.net (Arthur
Cohen)
wrote:
>Just
for fun, I recently made a tape of various reggae covers of tunes
>from the 60s and early 70s (mostly). I
originally had the idea while
>listening to
the local "Oldies" station (which, amusingly, is named
>WODS, and which plays most of these songs
regularly).
>
>Anyway,
although constrained by my collection (not massive), I think it
>came out pretty nice... I'd be curious to
see other people's picks for
>something
similar (especially if you really made the
tape!).
<snip>
Here
are some of my favorites:
Richard Ace:
Love is so good when you're stealing it (Studio
1)
-
This is
version of Z.Z. Hill's minor hit of 1977. Hardly no one
seems
to remember the original - this Richard
Ace's reggae version is even
better. Definitely
my # 1.
Richard Ace: Staying alive (prod.
by Prince Tony Robinson)
-Yes, the Bee Gees
song from Saturday Night fever. This sounds
kinda
pervert but I like the song. On the flip
there's a version of Yvonne
Elliman's If I
can't have you. Sounds good to me,
too.
Otis Gayle: I'll be around (Studio
1)
-Version of the Spinners song. Tasty &
jazzy organ solo provided by
Jackie Mittoo.
Otis Gayle has made a couple of other versions
for
Dodd. Paul Anka's Let me get to know you
and Kenny Rogers' Lady, but
this Motown tune is
the tops.
Lord Tanamo (or Ken Parker or
Gladiators): Rainy night in Georgia
(Studio
1).
-Arthur had the Nicky Thomas cut of this
Tony Joe White song, but I
prefer these made by
these luminaries from Dodd's
stable.
Tommy McCook: Flying home
(Treasure Isle)
-Benny Goodman's tune
transferred into a rocksteady
instrumental.
Tommy McCook: Kojak (Bunny
Lee)
-And another jazz adaptation with odd
title. This time it's Duke
Ellington's Take the
"A" train time. A strange but
charming
combination of a jazz standard, mid
70's flying cymbal-style and
Horace Andy's
Better collie rhythm.
Derrick Harriott:
Checking out (self production)
-I love these
"motel love" songs (like the Richard Ace/ZZ Hill
tune).
It's Don Covay's I was checkin' out She
was checkin' in.
Chosen Few: Shaft
(Derrick Harriott)
-There's also Prince
Buster's version of this Isaac Hayes sound
track
composition.
Derrick
Harriott: Float on (self prod.)
-And one more
Derrick tune. It's the Floaters' sweet soul tune
from
1977. Tamlins are on the background
telling their signs and what kind
of girls they
prefer...
Alton Ellis: Can I change my
mind (Studio 1)
-Tyrone Davis' million seller
and a good cover version by Mr.
Ellis.
Alton Ellis: Too late to turn back
now (self prod?)
-Cornelius Brothers did the
original. The riddim was used by Augustus
Pablo
in his Too late instrumental (This is Augustus
Pablo).
Jimmy Riley: Somebody told me
(self prod)
-From Teddy Pendergrass' first solo
album after leaving the Harold
Melvin's Blue
Notes. Jimmy Riley is the only one in Jamaica who can
do
a cover song like
this.
Etcetera. I could go on
forever.
Juha
From:
rocksteady
<rocksteady@wport.com>
Subject: Re:
Reggae to the Oldies
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996
00:44:43 GMT
Robert Nelson
wrote:
>
> Lee O'Neill
wrote:
> > > How about Black Uhuru
& the Tamlins collaborating on
"Aquarius"?
>
> Which the Diamonds have done as well on a
Bad Gong single called "Let
> Jah Sun Shine
In".
>
> I'm glad you mentioned this record Lee. I
only knew if it via the DJ
> version by
Lizzy on the Joe Gibbs album, "Top Ranking DJ
Session".
> What's the label info on the
B'Uhuru vocal you've got?
The Age Of
Aquarius was also done by "The Freedom Singers" (a group
of
studio vocalists like LArry Marshall,
WInston Jarrett, etc.) for Studio
One back in
the 60s. As far as cornball stuff, didn't Pat Kelley do
a
sickly sweet cut of "Little Jimmy Brown"?
(ugh!)
Allen
Kaatz
\\\\\\\\\\\\
rocksteady@wport.com ////////////
Posted: Fri - March 28, 2003 at 10:29 AM