There is a new release by myself and my friends Prince Flo and Lady Pet on my very own Blue Esquire Records label. DIY since ever, please enjoy and spread the word.
Ever thought you might need another version of these SKA classics? Hear "Gangsters" like you've never heard it before. Choose "Rivers of Babylon" for your next christmas party, scream to "Long Shot" and play "Donna" while havin' an amorous téte-à-téte with your baby.
Download only unless I can afford a physical format, preferably a 7". For now you can purchase at download stores or simply listen to at streaming services.
Early B aka The Doctor (real name Earlando Arrington Neil) was a Jamaican dancehall and reggae artist who, amongst other songs, became famous with the single Wheely Wheely (1984, 56 Hope Road), a hymn about bicycle riding in Jamaica. Early B got his satge name from the nick name Early Bird, which he earned by coming always early to his shows. Unfortunately he also died early, when he was shot in Massachusetts on 9/11 1994 in a Windsor Crickett Club in Dorchester. Neither his killers were ever found nor the reason for his killing was revealed.
Four Wheel No Real (1984, Midnight Rock) was the title of his first LP (though facts differ very much on dates in several sources) and already indicated his love for the two-wheeler, while with his second LP Wheely Wheely (1985, Sunset) he carried on with the promotion for bicycles and the coolness of the one-wheel-ride, that makes the girls dem cry out loud.
Early B - Wheely Wheely
This one dedicated to all the youth who ride bicycle
I admire all the youth dem ride one wheel
One wheel wheel him mek we wheely one wheel
Say this is not a bargain, say this is not a deal
Say this is like huff in a delicious meal
I jus love all de youth dem a ride one wheel
It look like a movie but we know it is real
Some say like dem a gwan like dem a mek outta steel
Around de microphone dis is de doctor Early B
Early B - Bicycle Bicycle
Before Early B released the Wheely Wheely hit song another song called Bicycle Bicycle appeared first on the Techniques label in 1983 and later on the Rosie Uprising label in 1984.
Early B - Four Wheel No Real
This is the title Song of the Four Wheel No Real (1984, Midnight Rock) LP. There was probably no other Jamaican reggae artist who dedicated his lyrics as radically to the two-wheeler as Early B did. We should remember him for this and listen to his nice and decent dancehall styles again and again.
This 8-CD compilation coincides with the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence and stands out from masses of Reggae compilation by the excellent selection of well known tracks along with rarities and jewels, that never were released before outside Jamaica, b-sides and lost 7"-vinyl obscurities, all selected by DJ Jim Layne. What makes the exceptional quality of this compilation is the diversity which isn't limited by the back catalogue of only one label, refusal to stick to mega hits only and the perfect focussing on the four emphases of reggae music. Each set comes with a 16-page booklet that gives you all the background story you need, written by Lloyd Bradley, the author of the book "Bass Culture - When Reggae Was King". I ordered it straight away and can't wait to listen to the sweet music all day long. Bass Culture Vol. 1 - This Town Is Too Hot! Ska & Rocksteady - Original 1960s Recordings
CD 1:
1 Freedom - Clancy Eccles
2 Man in the Street - Don Drummond
3 I’m a Lonely Boy - Shenley Duffus
4 Rocket Ship - The Baba Brooks Band / Tommy McCook
5 Miss Lulu - Derrick Morgan / Busters All Stars
6 Doctor Kildare -
7 Over the River - Justin Hinds & the Dominoes
8 Lonely Man - Ronald Wilson
9 Al Capone - Prince Buster All-Stars
10 Miss Ska-Culation - Roland Alphonso & The Soul Brothers
11 One Love [Ska Version] - Bob Marley & the Wailers
12 Teenage Ska - The Baba Brooks Band
13 So Bad - The Upsetters
14 Dick Tracy - The Skatalites
15 Mouth a Massy - Alton Ellis
16 Four Seasons - Sir Lord Comic
17 Royal Charlie - Charlie Organaire
18 Little Did You Know - The Techniques
19 Dr Ring a Ding - Roland Alphonso & The Soul Brothers
20 Free Man - The Ethiopians
CD 2:
1 Too Hot - Prince Buster All-Stars
2 Folk Song - Tony & Dennis
3 Beware - Overtakers
4 Ain’t That Loving You - Alton Ellis & The Flames
5 Thinking - Ken Boothe
6 Right On Time - The Sensations
7 Hey There Lonely Girl - Glen Adams
8 Real Cool - Tommy McCook & the Supersonics
9 Love & Devotion - The Uniques
10 Once a Man (Twice a Child) - Justin Hinds & the Dominoes 11 Musically - Keith Blake
12 Riding On a High and Windy Day - The Paragons
13 True Believer in Love - Delroy Wilson
14 Lonely Street - The Conquerors
15 The Russians Are Coming (aka Take Five) - Val Bennett
16 There Comes a Time - The Techniques
17 Fu Man Chu - Desmond Dekker & the Aces
18 Losing You - The Ethiopians
19 Where Must I Go - Errol Dunkley
20 I Don’t Care at All - Hamlins
Bass Culture Vol. 2 - Boss Sounds / Early Reggae 1968-72
CD 1:
1 Funky, Funky Reggae - Dave Barker / Tommy McCook / The Supersonics
2 Come Down ’68 - Lord Creator
3 Breaking-Up - Alton Ellis
4 Hold You Jack - Derrick Morgan
5 Tickle Me for Days - The Pioneers
6 Bongo Nyah - Little Roy
7 Jumping Jack - Karl "Cannonball" Bryan
8 Qua Kue Shut - The Creations
9 I Am Coming Home - Pat Kelly
10 You Can’t Do That to Me - Bob Marley & the Wailers
11 Don Juan - Boris Gardiner & The Love People
12 This Life Makes Me Wonder - Delroy Wilson
13 Well Red (aka Well Dread) - The Ethiopians
14 Bigger Boss - Ansell Collins
15 Pressure Drop - Toots & the Maytals
16 Everywhere I Go (Travel With Love) - Justin Hinds & the Dominoes
17 Zylon - Lloyd Charmers
18 A No Fi Mi Piccn’y - Max Romeo
19 Maybe Someday - John Holt & The Paragons
20 30-60-90 - Jackie Mittoo
CD 2:
1 The Burner - Vin Gordon
2 Such is Life - Lord Creator
3 River to the Bank - Derrick Morgan
4 It’s Alright - Ken Parker
5 Warfare - Count Machukie / Bunny Lee All Stars
6 Problems - Desmond Dekker
7 Each Time - Ebony Sisters
8 Night and Day - Toots & the Maytals
9 Here I Come Again - Winston Samuels
10 Treat You Right - Bob Marley & the Wailers
11 The Night Doctor - The Upsetters
12 Foey Man - George Dekker 13 Work It - The Viceroys
14 Wha’ She Do Now - The Gaylads
15 Your Love is a Game - Dave Barker
16 Dollar of Soul - J.J. All Stars
17 Every Day is Just a Holiday - The Sensations
18 It’s Gonna Take a Miracle - Ken Boothe
19 End Dust (aka End Us) - Randy's All Stars
20 Just One Kiss - Cornell Campbell
Bass Culture Vol.3 – When Reggae Was King - Roots, Rockers, Djs & Dub 1970-1980
CD 1:
1 Horace Andy - Every tongue shall tell
2 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Caution
3 Roy Shirley - Israelites leave Babylon
4 Tommy McCook & The Impact All-Stars - Jaro
5 African Brothers - Lead us father
6 Joe Higgs - Hard times don't bother me
7 Dillinger - Natty Kung Fu
8 Freddie McKay - I'm a free man
9 Psalms - Rolling Stone
10 Cedric IM Brooks & The Light of Saba - Rebirth
11 Cornell Campbell - Give me love
12 Max Romeo:Tacko
13 Sweeny & The Wailers Band - Won't come easy
14 John Holt - Let the wicked run away
15 Augustus Band - Won't come easy
16 John Holt - Let the wicked run away
17 Augustus Pablo - Dub or aniser
18 Gregory Isaacs - A Riot
19 The Mighty Diamonds - Have mercy
20 Pablo Moses - Blood money
21 Dennis Brown - Children of Israel
22 Winston & Ansel - Zion I
CD 2:
1 Peter Tosh - Get up stand up (Acoustic Version)
2 The Gladiators - Mix-Up
3 Johnny Clarke & The Aggrovators - Blood (Version)
4 Big Youth - Love we a deal with
5 The Abyssinians - Dem a come
6 Niney The Observer - Mutiny (Confusion in a Babylon)
7 Gregory Isaacs - One more time
8 Prince Far I - Throw away your gun
9 Israel Vibration - Prophet has arise
10 Sly Dunbar - Rasta Fiesta
11 Culture Natty - Never get weary
12 Dennis Brown - Deliverance will come
13 The Arabs - Suru (Lere Dub)
14 Burning Spear - African teacher
15 I Roy - Fire in a wire
16 Sugar Minott - The people got to know
17 The Twinkle Brothers - Free Africa
18 Black Uhuru - Plastic smile
19 The Viceroys - My Mission is impossible
20 Horace Andy - Natty dread a weh she want
Bass Culture Vol.4 – Mash You Down - The Birth Of Dancehall 1978-1985
