musicology #0301

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #12

(The Uniques - Hooray, (One Fine Day)

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Seeing this theme through until the end of the week and then I'll be rolling out something fresh on Monday. Just like to thank all you Cats for the visits and comments on the Wailers cut, (and tee), most apprecited. Following a marrow trembler like that is nigh on impossible..one of them cuts that has left me 'chewing canvas' to use an old boxing colloquilism...you know the score, hanging on to the opponent for dear life hoping that the bell tolls for the end of the round..so without further delay hold this cut from one of Jamaica's finest vocal groups The Uniques featuring one of the greatest vocalists to ever grace the M.I.C...Keith 'Slim' Smith, alongside Jimmy Riley and Lloyd 'Charmers' Tyrel with a first outing on themusicologist. A 1967 Bunny 'Striker' Lee production that sounds like it was recorded at the Dukes 'Treasure Isle' studio...the home of Rocksteady.

musicology #188

nowordsjustmusic #4

(Jimmy Riley - Woman’s Gotta Have It)

after silence that which comes closest to expressing the inexpressible is music

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musicology #163

malevocals2 #1

(Cornell Campbell - My Country)

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kicking off this weeks selection with a mighty cut from one of Jamaica's finest, Cornell Campbell who has been dropping musical bombs like this for almost 50, (count 'em), years. the man has laid down so many top ranking pieces it beggers belief that he is not an international star.

there at the birth of Jamaican musicology Cornell Cambell began his career at the tender age of 11, (according to the man himself), for none other than Coxsone 'Downbeat the ruler' Dodd. after a financial dispute he moved on to King Edwards, then formed vocal group 'The Sensations' with Jimmy Riley.

back to Dodd as a solo artist and lead singer of 'The Eternals' before hooking up with Bunny Lee in the early 70's...the cat has worked with all of the great Jamaican producers throughout his long career, (which is still going strong), covering almost all of the styles from R&B through to Dancehall so I'm not going to bore you with the 'information' .... i'm just going to throw this one down and leave it to you to decide.

musicology #161

vocalgroupaction2 #6

(The Uniques - Lessons Of Love)

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day six !! of the vocalgroup selection and the tunes just keep on coming...by now i'm sure you've realised that the two genres that feature heaviest on themusicologist are Soul & Reggae and today's cut is no exception.

courtesy of one of the most 'important' of Jamaica's vocal groups The Uniques whose previous incarnation, (The Techniques), had already played a huge part in shaping the vocal group sound of Jamaica with Duke Reid at Treasure Isle. (for an example of the Techniques work with 'The Trojan' take a listen to musicology #44??).

but it was as this pivotal line-up, (Roy Shirley, Jimmy Riley, Lloyd 'Charmers' Tyrell and Keith 'Slim' Smith), produced by the Islands top producer at the time Bunny 'Striker' Lee that they rose to the top of Jamaica's vocal group tree with a string of Rock Steady classics such as 'Gypsy Woman', 'My Conversation', 'The Beatitude', Love & Devotion, 'Facts Of Life' (to name a few)

briefly...Bunny Lee was a major figure in the evolution of Jamaican musicology especially during this period. One of the first, (the first being Cecil ' Prince Buster' Campbell), independent producers to challenge Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid he was instrumental in breaking the hold the two held over the music resulting in the emergence of other notable producers such as Derrick' One Stop' Harriott and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

Recorded in Kingston at the Treasure Isle, (or W.I.R.L), studio in 1968.