Symarip - These Boots Are Made For Walking / That Is Nice - HSRSS-0005

SYMARIP - THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING / THAT IS NICE 

7' LOUD CUT VINYL RECORD 

Symarip began in the 1960s as The Bees, the UK’s first major 60's Reggae band then as The Pyramids, Symarip and Seven Letters. In 1971 they moved to Germany to perform Afro-rock music under the name Zubaba.

Frank Pitter, Symarip's original drummer, recalls watching Keith Moon, The Who's drummer on TV around 1965/1966 and deciding " right then and there to become a drummer, to make a living as a musician”.

The Bees included:

Roy Ellis (Vocals, Trombone), Monty Neysmith (Hammond Organ & Keyboard), Frank Pitter (Drums), Micheal Thomas (Bass), Josh Roberts (Guitar), Roy Bug Knight (Saxophone), Johney Johnson (Trumpet), Carl Grifith (Tennor & Alto Sax).

They all originated from the Jamaican community and quickly became the U.K. main supporting act for visiting Jamaican artists. They toured extensively across the UK, playing for Lauren Aitken, Prince Buster, Eddy Grant, Millie Small,  Owen Gray, Jackie Edwards, Desmond Dekker, The Pioneers, The Ethiopians, The Maytals... to name a few.

They signed with the label President under the name The Pyramids, with Eddy Grant writing and producing their first album and their first hit, Train Tour To Rainbow City in 1967.

Despite their popularity, they got little support from their record label. This is then that Monty Neysmith came up with the idea of turning Pyramids into Symarip, hence allowing the band to sign with Trojan.

Symarip recorded their first album under this name with Trojan in 1969. It featured among others  "these Boots Are Made For Walking", “Skinhead Girl”, “Skinhead Jamboree” and  “Skinhead Moonstomp”. "Moonstomp" was in fact a version of Derrick Morgan's 1969 "Moon Hop". Additionally, it featured a vocal introduction: "I want all you skinheads to get up on your feet/Put your braces together and your boots on your feet/And give me some of that old moonstomping" that was very similar to the Sam & Dave' "I Thank You” song introduction.

Over the years “Skinhead Moonstomp” charted several times for Symarip and finally reached number 1 with The Specials in 1980.

Although their songs were the first targeting the Skinhead audience, they have become mega anthems for the black and white communities in U.K. and around the world.

And Symarip special brand of Reggae is also widely recognized to have greatly influenced the Two Tone bands of the early 80's.

Today's Symarip songs are still incredibly popular. 50 years after their releases, the legend goes on!

A SIDE:

Title: "THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING" Artist: SYMARIP

Genre: Uptempo 60’s Reggae/Boss Sound - For the very first time on 7" vinyl!

Issued on 7" vinyl for the first time, this is a licensed release of the song extracted from the 1970 "Skinhead Moonstomp" L.P.  on the Trojan Records label.

Complete with heavy bass guitar, stomping boot noises, raw aggressive vocals and double entender lyrics, this cracking Boss Reggae cover of the Nancy Sinatra's mega hit has become a Boss Reggae anthem right there with the likes of "Skinhead Moonstomp" or "Hold Down"... Yet, incredibly this outstanding song has never been released on 7" vinyl until now!

"One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.

Are you ready, boots? Start walkin'"

B SIDE:

Title: "THAT IS NICE" - Artist: SYMARIP

1971 - For the first time ever on vinyl!

Genre: medium tempo 60’s Reggae/Boss Sound

That is Nice has only been available on the "Skinhead Moonstomp" CD Special Edition... until now.

This B track is a Symarip original written by Pitter and Roberts and is the complete opposite of "Boots..." on the A side.  Here the gritty voice of Roy Ellis serves admirably the sad, pensive melody and simple lyrics of this melancholic love ballad. That is nice indeed...

A very rare gem and a perfect finish to this outstanding single.