REGGAY UNDERCOVER L.P. - HSRSS-LP-0004

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HARLEM SHUFFLE RECORDS presents

REGGAY UNDERCOVER – VOL. 1

SKA, ROCKSTEADY & EARLY REGGAE

 VINYL ALBUM COMPILATION OF 14 TRACKS

COMPILED BY HELEA IN COLLABORATION WITH HARLEM SHUFFLE RECORDS

Selection: Héléa 

Mix: Héléa and Harlem Shuffle Records

Cover photos: Héléa

TRACK LISTING - FULL SONGS (CTRL+CLICK to open links)

A Side

1 Tommy McCook & The Supersonics "Kansas City" (Instrumental) - Duke 1970

First recorded by Willie Littlefield under the title "KC Loving" for Federal Records in 1952

2 Bongo Man Byfield "Bongo Man" - Treasure Isle - 1964

Sam Cook  under the title "What A Wonderful World" - Keen Records - 1959

3 The Techniques "What'cha Gonna Do" - Treasure Isle - 1966

The Drifters -  Atlantic - 1955

4 Eric Monty Morris "If I Didn´t Love You" - Doctor Bird - 1967

Chuck jackson - Wand - 1965

5 Trevor & The Maytones "Everyday Is Like A Holiday" - Blue Cat - 1969

William Bell - Stax - 1967

6 The Uniques "Just a mirage" - Trojan - 1969

Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - Tamla 1967

7 Patsy Todd "Retreat Song" - Doctor Bird - 1968

Miriam Makeba - RCA Victor - 1960

B Side

1 Roland Alphonso & The Beverley's All-Stars "Charade" -  Beverley's - 1966

First recorded by Henry Mancini for RCA Victor - 1963

2 Lee Perry "Something You've Got" - Doctor Bird - 1967

Chris Kenner - Instant - 1961

3 The Upsetters & Count Prince Miller "Mule Train" (Upsetters version) - Trojan - 1970

Frankie Laine and the Muleskinners ‎- Mercury - 1949

4 Alton Ellis "Trying To Reach My Goal" - Treasure Isle - 1969

Screamin Jay Hawkins - Philips -  1970

5 Harry J. All Stars "Je T'Aime" - Trojan - 1969

Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg - Fontana - 1969

6 Ken Boothe "Is It Because I'm Black" (UK Mix) - Trojan - 1973

Syl Johnson - Twinight - 1969B Side

7 The Messengers "Crowded City" -  Attack - 1973

The Temptations ‎under the title "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - Tamla Motown 1971

ABOUT THIS RELEASE

In the 1950s, Jamaican dancehall regulars were crazy about the haunting sounds of American Rhythm & Blues. But in the mid-1950s, Rock 'n' Roll began to replace RnB in America, and Jamaican dancehall owners like Duke Reid and Clement Dodd turned to local musicians to record their own versions of American RnB.

The trend of covering foreign hits exploded during the Ska heyday of the early 60s and continued through the Rocksteady and Reggay eras. Jamaican musicians have covered virtually every genre of music, from jazz and rock to film scores, television soundtracks, pop, classical music and more. Over the years, they have also recorded many "versions" of already existing covers. Cover of cover of cover…

Admittedly, some of these covers were futile but many were sublime as this new and eclectic collection of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggay nuggets, compiled by the very competent and very charming D.J. Héléa, brilliantly demonstrates. Attention we are here "undercover", there are no well-known covers. Some of the tracks selected are rare, others unknown or forgotten - but all are excellent and blended in an impeccable mix, in line with previous the Harlem Shuffle compilations... All Killer, No Filler!

REGGAY UNDERCOVER is an exciting musical kaleidoscope of Jamaican and Reggae music from the early 60s through to the mid 70s.

We hope you will enjoy listening to this album as much as we had composing it for you.

All aboard for REGGAY UNDERCOVER!

ABOUT HELEA

Héléa is a French DJ who passionately mixes Ska, Rocksteady and Reggay vinyls in live sets or on the radios in France, England and Spain. She runs her own Facebook group: “Reggae Under Cover” and is an expert in Jamaican covers.