The Moon Boys - Appolo 11 / The Pioneers - Love Love Everyday - HSRSS-0041

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Reissue of the rare double-sided killer single by

THE MOON BOYS (aka THE HIPPY BOYS)

“APPOLO 11” /

THE PIONEERS

“LOVE LOVE EVERYDAY”

7" VINYL 45 RPM

OFFICIAL RELEASE: JULY 17, 2026

  Catalogue number: HSRSS-0041

ABOUT THIS RELEASE:

This is the reissue on 7inch vinyl single of the rare killer single by The Moon Boys (aka The Hippy Boys) and The Pioneers as initially produced by Joe Gibbs and released in 1969 on the Amalgamated Records label in the U.K. 

It was only reissued once by Trojan in a box of singlescalled “Spirit Of '69 - The Boss Reggae Sevens Collection” which is also quite rare today.

ABOUT JOE GIBBS

Joe Gibbs (Joel Gibson) was one of the most prolific and influential producers in Jamaican music. His work from the late 1960s through the mid‑1970s is considered essential by Reggae fans, documenting the transition from Rocksteady to Reggae and the birth of Dub.

Late 1960s: Amalgamated beginnings

Joe Gibbs founded the Amalgamated label in 1967, scoring early Rocksteady hits like Roy Shirley’s “Hold Them”. He employed Lee “Scratch” Perry as an engineer before Perry left to form the Upsetters. Gibbs then relied on Niney the Observer to supervise sessions.

• Backing bands included Lynn Taitt & The Jets and the Hippy Boys, featuring Aston and Carlton Barrett.
• Artists included The Pioneers, Errol Dunkley, Ken Parker, The Heptones and many more.
• These singles are now highly collectable.

Early 1970s: International reach

• Scored a UK Top 10 hit with Nicky Thomas’ “Love of the Common People” in 1970.
• Expanded with labels like Jogib, Shock, and Pressure Beat, experimenting with new sounds and reaching overseas markets.
• Released compilations such as The Heptones and Friends, now prized by collectors.

1972–1975: The Mighty Two

• Partnered with engineer Errol Thompson, forming “The Mighty Two”, one of reggae’s most successful producer‑engineer duos.
• Their studio band The Professionals (Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Earl “Chinna” Smith) powered hundreds of singles.
• Produced hits like Dennis Brown’s “Money in My Pocket”, Big Youth’s “Ah So We Stay”, and Culture’s “Two Sevens Clash”.
• Gibbs and Thompson are credited with over 100 Jamaican number one hits during this period.

Mid‑1970s: Roots and Dub

• Built a 16‑track studio and pressing plant at Retirement Crescent, Kingston, in 1975.
• Expanded into Roots Reggae, Rockers, Lovers Rock, and Dub, producing artists like Gregory Isaacs, The Mighty Diamonds, and Culture.
• His dub albums, mixed by Errol Thompson, are considered classics, blending heavy bass, echo, and stripped‑down rhythms.

Over the years, Joe Gibbs’ productions shaped a fascinating kaleidoscope of the Jamaican Reggae music evolution.

Today, original Amalgamated singles are rare and highly popular with Reggae fans and collectors alike.

THE MOON BOYS aka THE HIPPY BOYS

The Moon Boys were in fact the Hippy Boys, the powerhouse studio group formed in 1967 and featuring musicians who would later become the backbone of The Upsetters and Bob Marley & The Wailers e.g.:

• Aston “Family Man” Barrett — bass
• Carlton Barrett — drums
• Alva “Reggie” Lewis — guitar
• Lloyd Charmers and Glen Adams — organ

They were very prolific and recorded many singles under many aliases such as:

Randy's All Stars for Randy's, the Soul Rhythms for Sonia Pottinger, the Matador All Stars for Lloyd Daley, the Bunny Lee Allstars for Bunny Lee, the Joe Gibbs Allstars for Joe Gibbs,

and The Upsetters for Lee Perry productions!

THE PIONEERS

The Pioneers were formed in 1962 by two brothers Derrick and Sidney Crooks and their friend Winston Hewitt later replaced by former Heptone Glen Adams.

The Pioneers' early singles were not successful, and the group broke up in 1967. Sydney started working at Joe Gibbs shop and then in the studio where he met a talented new young singer: Jackie Robinson.  The new Pioneers were reborn as a duo. They recorded several successful singles such as "Longshot" "Jackpot", "Catch the Beat" with Gibbs before joining producer Leslie Kong where they recorded Samfie Man which topped the Jamaican charts. They then recruited George Agard and became a trio again.

They scored in the charts again with "Long Shot (Kick De Bucket)" a sequel to “Long Shot”, the tragic story of a racehorse that never won and died racing!  “Kick De Bucket” became an instant hit both in Jamaican and in the U.K.  particularly among skinheads in 1969.  More hits followed and the band moved to the UK in 1970. Over time, their sound changed and became more pop oriented. They eventually recorded soul albums with Eddy Grant as a producer in 1976. It was not successful and the band split… before reforming. They have been performing sporadically since then. 

A SIDE:

Title: "APPOLO 11" Artist: THE MOON BOYS aka THE HIPPY BOYS

Year: 1969

Genre: Early Reggae Instrumental

Produced by Joe Gibbs

The killer organ instrumental “Appolo 11” with its sharp early‑reggae rhythm and its raw, atmospheric, space‑age production typical of 1969 Kingston, is one of the most fascinating and sought after organ instrumentals of the Boss Reggae genre. A must!

Note: we kept the typo as in the original single, the correct spelling being “Apollo 11”.

B SIDE:

Title: "LOVE LOVE EVERYDAY" - Artist: THE PIONEERS -

Year: 1969

Genre: Rocksteady / early Reggae

Produced by Joe Gibbs

LOVE LOVE VERYDAY is a warm, soulful cut from the Pioneers’ most collectable period. It features the classic Gibbs studio sound: bright horns, rolling bass, and tight vocal but in a romantic and joyful atmosphere. It was initially released in 1969 as a flip to the THE MOON BOYS – APPOLO 11 on Amalgamated AMG 846. It is a perfect B‑side pairing with “Appolo 11”, offering both instrumental and vocal appeal on this highly sought after single.