01. Rico Rodrecez - Soul Man
(from 'Soul Man/It's Not Unusual' 7 inch, 1968 / Pama Records PM 706)

That's an original UK pressing which costs quite some bucks on the market, a classic soul tune from Sam & Dave. It's the original british press on Pama Records, we don't think it was ever released in Jamaica.

After Don Drummond, Rico Rodriguez is one of the most known trombonist of Jamaica. He left the island in the 60's for England where he did most of his career. This record was bought from a famous londonian collector. It's not really reggae, rather jamaican soul, an instrumental cover of an american hit which makes a perfect introduction to this third volume of "This Is Reggae Soul".

02. Lloyd Williams - In Love With You
(from 'Lloyd Williams - In Love With You/Lord Tanamo - Rainy Night In Georgia' 7 inch, 1968? / Studio One)

We counted 14 Lloyd Williams seven inches (including one under the "Senor Soul" name). Most of them were recorded for Coxsone (5) or Duke Reid (6). He really really sounds like Alton Ellis. Maybe that's the reason he didn't record more...

On a pristine Studio One pressing (check the label with the old school microphone logo on the "1" from "Studio 1").

Never compiled. Found in the dusty backroom of a record shop in Kingston in 1999, when Fatta used to work for Patate Records.

03. Unknown - Funky Broadway
(from 'Unknown - Funky Broadway/Beatitude' 7 inch, produced by Beverley's Records (Leslie Kong) FLK 7246)

We'd say it's a late 60's recording because it has been pressed by Federal records, which ended at the very beginning at the 70s.

B-side is big rocksteady, nearly caricatural of the style, while A-side is pure funky jamaican soul. Maybe The Charmers?? The Gaylads??

04. The Pioneers - Sweet Inspiration (vocal/instrumental)
(from 'Sweet Inspiration' 7 inch)

From the same label as the previous track played in this mix. Must be a pre-release, with blank pressing, only for promotion.

Artists are unidentified, but should be The Pioneers (aka the Reggae Boys or The Slickers if we're correct.

05. Lloyd Charmers - There Is Something About You
(from 'Lloyd Chalmels - There Is Something About You/Ready Talk' 7 inch, 1970 / Explosion EX-2034B)

06. Lloyd Charmers - Ready Talk
(from 'Lloyd Chalmels - There Is Something About You/Ready Talk' 7 inch, 1970 / Explosion EX-2034B)

The jamaican pressing of this record on Splash records, credited to Busty Brown and called "Love You Madly", is the same exact riddim, with a different mix and mastering.
The vocal part seems a tiny bit different though so it must be Lloyd Charmers under a pseudonym.

The version we choose to play showcases the UK pressing on label in 1970, with more emphasis on the bass, soundind more Jamaican than the jamaican 45! What's even more absurd is that the song is to be found on the b-side, while the a-side features the jamaican b-side (the instrumental guitar version of the track) with a new boozy spoken introduction recorded by a jamaican girl imitating british accent..

The original b-side in Jamaica was called "Jamaica Reggae" while on the uk pressing it becomes "Ready Talk"...

07. Unknown - Unknown
(from blank 7 inch on Lloyd Charmers' Splash label 1826-1/1821-1)

A piece of instrumental soul, covering a famous tune from The Meters or a band like that... but we may be wrong on this.

B-side is an infectious skinhead reggae piece, probably from Lloyd Charmers in 1969 or 1970.

08. The Slickers - Papa Was A Rolling Stone
(from ICE Records ICE 0010 UK 1976 7 inch)

Credited on the UK pressing on Attack Records as "Sidney, George and Jackie" (ATT-8054-A/B with George Decker's "Feeling High" big ganja tune on the b-side, 1973)

We're proud to play here a brand new 45 in superb condition, played for the first time for the recording of this selection. Consider yourself lucky!

09. Zap Pow - This Is Reggae Music
(from 'This Is Reggae Music/Break Down The Barriers' 7 inch, 1973 / Mango Records US 7501)

Mango is an Island subsidiary from Hollywood. They might have wanted to do something big with the tune, and one can wonder why it didn't happened...

Quoted by Bob Marley in a 1973 or 174 interview as "the best Jamaican band"...

[Note: Famous jamaican vocalist Beres Hammond started his career with Zap Pow in 1976.]

10. Cedric Brooks Skin, Flesh & Bones - South African Reggae (Pt. 1)
(from 'South African Reggae' 7 inch, 1975 / Tropical Records ALO 46)

This one was produced and arranged by Clive Chin (Randy's), and written by H. Bohannon.

Cedric Im Brooks is a famous Studio One saxophonist. His afro-reggae music is rather unique and more than tasty. This is the only 45 Clive Chin produced for him, all the others were produced by Coxsone. A cover of Bohannon??

11. Jablonksi - Soul Makossa (Part 1)
(from 'Soul Makossa (Part 1)/Soul Makossa (Part 2)' 7 inch, 197? / Randys VC-011)

A Jamaican production. The composition is credited to 'Manu Di Bango'... We can't find much info on Jablonski... if you have some don't hesitate to leave a comment.

A great cover of the famous Dibango tune. Maybe we'll play the second part (on the b-side) on another mix, some other time, some other podcast...

12. Odyssey Group - Machine Gun
(from 'Machine gun/Tell Me A Lie' 7 inch, / Media Records)

Produced by Coxsone Dodd, and without any doubt played by Jamaicans. It's the only 45 they ever put out so we won't get much more info on them...