Double 12″ Spin #76 -Alton Ellis / Gregory Isaacs & Ranking Banabas-
The post Double 12″ Spin #76 -Alton Ellis / Gregory Isaacs & Ranking Banabas- appeared first on Reggae Vibes.
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Double 12″ Spin #76 -Alton Ellis / Gregory Isaacs & Ranking Banabas-
A. Mr. Alton Ellis – True Loving
B. Fashionites – True Dubbing
Fashion Records – FAD 007
The 12-inch of True Loving landed in 1981 and stands as a foundation stone for the South London label, Fashion Records. Chris Lane and John McGillivray took the controls at A-Class Studio to produce this one. It’s a smooth, extended rub-a-dub take on Feeling Inside, a tune Alton originally voiced for Clancy Eccles back in 1970. Flip the record over and you get True Dubbing by The Fashionites. That was the name the label used for their talented in-house band, basically the A-Class crew, and they really strip this one down to the drum and bass.
Alton Nehemiah Ellis was born in Trenchtown on September 1, 1938, and he truly earned his title as the Godfather of Rocksteady. He started out in 1959 alongside Eddy Parkins, and the duo gave Coxsone Dodd the massive hit Muriel. After Eddy left for the States, Alton kept the fire burning with The Flames, featuring his brother Leslie and Winston Jarrett.
When the frantic pace of ska started to cool down in the mid-sixties, Alton was right there at the center of the transition. He won a talent contest at Vere Johns’ Opportunity Hour before his recording career took off. His 1967 classic Rock Steady for Duke Reid is the track that actually named the genre. He was a busy man during those years, working for both Dodd and Reid to voice essentials like I’m Just A Guy, Girl I’ve Got a Date, Cry Tough, and the immortal I’m Still In Love With You. He didn’t just sing about romance either; his “anti-rudie” tracks like ‘Dance Crasher’ pleaded for peace in the streets.
Alton moved to London in 1973. He stayed active by running his All Tone shop and label, and he kept recording new material while touring the world. Jamaica recognized his massive impact in 2004 with the Order of Distinction. Even when he got sick, he kept performing almost until the day he passed in 2008.
Next up, we have Gregory Isaacs covering two Alton classics on a 1977 Disco 45 produced by Alvin Ranglin. This one features Ranking Barnabas on the mic, though the label spells his name “Banabas.” Barnabas was a real stalwart of the scene. He worked as an engineer at Channel One during their golden era. He was a wicked drummer and engineer who often stayed in the background, but he shines here as a deejay.
A. Gregory Isaacs & Ranking Banabas – I Will Never Love Again
B. Gregory Isaacs & Ranking Banabas – Shake Your Dread
GG’s Records – GG 010
The A-side is ‘I Will Never Love Again’, a song Alton made famous at Studio One. Ranglin gives it a different feel, trading the old rocksteady swing for a bassline that feels much more militant. The B-side, Shake Your Dread, is a distinct composition from the A-side and serves as a direct remake of the 1967 Alton Ellis & The Flames anthem Rock Steady. In this version, Gregory Isaacs adapts the original lyrics to fit a Rasta-centric context, changing the refrain to Shake your Dread over a contemporary version of that iconic Treasure Isle riddim.
Gregory Anthony Isaacs, our “Cool Ruler,” was born in Fletchers Land in 1951. He is one of the most loved singers in the history of the music, mainly because he could handle tough roots tunes just as easily as smooth lovers rock. He started with a group called The Concords before going solo and eventually starting the African Museum label with Errol Dunkley in 1973.
By the second half of the seventies, Gregory was a superstar with hits like My Only Lover and Love Is Overdue. He gave us essential albums like Mr. Isaacs and Extra Classic and even made a memorable appearance in the iconic movie Rockers. His big international break came in 1982 with Night Nurse on Island Records. Even though he faced his fair share of personal struggles and legal drama later on, he never stopped being a performer. He was incredibly prolific, and he kept recording for a vast number of producers throughout his entire career before passing away on October 25, 2010. In 2016, the Jamaican government recognized his massive impact by awarding him a posthumous Order of Distinction for everything he did for the culture.
The post Double 12″ Spin #76 -Alton Ellis / Gregory Isaacs & Ranking Banabas- appeared first on Reggae Vibes.
