101 ORANGE STREET.
Ska Meets The Rocksteady Train.
KS007

Orange Street has a mystical place in Reggae's history.Set in the heart of downtown Kingston,Jamaica.Even to this day it stands somehow locked in time and space,the beat of the music ever changing and evolving.As politics,religion and even the weather,
effect its course.One thing remains a constant,Orange Street is central to the Islands musical story.

The Ska era of Jamaica's musical sound,time has told us, can be dated from around 1962 to late 1966.The instigators being the big three producers of this period, Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd,Prince Buster and Duke Reid.Prince Busters phenomenal output on the Blue Beat label,Coxsone Dodd's opening of his Studio One premises in 1963 at 13 Brentford road, giving him the facilities to hone and produce his music and Duke Reid's opening his own studio, above his Treasure Isle liquor store in 1965.These factors all aided these Producers to rule this period.The Rocksteady sound, which ran a shorter more intense race between 1966 to 1968, would be Duke Reid's to command.
We have taken 101 Orange Street as our spiritual focal point for this chapter in our story.

Premises that changed hands through producers and distributors as was the case with musical outlets in these heady times in Kingston, Jamaica.We have caught it in the early to mid 70's when Producer Bunny Lee took over the reigns, and used it as an outlet for his own releases and others that were taking the people by storm. When the upbeat Ska sound was slowing down, some say aided by the extreme heat of 1966.To a slower tempo, allowing the dancers at the Sound Systems, who least we forget all tunes were catered for, to catch their breath.The more economical Rocksteady Sound that moved away from the big band sound of Ska,made way also for a new set of Producers, to enter the arena.The aforementioned Bunny Lee,Joel Gibson [Aka Joe Gibbs ], Sonia Pottinger and Derrick Harriott, to name but a few.They would shine across this period and wrestle supremacy from the old guard.

The new competition made this a healthy time for Jamaican music.Many fine tunes were fighting for space on the Sound Systems that would ultimately lead to release on Orange Street itself.

We have selected a set of tunes that blew across and was influenced by the the Ska / Rocksteady period.Such Classics as Slim Smith's 'Love & Devotion',Cornell Campbell's soulful 'The Sun',Lloyd Clarke's 'Memories are Treasures', rest against the upbeat Ska affiliated 'I Do It' and 'Belly Woman' by one of the periods greats Mr Derrick Morgan,also featured in a more soulful guise with his 'First Days of Love'.Pat Kelly's versatility as one of Bunny Lee's hottest singers from the time shines with his powerful chant 'Work Song' and his more reflective 'Since Your Gone'.We have also dug up a Twinkle Brothers killer 'Sweet Young Thing' that seems to work with and with no intention meant alongside Dawn Penn's leading 'To Sir With Love'.Also Roy Shirley and Glen Adams get to name check one of our era's with their rolling 'Rocksteady Train'.

1968 would see the beat changing again to a yet slower sound that would be named checked as the Roots Rock Reggae period in the Jamaican story [ check out our accompanying release 'Return To Orange Street KS009, for another fine selection to accompany that sound ].

Well we hope you enjoy this selection of tunes that,you can imagine bellowing out from Orange Street.So as the great song suggests... If you never get to Orange
Street...close your eyes and let us take you there......

1.Love & Devotion. Slim Smith.

2.The Sun.Cornell Campbell & The Eternals.

3.To Sir With Love.Dawn Penn.

4.Rocksteady Train.Roy Shirley & Glenn Adams.

5.I Do It.Derrick Morgan.

6.Belly Woman.Derrick Morgan.

7.Since Your Gone.Pat Kelly.

8.Memories Are Treasures.Lloyd Clarke.

9.Sweet Young Thing.Twinkle Brothers.

10.Get in the Groove.Jeff Barnes.

11.Roseabell.Cornell Campbell.

12.First Days of Love.Derrick Morgan.

13.Work Song.Pat Kelly.

14.Come Back to Me.Ernest Wilson.