(p) & (c) VP Records
Tracks:
1. The Skatalites: Black Joe
(Steven Foster) 2:48
2. John & Alton: Rum Bumper's
(J.Holt & V.Chin) 1:57
3. Don Drummond: Machine Shop
(D. Drummond & V.Chin) 2:35
4. The Maytals: John & James
(F. Hibbert & V.Chin) 2:02
5. The Skatalites: Baby Elephant
Walk (Henry Mancini) 2:53
6. Ken & Stranger: Home Home
Home (K. Boothe & V.Chin) 2:25
7. The Skatalites: Malcolm X
(Lee
Morgan) 2:31
8. Alton Ellis: Mouth A Massy
(A. Ellis & V.Chin) 2:08
9. Baba Brooks: Portrait Of My
Love (Adapted) 2:35
10. Randy's All Stars: Fast Mouth
(Vincent Chin) 2:19
11. Don Drummond: A Way From
It All (D.Drummond & V.Chin) 3:07
12. Alton Ellis: Ska Beat (A.Ellis&V.Chin)
2:20
13. The Skatalites: Hello Mother
(Ponchielli) 2:30
14. The Maytals: Lost Penny (F.Hibbert
& V.Chin) 2:15 *
15. The Skatalites: Collie Bud
(McCook & V.Chin) 2:35
16. Basil Gabbidon: Goodbye Pretty
Darling (Vincent Chin) 2:28
17. Charlie Organaire: Royal
Charlie (Vincent Chin) 2:52 *
18. Roland Alphonso: Blow Roland
Blow (R.Alphonso & V.Chin) 2:26
19. Rico Rodriques (sic!): Rico's
Farewell (R.Rodriquez & V.Chin) 2:50 *
20. Basil Gabbidon: Going Back
To JA (B.Gabbidon & V.Chin) 2:52
* CD Bonus
Produced by Vincent "Randy" Chin
Project Co-ordination by Clive Chin
For Above Rock Records
Compiled & Edited by Clive Chin
& Paul Shields
Liner
Notes & Research by Steve Barrow (Blood&Fire Ltd.)
Art Direction & Design by Ronald
G. Davidson
Digitally Remastering by Doug Pomeroy
Photographs and Materials Courtesy
of Vincent Chin (Randy's Records)
Recording done at Federal Studios,
Kingston, Jamaica, W.I.
Engineering by Graham Goodhall
Credits:
The Skatalites:
Vincent Chin got his start in the music business by maintaining most of the jukeboxes in Kingston, saving all the old records, and using that stock to open a record shop. Inspired by American radio shows and the local scene, Chin recorded early tracks for some of Jamaica's biggest future vocal stars like the Maytals, John Holt, and Ken Boothe. Of course, the musicians he recruited for his recordings included the future Skatalites, as well as Baba Brooks, Rico Rodriguez, Ernest Ranglin, Drumbago, and Dennis "Ska" Campbell. This album, the first in a prospective series of releases from Chin's vaults, showcases some excellent Skatalites instrumentals like "Machine Shop", a track that foreshadows the later evolution of rocksteady, and "Malcolm X", a great example of the combination of rocking ska rhythms laid down by Knibb and Brevette and the phenomenal arrangements of Don Drummond. Other outstanding instrumentals are the rocking "Collie Bird" and "Rico's Farewell" recorded before Rodriguez emigrated to England. The "Friends" here, the featured vocalists, are the real gem of this album. The Maytals' "John & James" has that vocal rapture achieved by young talents who were just happy to be performing, only dreaming here of the fantasy of "sitting in a mansion/ smoking big cigars." Also from the Maytals is the track, "Lost Penny". The sweet voice of future Paragon John Holt will keep you smiling on "Rum Bumper's". Alton Ellis' soulful voice is fresh and powerful on "Mouth a Massey"and "Ska Beat". And another treasure here is an early ska version of Ken Boothe's rocksteady classic, "Home Home Home", performed here as a duet with Stranger Cole. Steve Barrow contributes informative liner notes here on Chin and the specific tracks included.