TOMMY MCCOOK Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Historic British label Harlem Shuffle Records reissue a rare rocksteady track by the Jamaican singer Jeff Barnes, backed by the Jamaican band Tommy McCook & The Supersonics, here. A single-sided 7" vinyl comes with but one dubby audio-delight: the original 1970 version of 'The Rooster', a catchy, whistlingly haunting but no less upbeat song produced by Duke Reid and first released on his eponymous Duke Records label. Harlem Shuffle now add it to their catalogue, which charts only the best in ska and rocksteady.

Review: For those truly in the know, rocksteady didn't begin with the legendary producer Coxsone Dodd. If you need any evidence then check out this tidy 7" which presses up a couple of tunes from before his era really began. Originally released in the mid-sixties on Caltone, it is an early jam from The Heptones who were already showing their class by this point. 'Ain't That Bad' is a bright cut with some captivating vocal harmonies as well as majestic horn leads and grooves that recall early ska. On the flipside that comes more to life with Tommy McCook's storming 'Ska Jam'.

Review: Jamaican rocksteady vocal group The Jamaicans linked with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics back in 1967 for this piece of rocksteady gold. The a-side of this reissue comes with the original Treasure Isle-version of the 1967 festival song. It's heavy, love struck, earthy and organic. The super B-side is a remixed version of the A-sides's backing track, but with the addition of some overdubbed percussion and syndrum parts as well as a sweet but uncredited toasting and DJ appearance by Jah Thomas. Both sound as hot and crucial now as they did all those many years ago.

Review: Lately we've been treated to a number of essential reissues of cuts from the sizable back catalogue of Randy's, a label helmed by producers Vincent and Clive Chinn. Here's another, featuring the surprise combination of calypso/soca great Lord Creator and one of Ska and Rocksteady's greatest instrumental groups, Tommy McCook and the Supersonics. First issued in 1968, 'Such is Life' is a super-sweet slab of reggae/rocksteady fusion in which Lord Creator's smooth, soulful vocals work in perfect harmony with McCook's ear-catching saxophone motifs and the Supersonics' warm, heady riddim. Over on the flip you'll find original B-side 'Come Down '68', a jauntier number featuring subtle hints towards both ska and rhythm & blues amongst its cheery rocksteady grooves.

Review: This essential reissue presents a rare collection of dub instrumental reggae tracks recorded by Tommy McCook (who you may know as the sax man from super ska outfit The Skatalites) and Bobby Ellis (who played the trumpet for dub legends The Upsetters) in 1977. Originally licensed to Grove Music, this still remarkable album features renowned musicians such as Sly and Robbie, Ansel Collins on organ, Clinton Fearon from The Gladiators on lead guitar, and Bernard Harvey of The Wailers on piano. The recordings took place at Channel One and were mixed at King Tubby Studio and every single tune cuts deep and with great authenticity.

Review: After a recent Pressure Sounds compilation put together the best of Caltone Records - documenting the truest gems of a great Jamaican dub label - the horse's mouth is now heard neighing. Caltone themselves have now reissued Devon Russell & The Tartans' 'Making Love', a long-lost from the late 1960s troubadours. Ne'er released before, it also comes backed exclusively with a bluesy Heptones, Tommy McCook & The Supersonics lamentation, 'Crying Over You'.