Frankie Zhivago- The Age of Flying High (1976 *Superfly 2010)

Honey smooth soul from Nassau with a chunk of influence from the Carribean (as the cover promises, reggay). You can hear a little Junakoo percussion too, but mostly just sweet funk guitar & creamy vocal harmonies. Frankie has a wonderful soft falsetto, & when he's being tough, he seems to unearth a secret connection between Rodd Keith & Sammy Davis Jr...(Weirdo Records)

By request (sort of): Frankie Zhivago's debut LP. A charming, oddball Bahamian reggae-soul outing backed by the great Boris Gardner Happening. 320 vinyl rip by yours truly. Sourced from the 2010 Superfly Records reissue.



Download: Frankie Zhivago- The Age of Flying High (1976 *Superfly 2010)


A1 Flying High
A2 Unhappy Man
A3 All Around The World
A4 I'm Yours
A5 Someone Stole Your Love
A6 Hello Stranger
B1 Pretty Blue Eyes
B2 My Eyes Adore You
B3 Mr. Bogangles
B4 The Last Tear Drop Falls
B5 No Woman No Cry
B6 Someone Stole Your Love (Part 2)

(V/A)- Get Ready Rock Steady (Coxsone CSL 8007)

In Jamaica and England Rock Steady has become the most popular dance craze. It has swept into clubs and Discoteques up and down the country. This LP to date contains the most progressive Rock Steady tunes ever to be put together on one LP. It features artists such as Alton Ellis, Roland Alphonso and the Soul Vendor, who have been a smash hit at clubs and dance halls all over England. This LP will bring the same excitement into your homes and parties as was experienced by thousands of fans- So Get Ready- to Dance All Night- For its Rock Steady Time. *Plus two bonus tracks. (Cover notes, J.S. Flynn)

The sweetness of the harmonized vocal rises on this Keith & Ken track come off like raw sugarcane. Sounds to be a sort-of stripped down cousin to Andy & Joey's "You're Wondering Now", with a (very) proto-dancehall riddim, due to the punchy low-lows of that relentless bassline. Check this soulful, earth-moving rocksteady gemstone:


Mediafire Download Link: (V/A)- Get Ready Rock Steady (Coxsone CSL 8007) *320 Vinyl Rip by yours truly.

1 Alton Ellis - Never Love Again
2 The Termites - My Last Love
3 Norma Fraser - Hound Dog
4 The Bassies - Big Mistake
5 Ken & Delroy - Won't You Come Home Now
6 Ken & Delroy - Oh Babe
7 The Soul Vendors - Darker Shade of Black
8 The Soul Vendors - Fat Fish
9 Pete Young - If You Got Soul
10 The Hamlins - Soul and Inspiration
11 The Soul Agents - Get Ready Rock Steady
12 Keith & Ken - Groove to the Beat
13 Sound Dimension- Night Doctor
14 The Lyrics- Money Lover
12 The Soul Vendors - Fat Fish

Jackie Mittoo & The Soul Vendors- Evening Time (320 rip)

Jackie Mittoo should need no introduction. He is the crown prince of Jamaican keys, was a founding member of the Skatalites and veteran writer/bandleader for Coxsone Dodd's legendary Studio One label. Evening Time (1968) offers up an unbeatable selection of breezy rocksteady organ grooves; a perfect cross-section of what classic Mittoo is all about. Top Notch. 320 vinyl rip by yours truly.*

From the album's back cover:

There are very few Musicians of any style or era, whose appeal is such that it is safe to recommend them to anyone for enjoyment in personal performance or on Record, Jackie Mittoo is such a Musician.

Jackie “Soul” Mittoo’s Musical Talents became apparent at a very early age. By the time he entered High School, Jackie was already a semiprofessional.

Jackie came to the attention of Recording Executive, Clement S. Dodd, in Kingston, Jamaica; and while still in School, he worked as a staff Musician for COXSONE RECORDS, appearing as ’side man’ on many Recording Dates for that Label.

It became obvious that one day Jackie would be ready to record under his own name. Several months ago, Jackie’s First Recording Session was set, and at that first date, Jackie Recorded RAM – JAM. The rest is Recorded History,

Next Step was for Jackie to record. a Long Playing album, JACKIE IN LONDON, which enables him to reach out and bring his own way of playing a variety of Tunes.

During his appearance with the COXSON’S ROCK STEADY REVUE in England last September (‘67), the British FANS were quick to acclaim Jackie and the Soul Vendors.

On this Album, EVENING TIME, the arrangements were being made for the Cool Cool of the Evening, THE PARADE OF ‘68 FADS.

GIRLS! GIRLS! in BIKINI, HIPSTERS, MINI in various colours, Latest Model portable record players, have dominated the Beaches, Parks and other Locations that offer Musical Entertainment. Jackie Mittoo and the Soul Vendors were first registered for participation in this Summer’s activities. This Sound is the kind of Music that Fans expect during the months of Summer in Jamaica.

SOUL BEAT! ROCK STEADY! BIG BEAT! BIG PLEASURE! that’s what you get consistently, when you’re hearing the SENSATIONAL SOUND called EVENING TIME.



Download Link: Jackie Mittoo & The Soul Vendors- Evening Time (320 rip)
SOLP-8014B

SIDE A

1. EVENING TIME
2. ONE STEP BEYOND
3. NAPOLEON SOLO
4. BEST BY REQUEST
5. LOVE IS BLUE
6. HIP HUG
7. HOT MILK

SIDE B

8. AUTUMN SOUNDS
9. FULL CHARGE
10. HOTSHOT
11. ROCK STEADY WEDDING
12. DRUM SONG
13. LOVING YOU
14. DANCING GROOVE

*Jamaican press- some measure of crackle & hiss just comes with the territory.

Johnny Nash- Hold Me Tight (Jad, 1968)

Another fantastic early LP from the sublimely sweet-voiced Johnny Nash. This one has a sort of a rocksteady/ soul crossover appeal. My favorite tracks are the two songs written by Peter Tosh. Listen up:



Mediafire Download Link: Johnny Nash- Hold Me Tight (Jad, 1968) 320 vinyl rip by yours truly.

*Track 1 had a skip in the vinyl that I did my best to edit out. The result is an extra half-beat that can be easily overlooked. If you're an editing wiz, I'd sure love a perfect version that matches the audio quality of the rest of this record. I guess I just don't have the chops with Garageband. (For the record, "Hold Me Tight" is easily obtained as a single, but I didn't want to tack on a cd-comp version of the song to the beginning of an otherwise nice vinyl rip)

A1 Hold Me Tight 2:50
Written-By - Johnny Nash

A2 Don't Look Back 2:01
Written-By - Ronald White , William Robinson*

A3 Love 4:04
Written-By - Peter Tosh

A4 People In Love 2:50
Written-By - Johnny Nash

A5 Groovin' 2:00
Written-By - Eddie Brigati , Felix Cavaliere

A6 Cupid 3:29
Written-By - Sam Cooke

B1 Lovey Dovey 2:11
Written By - M. Curtis, Ahmet Ertegun

B2 You Got To Change Your Ways 2:40
Written-By - Peter Tosh

B3 You Got Soul 2:48
Written-By - Margaret Nash

B4 Don't Cry 2:55
Written-By - Jimmy Norman

Rico Rodriguez- Man From Wareika / Warrika Dub-Ghetto Rockers (1977)

Great upbeat instrumental roots from trombonist Rico Rodriguez, also known for his memorable solos on The Specials' hits, "A Message To You Rudy" & "Ghost Town". Here's the original Man from Wareika album and the even rarer dub version. This stuff is going to sound nice in the summertime.

Mediafire Download Link: Rico Rodriguez- Man From Wareika / Warrika Dub- Ghetto Rockers (1977)

Listen to samples from Warrika Dub:

Read full review of Ghetto Rockers - RICO on Boomkat.com ©

Brigadier Jerry- Jamaica Jamaica (1985)

The 1985 debut Lp from one of my favorite dancehall toasters, Brigadier Jerry. Good-vibes.
"Three Blind Mice"

"Every Man Mi Brethren"

"Armagiddeon Style"


Mediafire Download link: Brigadier Jerry- Jamaica Jamaica (1985)