Amalgamated Records Part 1

AMG 800

A. Errol Dunkley – Please Stop Your Lying

AMG 800AAMG 800A JAAMG 800A JAMG 800A R

Thanks to 45cat and  So Many Records, So Little Time for label scans.

AMG%20800A.mp3

Released in 1968 when he was just seventeen ‘Please stop your lying’ was Errol’s second big record for Joe Gibbs (the first being ‘You’re gonna need me’ which was on the Jamaican Amalgamated label but was released on Rio in the UK in 1967 before the UK Amalgamated was up and running). It is probably a Lee Perry production even though it is credited to J. A. Gibson on the label, as Perry was the main producer for Gibbs at the time having -not long before- moved there from Studio 1. ‘Please stop your lying’ is also one of the songs featured in his medley ‘Three in one’, the other two songs are ‘You’re gonna need me’ and ‘I’m Going home’ (see AMG 805 below). It has been covered by Joy White and Ronnie Davis among others. ‘Please Stop Your Lying’ has been re-issued on 7″  on Joe Gibbs record globe label. It is also currently available on the VP Records CD Joe Gibbs Scorchers From The Early Years (1967-73).

B.Tommy McCook & The Supersonics – Feel So Fine

AMG 800BAMG 800B JAAMG 800B J

Thanks to 45cat and Dancecrasher for label scans.

AMG%20800B.mp3

Wrongly credited to Errol Dunkley on the UK Amalgamated release, and called ‘It’s So Fine’ on one of the Jamaican Amalgamated releases. ‘Feel So Fine’ is a nice rocksteady horns cut. It is currently available on the Trojan CD ‘Get On Up! – Joe Gibbs Rocksteady [1967-68]’.

AMG 801

A. Stranger Cole & Glady – Just Like A River

AMG 801AAMG 801A JAAMG 801A JAMG 801A JBAMG 801A J1AMG 801A J2AMG 801A R

Thanks to 45cat, Dancecrasher, Dave’s Jukebox and DnB Records for label scans

AMG%20801A.mp3

This was the second single on the UK Amalgamated label and it was also released in Jamaica on Amalgamated and later Jogibs. It is the song that gave the ‘Just Like A River Rhythym’ it’s name and is a classic. It has been repressed on the Jamaican Joe Gibbs Record Globe label. It’s also available on the VP records CD Joe Gibbs Scorchers From The Early Years (1967-73).

B. The Leaders – Hope Someday

AMG 801BAMG 801B JAMG 801B JAAMG 801B JB

Thanks to 45cat, Dancecrasher, Dave’s Jukebox and DnB Records for label scans

AMG%20801B.mp3

The Leaders were a group consisting of Milton Henry & Keith Blake. ‘Hope Someday’ is a nice rocksteady vocal group cut which unfortunately is currently unavailable on CD.

AMG 802

A. The Versatiles – You Just Can’t Win

AMG 802AAMG 802A J

Thanks to 45cat for label scan.

AMG%20802A.mp3

The Versatiles were a group consisting Junior Byles, Louie Davis and Dudley Earl. Another great rocksteady vocal, there were so many of them coming out on Amalgamated at that time. ‘You Just Can’t Win’ was available on the Trojan CD Jackpot of Hits/Explosive Rocksteady, but I think that it has been deleted now.

B. The Leaders – Sometimes I Sit Down And Cry

AMG 802BAMG 802B J

Thanks to 45cat for label scan.

AMG%20802B.mp3

Another vocal number from The Leaders not as good as ‘Hope Someday’ in my opinion but not a bad track nonetheless. ‘Sometimes I Sit Down and Cry’ is not available on CD at the time of writing.

AMG 803

A. The Overtakers – That’s The Way You Like It

AMG 803AAMG 803A J

Thanks to Dancecrasher for label scan.

AMG%20803A.mp3

I can’t find much out about The Overtakers other than Leo Graham was a member of the group. ‘That’s The Way You Like It’ is an absolute gem, released on another Joe Gibbs label Shock in Jamaica, It has a similar (but slower) rhythm to The Versatiles – You Just Can’t Win. ‘That’s The Way You Like It’ was available on Joe Gibbs Mood (The Amalgamated Label 1968-1971, but this too seems to have been deleted.

B. The Overtakers – The Big Takeover

AMG 803BAMG 803B J

Thanks to Dancecrasher for label scan.

AMG%20803B.mp3

This record truly is a double sider with this track being just as good as the flip.  ‘The Big Takeover is available on Get On Up! – Joe Gibbs Rocksteady [1967-68].

AMG 804

A. The Leaders / Neville Hinds – Tit For Tat

AMG 804AAMG 804A J

Thanks to 45cat for label scan.

AMG%20804A.mp3

Credited to The Leaders on the UK release, it simply says featuring Neville Heinz (Hinds) on the Jamaican release. I think it’s fairly safe to say that whatever the case it’s Neville Hinds playing the organ on this track. On the Jamaican Pressing it actually gives Lee Perry a production credit which is unusual seeing as he probably produced most of the Joe Gibbs recordings at this time but he is not credited on many of the other releases. ‘Tit For Tat’ Is available on the Trojan Instrumentals Box Set.

B. The Marvettes – You Take Too Long To Know

AMG 804BAMG 804B J

Thanks to 45cat for label scan.

AMG 804B.mp3
‘You Take Too Long To Know’ is not available on CD.

AMG 805

A. Errol Dunkley – I’m Going Home

AMG 805AAMG 805A JAMG 805A JB
AMG%20805A.mp3

Another nice rocksteady side from Errol Dunkley, as mentioned earlier ‘I’m Going Home’ was eatured in his medley ‘Three in one’, the other two songs are ‘You’re gonna need me’ and ‘Please Stop Your Lying’ (AMG 800 above). ‘I’m Going Home’ is available on the Moll Selekta CD The Bunny Lee Rocksteady Years.

B. Errol Dunkley – I’m Not Your Man

AMG 805BAMG 805B J

AMG%20805B.mp3

‘I’m Not Your Man’ was available on the Rhino CD Errol Dunkley The Early Years but once again this seems to have been deleted.

AMG 806

A. Stranger & Gladdy – Seeing Is Knowing

AMG 806AAMG 806A J

Thanks to 45cat for label scan.

AMG%20806A.mp3

‘Seeing Is Knowing’ is the vocal cut to ‘Kimble’ (AMG 821). There was also a DJ cut ‘Seeing Is Believing’ (AMG 870). Once again Lee Perry is not credited on the label of either the Jamaican or UK pressings. ‘Seeing Is Knowing’ is available on the VP records CD Joe Gibbs Scorchers From The Early Years (1967-73).

B. Roy Shirley – Music Is The Key

AMG 806B

Thanks to 45cat for label scan.

AMG%20806B.mp3
‘Music Is The Key’ was issued as the flip to ‘The Jupiters – The Return Of Ezekial’ on the Jamaican Amalgamated release. It was the first solo track by Roy Shirley on the UK Amalgamated label but he had already released ‘Hold Them’ and ‘Be Good’ on the Jamaican Amalgamated Label. ‘Music Is They Key’ is available on the Trojan CD Roy Shirley – Music Is The Key: The Anthology 1967-1977.

AMG 807

A. Errol Dunkley – The Scorcher

AMG 807AAMG 807A J

AMG%20807A.mp3

Not as big a commercial success as his three previous singles for Amalgamated, ‘The Sorcher’ is still a great track. It is available on the VP records CD Joe Gibbs Scorchers From The Early Years (1967-73).

B. Errol Dunkley – Do Right Tonight

AMG 807BAMG 820A

AMG%20807B.mp3

Again a Nice rocksteady vocal number; and once again it was available on a CD which has now been deleted Trojan’s Ok Fred: The Best Of Errol Dunkley.

AMG 808

A. Lee Perry – The Upsetter

AMG 808AAMG 808A J

Thanks to 45cat and DnB Records for label scans

AMG%20808A.mp3

A classic track chastising Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd, after their falling out while Perry was working at Studio 1. Dennis Alcapone later did a DJ cut ‘Upsetter Version’ and an instrumental ‘Doctor Upsetter’ which were released on Pressure Beat. ‘The Upsetter’ is available on Joe Gibbs Scorchers From The Early Years (1967-73).

B. Lee Perry – Thank You Baby

AMG 808BAMG 808B J

Thanks to 45cat and DnB Records for label scans

AMG%20808B.mp3

A nice rocksteady vocal piece with Lee Perry unusually doing some fairly conventional singing. ‘Thank You Baby’ was available on Joe Gibbs Mood (The Amalgamated Label 1968-1971) but it has now been deleted.

AMG 809

A. The Overtakers – Girl You Ruff

AMG 809AAMG 809A J

Thanks to DnB Records for label scan.

AMG%20809A.mp3

Yet another fantasic piece of rocksteay from Amalgamated and the mysterious Overtakers.  ‘Girl You Ruff’ is available on the Heartbeat CD Explosive Rock Steady – Joe Gibbs’ Amalgamated Label 1967-1973.

B. Keith Blake – Wooh Oh Oh / Get In The Groove

AMG 809BAMG 809B J

Thanks to DnB Records for label scan.

AMG%20809B.mp3

A great tune from Keith Blake AKA Prince Alla, his first offering on the UK Amalgamated imprint but he had already released ‘Musically’ and ‘Moving On’ on the Jamaican label. ‘Wooh Oh Oh’ / ‘Get In The Groove’ was available on the Trojan CD Get On Up! – Joe Gibbs Rocksteady [1967-68].

AMG 810

A. Lyn Taitt And The Jets – El Casino Royale

AMG 810AAMG 810A JA

Thanks to 45cat for label scan.

AMG%20810A.mp3

Following on from the success of Just Like A River, later the same year Amalgamated put out an instrumental cut El Casino Royal. It’s a nice version featuring the organ. It’s available on the VP records CD Joe Gibbs Scorchers From The Early Years (1967-73).

B. Count Sticky with Lynn Tait And The Jets – Dee’s Special

AMG 810BAMG 810B JA

Thanks to 45cat for label scan.

AMG%20810B.mp3

A DJ/Organ cut to ‘The Dynamics – My Friend’ featuring the uncredited Count sticky along with Lyn Taitt and the Jets. Again ‘Dee’s Special’ was available on the Trojan CD Get On Up! – Joe Gibbs Rocksteady [1967-68].

Top Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7


Comments

Amalgamated Records Part 1 — 1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>