AMG 800
A. Errol Dunkley – Please Stop Your Lying
Thanks to 45cat and So Many Records, So Little Time for label scans.
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
Thanks to 45cat and Dancecrasher for label scans.
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
Thanks to 45cat, Dancecrasher, Dave’s Jukebox and DnB Records for label scans
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
Thanks to 45cat, Dancecrasher, Dave’s Jukebox and DnB Records for label scans
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
Thanks to 45cat for label scan.
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
Thanks to 45cat for label scan.
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
Thanks to Dancecrasher for label scan.
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
Thanks to Dancecrasher for label scan.
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
Thanks to 45cat for label scan.
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
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
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
‘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
Thanks to 45cat for label scan.
‘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
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
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
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
Thanks to 45cat and DnB Records for label scans
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
Thanks to 45cat and DnB Records for label scans
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
Thanks to DnB Records for label scan.
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
Thanks to DnB Records for label scan.
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
Thanks to 45cat for label scan.
B. Count Sticky with Lynn Tait And The Jets – Dee’s Special
Thanks to 45cat for label scan.
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].
I’ve just twigged that Tit For Tat is a version of I’m Going Home…