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Hopeton Lewis Ltd Edition 7" Available for Pre-Order (1)

By the early months of 1969, Reggae was in full swing, and at the forefront of this dynamic new sound was one of the pioneers who over the previous decade had helped shape Jamaica's recording industry - Duke Reid.

By harnessing many of the island's keenest talents and employing the ever dependable Byron Smith to engineer sessions at his famed Treasure Isle studio, the Duke continued to be a dominant force on the national music scene up until his enforced retirement in 1974.

Among his best-loved Reggae works prior to this premature withdrawal is John Holt's fairy-tale themed 'Ali Baba', although for years debate has raged as to whether this was in fact the first song recorded over Tommy McCook & the Supersonics' infectious rhythm. For also issued in extremely limited numbers around the same time as Holt's familiar classic was the equally creditable 'Live It Up' by noted local singer, Hopeton Lewis.

For four decades, the latter has been beyond the reach of most, with the few rare copies that have surfaced on the collectors' market snapped up for three figure sums. Now, however, the recording is finally made officially available once more with this must-have 45.

To further entice buyers, the flip-side comprises a previously unissued vocal and dub mix of the much-loved 'Ali Baba', while the revival of Trojan's Duke Reid imprint - dormant since 1973 - completes the disc's appeal.

As always, single has been pressed on the heavyweight vinyl and with only 500 numbered copies manufactured, buyers are urged to place their orders early via the Trojan store (see link above) to avoid disappointment.

It was with heavy heart that Trojan Records learned of the passing of pioneer deejay King Stitt, who succumbed to his battle with prostate cancer and diabetes on Tuesday, January 31st.

Born Winston Sparks on September 17, 1939, Stitt, who earned his nickname from his mother, bested the facial malformities suffered from birth to become one of the top dancers at the local sound systems in the 1950s. He launched his musical career at Clement 'Coxson' Dodd's Sir Coxsone's Downbeat sound system in 1957; following encouragement from lead Downbeat deejay Count Machuki, Stitt tried his hand at 'toasting'. Adopting the slick rhythmic delivery popularised by personalities on American Black radio, Stitt quickly ascended to become 'King of the Deejays', adding the 'King' to his own moniker and succeeding Machuki upon his departure from Downbeat.

As violence in Kingston increased, Dodd shuttered Downbeat and Stitt moved to Ocho Rios to work on Jack Ruby's set. There he connected with producer Clancy Eccles and the pair brought Stitt's vibrant style to the recording studio. Though U Roy claimed the title 'The Originator' for the way he formalised the recorded deejay style, it was Stitt who first had hits, starting with 1969's 'Fire Corner'. More hits for Eccles flowed, including 'Vigorton 2', 'herbman Shuffle' ''King of Kings' and 'Van Cleef', a nod to the character Lee Van Cleef who-like Stitt-was 'The Ugly One' in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. In the new decade, Stitt parted company with Eccles and returned to Dodd, recording 'Redder Than Red' and 'Sufferer's Skank' among others, but by then Stitt had found himself passed by the new crew of chatters, including U Roy and Big Youth-the very artists for whom Stitt paved the road-and his sound fell from favour.

Stitt stayed out of the studio, but never far from Kingston's scene over the next few decades. He reunited with Dodd in the early 1990s and, in a move that echoed 'Dance Beat', recorded 'Dance Hall '63', a collection of vintage Studio One recordings with Stitt chatting on top, recreating a classic Downbeat set. Buju Banton further elevated Stitt when he featured toaster statesman on his ska homage 'Small Axe' from the 1997 'Inna Heights' album.

An artist with a deep and varied love of music that begot an almost encyclopedic knowledge of songs, Stitt fell seriously ill following his return to Jamaica from performances in Brazil in October 2010, finally succumbing at his home in the early hours of January 31 at the age of 72. Stitt is survived by his daughter Beverley Sparks.

DANA SMART

Winston Riley

It has been confirmed that Winston Riley passed away of complications from a gunshot wound to the head on Thursday at University Hospital of the West Indies.

The famed Techniques producer had been a patient at the hospital since 1st November last year, after being shot at his house in Kingston. This followed his shooting in August and stabbing just a month later. Several years earlier, his Techniques record store in the city's downtown business district had been torched, although police have yet to discover any suspects or obvious motives.

Winston Riley's career in the local music business had commenced while still a teenager in the early sixties. After forming the Techniques, he enlisted celebrated singer, Slim Smith before cutting popular singles for Duke Reid, Byron Lee and Sonia Pottinger.

Late in 1968, Riley formed his own Techniques label on whch he issued series of popular singles, finding international success three years later with Dave & Ansel Collins' UK chart-topper, 'Double Barrel'.

He continued to release popular discs throughout the remainder of the decade and into the next, producing an array of Jamaican hits by such celebrated performers as Tenor Saw, Super Cat, General Echo, Sanchez, Lone Ranger, Frankie Paul, Buju Banton, and Sister Nancy.

One of Reggae music's most under-rated talents, Winston Delano Riley was just 65 and is survived by several children and grandchildren.

Ska Madness 2

For 20 reggae classics which have inspired a generation check out Ska Madness 2 - out this week and available for just £4.99 on iTunes for a limited time only!

http://zaphod.uk.vvhp.net/v-v/120120150126

January's 7" Available For Pre-Order

This historic year, in which Jamaica celebrates 50 years of independence, promises to be a busy one for Trojan.

As highlighted at the end of last year, January sees the release of two classic albums in the popular 'Spectrum Originals' range - 'Club Reggae' and 'Sly & Robbie Present Taxi', both of which officially see release at the end of the month.

Already available, however, is the excellent 'Ska Madness 2', which like the hugely popular inaugural volume, has been compiled and annotated by former member of both the Bodysnatchers and the Special AKA, Rhoda Dakar. Featuring 20 of the tracks that found favour among those who spearheaded the Ska Revival of the late seventies, the collection is currently available to download from itunes for just £4.99 - http://zaphod.uk.vvhp.net/v-v/120120104735

The remaining Reggae title to see issue before January's out is the next limited edition 7" single, the details of which are as follows:

'Hot Bread And Butter' c/w 'Ashes To Ashes' by Claudette & The Corporation (Trojan, THB7014)

By the summer of 1970, Reggae had become a nationwide phenomenon in the UK, with Trojan Records leading a full-scale charge on the national Pop charts. The company's success during this time was due in part to its Muzik City record retail chain, the day-to-day running of which was in the hands of such men as Desmond Bryan, Webster Shrowder and Joe Sinclair. And it was this trio of enterprising young men who, after banding together, created the most successful Reggae Production team of the early seventies: Grape.

Among Grape's most successful 45s from this period was Claudette & the Corporations' 'Skinhead A Bash Them', which unsurprisingly became a firm favourite among the UK's young working class stylists. Yet despite the popularity of the disc, the record appeared to mark the end of the singer's association with the group - in all likelihood the Cimarons.

Now, over 40 years since the release of that skinhead favourite, two more Claudette & the Corporation collaborations have been uncovered and now comprise Trojan's next limited edition 7" single. As with previous 45s in the series, these two classic Boss Reggae tracks are presented on heavy-weight vinyl, with the sleeves of each of the 500 pressings numbered to ensure authenticity.

Officially released on January 30th, copies of this must-have single can be pre-ordered now via the shop at:

http://store.universal-music.co.uk/restofworld/vinyl/trojan-records-claudette+the-corporation-hot-bread-and-butter-ashes-to-ashes-vinyl/invt/0602527848648/

So your order early to ensure 2012 gets off to a skanking great start!

Club Reggae

The second Trojan 'Originals' CD scheduled for release on Janauary 30th is another classic Reggae compilation from the vaults.

First issued in 1971, 'Club Reggae' was intended as the natural successor to Trojan's 'Tighten Up' range, following the simple yet effective formula of highlighting the most popular tracks on the club scene of the day on one budget-priced collection.

The inaugural album proved so popular that over the next few years, a further five volumes (including one un-numbered 1974 LP bearing the title) were issued, with each featuring eye-catching sleeves that have since become regarded iconic images of the period.

Now, over 40 years since its original issue, the best-selling first volume of 'Club Reggae' finally makes it onto CD, with the original tape masters and artwork ensuring the release remains as faithful to the original vinyl release as possible.

What better way to start celebrating the 50th year of Jamaican independence?

1. Holly Holy - The Fabulous Flames

2. 54 46 Was My Number - Toots & The Maytals

3. Double Barrel - Dave Barker & Ansel Collins

4. Groovy Situation - Derrick Harriott

5. Take A Letter Maria - Dandy

6. Wear You To The Ball - U Roy & John Holt

7. Rivers Of Babylon - The Melodians

8. The Law - Andy Capp

9. Hitchin' A Ride - Al T. Joe

10. (I Need Your) Sweet Inspiration - The Pioneers

11. Mo' Bay (Montego Bay) - Selwyn Baptiste

12. Boom Shaka Laka (Boom Sha-Ka-La-Ka) - Hopeton Lewis & The Chosen Few

Sly & Robbie Present Taxi

2012 looks set to be an exciting year for Trojan, with Jamaica celebrating its 50th year of independence. January sees the release of 2 CD titles and of course the monthly limited edition 7" single, more on which will follow soon.

Both CDs form part of the 'Originals' range, launched by the company a couple of years ago with the specific aim of highlighting the most important and popular Jamaican music album collections from Universal's archive.

The first of next year's titles is a re-release of the LP, 'Sly & Robbie Present Taxi', which first saw issue back in 1981. By this time, the productions of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare for their Taxi label had propelled the pair to the forefront of Jamaica's Dancehall scene, with their run of major hits leading to their signing with Chris Blackwell's famed Island Records operations.

By way of introducing the talents of the so-called Riddim Twins music to the world at large, the company promptly issued 'Sly & Robbie Present Taxi' - a collection of their most popular releases from the preceding twelve months.

Now,after more than 30 years, this seminal collection, featuring some of Reggae biggest acts of the Dancehall era, will finally made available on CD on Janauary 30th. The details are as follows:

SLY & ROBBIE PRESENTS TAXI -SPECORIG1013

My Woman's Love - Jimmy Riley
Smiling Faces Sometimes - The Tamlins
Merry Go Round - Junior Delgado
Sitting And Watching - Dennis Brown
Hot You're Hot - Sly Dunbar
Sweet Sugar Plum - The Wailing Souls
World Is Africa - Black Uhuru
Drunken Master - General Echo
Old Broom - The Wailing Souls
Oh What A Feeling - Gregory Isaacs
Heart Made Of Stone - The Viceroys
Fort Augustus - Junior Delgado

Barry Llewellyn

As reported earlier this week, Barry Llewellyn of the hugely influential harmony trio, the Heptones, has passed away.

Barry, who formed the group with fellow Kingstonian, Earl Morgan in the early sixties, died at the Kingston Public Hospital on Wednesday after suddenly falling ill. The cause is yet unconfirmed. He was 64.

Perhaps the most under-rated of the Heptones original members, Barry was instrumental in the writing of some of their most popular works, most notably the 1973 classic, 'Book Of Rules'.

In recent years he had spent much of his time in the USA, although occassionally reunited with Morgan and lead singer, Leroy Sibbles, to perform at reunion shows.

More information will follow soon regarding this latest sad loss to the world of Jamaican music.

Trojan Pre-release Competition Launched

This month sees the launch of a new monthly competition for all TAS members.

Up for grabs will be secial untra-exclusive prizes, kicking off with a pre-release stamped copy of this month's Ethiopians single, 'I'm Shocking' c/w 'Sign The Cheque'.

For this inaugural contest, the names of all TAS members will be put into a hat next week, with the lucky winner announced soon after.

With only 4 copies of each of these pre-release 45s manufactured, each is an instant collector's item, the authenticity of which is verified by the labels bearing official Trojan Records stamp.

So of you want to be in with standing a chance of winning this, or any future prizes, sign up to the Trojan Appreciation Society by clicking the TAS tab at the top of the page and register now!

Harry J Revival

Coming hot on the heels of the Ethiopians' 7" comes the next - and final - Limited 7" single for 2011.

The end of year 45 couples two long lost Harry J classics from the seventies that (most likely) see issue on vinyl for the first time.

The top side features the unmistakable vocals of Nora Dean, who having cut a series of best-selling discs, both as a solo performer and lead singer of the Ebony Sisters, was by 1973, established as one of Jamaica's best-loved female performers. Given her appeal many of Kingston's leading producers unsurprisingly sought to have her record for them, with Bunny Lee and Harry Johnson particularly eager to secure her services. And it was this competition that led to both these big-time operators having her record one of her own compositions entitled, 'Mama'.

Sung over the celebrated 'Liquidator' rhythm, the first stab at the number appears to have been for Johnson, who for reasons as yet unknown, decided not to immediately issue the recording - his prevarication soon proving costly, with Nora promptly re-recording the song by Lee. The reworked version, over a new version of 'Liquidator' sold strongly both in Jamaica and the UK, with its popularity reaffirming the folly of Johnson's delay. With the original cut now a non-starter, plans for its issue were quickly dropped and the track remained lost, hidden within an unmarked tape box for almost 30 years.

Another act to see their work for Johnson go unissued were the Soul Syndicate, a Kingston-based band who had been active on the local music scene since the late sixties. Featuring an array of local talent, the group soon became one of the most in-demand outfits among Jamaica's record producers, performing on countless sessions for almost every producer of note.

The magnificent instrumental, 'Natty In Hong Kong', cut for Johnson around the close of 1974, was among a number of fine sides intended for an album showcasing the group's talents, but once more the producer chose to delay its release, although the long-player may possibly have seen issue as a very limited pre-release.

Now, both these superb Reggae sides are finally made widely available on vinyl, with the tracks providing the respective A and B sides for the latest in Trojan's limited edition 7" series. Pressed on heavy-weight vinyl, presented on the revived Harry J imprint and housed in a hand-numbered house-bag, this must-have double header ensures Trojan's output for 2011 comes to a skanking good close.

And with only 500 copies in total manufactured, pre-orders should be placed early to avoid any Christmas disappointment.