Caltone Jamaica レコード& CD

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: 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'.

Review: The Tartans deliver a powerful double A-side single on the Reggae Fever label here with 'Awake The Town' unfolding in under three minutes. It's earthy, dusty with vintage reggae rhythms creating an irresistible groove as the buttery smooth vocals fill you with good vibes and the natty keys rumble on. On the flip side, Claudette Thomas's 'Roses Are Red' offers a more ska-tinged groover with a loopy rhythm and more lovely vocals that are sunny, carefree and have a romantic vibe. Both tracks blend sweet melodies with reggae riddims which carry you away without a care in the world.