TROJAN BATTLEFIELD

This interesting and generally quite valuable 24-track collection pays richly deserved tribute to Theophilous Beckford, a keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and producer who exerted a significant influence on the development of ska and rocksteady in 1960s Jamaica. His name is not as famous among modern audiences as those of Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid or Lloyd Daley, but his heavily blues and R&B-based songs were very popular in Kingston and his studio and instrumental skills were in heavy demand. The best tracks on this compilation are, in fact, those that feature Beckford himself singing his own compositions in a smooth, refined style -- note in particular the gently sung but lyrically brutal "Mr. Down Pressor," a not very subtle stab at Beckford's former boss, Coxsone Dodd. Other fine tracks include "Old Flame," which features the vocal talents of one Frederick Hibbertt (who would later perform under the name Toots, as leader of The Maytals) and two early tracks by Basil Gabidon(who would later be one of the founding members of the legendary British reggae band Steel Pulse). Less inspiring are the harmonica stylings of Charlie Organaire and two rather amateurish efforts by The Charmers.

The blues and R&B based tracks are ska in its earliest form - soon after The Skatalites came along and everything became more different and technical at the same time but that's a different story. Taken as a whole, though, this is an enjoyable and valuable document of the work of one of reggae's forgotten heroes.

01. The Carmers - I´ll be there
02. The Carmers - You are the one
03. Frederik Hibbert - Old flame
04. Charlie Organaire - Go home
05. Winstom Samuels - I´m so glad
06. Winstom Samuels - She´s gone
07. Shenley Duffus & Annete Clarke - Don´t worry to cry
08. Theo Beckford - Now that you´re dead
09. Karl Walker - But officer
10. Lloyd Clarke - I love you most of all
11. Lloyd Clarke - Oh what a love
12. Karl Walker - Riding the crown
13. Lloyd Clarke - Love me or leave me
14. Basil Gabbidon - You got rich
15. Basil Gabbidon - Jamaica is mine
16. Theo Beckford - Trojan battlefield
17. Charlie Organaire - Merry twist (boogie)
18.: Unknown vocalist - Drink rum
19. Theo Beckford & The King Pioneer allstars - Naked Earth
20. Theo Beckford - Mr Down Presser
21. Theo Beckford - Snappin is Back
22. Theo Beckford & the king pioneer allstars - True musical
23. Chenley Duffus - Saturday Night Boogie
24.: Karl Walker & The Pioneer King Allstar Fight the battle

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