George Faith - To Be A Lover (Deluxe Edition)

George Faith - To Be A Lover (Deluxe Edition). The Original 1977 Island Records 'Black Swan' label first edition with bonus Black Ark recorded material from 1977/1978.

Born Earl George Lawrence, in the small, central Kingston, fishing village of Rae Town in 1946, Faith's vocals were spotted early when he was a member of his local school choir.

He began recording in the late 1960's for producer Clancy Eccles, using the name Earl George and eventually George Earl and his first single was entitled "See Me".

In the early 1970's he began working with producer Glen Lee, who worked a few doors down from producer Lee Perry's Upsetter Shop on Charles Street and started recording cover versions of American Soul and Pop songs.

By the mid-seventies George Earl began recording for producers Lloyd Campbell and Phil Pratt but his biggest hit came with producer Lee Perry with whom he recorded an early version of "To Be A Lover".

It was a very popular riddim and Perry cut many different vocals and DJ's over it and even gave copies of the rhythm to other producers including Bunny Lee, Tony Robinson and King Tubby.

Around 1975/1976 George Earl began recording at Lee Perry's Black Ark studio, beginning the process of what would become his first full album release.

Earl had been recording material at the studio for over eight months prompting Perry to tell Earl he had a lot of faith in this album and thus changing his name to George Faith.

Perry had often encouraged his singers to change their stage names, back in 1975 he told eventual Third World singer Bunny "Rugs" Clarke to become Bunny Scott as this would help sell the album in Scotland!
 

The first George Faith single, released on Island Records new 'Black Swan' label imprint, was an updated version of "To Be A Lover (Have Some Mercy)". This version proved even more popular than the first, it was slower, deeper and heavier with horns and harmonies. The Jamaican issue of the single was an epic 12 minute mix with Perry's added toast towards the end whilst the UK release was shorter but strangely had out of sync parts of a previous Dillinger toast noticeably in the mix due to a tape error.

The second single release was a cover of The O'Jays "I've Got The Groove" accompanied by the b-side "Diana", a dub heavy take of the Paul Anka penned tune. A third single also appeared, a cover of Wilson Picketts "Midnight Hour" which also incorporates Lee Dorsey's "Ya Ya" in a kind of medley. The b-side to this third single was another R'n'B standard, the Tyrone Davis classic "Turn Back The Hands Of Time".

All the singles and b-sides along with Faith's other Black Ark recordings, "Opportunity" (a George Faith original), "There's A Train" (a cover of The Temptations' "All The Love I've Got") and "So Fine" (a Johnny Otis song) were finally gathered together and were given a Jamaican only release entitled "Super Eight".

The album boasts backing vocals from The Meditations and The Diamonds, piano by Keith Sterling, Winston Wright on the organ, Ernest Ranglin and Earl 'Chinna' Smith on guitars, Black Ark's resident bassist Boris Gardiner, drums courtesy of Sly Dunbar and Mikey Richards and horns from the legendary trio of Headley Bennett, Glen Da Costa and David Madden.

Meanwhile Island Records would release the album in the UK and America under the title "To Be A Lover", after the popularity of the first single, on it's subsidiary 'Black Swan' label.

The track order was different to the JA release and the song "There's A Train" had been amended to "All The Love I've Got" but other than that it was the same album.

A further fourth single was released, "Opportunity", in early 1978 to help promote the album which sold well and the possibility of a UK and European tour, along with the full Black Ark session players and singers including Junior Murvin, Keith Rowe, The Congos and Full Experience, was being planned.

Unfortunately the "Upsetter Revue Tour" never came about due to Perry's increasingly erratic behaviour and unpredictability at this time.

Nevertheless, Island Records were impressed with George Faith's debut album and instructed him and Perry to return to the studio to work on a follow up.

They began recording new songs by mid-1978 and had enough for a full album according to Faith. The material had moved from soul covers to more conscious, roots reggae which had become the predominant theme at the Black Ark studio by this point.

It was around this time however that Island records had turned down a number of Perry's recordings including albums by The Congos, Candy McKenzie and the eclectic "Return Of The Super Ape" album.

Although two singles from the sessions appeared, "Working On The Guideline", which was due to be the title track and "Don't Be Afraid", both complete with dub versions, they were not released by Island. The rest of the album sadly remains unreleased and it's not clear if Island have the album in their vaults or not.

George Faith, disappointed with the album being shelved, took the material over to Phil Pratt with whom he recorded the album "One And Only" which contained new versions of songs he created with Perry including "Working On The Guideline" and "Sam Stone".

He later went on to record albums with producers Alvin Ranglin and Bunny Lee before moving to Canada in the early 1980's. He returned to Jamaica in 1986, recording the "Sings For Lover's Only" album and making sporadic recordings into the 1990's. Earl died in 2003 after battling cancer.

In recent times Island records finally re-issued the album in it's original Jamaican form of "Super Eight" on CD and vinyl in 2012. The album never before given a re-mastered issue since it's original pressing in the late 70's. 

The alternative "To Be A Lover" version of the album was given a very brief, small quantity CD release on the Hip-O label in the U.S but was not re-mastered sound-wise and label information was minimal.

This Deluxe Edition contains the original Island album released on the 'Black Swan' label in 1977 and adds additional Black Ark sessions including the 12" Single Mix of  "To Be A Lover" and it's Dub Mix and also the second album singles "Guide Line" and "Don't Be Afraid" with the dub mixes.

Enjoy!  : )


Tracklisting:

Disc One - George Faith - To Be A Lover (Original "Black Swan" Album - 1977)


1) Midnight Hour / Ya Ya
2) To Be A Lover (Have Some Mercy)
3) Opportunity
4) So Fine
5) I've Got The Groove
6) Diana
7) All The Love I've Got
8) Turn Back The Hands Of Time

Disc Two - Bonus Black Ark Material 1977 - 1978

1) To Be A Lover (Have Some Mercy) (12" Disco Mix)
2) To Be A Lover (Have Some Mercy) (12" Dub Mix)
3) I've Got The Groove (Dub)
4) Guide Line
5) Guide Line (Dub)
6) Don't Be Afraid
7) Conscious Guide
8) Conscious Guide (Slight Return)
9) To Be A Lover (Have Some Mercy) (12'' Single Mix)

George Faith - To Be A Lover (Deluxe Edition)

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Lloyd Charmers & The Hippy Boys - House In Session

Another hard to find gem of an album from 1970, Lloyd Charmers & The Hippy Boys - House In Session.

Released on the 'Pama' Label, this album has never received a re-issue or re-release since!

The late Lloyd Charmers, born Lloyd Tyrell in Kingston 1938, started in the Jamaican music industry at the very beginning. During the late 50's he teamed with vocalist Roy Willis and the duo went by the name of The Charmers and they cut a number of Jamaican R'n'B singles before splitting in the early 60's just as Ska and Rocksteady was fast becoming the music of the day.

Lloyd then joined up with Slim Smith and Jimmy Riley to form The Uniques and went on to work with producer Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd cutting singles for the Studio One label including his early hit "Jeannie Girl". He also very briefly joined the supergroup The Messengers with Ken Boothe, B.B Seaton and Busty Brown.

Lloyd was enjoying a high profile between 1962 and 1967, it was during this time that, under the guidance of Alton Ellis, he began to learn the piano, read music and write songs.

In 1966 Lloyd began working with the instrumental group The Hippy Boys, made up of guitarist Alva "Reggie" Lewis and the Barrett brothers, Carlton (Drums) and Aston (Bass).

The group began working with producer Bunny 'Striker' Lee who briefly renamed them The Bunny Lee All-Stars and together they recorded a number of hit singles with singers including John Holt, Ken Parker, Max Romeo and Pat Kelly.

Lloyd and the Hippy Boys also found time to record their own tunes during this period and released them on the albums "Reggae Charm", "Reggae Is Tight" and this very offering "House In Session".
All of which became harder and harder to find as time passed and apart from the compilation "Psychedelic Reggae" released in 1998, the full albums have yet to be given a re-release.


The band quickly became highly sought after by the islands other producers including Sonia Pottinger, Harry Johnson and Lloyd Daley but the group chose to work next with Lee "Scratch" Perry.

Perry of course renamed them The Upsetters and the producer and the group went on to record some of Perry's finest creations of the late 60's and early 70's.

Lloyd Charmers would go on to create his own label, after watching and learning from the producers he had worked with, called 'Splash' and scored massive hits with Ken Boothe during the early to mid seventies including the smash "Everything I Own".

He also worked with another group during this period, The Now Generation, who were also very popular and he maintained a high profile throughout the 70's.

In 1979 Lloyd relocated to the UK and enjoyed some success during the early 80's, choosing to aim at the Lover's Rock market which had become very popular in England and avoiding the more Roots Rockers orientated Jamaican scene of the time.

Lloyd then maintained a reletively low profile throughout the 90's and remained a permanent resident of London, England until his death on the 27th December 2012, suffering a fatal heart attack whilst driving.

His legacy as one of Jamaica's all time greats is safe however, for as long as his music lives on.

Enjoy!  : )

Tracklisting:

1) Soul At Large
2) Soul Of England
3) Sweet Sweet
4) Confidential
5) House In Session
6) Cooyah!
7) Shang Hai
8) Everybody Needs Love
9) African Zulu
10) Stronger
11) Ling Tong Ting
12) Yes Sah

Lloyd Charmers & The Hippy Boys - House In Session  - 

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Johnny Too Bad: The Very Best Of The Slickers

This is a fantastic collection of The Slickers singles and b-sides from the early sixties through to the early eighties and includes all of the groups most popular cuts and some truely obscure gems gathered together for the first time on this incredible release.

The Slickers are one of Jamaica's most under-rated vocal groups, best known for their massive hit "Johnny Too Bad" which appeared on the soundtrack to the movie "The Harder They Come" starring Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff.  Despite the success of the song, for many, it's hard to name another of the groups singles.

This could be down to the fact that just who The Slickers were is surrounded by mystery, speculation and rumour.

In the very early days of Jamaican musical history, when the island danced to the sounds of blues and R'n'B that streamed down from the US, most of the recordings made in Jamaica were Blue Beat, the Jamaican equivalent to American R'n'B and it was during this period that singles appeared bearing a group named The City Slickers. For instance The Jiving Juniors & The City Slickers released some singles in the very early 60's and then a few more appeared crediting Theo Beckford & The City Slickers. Theo Beckford would later be a member of The Slickers when they would record "Johnny Too Bad" which is why this early connection to the name is relevant. Although it seems The City Slickers were a group of instrumentalists at this point and not a vocal group.

Confusing? Right?

As the R'n'B style changed in Jamaica and the new style of Ska came into being more singles appeared this time crediting The Slickers in a number of variations including Johnny Melody & The Slickers, Tyrone & The Slickers, Johnny Slicker and again The City Slickers. But just who made up these changing line-ups remains open to debate.

Then, as Ska slowed to Rocksteady and then eventually became Reggae, by the mid-sixties The Slickers output of singles increased and most would be credited solely to The Slickers.

An early hit came in the form of "Nana" and then a number of singles appeared including "Run Fattie", "Dip Dip", "Say You" and "Man Beware" amongst others.

One thing that was noticeable at this point was that some of the same songwriters credited on The Slickers releases were also the songwriters for material by the more established group The Pioneers.

The Pioneers were formed in 1962 by brothers Derek and Sydney Crooks and were joined by Winston Hewitt to make a trio. The group recorded at Treasure Isle and released the single "Na Na" in the mid-sixties along with a few other cuts that were popular in Jamaica.

In 1966 Hewitt left the group and emigrated to Canada, he was replaced by former Heptone Glen Adams for a short time before the group split around 1967.

It seems that during the periods that The Pioneers were inactive, the Crooks brothers along with Theo Beckford would record as The Slickers, occasionally drafting in alternative members including Winston Bailey and George Agard.

Throughout the mid to late 60's singles continued to appear by both The Slickers and The Pioneers.

In 1967 Sydney Crooks began working at Joe Gibbs studio where he met Jackie Robinson whom he drafted in as a member of a new Pioneers line-up which also included George Agard (half brother of Desmond Dekker). The new Pioneers recorded a number of singles at the studio.

At this time legendary producer Lee Perry was also working at the studio and it was he who wrote the song "Long Shot Kick De Bucket" which became a massive hit in 1969.

After Lee Perry left Joe Gibbs' stable the group recorded "Pan Yu Machete" which was an attack on Perry.

While the Pioneers were recording as a trio (Sydney Crooks/George Agard/Jackie Robinson) it seems Derek Crooks, Winston Bailey and Theo Beckford continued as The Slickers, releasing a number of singles into the late 60's. It's also said that Delroy Wilson and Lloyd Robinson (Jackie's brother) were occasional members of the group at this point and Roy Hylton Beckford is also credited, although this maybe a mis-credited Theo.

Essentially The Slickers and The Pioneers are one and the same, albeit with minor line-up changes, switching and swapping of members, particularly during the mid to late 60's, but they are two separate recording groups.

This is made clear in 1970 when The Pioneers scored big with their massive chart hit "Long Shot Kick De Bucket" and the group relocated to the UK whilst at the same time The Slickers charted with "Johnny Too Bad" back in Jamaica.

The Slickers continued to release singles throughout the early 70's including an updated version of "Good Nanny", "Red Gun Court" and their own version of The Pioneers' "Long Shot Kick The Bucket".

Although the material The Slickers released in the early 70's was strong it never quite reached the heights of "Johnny Too Bad" which remained the groups key chart hit.

In 1976 The Slickers released their first full album entitled "Many Rivers To Cross" on the Klik label. The backing band is credited as The Cimarons and producer Sydney Crooks.

The album is made up of cover versions including Jimmy Cliff's title track, two Bob Marley cuts (Get Up Stand Up/I Shot The Sheriff) and Paul Simon's "Mother And Child Reunion".

An interesting side note is that the album is credited as having been recorded in Japan. In 1975 The Pioneers were the first reggae band to tour that country before splitting again in 1976 just as this album was recorded. It's therefore assumed that The Pioneers members Sydney Crooks and George Agard returned to The Slickers line-up for this project.

Meanwhile, back in Jamaica, The Slickers continued to issue singles between 1976 and 1977 including "Right On Time", "Zion Land" and "Must Surrender" which showed the group had moved into the Roots Rockers sound of the late 70's.

Then in 1978 The Slickers recorded their second album, this time at Lee "Scratch" Perry's Black Ark studio where they recorded what would eventually surface as the album "Breakthrough".

The album has that typical late 70's Black Ark sound and Perry's trademark mixing and phasing techniques of the time. The songs are originals and includes an update of their earlier hit "Johnny Too Bad".

Vocals are credited to The Slickers with musicians including Horsemouth Wallace on drums, Robbie Shakespear on bass, Mikey Chung and Earl 'Chinna' Smith on guitars, Augustus Pablo on melodica and Robbie Lynn on keys. Lee Perry is given an engineer credit whilst production goes to Tad Dawkins and Geoffrey Chung. It's highly likely that Perry recorded and produced the album at the Black Ark but it was then mixed again by Tad Dawkins and Geoffrey Chung over at Harry J's.

The album came out on Tad Dawkins own TAD's Records in 1979 and was recently re-issued on the Makasound label.

A few more singles by The Slickers appeared in the very early 80's including the song "St. Jago De La Vega" produced by Barry Biggs and "The Time Has Come" before it seems the group finally dis-banded and went their separate ways.

The trio of Sydney Crooks, George Agard and Jackie Robinson continued as The Pioneers throughout the late 1970's.  In the early 1980's The Pioneers reformed to collaborate with UK 2-Tone artists including members of UB40, The Beat, Madness, The Specials and General Public on an update of their earlier single "Starvation" for an African charity organization.

As of 1999 The Pioneers continue to tour throughout the world in places such as Brazil and South America, the UK, US and across Europe.

The Slickers may never have reached the acclaim and recognition of their close counterparts The Pioneers but this collection shows they were certainly more than just a one hit wonder.

Enjoy!  : )

Tracklisting:

Disc One:

1) Georgie & The Old Shoe {Theo Beckford & The City Slickers}
2) That's Me {Theo Beckford & The City Slickers}
3) I Want To Take A Chance
4) Man Is Going To Leave Earth (aka Man Is Going To Eat Man)
5) Na Na {Johnny Melody & The Slickers}
6) Run Fattie
7) You Done Me Wrong {Tyrone & The Slickers}
8) Dip Dip
9) Say You
10) Gold On Your Dress
11) Mother Matty
12) Frying Pan (aka What A Botheration)
13) Wala Wala
14) Too Much
15) Man Beware
16) Auntie Lulu
17) Fussing And Fighting
18) Go Back Home
19) Hoola Bulla
20) The Man I Should Be
21) Johnny Too Bad
22) Johnny Too Bad (Version)
23) You Can't Win
24) Red Gun Court
25) Good Nanny
26) Bamboo Bed
27) Bounce Me Johnny
28) Bounce Me Johnny (Version)
29) Coolie Gal
30) I A Dread

Disc Two:

1) Dread Selassie
2) Dread Selassie (Version)
3) Nine Millie
4) Nine Millie (Dub)
5) Dance Crashers
6) Long Shot Kick The Bucket
7) Many Rivers To Cross
8) Mother And Child Reunion
9) Hang On Sloopy
10) Jah Throne
11) Right On Time {Luddy Pioneer And Joe Slicker}
12) Right On Time (Dub) {Luddy Pioneer And Joe Slicker}
13) Caught You Red-Handed {Ranking Charlie And The Slickers}
14) Zion Land
15) Well Dread
16) Must Surrender
17) Breakthrough
18) Black And White
19) Run Come
20) St. Jago De La Vega
21) St. Jago De La Vega (Dub)
22) The Time Has Come
23) The Time Has Come (Dub)

Johnny Too Bad: The Very Best Of The Slickers  - 

Please be aware that all download links are currently unavailable as of January 2023

As always, let us know what you think of the music, leave us a comment below or email us:

pipecockjackxonrrm@gmail.com