The Heptones - Party Time (Deluxe Edition) (1977)

The Heptones incredible 1977 album "Party Time" is given the deluxe make-over treatment, expanded over 4 discs, it includes additional Black Ark material, Disco Mixes, Dubs, Versions and Rarities.

Leroy Sibbles, Earl Morgan and Barry Llewellyn began their career as The Hep Ones in 1965, a vocal harmony trio, they decided to change their name to The Heptones (after seeing the name on a bottle of Heptones Tonic Water) and the group released their first single for Ken Lack in 1966.

By mid-1966 the group moved over to producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's set-up at Studio One. Dodd helped train the group in the art of harmony singing and combined with Sibbles' wonderful song-writing abilty the group began a long run of success with the producer.

Singles such as "Fattie Fattie", "Sea Of Love" and "Party Time" were all massive sellers and the group quickly became rivals to producer Duke Reid and his vocal trio The Techniques throughout the late 1960's. The Heptones became the definitive vocal harmony trio of the Rocksteady era.

Leroy Sibbles song-writing abilities also benefited other artists at Studio One and soon Coxsone Dodd had Sibbles arranging material, talent scouting and assisting with productions. Sibbles was also an accomplished bass player and would play on many sessions at Studio One including material with Alton Ellis.

By 1970 the Rocksteady era had ended and Reggae music was the dance of the day. The Heptones at this point had some major fall-out with studio boss Coxsone Dodd, possibly over the groups decision to start recording material that incorporated Rastafarian themes and The Heptones left Studio One.

The group embarked on a tour of Jamaica's top producers of the time, recording with Joe Gibbs, Augustus Pablo, Rupie Edwards and Harry Johnson (with whom they recorded the hit single "Book Of Rules").

The Heptones continued to find success with their material away from Studio One until, in 1973, Leroy Sibbles emigrated to Canada effectively suspending all recording and the group dis-banded.

In 1975 Leroy Sibbles returned to Jamaica, The Heptones re-united and pretty much picked up where they left off, recording new material at Harry J's studio with producer Danny Holloway.

By mid-1975 the group signed with major record label, Island, and joined a roster of reggae artists including Bob Marley And The Wailers and Toots And The Maytals who the label had been promoting internationally.

The Heptones first release for Island records was the beautiful album "Night Food" in 1976 which contained a number of new versions of songs that had been previous hits recorded at Studio One including "I've Got The Handle" and "Fatty Fatty" alongside new material. The album was produced by Danny Holloway and recorded at Harry J's in Kingston. To promote the album The Heptones supported Toots And The Maytals on their UK tour resulting in some fantastic performances and The Heptones popularity grew.

"Night Food" sold well and Island Records quickly decided to have The Heptones record a follow-up release. After Island began a distribution deal with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976, releasing his production of Max Romeo's "War Ina Babylon", it was decided that The Heptones would record their next album at Perry's Black Ark studio.

The Heptones feature heavily on Lee Perry's dub concept album "Super Ape" released in 1976 for Island records.

The Heptones had worked with Lee "Scratch" Perry in the early 1970's, recording tracks for Perry's Justice League imprint and also cut some singles at the Black Ark including "Law Of The Land" and "Scandal" around 1974.

Work began on the new album in late 1976 and the group once again recorded updated versions of previous Studio One hits including "Crying Over You", the Bob Dylan cover "I Shall Be Released" and the albums title track "Party Time".

The combination of The Heptones wonderful vocals and Lee Perry's powerful production work made "Party Time" an incredible album indeed, new recordings such as "Sufferer's Time" and "Mr. President" showed that the group were joining in with the conscious themes of other reggae artists of the mid-late 1970's.

Lee Perry released a number of singles from the album with fantastic dub b-sides all of which sold well and the album itself went on to become The Heptones' biggest selling international release.

Perry continued to capitalize on the popularity of "Party Time" by releasing a number of Disco Mixes on 12inch singles and also version sides featuring toasters Jah Lion, Junior Dread and Ranking King.

The Heptones also recorded a number of other songs with Perry at the Black Ark during 1977 including "Make Up Your Mind", "Garden Of Life" and "Play On Mr. Music" which was a track recorded purposely for a visiting documentary crew who captured the recording of the song inside the Black Ark studio and shows The Heptones singing alongside fellow artists Junior Murvin, George Faith and The Congos.

The Heptones continued to make periodic recordings at the Black Ark up until around 1978 including "Come Into My World", "Babylon Falling", "Rastafari On A Pinnacle" and "Mistry Babylon". It's quite possible that these tracks were the beginnings of a new album, with Perry as producer, but due to the problems surrounding the Black Ark during the late 1970's and Perry himself suffering from some kind of breakdown the project was abandoned and Leroy Sibbles decided to break away from The Heptones and embark on a solo career.

Leroy Sibbles enjoyed some success as a solo artist releasing a number of albums throughout the 1980's meanwhile The Heptones continued by enlisting Naggo Morris as Sibbles' replacement and recorded the album "Good Life" at Channel One in 1979 but it failed to live up to the success of previous albums. The Heptones line-up continued to change throughout the 1980's including appearances from Glen Adams and Joseph Forrester.

In 1995 Leroy Sibbles re-united with The Heptones (Earl Morgan And Barry Llewellyn) for the album "Pressure" produced by long time friend and associate Tapper Zukie and the group enjoyed a revival, touring throughout the world. The Heptones back catalogue continues to sell in quantities with re-issues of the groups work from Studio One and onwards.

In November 2011 Barry Llewellyn sadly passed away at the age of 64 finally ending the career of one of the finest reggae groups of all time. The Heptones musical legacy lives on and continues to influence new generations of reggae fans across the world.

The album "Party Time" stands as one of The Heptones defining career high points, as well as being one of Lee "Scratch" Perry's greatest productions of a vocal harmony trio.

Although the album is in constant print this Deluxe Edition adds a number of rare cuts, Dubs and Versions that remain difficult to locate.

Enjoy!  : )

The Heptones - Party Time (Deluxe Edition)

Disc One - The Original Jamaican Album:

1) Party Time
2) Crying Over You
3) Now Generation
4) Mr. President
5) Serious Time
6) I Shall Be Released
7) Storm Cloud
8) Road Of Life
9) Why Must I?
10) Sufferer's Time

Disc Two - Black Ark Sessions 1974 - 1978

1) Sufferer's Time (7'' Single Mix)
2) Storm Cloud (7'' Single Mix)
3) Make Up Your Mind
4) Play On Mr. Music (With The Congos, George Faith & Junior Murvin)
5) Garden Of Life
6) Come Into My World
7) Pure Sorrow
8) Babylon Falling
9) Mistry Babylon
10) Rastafari On A Pinnacle
11) Forward On A Yard
12) Law Of The Land
13) Scandal
14) Revolution (Total Destruction)
15) Revolution (Total Destruction - Part Two)

Disc Three - Disco's, Dubs & Versions

1) Party Time (Disco Mix)
2) Mr. President (Disco Dub)
3) I Shall Be Released (Disco Dub)
4) Why Must I? (Disco Dub)
5) Sufferer's Time (Disco Mix)
6) Garden Of Life (Disco Mix)
7) Come Into My World (Disco Mix)
8) Pure Sorrow (Disco Dub)
9) Party Time (Love Disco Mix)
10) Joe Bannan - Serious Time (Disco Mix)
11) Jah Lion - Crying Over You
12) Jah Lion - Mr. President
13) Ranking King - Now Generation
14) Junior Dread - Sufferer's Heights
15) Junior Dread - Heavy Manners
16) Lee "Scratch" Perry - Why Must I?
17) Ranking King - Sorrows
18) Ranking King - Mystery Babylon

Disc Four - The Heptones In Dub

1) Party Time (Dub)
2) Crying Over You (Dub)
3) Serious Time (Dub)
4) I Shall Be Released (Dub)
5) Storm Cloud (Dub)
6) Why Must I? (Dub)
7) Sufferer's Time (Dub)
8) Sufferer's Time (7'' Single Dub)
9) Party Time (Dub Part Two)
10) Garden Of Life (Dub)
11) Babylon Falling (Dub)
12) Mistry Babylon (Dub)
13) Rastafari On A Pinnacle (Dub)
14) Come Into My World (Dub)
15) Pure Sorrow (Dub)
16) Forward On A Yard (Dub)
17) Law Of The Land (Dub)
18) Revolution (Total Destruction) (Dub)

The Heptones - Party Time (Deluxe Edition)   - 

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