Byron Lee & The Dragonaires

Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Great Jamaica Ska

Reviewer: Bruce Eder, All Music Guide.

Anyone who saw Byron Lee & the Dragonaires in Dr. No (playing in the scenes in Pussfeller's club) and wants to hear more music like it need look no further than this release. The 20 songs here comprise the contents of ten singles cut by Lee and his band between 1963 and 1966 at the subsequently legendary Dynamic Sounds studios in Kingston and at Atlantic studios in New York. The songs include such familiar fare as "007 (Shanty Town)" and "My Boy Lollipop" (and "Occupation," which bears a strong resemblance to Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire"), and the vocalists include the Blues Busters, Yvonne Sterling, Patsy Todd, Eric "Monty" Morris, Ken Lazarus, Keith Lynn, and the Maytals, though Morris is the best of the featured singers. The sound is excellent and the variety of sounds runs the gamut from quasi-pop numbers to harder, edgier pieces such as "Sammy Dead."

1. Behold (Featuring The Blues Busters)
2. 007 (Shanty Town)
3. It's You
4. My Boy Lollipop
5. Easy Snaping (Featuring Monty Morris)
6. Worried Over You
7. Eastern Standart Time
8. 54-46, That's My Number
9. I've Got To Go Back Home
10. Wings Of A Dove (Featuring The Blues Busters))
11. Simmer Down
12. Carry Go Bring Come
13. Oh Carolina
14. Oil In My Lamp
15. Sammy Dead (Featuring Monty Morris)
16. Occupation
17. Tell Me Darling
18. Green Island
19. Jamaica Ska

Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Great Jamaica Ska