This album despite its title is very varied in its sound and riddims. Sure there is as you would expect plenty of ska and rock steady, but also a couple of calypso tunes in the shape of 'Obeah Wedding', and the comical 'Papa Jack', soulful sounding tune 'Girl I've Got A Date', and 'Shoo Be Doo' is almost verging on doo wop in places. The opening track 'Rocksteady' is a powerful start, with its slow rhythm, dark sound and spoken almost wailing, hypnotic vocals; you’d almost think it’s playing at the wrong speed! There is also a version (or is it the original?) of the classic '007'. The 2nd side begins with 'Soul Ska' a piece of mid tempo skank that half way through without breaking stride turns into a cover of Wilson Pickett’s 'Midnight Hour', and with a runtime of over 4mins must have been quite unusual at that time, as it is almost twice the length of the rest of the songs on the album. Overall this is a fantastic album which could never as is sometimes said in certain quarters of this type of music be called "samey". The vocals are good the music is tight and I should think there is enough variation to please everybody. Also there is a nice little bit on the back cover that tells you how to dance along to the Rock Steady!
Full Track Listing:
Rocksteady
Musical Pressure
Girl I’ve Got A Date
Bend Down Low
007
Shoo Be Doo
Soul Ska
Obeah Wedding
Papa Jack
Get Out Of My Life
Can You Hear Me
On the Beach
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"Its Oily, Oily, & Sweet!!"
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