Melodians

Melodians – Small Axe File

The Melodians, Tony Brevitt, Brent Dowe, and Trevor McNaughton and Renford Cogle (who did not sing with the group, but contributed to the songwriting and arranging) The group first recorded for Prince Buster, then Coxsone. But the bulk of there material was recorded for three producers Duke Reid, Sonia Pottinger and Leslie Kong.

Album wise, they recorded albums for Leslie Kong, Harry J, Sonia Pottinger, Ras Records and Willy Lindo.

In 1997. Trojan Records released a great compilation set. ‘The Rivers Of Babylon’  containing some

26 tracks. From a wide range of producers

 Come On Little Girl – Duke Reid – Treasure Isle - 1966

Classic Rock Steady from Treasure Isle. There is something about the sound of Rock Steady made at Treasure Isle – it’s got a fullness, that is hard to describe. And the clarity is something else as well. And listen to that bassline. Never mind Rock Steady- that is Rock Solid. If it’s Jackie Jackson he should be proud of this one. It’s tunes like this, that have rocked the dance hall down the years. And will continue to do so for many years to come.

You Don’t Need Me - Duke Reid – Treasure Isle - 1967

An incredible tune, the clarity and quality of production is truly amazing. Well over 50 years old and yet it sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Such was the production standards of Treasure Isle.  From the lowest note of the bass guitar to the highest note of the Sax. It’s just pure HiFi. The Melodians sing with great passion, and with great harmony. You truly have to wonder why such productions never made it into the pop charts.  Yet like Coxsone, Duke Reid never had any pop charts success – during reggae’s boom time in the late sixties.

I'll Get Along Without You - Duke Reid – Treasure Isle – 1967

Another great tune and another big reggae hit. Listen to the way the guitar picks it’s way through the intro. It must be Hux Brown. Also this is classic Rock Steady, but it’s not slow. A few changes in instruments – and this would be reggae. The Melodians sing the song in great style, (I think it’s a cover tune) with great harmonies. When you listen to music like this, it’s no great surprise that it inspired the Deejay scene – just a couple of years later, and then a few after that the dub scene – with the Treasure Dub series.

You Have Caught Me - Duke Reid – Treasure Isle – 1967

Now this is Rock Steady from beginning to end. The way the rhythm guitar drops makes it so. The problems start with reggae music, when you get a slow rhythm guitar – playing along with a fast rhythm, it shouldn’t  work, but it does. There is also a very small pause in the rhythm, which eventually became Skank. Tunes like Eric Donaldson’s ‘Cherry Oh Baby’ and John Holt’s ‘Stick By Me’ did not come out of nowhere. Reggae musicians, in the studios of Treasure Isle, Studio One, Federal, Randy’s and Dynamics. Were building up to those tunes, over many many years. 

Let's Join Hands (Together) - Duke Reid – Treasure Isle - 1968

The subtle changes from Rock Steady to Reggae – are here for all to listen too. It’s not very fast, but it’s reggae.   It’s the way the little organ riffs come in that gives it that reggae vibe. The Melodians sing beautifully – great harmonies from top to bottom. And the song is magnificent. A real message from time – very positive. If more studios released music like this, back then the whole history of reggae music could have been so so different.

Little Nut Tree – Sonia Pottinger – Gay Feet – 1968

Sonia Pottinger’s Rock Steady productions must have been so popular in the Dance Hall for her to release this in 1968. Or The Melodians must have been very popular back then. The latter statement makes more sense. Sonia, had already released enough ‘Reggae’ tunes in 1968. This tune sounds like it came from about 1966 or 1967. No way was she making music like this in 1968. It’s a strange little tune with lyrics that come from a different age. It sounds like some very olde English folk song. Probably written by William Shakespeare.

You Are My Only Love – Sonia Pottinger – Gay Feet – 1968

This one is a little faster, but it’s not a Reggae tune. It’s a fast Rock Steady tune. And as such – it’s got a feel about it that lacks the vibes of either Rock Steady or Reggae. The two styles are not interchangeable, it’s not just the tempo. It’s the bassline, and the way the drums drop. Even the horns seem out of place. It’s not a bad tune, far from it, but trying to define it beyond that is a struggle. The Melodians sing the song with style, and it is a good song. But you can’t help feeling it would have sounded a lot better if it was either done in a Rock Steady style or a Reggae Style.

Swing And Dine – Sonia Pottinger – High Note – 1968

This is how it should be done. What a classic tune. Another one – that was popular back then and it’s popularity as probably increased over the years. When it comes to cuts of this, so many have had good hits with it. The Morwells did in the mid seventies, and so Richie McDonald in the early to Eighties. Yet as good as those cuts are, they cannot ever match the original. The great harmonies from the Melodians are hard to match. They were made for these kind of songs. There should be a deejay cut of this from Sonia Pottinger.

Sweet Rose – Links – Links - 1968

Links was the first musical co-op formed in Jamaica. BB Seaton, Ken Boothe, The Melodians, and Delroy Wilson all gained releases on the label. Which only lasted a couple of years but made a big enough impact to inspire other labels like ‘Splash’ and ‘2nd Tracs’ to come forward over the next five years. They all had a certain amount of success. What they all lacked was better distribution into the bigger markets. Musically this is yet another ‘Rock Steady’ tune. And it’s another good one, but were people really buying Rock Steady tunes in 1968?

It Comes And Goes – Links – Links - 1968

It’s another good one from Links, and a must for fans of Rock Steady. I wonder if there is another cut of this tune from The Melodians, because I can hear one that is a bit faster, Perhaps someone speeded it up. Of the releases on Links, this one is probably the most well known. Not really a hit, but a tune that as become popular over the years. Brent Dowe recut it in a Rockers style – but that is not the one I’m thinking of.

I Could Be A King – Sonia Pottinger – Gayfeet - 1969

There was something about Rock Steady – that made it very hard for the producers to let go of it. Or there was something about Reggae that they didn’t like. Was this a tune that was recorded in 1969 or much earlier, and then changed about a bit to make it sound like the ‘Reggae’ beat. It’s another great song from the Melodians, but it’s hard to get past that rhythm. 

Ring Of Gold - Melodians – Tramp - 1969

Winston Lowe’s Tramp label, naturally enough released a good amount of his own productions, but it was also a label that released productions from other producers and artists. Bunny Lee, Busty Brown, The Melodians and Lloyd Charmers. It’s not a label I know a lot about, but if this tune is anything to go by, they should be good tunes. This one finally is a Reggae tune, A really great one as well. Full of life. With a well forward bassline, and some nice shuffle organ. 

You've Got It - Melodians – Tramp – 1969

Perhaps not as full of the Reggae-Vibes as ‘Ring Of Gold’ but still very good. And another Melodians self production, although it could be Links. Perhaps Links didn’t have the funds to put it out – hence it’s release on Tramp. Such is the curse of self production. If you spend too much on production, you could end up sitting on a great tune for a long time, before you get the chance to release. All the while the music is changing.  That is not the case now, there have been no changes in reggae music for over twenty years. But then it was changing week by week. What sounded fresh one month, could sound very dated six months down the line.

Personally Speaking - Winston Lowe – Tramp – 1969

The strength of the reggae rhtyhm is in how much can be done with it. Slight changes in any of the instruments can make a tremendous difference. Here for example is the organ sound that is most associated with Dr Alimantado’ ‘Best Dressed Chicken In Town’ tune. I always wondered if the sound went back further than that tune, but never imagined it would go back to 1969. This time Winston Lowe is at the controls as well, a great tune.

When There Is You – Winston Lowe – Tramp – 1969

Another one in the same style. This time it’s a little bit slower – and in doing so reveals that it’s a Treasure Isle studio recording, not production, but recording. Winston was really onto something with this sound. It’s a good sound, a nice vibe. The man seemed to be concentrating his efforts into the Uniques at the time. When it comes to producing, you can only do all the right things – and hope for the best. And he did a great job here with the Melodians.

Melodians – Rivers Of Babylon – Doctor Bird - 2021

The Melodians joined Beverley’s in 1969. It didn’t take long before they had a massive hit – with ‘Sweet Sensation’ I’m not sure if it went into the Pop Charts. In fact it did, it charted at 41, In October 1970. It was a Top 50 hit, not a Top 10, but never the less. That it is still a massive achievement.  Everything was stacked against Reggae music then. From Racist pop Deejays, to Chart Statistics that ignored many shops. And let us not forgot the tremendous amount of reggae music being released by Trojan and Pama back then. You cannot simply ignore these things and then try to make sense of the events that took place all those years ago.

Island Released the ‘Rivers Of Babylon’ album many years ago.  It was a welcome release for fans of The Melodians and of the Beverley’s. It didn’t have many tracks, but it was a good set.  They stated on the sleeve notes, that is all they could find. Now years and years later Doctor Bird have come up with a 25 track set. Which takes the main album up to ten tracks, and adds 15 more. Featuring singles and Versions of tunes released by Beverleys. It’s a fantastic set, a must for lovers of the Reggae era sound.

1. RIVERS OF BABYLON – Leslie Kong - 1971

What better place to start. A song so well known. The Melodians biggest hit, not in terms of Pop Charts – but in terms of what it means. A song from the magnificent ‘The Harder They Come’ film. Every song from that album is now so well known and rightly so. And yet for me, I cannot help but think what would have happened – if Leslie Kong had not died. This tune is pure roots, and yet contains all the elements of the mighty Beverley’s sound. It shows that the man was looking forward – he was still encouraging the talent he had surrounded himself with to go forward. To keep looking for something new. Ska, Rock Steady and Reggae had come and gone. Time for something new. That is what ‘Rivers Of Babylon’ means to me.

2. IT TOOK A MIRACLE – Leslie Kong - 1971

Another great example of the Roots sounds that was coming from Beverley’s. This is not Rock Steady or Reggae. It’s Roots. It wasn’t called that then back. Trojan had a term ‘Ethnic’. It takes a good while for people to settle on a name. Another example would be the ‘Ragga’ era. Initially it was called ‘Digital’ or even ‘Digi’,  but eventually ‘Ragga’ came along. And that was that.  As long as the term is clear – that is what is important. For the most part labels are best left for tin cans!

3. SWEET SENSATION – Leslie Kong – 1969

As already stated, A pop chart hit for the group, and another pop hit for Leslie Kong. Classic 69 reggae. Superb harmonies – and a rhythm that truly moves you. A superb bassline from Jackie Jackson. Some tinkling piano from Gladdy. And then it’s the turn of the Melodians with a great song and some superb harmonies. “Oh my Sweet Sensation, Love What True Emotion, You’ve Have Got Love and Devotion…” The tune became an instant classic reggae tune, known all the over world. Why it didn’t smash it’s way into the Top Ten is a mystery, but reggae music is full of such mysteries. It’s what make it interesting.

4. IT’S MY DELIGHT – Leslie Kong - 1969

Hux Brown was a master of the bubbling guitar. Well if you like the Bubble, you are in the right place for this tune – Bubbles like a pot on a stove. For myself, I’m always reminded of a light bulb that flickers. It adds to the tension of a song in way that is hard to match with any other instrument.

Of course you need great singers and great songs. And The Melodians can provide both with ease.

5. A DAY SEEMS SO LONG – Leslie Kong - 1969

Another great tune, in the same kind of style. This time the drums are a little bit more forward. Which I’m sure Winston Grennan would have been pleased about. That is not to say that Hux Brown is not present in the tune he is. And as always he bubbles or picks away in fine style. It’s another great song from the Melodians as well, with all the usual soars and swoops in the Harmonies that makes this group so special in Reggae music.

6. LOST MY LOVE – Leslie Kong - 1969

Well this is something different. Brent Dowe is not on the lead vocal on this. And it don’t sound like  Tony Brevett. The song is very unusual as well. It’s more like a story than a song. The Rhythm is always very different. It’s full of stops and starts and chord changes. In the mix you can hear some wah wah guitar.  Which is probably Hux Brown. It really sounds like they were trying to create a new kind of Beverley’s sound on this tune. 

7. THOUGH I’M THROUGH WITH YOU – Leslie Kong

Back to Brent Dowe for this one.  Another love song, The Melodians did love a love song. It’s just very ironic that they are more well known for the ‘Rivers Of Babylon’ It’s one out of many songs they recorded in there career. It’s a roots tune, a classic roots tune. Yet I’m sure they would have preferred to be known for songs like ‘Sweet Sensation’ which is more representative of there work. And of course that tune, actually went into the pop charts.

8. I DON’T CARE – Leslie Kong - 1970

This tune is ruled by the bouncing bass of Jackie Jackson. Who locks into a well played rhythm guitar – which must be Rad Bryan (Dougie) who goes back to an almost rock steady guitar single lick to push the rhythm along. I say almost – because there is something about it, that is not Rock

Steady. It’s something I have heard before, but at the moment – I’m not sure where. It could be on some Maytals track. Of course it’s another love song, but it’s done in fine style!!!

9. OH SAY, DARLING SAY – Leslie Kong - 1969

A very memorable guitar intro on this tune, always makes it a favourite for fans of the Melodians. Not sure what it is either, it could be a steel guitar. Or just some early FX box that Hux as got hold of. Whatever or whoever played it, did a great job. It grabs the attention. The song is another one straight out of the Melodians book of love songs.  The rest of the rhythm, moves along in fine style in that classic ‘69 sound.

10. WALKING IN THE RAIN – Leslie Kong – 1970

Once the basic component of the Beverley’s sound are in place, its always interesting to see hear

how many ways it can be juggled around. Like a Musical Rubik Cube, one little twist – and the whole thing changes. This one as got the feel of a Skank tune, it’s not a Skank tune, it’s a little bit too fast to be one. But Slow it down, and all what people know and love about the Skank rhythm would be very apparent. Great vocals and songwriting as well.

12. (COME) ROCK IT WITH ME – Leslie Kong - 1970

Some great interplay here between Hux Brown and Jackie Jackson. This is the way to create great rhythm. And it’s another one that shows the great interest in the emerging Skank sound. The Beverley’s sound, was made to be ‘Skanked’ up.  They rhythm is pushed along by Rad Bryan ‘Dougie’ who plays the slowed down mento guitar to great effect. If Dougie was playing the ‘Scrubbing’ guitar the trademark sound of Ranny Bop. This tune would have been a ‘Skank’ tune.

13. LET’S GIVE THANKS AND PRAISES – Leslie Kong - 

Here we go – Thank you Mr Bop. Take the same kind of rhythm, replace the ‘Reggae’ guitar 

(trademark Reggie Lewis) with Ranny Bop’s ‘Scrubbing Guitar’ sound. And you have a Skank tune.  The Hippy Boys – made a big impact on the music around that time. And all credit to Hux and Dougie for being hip to the Hippy Boys. They could have just ignored these bunch of youths. They didn’t. All that is needed now, is the Creep organ. And who played that first – Glen Adams, another Hippy Boy.

14. PUT IT DOWN CHILDREN – Leslie Kong

After many many love songs. The Melodians in a reflection of the times – decide its time for roots and culture. ‘Lets Give Thanks and Praises’ was one example, and here is another one. In truth it’s not really about ‘Roots and Culture’. This song is a reality tune. When violence erupts within your community, it’s almost a duty for the singers and songwriters to make comment on it. To try and understand what is going on. You will not find out what is going on by listening to the News on TV and Radio. They have other concerns – more to do with money than anything else.

15. The Staircase Of Time – Leslie Kong

Tony Brevett is given more of a credit on this one. And is also the lead vocalist on this tune. Which is sung in that storytelling style, found on an earlier track. While he was still a Melodian, (it’s possible he left for a while. And the sleeve to this set, indicates. ) He began a solo career. Recording for Leslie Kong, Lloyd Campbell, Winston Edwards. Plus also producing half a dozen tunes for himself. Bob Andy once told me that Tony travelled to India staying there for a while.

16. TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY – Leslie Kong

Brent Dowe is on lead vocals for this one. Etta James recorded this one back in the day, but this slow moving song is better sung in a slower style offered here by The Melodians. The Rhythm track is built to perfection by the All Star Band. All the trademarks art there, the bouncing bass, and the bubbling guitar. Most of the Melodians output at Beverley’s came out on singles, but this one can only be found on this album.

17. FREEDOM TRAIN – Leslie Kong

Back to Roots and Culture on this one. Something the Melodians do very well, but perhaps should have done it a bit more. The style of the rhythm, seems to indicate that it was recorded around 1971.

The same time as ‘Rivers Of Babylon’ so perhaps this was a response to the success of that tune, or it may have been a group of songs done in this style. It’s a great works, listen out for the creep organ. A major part of the roots sound – was the creep organ. I wonder who is doing the creeping here. Winston Wright or Ansel Collins.

18. TOO YOUNG TO FALL IN LOVE – Leslie Kong

A Classic reggae rhythm, but without the double stroke. It took a while for them to sort this out in Jamaica. Playing one stroke tends to take the rhythm back into the Rock Steady style – but that is not the case here. The Musical rubik cube that is Beverley’s is given a twist again. And what could not be done, is now done. And done in fine style. The song is another one from The Melodians love book.  Which as got many many pages.

19. THE TIME HAS COME – Leslie Kong – 1971

A Skank tune more or less. And a great one. It’s got the scrubbing guitar, and another guitar playing a little riff to back it up. But no creep organ. I can’t hear any organ at all. Some nice jangly piano adds a little bit of magic into the tune. And it is another great Roots tune. Would love to know, the order of these tunes from 1971 were recorded in. The success of ‘Rivers Of Babylon’ must have inspired such great works. We are only left to wonder what would have happened in reggae music had lived on to make such great works. Reggae music changed dramatically back then, and so did

Beverley’s. The label was looking forward.

20. HOLD MY HAND – Leslie Kong

A beautiful song, so typical of The Melodians and of the time. By now the optimism of the Sixties had gone. But hope wasn’t gone. It was changed into something much more basic. It was a realisation that Jamaica could not change alone. Change had to be worldwide. Or at least in areas much larger than one single country. Not the single super state much loved by people who support the madness of the EU. But by co-operation between people. On the Musical front, listen out for Rad Bryan giving a masterclass on how to play the double stroke reggae rhythm guitar.

21. MY LIFE, MY LOVE – Leslie Kong

Not a love song, but a great example of a ‘Life Song’. It’s the kind of song that Jimmy Cliff would like to write and sing, likewise Bob Andy. Somewhere along the way, they fell out of favour. And the more broader concept songs much like ‘Hold My Hand’ came into favour. They all get put together as ‘Protest’ songs – but if you listen carefully there is a difference. It’s probably easier for some people to relate to the ‘Protest’ songs, because it’s a shared experience. But sometimes a very personal experience can be shared and understood.

22. WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN – Leslie Kong

Touches of ‘Sweet Sensation’ about this tune.  And why not. The tune was such a big success for the Melodians, why not try and re-work it and see what happens. And It comes very close to matching the vibes of that song, in terms of production. Brent – becomes very impassioned on this, just like ‘Sweet Sensation’. The song was never released as a single though. Yet it remains a great one.

23. NO SINS AT ALL – Leslie Kong

The Bible holds a special significance for the Melodians.  Many groups have been inspired by it – in reggae music over the years. Yet The Melodians gained there biggest hit from it. So you can understand them returning to it. For more inspiration. Yet as we have discovered it’s not as much as you think. The Melodians find inspiration from many sources Love Song, Life Songs. However on this tune, it is the Bible once again. And especially Jordan. The place as provided inspiration for many singers, Clancy Eccles and Junior Byles come to mind. A great song.

24. COME ETHIOPIANS COME – Leslie Kong

Released as a single in Jamaica and in the UK. This is a Skank tune – 100% percent. The rhythm stops and starts. The bassline is broken – the drums roll and crash, like thunder and lighting. And to add to the drama, we have a scrubbing guitar – and creep organ!!! A wonderful creation!!! The Melodians in Roots and Culture mode sing there song about the Ethiopians. It’s a song that sums up what this era was all about. That is comes from The Melodians shows how they evolved over the era’s.

Melodians – Lyrics To Riddim – Willie Lindo - Heavybeat – 2013

Reggae can and does throw up surprises all the time. And for me the best one’s are musical surprises. A new album from an old favourite is a good example, and it’s even better when it’s a great work.  This one from producer Willie Lindo is superb. I’m not sure how I found out about this album, but I can remember the late/great Freddy Big Foot was in the mix. He mentioned it, said it was a great album, and even told where could buy it!!! Eddie Oxman’s little place in the West End of Central London – which at the time was trading under the Dub Vendor banner. 

This is a 17 track set, now the more tracks on a CD, the more things can go wrong. Thankfully that was the not case with this album. It maintains the high standards the Melodians had set themselves early on. And it does not dwell on the past. Trying to recreate rhythms from the Sixties or Seventies

is not going to work. Even with the best musicians, you are not going to get that sound. The only possible way to get a production sound from those eras’s. Would be to use all the equipment, down to the last valve or transistor. And then find an engineer who could work the board. Then you have the acoustics. And finally you would need musicians who ideally played in those era’s. It’s a very complex situation. Much better to try and something new.

Lyrics To Riddim - 

The title track, you might be thinking this is some kind of dancehall song. Well, you would be wrong. It’s about reality. With the Melodians, singing about how life would be better if people could work together like ‘Lyrics To Riddim’  What is even more interesting, the song sounds like something from the Wailing Souls would sing. I’m sure both Bread and Pipe would be shouting “forward” when they heard this. Not sure who is on lead vocals on this, but it’s not Brent Dowe, who sadly died during the making of this magnifcent album.

Marcus Garvey -

Here is Brent, and picks up on the vibes that the Melodians were dealing with in the early seventies.  It’s one of those story type of songs. Not like Burning Spear’s ‘Marcus Garvey’ or the Mighty Diamonds ‘Poor Marcus’. Those were the days when you hear the man’s named called on a regular basis. And those were also the times, when every single thing under the sun moon and stars would be commented on in reggae music. When reggae artists stopped reflecting on world events, reggae music lost something. Perhaps they came to the conclusion collectively that the world was no longer  listening. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It’s Alright -

Now if you are a lover of old sounds. Reggae music can still give you what you need, with samples galore. The a new drum track is the foundation – for sample upon sample, I can’t recall what they are on this track. But listen enough times, and you will figure it out. This goes on in kinds of music now. And for the most part it works. And if you have a new song, and some great singers like The Melodians around, you already have a big edge.