Pioneers

Sydney, George and Jackie. Or brothers Sidney and Derrick Crooks and Jackie Robinson. The original group were Sydney, George and Winston Hewitt. The made some self produced tunes which gained released on Ken Lack’s Caltone label. Although not big hits, they put the name of the group into the minds of reggae fans both in Jamaica and the UK.

There next move took them to producer Joe Gibbs. Gibbs, or Gibbo was just beginning to set up his groups of labels – Joe Gibbs, Amalgamated and Pressure Beat.  He was well enough organised at the time to be able to set a distribution deal with Trojan in the UK, who gave him his own label Amalgamated. Later Pressure Beat. His productions were also found on Blue Cat and of course – Trojan. 

Although Gibbo never had any Pop Chart success with the Pioneers. He did have massive pop charts success with Nicky Thomas. And of course later in the seventies even more success with Dennis Brown.  

However it’s the Pioneers music with Gibbo, that is of interest here, and there is a lot of it nearly 40 tunes. Recorded mainly in 1968.

Recently Cherry Red records in the UK as release a massive set featuring 25 tracks from the Pioneers and 29 tracks from a variety of other artists  produced by Gibbo during the same time. It’s a great set. And it’s called -

The Pioneers – Greetings From The Pioneers – Doctor Bird -2021

Me Naw Go A Believe – Joe Gibbs - 1968

A great example the ‘68 reggae style. You get a little crash of the drums, and it’s then into a fairly uptempo high energy rhythm tracks, with a well forward bassline. The drumming on this is incredible. So unlike anything else. It’s got touches of Lloyd Adams ‘Tin Legs’ but it’s probably Hugh Malcolm. In typical Pioneers lyrics style, you have to really listen to find out the jist of the tune. “Keep on trying, but me naw go Belle Vue’. Makes sense to me.

You’ll Never Get Away – Joe Gibbs - 

The Same kind of style, the same kind of drum roll at the beginning. And probably done at the same time. Old Gibbo gets a good sound, not sure what Studio he was using then. I know he working on his studio even then, but it wasn’t operational.  This guitar work on this must be Hux Brown. When you start hearing all those little bubbles or picks on his guitar – there are few people on Earth who can do with the same style and fashion as Hux.  The song is more traditional from the Pioneers. In that you can understand the lyrics, and it’s another good one.

 Shake It Up – Joe Gibbs - 1968

It might  be 1968 on the Calender on the wall, but at Joe Gibbs, it’s a trip back to 1966, and the era of Rock Steady. Like Sonia Pottinger and a few others producers, the Rock Steady sounds, must have still been selling. To be honest, this tune don’t even really sound like The Pioneers. Lyrically it’s a bit too basic for them as well. The group were into the kind of complex lyrics that Desmond Dekker liked to sing. It wasn’t music made for one or two spins!!!

No Dope Me Pony – 1968

This is more like it. The Pioneers were great fans of horse racing, every aspect of the the old sport was covered. From the treatment of Horses, the Riders, Betting. Everything. Including the Doping. How this is done is beyond the scope of a song, but the Pioneers were aware of the practice. Now is doping is done to make a horse run faster or slower is not mentioned here. However the rhythm is lively enough on this. Full of that Reggae energy. 

Whip Them – 1968

Thankfully not another song about Horses. This one is really a ‘Life Song’. A general comment of life. It uses the ‘Same Song’ rhythm, now that is a rhythm that is well known courtesy of The Paragons, U Roy, and Scorpion. Good to hear The Pioneers on it. Even though the song was probably written in response to the Ethiopians ‘The Whip’ The Pioneers also did a cut of the tune for Studio One. And this one seems to have been produced by Sydney Crooks, and given to Gibbo for release.

Things Just Got To Change - 

Can’t find any trace at all. It sounds like it was done at Studio One, but that don’t mean much.

A number of producers from the era, Gibbs, Mudie, Charley Ross. Were all booking the studio.

And once again, it must said. This does not sound like the Pioneers.  Unless they trying a new sound – or something along those lines. Perhaps someone else came into the line up for a few tunes. The joke of it is, is that it’s a really good tune. Good lyrics and rhythm.

Sweet Dreams - 1968

Not many reggae tunes with a Banjo on them, but this one is added to the list. And it could be the same Banjo player found on Lee Perry’s ‘People Funny Boy’. It’s the right year – and if something sells in Jamaica, everyone likes to have a lick! This is the Pioneers, without a doubt. And it’s a cover version of some old fifties tune. Would be nice to know which of the two tunes came first, this or ‘People Funny Boy’. You need someone who understand Matrix numbers to sort that out. 

A great tune.

Tickle Me For Days – 68

A great tune, truly mad lyrics. These kind of tune are the true spirit of reggae from that era, they had a vibes about them that is hard to explain. Y ou only had to listen to them, to know that all concerned are having a great time. It was music made from the heart. It might sound a bit to rough and ready for some people – but I really don’t know what these kind of people are doing listening to reggae music in the first place. 

Jackpot - 68

Another one, with the energy levels so high, it could have brought light and power to all of Kingston Town!!! Listen out for the drum on metal drums rolls. Makes me wonder if Tin Legs sneaked into the studio to have a go on the drums on this one. The piano also plays a big part of this tune – it holds the place usually given to the organ. Perhaps they had a problem with the organ that day – and said don’t trouble it, play the part on the piano. Anyway it works and it works in fine style.

Give Me A Little Loving - 68 

Not as off the wall, as the other two latter tunes reviewed for Gibbo – but to call the subdued would be misinformation. They are just a little bit more traditional. The Pioneer seem to work best with strange subjects. Love songs or Life songs are not what they are about. There are so many groups working that angle anyway. The Heptones, The Melodians, The Gaylads, to name just a few. 

Long Shot (bonus track) - 68

Back to the Horse Racing – and straight away the wild vibes return. It’s the same kind of rhythm as well. It’s like old Gibbo loved this style so much, he just kept recutting it. If Perry got there first with this kind of rhythm, old Gibbo kept it going in fine style. And if he cut the Pioneers on this style of rhythm, time and time again, you can place a bet on it (The Pioneers, will give you very good odds) that there are other examples from other artists.

Give It To Me (bonus track) - 68

Back to the Rock Steady style for this one.  And it this one features Lynn Taitt and the Jets on the backing track. It would be nice to know how many tracks Lynn Taitt did for Gibbo. There is a lot of Rock Steady on the Joe Gibbs group of labels. I know there is a Rock Steady compilation from him available – or was available. In relation to the Pioneers and this track – it’s classic Rock Steady. Although they started in that era, you can see why they more popular in the Reggae era. Nothing ever happens before it’s time.

Rudies Are The Greatest

A Rock Steady tune, done in the traditional style. The bassline on it – seems to be built around ‘The Last Train To Skaville’ It’s basically a cover of a reggae hit. Old Gibbo enjoyed doing this kind of thing. Take a listen to the Inspirations album released by Trojan.  It’s full of covers – Reggae Covers. Lyrically it’s a bounce off of all the Rudies inspired tunes released by everyone at the time. Be they pro Rudie or against!!!

Dip & Fall Back

More of a slow reggae – with Steel Pans nicing up the tune. Why Steel Pans never became popular in reggae music is a total mystery, it’s the kind of sound that fills the top end of the musical range very well. And it adds tension to the tune. They are played here in a Nyahbinghi style which is very unusual. The Pioneers work there way through the lyrics that have been used over and over again. Justin Hinds and the Dominoes being one example.

Some Having A Bawl

Not even sure how to describe this one. Yes it’s Rock Steady – but they are doing something different. Listen to the way the drum drops on the tune. You don’t often hear that kind of timing in reggae tunes. And that rhythm guitar is playing a very strange lick. Like Reggae, Rock Steady comes in all styles – and this one is not traditional. The song and singing from the Pioneers is good as well. Social commentary.

Pan Ya Machete

Well, old Gibbo as been called many things over they years. But I never really thought of him a innovator when producing comes. He left that to people like Bunny Lee and Lee Perry, or Buster.

Those three were always looking to change the Beat. Yet here we have another Rock Steady with Barking dogs and more importantly a lone violinist. Like the Steel Pan, the violin was not and is not a popular instrument in reggae music. But used in moderation it can make a big impact.

Miss Eve

These kind of tune made the Pioneers great – packed with the high energy levels of 1968. With great drum rolls and a solid rhythm built around some great organ riffs. Released in the UK on Blue Cat, I bet this sold well back then. You see everything as got it’s time and place. And reggae then was always about looking forward. Old styles had little or no interest to the average reggae fan.  They were for the collectors. People bought them occasionally when they became available. All things suffer when the people who love the past too much, take over the future.

Run Come Walla Walla (bonus track)

You only have to check the title to know that this is another one of the truly mad Pioneers tunes. With a rhythm as wild as the lyrics. It’s that spirit of reggae again. It’s not really about the message – it’s about how you deliver the message. Back in the early eighties Jamaica rediscovered that spirit again with the ‘Dancehall Style’. Many of those early dancehall tunes had a message, but it was packaged to give the impression it was something else.

Reggae Beat (bonus track)

For me these kind of tunes are a step too far. As soon as people start singing about the much love reggae music, you know they very little to say. Very very rarely as this kind of tune worked in the whole of the much. The Wailers ‘Trenchtown Rock’ works very well, and eventually that became one of The Pioneers biggest hits ‘Hit Me With Music’ produced by the Pioneers in 1973. If you like songs about reggae music, this one is for you.

Alli Button (bonus track)

Wow this is something really special. The story of Ali Button (the man who works for nothing) is a popular one in Jamaica music. Usually he just gets a namecheck, but this time the man gets a whole song about him It’s sung in the style that made the group famous. There is no translation software out there that could work this one out!! But it’s a great tune, and it’s all set over a Joe Gibbs cut of ‘Long Shot Kick The Bucket’ riddim. Or did Joe get there first!!!

The Who Cap Fit (bonus track)

Do you like the scrubbing rhythm guitar? Well here it is, and in 1969. This must be the Hippy Boys playing on the rhythm track. Gibbo like all the producers liked to work with as many people as possible on rhythms. Sometimes, it was due to never ending search to find something new. Other times, it was probably down to get some new music created – without paying out too much money. Whatever the reason – it worked very on this track.

Don't You Know (bonus track)

This time the organ takes the lead. And what a sound it creates!! The organ reggae shuffle is something so dramatic, it defines very easily what reggae music is. And once in place, it makes everything else fit. In truth it’s more of a jab, than a shuffle, but you really have to concentrate when you play it. Like painting, you need a steady hand!!! This one, the Pop A Top and the ‘Creep Organ’ are some of the great reggae riffs around.

Catch The Beat (bonus track)

To Catch the Beat in Jamaica meant that – if someone thought they had something special, they had to think again. ‘Catching the Beat’ and ‘Changing The Beat’ are like two sides of the same coin.  This is one of the Pioneers biggest tunes for Gibbo.  The bassline is truly something else, so simple but deadly. Can’t think of any versions of it at the moment, but a rhythm like this would bound to attract versions, it’s something else.

After spending a couple of years with Joe Gibbs, where they had some really big hits, and made many many great tunes. The Pioneers moved over to Beverley’s and Leslie Kong. It made so much sense. Beverley’s had proved that you could raw roots reggae records and get them into the Pop Charts – worldwide. There was no need to do covers or soft tunes. 

Pioneers – Longshot/Battle Of The Giants – Doctor Bird

LONG SHOT
1. LONG SHOT KICK DE BUCKET - 1969

The big hit, a massive hit – a Pop hit. From the horn line straight from the Racetrack, to that incredible bassline from Jackie Jackson, who just know that this was going to to be a hit. The Pioneers come in with  “What a  weeping and the wailing down at Caymannes Park. “ Racetrack business again!!! It would be interesting to find out how many reggae tunes have produced on the sport of kings. It’s probably a three way split between horse racing, cards, and dice!!! I think this tune went into the Top Ten, and is still much loved today.

2. CARANAPO

And if the Pioneers were not singing about Horse Racing, they are singing about people and there actions. And for good measure they throw in these rhyming couplets. Which is almost a Pioneers 

trademark. “Hey hey hey, heh ah, at ah ah” The rhythm on this is also really fast, more like a 68 style than a 69 rhythm. And it’s even got horns, which for the most part the Beverley’s label kept away from. It’s a truly great tune. The true spirit of the reggae music era.

3. BLACK BUD

Listen to this one!!! It’s bordering on a Skank!!! The bassline is way out front, and everything else falls in line after it.  Hux Brown gets so much room to play his picking guitar. The tension on this tune is amazing. The Pioneers come in with there wilder than wilder vocals, which leaves the listener once again reaching for his universal translator – if they are still selling them on Ebay!!!

To top it all, you even gets some great horn work, it sounds like a trombone. The whole things moves along – an old jalopy – it sounds like it’s going to fall apart any moment, but it doesn’t. Rhythm like this are built to last. Magnificent!!!

4. LONG UP YOUR MOUTH

Producer Harry Mudie had a massive hit with ‘Let Me Tell You Boy’ from the Ebony Sisters. I Roy did a great cut for Harry, and over the years it became more popular. It was a very popular rhythm in the dancehall, with many many cuts. But who would have ever guessed that the Beverley’s were the first to recut it outside of Harry Mudie. If you are a fan of mysteries – reggae music is full of them. The Beverley’s label is rammed with great rhythm, but they couldn’t resist have a lick on this one. And who can blame them!!!

5. BRING HIM COME

Back into the Skank style, I say style because once again it’s moving in that direction, without actually being a Skank. These kind of tunes lead to the Skank rhythms. It’s got a nice scrubbing guitar in the mix, which is very important to Skank. But you need a creep organ to really make it work. Lyrically and vocally it’s one of the Pioneers mix up songs. All you really need to know is that’s the song is very important to them.

6. MOTHER RITTY - 1969

Released here in the UK on Trojan as a single. It shows the massive impact that ‘Long Shot’ had. This as got the same kind of vibes, a little bit slower than ‘Long Shot’ but still a great rhythm. It’s got a little guitar lick all the way through it, which shows the link back to Mento. It’s not the usual one made famous by Reggie Lewis and Rad Bryan. This is more of the sort of thing that Lyn Taitt would play, and it’s very possible that he did play it, but its more likely to be Hux Brown.

7. POOR RAMESES - 1969

Not a song about the legendary ruler of Egypt back in the day. This one was another big hit and is all about a Horse!!! You want to think about Horses – the Pioneers are the group for you. In today’s world, they probably would have been sponsored by Ladbrokes!!! The rhythm is another masterpiece built totally around the bassline of Jackie Jackson. And just like ‘Long Shot’ its also got another Horn introduction straight from the Race Track. They do have some good horn lines in those places!!!

8. SAMFIE MAN - 1969

The Pioneers were not all about singing lyrics that were lets us say a challenge. This one for instance one of there truly great songs, “You take a man’s money out of false pretence, now you acting kind of funny, trying to build a defence” All of this is set over one of the most unusual reggae rhythms ever made. With a constant ‘Jab’ organ played throughout the entire tune. It’s a great style, but I can’t recall it ever being used again. The only time it stops – is when it goes into a shuffle, and then it comes back again. The rhythm is also fairly slow. A very unusual tune.

9. BELLY GUT

Only available on album, ‘Belly Gut’ is fast. And shows clearly the origins of the Reggae rhythm – ‘Mento’  After being left out of ‘Shuffle Beat’, ‘Ska’ and ‘Rock Steady’. The Mento rhythm came back to the fore What is of course added to it, are reggae basslines, organ shuffles and drums.  The song is so typical of The Pioneers, yes there is a message in the song. It’s just trying work out what it is!!!

10. LUCKY SIDE

And so it goes on. I thought this might be another tune about Horse Racing, but I don’t think it is.

There is a reference to a Keyhole. This is a tale of the country set to a fast reggae rhythm. And that is what these kind of tunes are all about. Fitting the lyrics to the Rhythm. Although its doubtful if the rhythm was built first. It’s just having a song that can fit into the a fast rhythm. By 1969 the rhythm tempo had gone back down to a natural speed.

11. TROUBLE DEY A BUSH

More or less a Skank tune. The bass starts and then stops, where normally it would carry on. The rhythm guitar is also scrubbing which adds to the tension. What makes this tune really great are these little harmony couplets that the Pioneers love so much. Other groups use them, but no group use them as well and as often as The Pioneers. There is also a little organ melody running through the tune that is a link back to ‘Long Shot’  a great tune.

12. BOSS FESTIVAL

This one sounds like it’s all about The Festival Song competition that is held in Jamaica once a year.  The Maytals won it a good few times, and so did Desmond Dekker and the Aces. Not sure if the Pioneers ever did, but it matters not. During this time in reggae music history they deserved to win it. Very few reggae groups ever made it into the Pop charts – but the Pioneers did. And they did it more than once. That sort of success cannot be easily dismissed.

BATTLE OF THE GIANTS

The second album for Beverley’s And another indicator of how popular the Pioneers were. A few artists got at least two albums for the label. Desmond Dekker, The Maytals and Jimmy Cliff and The Pioneers. And it’s another good one. The Beverley’s label did not release many albums. None of the Jamaican labels did. It was a big investment back then. Having an album release put the artist or the group on the same level as American or UK based pop acts. But the reality was simple. 

All the above mentioned acts, had become Pop acts!!! It was one of the reasons reggae music started to get such a fight.  Reggae music was re-writing the music industry rulebook. And the powers that be, didn’t like it.

13. MONEY DAY

This was the future sound of Beverley’s.  Skank. Listen to the way Jackie Jackson plays the bass.  By playing just a few notes at a time, the tension he creates is incredible. The scrubbing guitar is also well forward in the mix. I can’t hear any kind of Organ on this tune, never mind a Creep organ. It is an organ free tune. The Pioneers respond with a great ‘Reality’ tune. “Everyday should be like a Sunday, Yet everyday is like a ‘Blue Monday’ I can hear Fats Domino nodding in agreement. Gwan Pioneers, Gwan!

14. CONSIDER ME

Well, when it comes to Soul, I knew the Pioneers were interested. They actually turned into a Soul Band for a while, but this is the real thing. This could have been made in America. That’s how good it is. Usually Jamaica soul tunes – seem to lack something. Thankfully this lack nothing. For the most part – it’s not even sung. It’s just spoken. It’s also got fantastic harmonies from a group of female singers. Who sound well on the ball. A great tune.

15. DRIVEN BACK

It must be remembered that all these tune from the Pioneers for Leslie Kong were done over three years from 69-71. And together they form a great history of those years – even going back to 1968.

You had the fast style, the slower style of reggae. Roots Reggae and ‘Skank’ which although is roots is not the same kind of rhythm. This is  great example of the 69 style, and it was released in 1969. The song is a life song, it might have started out a love song, but it’s a life song.

16. GORGEOUS AND MARVELLOUS

Back into the Roots style for this one. A song written by The Pioneers, yet it don’t really sound like them.  This really sounds like they took a liking to a popular song of the time, and tried to do a version of it. It is really more of a sing a long than anything else. But very few if any sing a long tunes get a rhythm like that to sing a long with. It gained release in the UK on ‘Summit’ Trojan’s Beverley’s label, yet it was never released in Jamaica on single.

17. NOW YOU ARE GONE

Another great tune from The Pioneers. A love song. With some nice melodies – and a super melodic bassline. For some reason this tune puts me in mind of The Melodians. Perhaps they had been in the Studio around the same time as the Pioneers, and the vibes had rubbed off on them. It could be just the subject matter. The Melodians loved a love tune, and this wasn’t the case with The Pioneers. But this one shows – they can handle the subject in great style.

18. BATTLE OF THE GIANTS

The title track of the second album for Beverley’s. Normally when you see a title like this from the Pioneers, you start thinking ‘Horse Racing’ – but on this one, I’m really not sure. The song is packed out with proverbs. “Show me your life, that’s how you life, what you have that is what you must give.” And all of it is set to rhythm – that sounds like it’s a bounce off of ‘Isrealites’ from Desmond Dekker. Not the same rhythm, but very close.

19. SLIP AWAY

Back into the soul style for this one, but this time it’s got a great rhythm behind it. Most of the Pioneers material, is in that country style – yet this is the second tune that is full of soul. And like I said before eventually the group turned into a band, a soul band. If you want to see them perform try and find the Old Grey Whistle Test – Edinburgh Festival show from 1973 online. You will also end up watching Dennis Alcapone in fine style, and the magnificent Nicky Thomas.

20. CHERIE CHERIE

A love song, but sung in the more traditional way by group. And deemed good enough to be released as a single in Jamaica on Beverley’s. A very nice relaxed rhythm as well coming from the All Star Band, it sounds like it was done about 1969. ‘Cherry’ is a popular title in Jamaica music. With the biggest hit coming from Eric Donaldson, but this is an original, written by Sydney, George and Jackie. And shows they could handle this kind of song very well.

21. SIMMER DOWN QUASHIE

A massive hit in the UK, it didn’t go into the Pop Charts – but it should have done. This tune as got everything – those mad up lyrics the Pioneers love so much – loads of little vocal hooks. “Hey, Hey, Hey Hey, Oh Hey” And of course a magnificent rhythm from the All Star band. Like ‘Long Shot’ there is something about it that defines the era, not just the Pioneers, the whole era. It was when reggae made it big on its own terms. These records defied popular music concepts. They were not novelty tunes. They were and still are great music.

30. EASY COME, EASY GO (REGGAE VERSION)

It looks like this was the very first tune that the group made for Beverley’s – and it also seems they cut it in a Rock Steady and Reggae’s style. This is the Reggae style, the 68 style. And it’s got everything you would expect, crashing drums, a bouncing bass – and little organ fills that light up the tune.  A great song as well from the group, using a very popular phrase from Jamaica. That many have sung over the years. Tito Simon comes to mind. The Pioneers really do it justice as well.