Prince Buster

Prince Buster - Time Longer Than Rope - Prince Buster - Prince Buster VOP - Blue Beat - 1962

Buster pulled out all the stops on this tune - a great song - one of everyday stories that sound good no matter how many times you hear them. The real interest in this tune - is the way the rhythm is constructed - you have hand clapping, horns and a rhythm guitar all playing that Ska riff!!! And the bass is playing short notes - nothing walking around on this tune. If you listen carefully even the Harmonica gets a piece of the action!

Prince Buster All Stars - Buster's Shack - Prince Buster - Wirl - Starlite - 1961

Take your pick with this one, its got a nyahbingi drum tapping out the rhythm, its got a rhythm guitar - playing on the upbeat - and even a piano playing out the beat. Instrumental music at its very best. Prince Buster knew that he could change the Beat at anytime - but he held back. Perhaps he knew that Jamaica needed to ge the Shuffle Beat rhythm out of its system - before they was ready for something new! Makes a lot of sense to me!