Some youtube recommendations

Legend has it, during the exceptionally hot summer of 1966, patrons of Jamaican dancehall's had a hard time keeping up with the hectic pace of ska,so producers began slowing down the tempo to produce rocksteady. Bobby Aitken is often credited as recording the first rocksteady disc, which was also notable in it's use of electric bass as opposed to the stand up acoustic bass predominate in ska. More on that later. Let's get to the music!

Producer Duke Reid, owner of Treasure Isle Studios, was undisputed champion of the rocksteady era. Groups like the Melodians, The Techniques, The Silvertones and Paragons recorded there:

Paragons
"Tide Is High"

Many songs of the rocksteady era became huge hits for other artists not only in reggae/dancehall but also in rock, as this girl did:

It was one of these remakes, by reggae crooner Freddie McGregor,that made me aware of this excellent song, originally cut by Duke Reid's main rival, Coxone Dodd at Studio One:

The innocently named The Gaylads,featured Delano Stewart and BB Seaton, who at the time served as talent director for StudioOne. Beside Aitken , Dodd and Reid, there were a number of other fine producers during the rocksteady era, notably Sonia Potinger, who ran
the similarly innocent named Gayfeet label.

The Heptones, featuring BB Seaton's soon to be replacement as Studio One's talent director and bass player, Leroy Sibbles, cut a ton of rocksteady scorchers which the group would often rework through the years, adapting them to the dominant music styles at the time (like rockers, steppers, digikal, etc)

One of the era's greatest singers was Ken Boothe,who cut some deeply soulful tunes for Studio One

including one of my personal all time favs

A strong rival of both Coxsone and Duke Reid was the Mighty Prince Buster. Best known for his ska platters, he also cut some sublime rocksteady discs. Here he pays tribute to friends who passed too young, such as the infamous Busby, who was the subject of many rude boy anthems.

on "Shaking Up Orange Street", like on many tunes of the era, he challenges his competitors over a riddim fans of Sugar Minott will instantly recognize

Which became a much bigger riddim when Alton Ellis touched it

Speaking of Alton, who is known as The Godfather of rocksteady , here is an insightful interview with noted reggae historian Roger Steffens discussing ,among other important things, the aforementioned Busby

Don't touch that dial,many more musical treats for your dancing fett soon come !

nice one

Cheers David ,a wonderful era in Jamaican music.
I just wish i had more orig 7's but they're so expensive nowadays.
There was a flurry of rock steady sales at ebay around 5 years ago ,stuff going for silly money and people buying them.

Another singer / producer in the Prince Buster mold was ( yet again one of my fav's )
Mr. Derrick Harriott.

Some younger readers might recognize this song retitled " I was Born a Winner " on later reworkings

His best known hit:

Youtube is such a surprising place: here's Harriott singing one of my all time favorite tunes live ! ( I don't have a clue where this is from-any info will be much appreciated )

As a producer, he cut some all time classics such as:

and of course Keith and Tex's " Stop That Train ".

But just who is that guitarist providing all those wicked riffs ?