Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Tag: Lyn Taitt

"Put Down Your Fire"
Zeroto180

Kingstonians’ $800 Rocksteady

Heavy 1968 rocksteady from the studio of Karl ‘Sir JJ‘ Johnson, with Lyn Taitt, possibly, on guitar.  But the real mystery lies with the vocalists themselves, The Kingstonians, specifically the basso profundo: Q:  Are the tapes being slowed down, or does the bass vocalist really sing that deep? “Put Down

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"Girl You Ruff"
Zeroto180

Rocksteady Reggae — Cowbell’s Golden Era

Will Ferrell’s inspired sketch idea as a cowbell-wielding member of Blue Oyster Cult named Gene Frenkle may have lost some of its freshness, however Ferrell deserves credit for galvanizing interest in this long-neglected member of the percussion family.   Five years after that Saturday Night Live sketch originally aired, Paul Farhi

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"Rain"
Zeroto180

Rocksteady “Rain”

One other noteworthy Beatle-related moment from 1967 — Jamaican rocksteady 45-only version of Fab Four release “Rain” that almost certainly features the musical backing of Lyn Taitt and his fabulous Jets: “Rain Rock Steady“ Tomorrow’s Children (1967) Says Copasetic Mail Order about this 1967 debut release from Tomorrow’s Children: “Tomorrow’s

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"Ital Vibes"
Zeroto180

“Ital Vibes”: Vibraphonic Reggae

Reggae is another realm of popular music where the vibraphone so rarely makes a foray.  As a result, Jamaican vibraphonist, Lennie Hibbert, pretty much has the field all to himself, as the intersection of reggae and the vibes essentially begins and ends with this one soul. Hibbert’s theme song –

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"Mother Benge"
Zeroto180

“Mother Benge”: Rocksteady Shakes Hands with Reggae

Very little seems to be known about this great single from the late rocksteady/early reggae era other than the artist name (Cliff & the Diamonds), the producer (Joe Abrahams), and song title (“Mother Benge“) – check out the hip musical non-sequitur that opens the song: “Mother Benge“ Cliff & the

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"Little Nut Tree"
Zeroto180

“Little Nut Tree”: Rocksteady Revamped as Reggae

IThe Melodians recorded two versions of the same song – “Little Nut Tree.” The first version — recorded with underappreciated and pioneering producer, Sonia Pottinger, after the group had enjoyed a succession of hits on Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle label — is definitely on the rocksteady side of the reggae

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"Walk On By"
Zeroto180

’20 Solid Gold Hits’: 19 Studio Tracks + 1 Live One

I was about to write that the Crystal Corporation (based out of “Nashville-New York”) was a Ronco/K-Tel predecessor who put out a fairly decent repackaging of hits in 1969 entitled, 20 Solid Gold Hits: Other offerings from Crystal But then I noticed that the Peter Max-inspired album design was done

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