THE SUPERSONICS Vinilo y CD

Review: For those truly in the know, rocksteady didn't begin with the legendary producer Coxsone Dodd. If you need any evidence then check out this tidy 7" which presses up a couple of tunes from before his era really began. Originally released in the mid-sixties on Caltone, it is an early jam from The Heptones who were already showing their class by this point. 'Ain't That Bad' is a bright cut with some captivating vocal harmonies as well as majestic horn leads and grooves that recall early ska. On the flipside that comes more to life with Tommy McCook's storming 'Ska Jam'.

Review: Jamaican rocksteady vocal group The Jamaicans linked with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics back in 1967 for this piece of rocksteady gold. The a-side of this reissue comes with the original Treasure Isle-version of the 1967 festival song. It's heavy, love struck, earthy and organic. The super B-side is a remixed version of the A-sides's backing track, but with the addition of some overdubbed percussion and syndrum parts as well as a sweet but uncredited toasting and DJ appearance by Jah Thomas. Both sound as hot and crucial now as they did all those many years ago.