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Language available : english
"Versions galore, you can hear them by the score, I could give you some more for sure," U-Roy shouts out on the title track of Version Galore, and indeed he could and did, recording scores and scores of versions of classic Jamaican hits. This album gathers up a dozen of some of his earliest, all cut for Duke Reid at Treasure Isle studio between 1969 and 1970. Included is one of his chartbusters, a version of the Paragons' "Wear You to the Ball." Paragon vocalist John Holt was responsible for bringing the DJ to Treasure Isle, and U-Roy repaid the singer by versioning a clutch of classic Paragons' songs, five of which appear here. The DJ was obviously a fan, and chatted along to the songs as one would to an old friend, most noticeably on "The Tide Is High" (Blondie would later have a hit with a cover of the original) and "Happy Go Lucky Girl." There again, on "Flashing My Whip," a version of the group's "Only a Smile," U-Roy demands that the trio put a smile on their face, a bit difficult considering the song's intrinsic heartbreak. The DJ's ease with these golden oldies allowed him to adeptly sing along, call out for the vocalists to sing on cue, wander off in other lyrical directions, and still find the perfect spot for his catch phrases. But this talent didn't end with the Paragons and rocksteady, "True Confessions," for example, was a ska-fired, doo wop-inspired hit for the Silvertones, and U-Roy motors away on this with equal ease. Interestingly enough, though, it's evident that without the vocals as a lyrical launch pad, the DJ is rather at a loss. Thus the two instrumentals here are actually the weakest tracks. But it was early days, and U-Roy's verbal gymnastics would fill in the gaps soon enough.
© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo
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Tommy McCook, Performance, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Ewart Beckford, Composer - U Roy, MainArtist - Arthur Reid, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Ewart Beckford, Composer - U Roy, MainArtist - The Melodians, MainArtist - Arthur Reid, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Ewart Beckford, Composer - U Roy, MainArtist - Arthur Reid, Composer - The Silvertones, Performance, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Paragons, Performance, MainArtist - Ewart Beckford, Composer - U Roy, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Ewart Beckford, Composer - The Jamaicans, Performance, MainArtist - U Roy, MainArtist - Arthur Reid, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Paragons, Performance, MainArtist - John Holt, Composer - U Roy, MainArtist - Howard Barrett, Composer - Tyrone Evans, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Paragons, Performance, MainArtist - John Holt, Composer - U Roy, MainArtist - Howard Barrett, Composer - Tyrone Evans, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
U Roy, MainArtist - The Melodians, Performance, MainArtist - Duke Reid, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer - Euwart Beckford, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Paragons, Performance, MainArtist - U Roy, Composer, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
U Roy, MainArtist - Phyllis Dillon, Composer, Performance, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Tommy McCook, Performance, MainArtist - Ewart Beckford, Composer - U Roy, MainArtist - Arthur Reid, Composer - The Supersonics, Performance, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Tommy McCook, MainArtist - U Roy, Composer, MainArtist - Winston Wright, Composer, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer - the Tommy McCook Quintet, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
U-Roy, Performance, MainArtist - Duke Reid, Producer - Euwart Beckford, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Tommy McCook, Performance, MainArtist - U Roy, Performance, MainArtist - Duke Reid, Composer - The Supersonics, Performance, MainArtist - Euwart Beckford, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Ewart Beckford, Composer - U Roy, Performance, MainArtist - Byron Smith, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Hopeton Lewis, Performance, MainArtist - John Holt, Composer - U Roy, Performance, MainArtist - Hugh Roy, Vocals - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Ken Parker, Composer, Performance, MainArtist - U Roy, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Paragons, Performance, MainArtist - John Holt, Composer - U Roy, MainArtist - Duke Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
U Roy, MainArtist - The Three Tops, Performance, MainArtist - Euwart Beckford, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Hopeton Lewis, Composer, Performance, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Composer - U Roy, Composer, Performance, MainArtist - The Supersonics, Composer - Euwart Beckford, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Tommy McCook, Performance, MainArtist - U Roy, Performance, MainArtist - The Supersonics, Performance, MainArtist - Euwart Beckford, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Tommy McCook, Performance, MainArtist - U Roy, Performance, MainArtist - Wilton Lewis Felder, Composer - The Supersonics, Performance, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Brent Dowe, Composer - U Roy, Performance, MainArtist - The Melodians, Performance, MainArtist - Tony Brevett, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Alton Ellis, Performance, MainArtist - Homer Banks, Composer - Allen Jones, Composer - U Roy, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
U Roy, MainArtist - The Melodians, Performance, MainArtist - Euwart Beckford, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Winston Riley, Composer - The Techniques, Performance, MainArtist - U Roy, Performance, MainArtist - Bruce Ruffin, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Jamaicans, Performance, MainArtist - U Roy, Performance, MainArtist - Euwart Beckford, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Tommy McCook, Performance, MainArtist - U Roy, Performance, MainArtist - The Supersonics, Performance, MainArtist - Euwart Beckford, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
DISC 2
The Paragons, Composer, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Composer - The Supersonics, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Tommy McCook, Composer - The Melodians, MainArtist - Duke Reid, Producer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Silvertones, Performance, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1966 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Paragons, Composer, Performance, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Composer, MainArtist - Sonia Pottinger, Producer - The Supersonics, Composer, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Tommy McCook, Composer - The Jamaicans, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Paragons, MainArtist - John Holt, Composer - Howard Barrett, Composer - Tyrone Evans, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1968 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Paragons, MainArtist - John Holt, Composer - Tommy McCook, Composer - Howard Barrett, Composer - Tyrone Evans, Composer - Lyn Taitt, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1966 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Tommy McCook, Composer - The Melodians, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Paragons, Performance, MainArtist - John Holt, Composer - Howard Barrett, Composer - Tyrone Evans, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Tommy McCook, Composer - Phyllis Dillon, Composer, Performance, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Tennors, Performance, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer - Albert Gene Murphy, Composer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Flames, Composer, Performance - Alton Ellis, Composer, Performance - Alton Ellis & The Flames, Composer, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1966 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Winston Riley, Composer - The Techniques, MainArtist - Bruce Ruffin, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Ethiopians, Performance, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Stranger Cole, MainArtist - Wilburn Cole, Composer - Byron Smith, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Ken Parker, Composer, Performance, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1968 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Paragons, MainArtist - Tommy McCook, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Duke Reid, Composer, Producer - The Three Tops, Performance, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Brent Dowe, Composer - Tommy McCook, Composer - The Melodians, MainArtist - Arthur Reid, Producer - Tony Brevett, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1969 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer - Alton Ellis & The Flames, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
The Melodians, Performance, MainArtist
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1967 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Albumbeschreibung
"Versions galore, you can hear them by the score, I could give you some more for sure," U-Roy shouts out on the title track of Version Galore, and indeed he could and did, recording scores and scores of versions of classic Jamaican hits. This album gathers up a dozen of some of his earliest, all cut for Duke Reid at Treasure Isle studio between 1969 and 1970. Included is one of his chartbusters, a version of the Paragons' "Wear You to the Ball." Paragon vocalist John Holt was responsible for bringing the DJ to Treasure Isle, and U-Roy repaid the singer by versioning a clutch of classic Paragons' songs, five of which appear here. The DJ was obviously a fan, and chatted along to the songs as one would to an old friend, most noticeably on "The Tide Is High" (Blondie would later have a hit with a cover of the original) and "Happy Go Lucky Girl." There again, on "Flashing My Whip," a version of the group's "Only a Smile," U-Roy demands that the trio put a smile on their face, a bit difficult considering the song's intrinsic heartbreak. The DJ's ease with these golden oldies allowed him to adeptly sing along, call out for the vocalists to sing on cue, wander off in other lyrical directions, and still find the perfect spot for his catch phrases. But this talent didn't end with the Paragons and rocksteady, "True Confessions," for example, was a ska-fired, doo wop-inspired hit for the Silvertones, and U-Roy motors away on this with equal ease. Interestingly enough, though, it's evident that without the vocals as a lyrical launch pad, the DJ is rather at a loss. Thus the two instrumentals here are actually the weakest tracks. But it was early days, and U-Roy's verbal gymnastics would fill in the gaps soon enough.
© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 58 track(s)
- Total length: 02:35:04
- Main artists: U-Roy
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Trojan Records
- Genre: Reggae
© 2002 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2002 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
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