Two more nuggets from the Trojan vaults get the Doctor Bird reissue treatment this Friday! Find out more about Derrick Harriott & The Crystalites: The Undertaker’, and ‘Soul Power ’68‘:
Derrick Harriott & The Crystalites: The Undertaker
After being released in the UK by Trojan Records in 1970, ‘The Undertaker’ became an instant best seller among the country’s growing number of reggae fans. The collection, comprising a dozen topically-themed instrumentals, showcased the musical skills of crack Kingston session crew, the Dynamites (recording under the assumed name of the The Crystalites) and the production talents of one of Jamaica’s most accomplished music makers: performer-turned-record producer, Derrick Harriott.
Now, over 50 years since its release, this classic album is finally made available once more, with its 12 tracks bolstered by a further 14 instrumental sides from the period, along with the cream of Derrick Harriott’s vocal productions from 1969 and 1970.
Most of the recordings have been unavailable for years, while a further nine tracks are completely new to CD!
Soul Power ’68, Various Artists
With Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle catalogue having been mercilessly plundered over the past few decades, you would be forgiven for thinking that precious little of the legendary producer’s work currently remains unavailable. This sensational collection of long-lost rock steady, proto reggae and soul tracks from 1968 demonstrates otherwise.
The first dozen tracks are lifted directly from a recently discovered Trojan Records tape of a previously unissued compilation album, “Soul Power”, while the remainder of the material is in a similar vein, culminating in a fascinating and hugely entertaining 42 track collection of hits, rarities and previously unissued tracks.
A sensational stand-alone compilation, while also perfectly complementing currently available Treasure Isle collections released by both Doctor Bird and Trojan, “Soul Power ’68” demonstrates that with a bit of digging, precious gems can still be found!