PRODUCT

Links & Friends Various Artists [ LP : Links & Friends – More Rock Steady ]

SKU

WLP146

ARTIST

Links & Friends Various Artists

TITLE

Links & Friends - More Rock Steady

LABEL

Rock A Shacka

CATALOG

RSLP-003

FORMAT

LP

CONDITION

Record New / Cover New

ADDED ON

July 2022

GENRE

REGGAE / DUB / SKA

INFO

Links was an artists’ cooperative, formed in 1968 by The Gaylads, Ken Boothe, The Melodians, and Delroy Wilson, fed up with getting ripped off by Studio One and co. They did everything themselves — hiring Dynamic / Wirl studios, printing up labels, organising the pressings, and distributing in person to Kingston record shops — in the teeth of peeved obstructiveness from other labels, producers, and radio stations. Many of their 45s were blanks, hand-stamped with BB Seaton’s home address: ‘Links Records, 39 Wildman Street, Phone 24954’. The backing band was probably Lynn Taitt & The Jets to start, giving way to the Conscious Minds (with Joe White and Ken Boothe on keys), whose instrumental Something New is one of the highlights here, featuring killer guitar and trombone by Harris Seaton and Derrick Hinds. Links was short-lived; ironically unable to cope with the success of a Melodians’ hit entitled It Comes & Goes. It’s a fascinating story, and this is top-notch rock steady; the first compilation of the dozen or so Links releases. Scorchers by Conscious Minds, The Melodians, Randall Thaxter, and Ken Boothe — doing his best Otis Redding — steal the show. -------------------------------- We are very proud to announce the first compilation of JDI material , a rare label treasured by collectors from all four corners of the world. The label ran for almost 3 years between 1965 to 1967 during the hot Ska and Rock Steady period. JDI productions had a unique hi-fashion style, different from the likes of Studio One and Prince Buster productions. The two JDI bands - The Diamonds and Los Caballeros were housed residents at the Johnson’s Drive Inn premises owned by the man himself Mr Copley Johnson with tip top singers like Lloyd Williams and Roy Panton on vocal duties. When you listen to the JDI releases , you can actually feel the vibes of the JDI night club at that present time ! The JDI band members included a young Karl “cannonball” Bryan, Sammy Ismay, Freddie Butler (brother of well know keyboardist Leslie Butler) and Lloyd Delpratt. Mr Brian Keyo provides great liner notes once again! We hope you enjoy our new release.