The 12″ Reggae ‘discomix’ was an invention of the mid 70s. Until then dubs or versions had been released (largely) as the B-sides of 7″ singles. Then someone noticed that Disco tracks were being released in the USA and UK on a 12″ vinyl format, creating a louder sound and potentually longer track lengths. Suddenly there was room for the original and a dub/version on the same side. And it didn’t take long to work out that the two could be combined to form a joined-up, continuous ’discomix’. Which effectively offered the best of both worlds - vocalised song and dance work-out - without the bother of having to flip the disc.
“Shockers Rock” is one of these remarkable extended 12″s - in this case from 1978 when the discomix phenomenon was in full swing and the 12″ single format was sweeping all before it in genres well beyond Reggae and Disco. But that’s really where its similarity with other discomixes of the day ends. Because “Shockers Rock” is actually three or so minutes of a track called “Cleopatra” by The Skatalites, from 1964, onto which an extended dub section, newly recorded in 1978, has been grafted.
And when I say grafted what I really mean is attached-with-the-aid-of-some-very-heavy-duty-6″-nuts-and-bolts. Wonderful track but subtle editing it ain’t.
A thing of madness and ugly, addictive beauty, it demonstrates perfectly how timeless some tracks really are: showcasing how a Ska track recorded in 1964 could still sound completely contemporary and vital in 1978 (and in 2011) – with just a bit of studio jiggery-pokery.
Original track recorded 1964 by The Skatalites. Extended mix recorded 1978 by Richard Ace (organ), Pablove Black (clavinet), Bagga Walker (bass) and Horsemouth Wallace (drums) and made to be played loud – like all 12″ discomixes.
I am indebted to the very knowledgeable Voice-Of-Reason for information regarding the chronology of this track and the personnel involved in the extended mix recording.
The remix was released in 1978 on a 12″ vinyl and has long been out of print. The track can however be found on the CD compilation, ‘Studio One Scorcher, Instrumentals’: Amazon
What an absolutely crazy track! The first transition is like getting an electric shock (especially when listening loud through headphones!) Two great pieces of ska though.
Thanks for the comments. The original track was powered by Lloyd Knibbs, and features solos by Tommy McCook and trumpeter Johnny “Dizzy” Moore playing with a mute. Curiously, when issued on the black Coxsone label it was credited to Don Drummond, although there’s no trombone on the record and he was in the nick when this was recorded. The jump edit unfortunately means you miss a nice guitar lick by Ernest Ranglin before the Disco Heights track kicks in.
As far as I recall, there were very few ska tunes given the full discomix treatment; Willie Williams’ cut of Don Drummond’s “Addis-a-Baba”, and his “Turn On the Power”, which versioned “Fidel Castro” are the only two that come to mind.
The era of Discomixes was also the era of wholesale versioning of older tunes. In 1977 Channel One tried two forms of extended mix simultaneously, putting out remakes of Alton Ellis’ “I’m Still in Love” and the Heptones “Love Me Girl” on a 33 1/3 rpm Economic Package 7″, each side featuring a toast by I.Roy (who was the horns arranger at the studio). This was not a success as the sound quality was poor.
On the other hand, the 12″ 45 rpm single by the Jayes covering Marcia Grifiths’ “Truly” with Ranking Trevor, and the Voiceroys’ “Ya Ho” with extended dub was a huge success, and soon every studio was releasing 12″ singles. Eight or nine years later they just went out of fashion overnight, and all Jamaican 45 rpm vinyl has since been released on 7″.
There was in fact one other 33 1/3 rpm Channel One Economic Package 7″ – “Pride and Ambition”/”Badness Don’t Pay” by Leroy Smart. Both tracks were self-penned, although “Pride” had been cut for Gussie Clartke in 1972-3, and “Badness” was co-written by Triston Palmer
Funny you should mention The Jayes/Ranking Trevor’s ‘Truly’ because that track and their other great 12″, ‘Queen Majesty’, will be featured on ABON sometime soon. NMJ
Have to say I thought “Queen Majesty” was one of their weakest tracks, although the scene where it’s used in “Rockers” is great. The other side, Marcia Griffiths’ “Melody Life” is superb though.
You might be right on the Jaye’s part of the song versus their part on’Truly’, but Ranking Trevor’s toast on ‘Queen Majesty’ is sublime. Anyway I’m getting ahead of myself. ABON
The truth about Ranking Trevor’s performances at Channel One only emerged in 2005, so that is an issue for another day, as it appears that you may be unaware of the later evidence.