• 15 tracks new to CD.
• Collects some of the biggest Jamaican hits of the early-to-mid 70s.
• Includes some of the finest dub and roots of the mid-70s.
Having enjoyed his first major Jamaican hit in 1971 with the ground-breaking single ‘Blood And Fire’, Winston Holness aka Niney ‘The Observer’ set about establishing a reputation as one of the island’s most accomplished and innovative record producers.
Within two years of his breakthrough hit, he had built a strong fan-base both within the land of his birth and in the UK, having issued a series of popular singles featuring himself and a small but impressive roster of local artists that included Big Youth, Max Romeo, Delroy Wilson and U Roy.
‘Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner’ comprises the very best of these works, commencing with Ken Boothe’s hugely popular 1973 Jamaican chart-topping version of ‘Silver Words’. Other highlights include Delroy Wilson’s popular interpretations of ‘Halfway Up The Stairs’ and ‘I Can’t Help Myself’ while there are also numerous early roots classics, most notably the title track, ‘Rasta No Born Ya’, ‘Nice And Easy’, ‘Every Natty Want To Go Home’.
Including 15 tracks that have remained unavailable on any format since their original release in the 70s, this 2CD collection demonstrates why Niney deserves to be ranked among the finest music makers to have first made their mark on the Jamaican music scene during the most creative period in the long and illustrious history of reggae music.
DISC ONE
1 Silver Words – Ken Boothe
2 Rasta No Born Ya – Sang Hugh
3 The Bold One – The Observers *
4 Salt & Pepper – Winston Wright *
5 Hey Little Girl – Hubert Lee
6 No Portion A Gal – Sang Hugh
7 Melancholy Rock – Winston Wright *
8 Have Some Mercy – Delroy Wilson
9 Different Fashion – The Observers *
10 Beardman Shuffle – Ansel Collins
11 Hail I aka Taking A View – Niney
12 Let Your Love Come – Keeling Beckford *
13 Half Way Up The Stairs – Delroy Wilson
14 Children Of The Ghetto – Astley Bennett *
15 Dub From The Ghetto – The Observers *
16 King Rasta – The Meditators
17 Sugar Pie – Delroy Wilson *
18 New Style – Niney & The Observers *
19 Wild Goose Chase – Big Youth & Dennis Brown
20 Inbound Train – Ansel Collins Meets The Observer
21 One Train Load Of Collie – Tommy McCook & The Observers
22 Train From The West – U Roy
23 Daughter Gets Hot – Niney & The Observers *
24 Ride On Ride On – Big Youth & Dennis Brown
25 Pressure Locks – Niney & The Observers
DISC TWO
1 Ital Correction – Niney The Observer
2 Selassie Ship – Niney The Observer
3 Babylonian – Earth & Stone
4 Fire Bunn – Big Youth
5 Fire Organ – The Observers
6 Mr. Finnigan – Big Youth
7 Bring The Cuchie Come – Niney
8 Cuchie Dub – The Observer
9 For I – David Jahson
10 In The Morning – Roman Stewart *
11 False Rasta – Delroy Wilson
12 Clap The Ba Ba – Michael Rose
13 Leggo The Wrong – Astley Bennett
14 Leggo The Wrong Version – Astley Bennett *
15 Push De Broom – Max Romeo *
16 Impact Program – The Observers *
17 African Train – Errol Flabba Holt
18 Bur O Boy – Junior Byles
19 Nice And Easy – Horace Andy
20 Nice Version – The Observers
21 Every Natty Wants To Go Home – Junior Delgado
22 Dreadlocks Coming For Dinner – Michael Rose
23 Prophesy Fulfil – Glasford Manning
24 Zorro – Tommy McCook & The Observers
* new to CD
