Various Artists — Reggae Steady Go
Reggae Steady Go is a two-CD collection bringing together four albums released by British label Creole Records in the early 1970s. There’s a classic album from Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s Upsetters, and three compilations, as well as a great selection of bonus tracks. The selection over the set is nicely varied, moving between the grooving, quirky, and more mellow/ playful. Over the two discs, there are a whopping fifty-three tracks.
The release appears on Doctor Bird- the reggae sublabel of Cherry Red. The two discs are presented in a clear jewel case- this features a colourful inlay booklet taking in a seven-page write-up about the label & the albums featured, as well as a great selection of release cover art, single labels, and artists' pictures.
Creole Records was formed in London in the year 1965 by reggae producer Bruce White and Tony Cousins. They largely released reggae, though they did also release some disco too- it ran between the mid-70s to early 80s.
First up on CD one, we have The Good, The Bad & The Uppsetters. This was the sixth studio album from The Upsetters- the studio band of infamous reggae producer & musical innovator/ madman Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. It’s a twelve-track album, which highlights Perry’s normal flair for great grooves, percussive detail, and quirkiness. We move the tight bounding weave of jaunting organ, taut bass, and snaking ‘n’ shaking percussion that is “Capo”. We have jiving, almost blues-touched bass line, strut guitar, and reverbing trailing percussion effects of “Straight To The Head”. There’s the mellow beach guitar stroll, wavering organ hover, and strutting almost trip-hop beat work of “Snow White”. Sure, it may not be as crazed/ creative as some of Perry's mid-70s albums, but it's still pretty damn great.
Next up on disc one, we have the eight tracks from the 1971 compilation Reggae Steady Go, Vol, 1. And here we get a nice selection of tunes, with a few of them have a crossover/ mixed genre quality- there’s the strutting ‘n’ buck country flavours of Al Berry’s “Ooh Ee”. We have jived-up/ organ grooving cover of “Telstar” by The Pyramids. Or the James brown soulful yells meet clip-clopping groove of “Geronimo” by The Pyramids as The Creole All Stars. The disc is finished off with five bonus tracks.
Moving onto disc two, and first up we have( considering the last album's title) Reggae Steady Go-which was released in 1972. This takes in seven tracks, and once again we have some nice genre blending going on- there’s the jiving trombone groove, sailing strings, and 70’s pop reggae of Bruce Ruffin’s “Mad About You”. There’s the bounding piano keys, hissing percussion, and soulful male vocals of Bruce Ruffin’s “Save The People”. And scratching percussion, tight-bound bass, strutting guitar, and wavering male vocals of Honey Boy’s “Sad Sad Song aka Still Your Man”.
Next on disc two, we have Big 12 - Reggae Steady Go Vol. 2, which is from 1973. This takes in seven tracks, and is ploughing the same ground as the other comps- genre-blended & often pop-focused tunes. We have the stabbing horns, sassy groove, gun sound effects and soulful vocals of “Ride Your Pony” by Dave Barker. There’s doo-wop meets reggae of “Blue Moon” by Winston Francis. Or the swooning disco brass, darting strings, and reggae/ soul groove of “Keep On Trying(‘til I win your love) by Dave Barker.
The second disc is topped off with a whopping fourteen bonus tracks, and there are some great moments here. We have tight galloping bass, wailing male/ female backing vocals, and slight throaty male vocals of “You Can’t Leave Me Now” by The Pyramids. The joint jiving piano keys & guitar, soulful male vocals of Winston Francis “Now That I’m A Man”.
In finishing, Reggae Steady Go is a wonderful look at Creole Records' output from the early 70s. If you enjoy creative/ light genre mixing reggae, then this is a release for you.