The period of 1967 – 1968 when Rocksteady was in full flow, would
also be a turning point for Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee, when he became a
producer in his own right.
Many of the great tunes during this eventful year came out of his stable
and initially saw the light of day on his own imprint label ‘Lee’s’. This
album has been assembled from some of those fine tunes and tells
the story of reggae in what was a steller time for both reggae and
Mr Bunny Lee.
Edward ‘Bunny’ Lee later to become known as ‘Striker’
(b.23rd August 1941) got his introduction to the music business around
1962 when his future brother in law singer Derrick Morgan introduced
Bunny to producer Duke Reid, who gave him a job as record plugger
for his Treasure Isle label. 1966 saw Bunny Lee move on to working
for producer Ken Lack who ran his own label Caltone. Bunny’s first
credit as a producer was released on the label when he produced
‘Lloyd Jackson and the Groovers’ with a tune called ‘Listen To The Music’.
As we stated earlier by 1967 Bunny Lee was leading the way and his
vast stable of singers, were producing hit after hit for him. Many of
those artists are featured on this compilation. The Sensations
‘Long Time Me No See You Girl’, the Uniques that featured the great
Slim Smith are here on some of their greatest cuts ‘Love and Devotion’
and ‘The Beatitude’, ‘Girls Like Dirt’. ‘My Conversation’ a song that would
be a big hit for the Uniques would also go on to be of the most covered
songs and redone over rhythms, in the history of reggae music.
The great singer Pat Kelly features on ‘Somebody’s Baby’ and
‘Little Boy Blue’ all massive hits, when originally released. Bunny’s
love of Jazz and the brass sections would also shine through with
some of Jamaica’s finest musicians featured here with the excellent
tenor sax work of Val Bennett which gave us our album title track
‘Jumping With Mr Lee’ and ‘Jumping With Val’. The Alto sax work of
Lester Sterling are featured on the timeless cut ‘Bangerang’ and
‘Tribute To Scratch’. The big sound of Trombonist ‘Vin Gordon’ features
on ‘Sounds and Soul’. Not forgetting the previously mentioned King of
Ska Derrick Morgan on ‘Hold Your Jack’. A song that in a few years
time,would provide the backbone for Mr Max Romeo’s cross over and
controversial hit ‘Wet Dream’. So yes a fine collection of tracks from
the great producer Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee. Sit back and enjoy the reggae
music of 1967-1968 with of the best sounds in town.
CD Track Listing
1 Long Time Me No See You Girl - The Sensations
2 Love and Devotion - The Uniques
3 Jumping With Mr Lee - Val Bennett and the Bunny Lee Allstars
4 Hold Your Jack - Derrick Morgan
5 Bangerang - Lester Sterling and Winston ‘Stranger’ Cole
6 Little Boy Blue - Pat Kelly
7 Story of Love - The Uniques
8 A Change is Gonna Come - Ken Parker
9 Jumping with Val - Val Bennett
10 Girls Like Dirt - The Uniques
11 Tribute to King - Scratch Lester Sterling
12 Somebody’s Baby - Pat Kelly
13 Sounds and Soul - Vin Gordon
14 My Conversation - The Uniques
15 Sir Lee’s Whip - Lester Sterling
16 The Beatitude - Slim Smith and the Uniques*
17 Dance Arena - Roy Shirley*
18 My World - Webber Sisters*
19 Run Come Dance - Glen Adams*
*CDâBonus tracks
Vinyl Track Listing
Side 1
1 Long Time Me No See You Girl - The Sensations
2 Love and Devotion - The Uniques
3 Jumping With Mr Lee - Val Bennett and the Bunny Lee Allstars
4 Hold Your Jack - Derrick Morgan
5 Bangerang - Lester Sterling and Winston ‘Stranger’ Cole
6 Little Boy Blue - Pat Kelly
7 Story of Love - The Uniques
Side 2
1 A Change is Gonna Come - Ken Parker
2 Jumping with Val - Val Bennett
3 Girls Like Dirt - The Uniques
4 Tribute to King - Scratch Lester Sterling
5 Somebody’s Baby - Pat Kelly
6 Sounds and Soul - Vin Gordon
7 My Conversation - The Uniques
8 Sir Lee’s Whip - Lester Sterling
Musicians Include:Winston Grennan: Drums
Bassie: Bass
Lyn Taitt & Bobby Aitken: Lead Guitar
Gladstone ‘Gladdy’ Anderson: Piano
Robbie Lynn: Keyboards
Val Bennett: Tenor Saxophone
Lester Sterling: Alto Saxophone
Vin Gordon: Trombone
Johnny Moore: Trumpet
Produced by: Bunny Lee
Design By: Gary @Voodoo London
Photography courtesty of: Bunny Lee / Jah Floyd
Manufactured Under License from: E. Lee