Safe Travel with Phil Pratt & Friends 1966-68: The Rare Side of Rock Steady

Overview

Phil Pratt was one of the lesser-known producers (and performers) of Jamaica's rocksteady era, but that doesn't mean his work didn't have the quality of the big boys like Duke Reid or Clement "Coxsone" Dodd. Just listen, for example, to "Black Man's Country" from Horace Hinds (who'd become better known as Horace Andy), with its conscious lyrics, or "No One to Give Me Love," from Larry Marshall and Alvin Leslie. There's no shortage of strong names -- Ken Boothe, the Clarendonians, Tommy McCook -- all released several sides for Pratt over the course of the two years covered by this disc. But these songs have been heard all too rarely, which is a shame. Pratt's own "Reach Out" is a wonderful piece of work, as dramatic as anything from the Motown label, with a brooding bassline, while Boothe skanks up Southern soul on his cover of "You Left the Water Running," a rarity that's worth the entire price of admission. There's an unsurprisingly jazzy quality and sophistication to McCook's "Caltone Special" as befits a former leader of the Skatalites, while the lovely harmonies of the Clarendonians shine on "Bye Bye Bye." 23 tracks, and every one a winner. If only every compilation could make that claim. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	06/28/2005
Label:	Pressure Sounds
UPC:	0689492034115
Rank:	83047

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Alva Lewis   Primary Artist
Milton Boothe   Primary Artist
Ken Boothe   Primary Artist
The Clarendonians   Primary Artist
Hemsley   Primary Artist
Peter Austin   Primary Artist
Vincent Don D Junior Gordon   Primary Artist,Trombone
The Cool Cats   Primary Artist
Charlie Ace   Primary Artist
The Thrillers   Primary Artist
Tommy McCook   Primary Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Alvin Leslie   Primary Artist
Phil Pratt   Primary Artist
Horace Hinds   Primary Artist
Larry Marshall   Primary Artist
Joe Isaacs   Drums
Winston Grennan   Drums
Theophilus Beckford   Piano
Winston Wright   Organ
Herman Marquis   Sax (Tenor)
Lynford Hux Brown   Guitar
Bryan Atkinson   Bass
Hugh Malcolm   Drums
Dizzy Johnny Moore   Trumpet
Nerlyn Lynn Taitt   Guitar

Technical Credits

Nerlyn Lynn Taitt   Group Member
Lynford Hux Brown   Group Member
Byron Smith   Engineer
Noel Hawks   Photography
Theophilus Beckford   Group Member
Winston Wright   Group Member
Harry Hawke   Liner Notes
Tommy McCook & the Supersonics   Performer
Lynn Taitt & the Jets   Performer
Bryan Atkinson   Group Member
Louis Davidson   Engineer
Phil Pratt   Producer
Pete Holdsworth   Project Coordinator
Lyn Taitt   Arranger
Carlton Lee   Engineer
Joe Isaacs   Group Member