Yes I really like that early 'pre-ska' era. The evolution from blues to ska was long and winding and contained many great tunes along the way. Even more so when they added in a liberal dose of these ballads as well!

youtu.be/HOGitep2Bt4?...

It's never easy dating JA records, but I think this one is likely his first recording that was released. He did this before meeting Beverley's. The date of the Beverley's release is more likely late '61 or early '62.

youtu.be/2-z8PktxpXM?...

Jimmy Cliff was almost 30 when he appeared as the misled kid Ivan in The Harder They Come. He'd been recording since the turn of the 60s at the birth of ska. Here's his (I think) 1st single which he recorded with Kong in 1960 www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCh_...

RIP reggae's 1st international mega star

The secret is:you may never ever say it out loud!

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