TRACKLIST
A. Pumping In
B. Knock On Wood
DESCRIPTION
Two ultra-rare gems from the “King Of Rocksteady” never been pressed on 7” vinyl before.
Alton Ellis was born in Kingston, Jamaica into a musical family including his younger sister, reggae singer Hortense Ellis. He was a man of many talents, he was a dancer before becoming a singer, writer, producer, record shop and label owner. Through his 50 years career, Alton never stopped singing. Through his 5 decades in Reggae music, Alton scored some massive reggae and ska hits, but there is one Jamaican music that really defined him: Rocksteady
He released the first Rocksteady song aptly called "Get Ready - Rocksteady" on the first Rocksteady album also named “Get Ready Rock Steady.”
Harlem Shuffle now presents two of their favorites from Alton Ellis. The hard to find cut “Pumping In” is on the A Side. Sometimes mistitled “Puping In”, this song original release is a bit of a mystery... As far as we can track, it was published for the first time on the 2013 compilation Alton Ellis “Mr Soul Of Jamai- ca” on the Treasure Isle label and on two CD compilations on the Doctor Bird label and that’s it. This cracking up-tempo track from 1970 has a heavy guitar work, a killer organ and some real gutsy vocals to boot. The sound and rhythm are quite different from Ellis previous songs and, sign of time, have a distinctive Boss Reggae feel and it really rocks! “Pumping In” is an absolute gem that has been badly overlooked up to now.
On the B Side, it’s "Knock On Wood", the Eddy Floyd mega hit. Alton covered this cut more on more than once occasion. The Studio One/ Coxsone Dodd is more common, this version produced by Joe Gibbs is a bit more raw, and has never issued on 7" vinyl until now.