Name: Better Days and King Of My Town
Brand: The Heptones

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

DBCDD115

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-09-23

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Cherry Red (ADA)

Tax rate GB

UPC / Barcode

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Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

The Heptones

Genre GB

Reggae / Dub

Label GB

Doctor Bird

Doctor Bird is a music label that was founded in the UK by Graeme Goodall, an Australian sound engineer and original shareholder of Island Records. The label was revived by Trojan Records in 1970 for three releases before being relaunched in 2017 as a division of Cherry Red Records. Doctor Bird specializes in vintage Jamaican sounds licensed from the catalogue of Trojan Records.
Graeme Goodall played a significant role in the Jamaican music scene, engineering sessions at various studios and producing countless recordings during the ska era. He also formed other labels such as Pyramid Records and Attack to promote reggae music. Despite relocating to Atlanta, Georgia in the 1970s, Goodall continued his involvement with music until his passing in 2014.
Today, Doctor Bird continues to bring Jamaican rocksteady and other vintage sounds to music enthusiasts worldwide through their curated selection of releases. With its rich history and dedication to preserving iconic Jamaican music, Doctor Bird remains a respected authority on this genre.

The Heptones, comprised of lead vocalist Leroy Sibbles and vocalists Earl Morgan and Barry Llewelyn, are a Jamaican music group that played a pivotal role in the transition between ska and rocksteady. Originally known as The Hep Ones, they were signed by Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd shortly after their debut and stayed with Studio One until 1971. Seeking more creative freedom, they left Studio One to work with Joe Gibbs and later teamed up with Lee 'Scratch' Perry to update their sound. Their first album with Perry, "Party Time," gained them international popularity by featuring new versions of their best Studio One tracks.

In 1977, Leroy Sibbles left the group to pursue a solo career while Dolphin 'Naggo' Morris took his place. The Heptones continued to produce albums such as "Better Days" and "King Of My Town" under the production of Niney.

If you enjoy artists like Joe Higgs, Mighty Diamonds, Ken Boothe, or Bob Andy, then you'll appreciate the soulful harmonies and influential sound of The Heptones. With their timeless music and contribution to reggae history, The Heptones remain an iconic presence in the music industry.

Two of the finest reggae albums of the late 70s. The entirety of the group’s work for legendary producer, Niney. One of Jamaica’s most popular vocal groups of the 60s and 70s.

Having initially achieved significant success in Jamaica during the rock steady era of the late 60s, The Heptones further cemented their reputation as the island’s most accomplished vocal trio by scoring a succession of major hits throughout the following decade.

By 1978, the group, which comprised Earl Morgan and Barry Llewellyn and new member Naggo Morris, commenced what proved to be an extremely fruitful working relationship with Jamaican hit-maker, Niney, with the collaboration spawning a number of popular singles and the two superb albums that provide the focus of this 2CD set.

In addition to the contents of these essential long-players, the collection also features the Observation Of Life Dub album – the dub counterpart to Better Days – and extended mixes that first saw issue on 12” singles as the decade drew to a close.

Better Days and King Of My Town

Music GB