Name: Treasure Isle 1966- 1968
Brand: Alton Ellis

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

KSCD079

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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

15 Tracks.

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Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2019-03-08

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5060135762643

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Total Cap

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

Artist

Alton Ellis

Genre GB

Reggae / Dub

Label GB

Kingston Sounds

Alton Ellis was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, producer, and promoter. Born on September 1st, 1938 in Kingston, Jamaica, he grew up in a musical family and honed his talents as a dancer. He began his musical career in 1959 as part of the duo Alton & Eddy. Ellis went on to record for various labels including Blue Beat and Studio One, where he scored hits like "I'm Still In Love With You." He later formed the group The Flames and released several singles. Known for his soulful voice and contributions to rocksteady music, Ellis became well-distributed through labels like Trojan Records.

In addition to his success in Jamaica, Ellis traveled regularly to England and eventually moved there in 1973. He established his own record store called Alltone and continued recording with British producers while touring extensively. In recognition of his contributions to reggae music, he was inducted into the Hall Of Fame at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) in 2007.

Tragically, Alton Ellis passed away on October 10th, 2008 at Hammersmith Hospital in London after battling cancer. His legacy lives on through his timeless music that continues to inspire generations of reggae fans worldwide.

Alton Ellis is one the finest soulful voices to come out of Jamaica. As well as writing hit singles himself, he could make a cover version known as a foreign tune sound like a Jamaican reggae tune with the greatest of ease. 

As the more upbeat rhythms of the earlier “Ska” period began to slow down around the turn of 1966 some say due to the extreme heatwave that hit the island of Jamaica that year, slower rhythms suited the people to groove to at the various sound systems and dances. This also allowed the singers to express themselves more and allow the song to shrine through. No one did this better than Alton Ellis. 

Alton Ellis started off singing at an early stage as part of a duo with singer Eddie Perkins and recorded for both Studio One and Randy’s as Alton and Eddy and had a massive hit with the song Muriel. The singing pair went their separate ways with Alton going solo with Studio One and being a much in demand voice also recorded with Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle Studio as Alton Ellis and The Flames. As stated earlier as the beat slowed down the top singers shined through and Alton Ellis reigned supreme. One of his tunes that features on this set Get Ready (Do the Rocksteady) even gave this period in reggae’s history its name “Rocksteady”. It’s this fantastic period Rocksteady 1966-1968 that feature on this release. This set carries all the big hits Ain’t That Loving You, Girl I’ve Got A Date, Cry Tuff alongside many more classics. All the cut at Treasure Isle songs that really defined the era. So sit back and enjoy the Rocksteady sound it’s finest....

Treasure Isle 1966- 1968

Music GB