Byron Lee and the Dragonaires- Reggay Hot Cool and Easy

DSCN4008This was $3.00 at a record show.  I snapped it up as I never see reggae records in my usual searches.  hqdefault

Byron Lee and the Dragonaires are apparently still active although without Lee who has been dead since 2008.  Lee formed the band in 1950 with his friend Carl Brady.  They would release 50+ albums.  Lee would also record and produce songs for other artists.  According to Wikipedia, Lee is responsible for introducing  the electric bass to Jamaica.  According to lore, he grew tired of hauling a double bass around.  The electric bass caught on and grew popular among Jamaican bands.byronlee50s

Another fun fact, they played the house band at a hotel in the first James Bond movie, Dr. No. If you can not put two and two together, that is Byron Lee playing the bass in the clip.

This album came out in 1972.  It was around their 18th album.  It is pretty good.  There are many good tunes on here. Some have vocals even.  But it is the grooves that hold the album together.DSCN4009

For a sample, I went with the Dragonaires’ cover of Isaac Hayes’ classic “Shaft”.  I also decided to throw in “Hot Reggay” as well.  It is St Patrick’s this month so things are going to get Irish for awhile.  Might as well reggae it up now while we can.byron-lee-cover-photoTop Rated Record for sure.

 

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