U-Roy - Version Galore (Expanded Version) '1973

Tracks list

       "Versions galore, you can hear them by the score, I could give you some
more for sure," U-Roy shouts out on the title track of Version Galore, and
indeed he could and did, recording scores and scores of versions of classic
Jamaican hits. This album gathers up a dozen of some of his earliest, all cut
for Duke Reid at Treasure Isle studio between 1969 and 1970. Included is one of
his chartbusters, a version of the Paragons' "Wear You to the Ball." Paragon
vocalist John Holt was responsible for bringing the DJ to Treasure Isle, and
U-Roy repaid the singer by versioning a clutch of classic Paragons' songs, five
of which appear here. The DJ was obviously a fan, and chatted along to the songs
as one would to an old friend, most noticeably on "The Tide Is High" (Blondie
would later have a hit with a cover of the original) and "Happy Go Lucky Girl."
There again, on "Flashing My Whip," a version of the group's "Only a Smile,"
U-Roy demands that the trio put a smile on their face, a bit difficult
considering the song's intrinsic heartbreak. The DJ's ease with these golden
oldies allowed him to adeptly sing along, call out for the vocalists to sing on
cue, wander off in other lyrical directions, and still find the perfect spot for
his catch phrases. But this talent didn't end with the Paragons and rocksteady,
"True Confessions," for example, was a ska-fired, doo wop-inspired hit for the
Silvertones, and U-Roy motors away on this with equal ease. Interestingly
enough, though, it's evident that without the vocals as a lyrical launch pad,
the DJ is rather at a loss. Thus the two instrumentals here are actually the
weakest tracks. But it was early days, and U-Roy's verbal gymnastics would fill
in the gaps soon enough. ~ Jo-Ann Greene

Tracklist:
1 01. U-Roy - Your Ace from Space (02:53)
1 02. U-Roy - On the Beach (02:39)
1 03. U-Roy, The Melodians - Version Galore (02:58)
1 04. U-Roy, The Silvertones - True Confession (02:38)
1 05. U-Roy, The Paragons - Tide Is High (02:43)
1 06. U-Roy, The Jamaicans - Things You Love (02:53)
1 07. U-Roy, The Paragons - The Same Song (02:57)
1 08. U-Roy, The Paragons - Happy Go Lucky Girl (03:09)
1 09. The Melodians, U-Roy - Rock Away (You'll Never Get Away) (03:03)
1 10. U-Roy, The Paragons - Wear You to the Ball (02:32)
1 11. U-Roy, Phyllis Dillon - Don't Stay Away (02:35)
1 12. U-Roy, The Supersonics, Tommy McCook - Hot Pop (02:44)
1 13. U-Roy, The Supersonics, Tommy McCook - Nehru (02:50)
1 14. U-Roy, Ken Parker - True, True (02:09)
1 15. U-Roy, Winston Wright, Tommy McCook - Wake the Town (02:43)
1 16. U-Roy, The Paragons - I'm Flashing My Whip (02:53)
1 17. Earl "Wire" Lindo, The Supersonics, Tommy McCook - Wear You to the Ball
(with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics) (02:32)
1 18. U-Roy, The Three Tops - Do It Right (02:16)
1 19. U-Roy, Alton Ellis - Ain't That Loving You (02:37)
1 20. The Melodians, U-Roy - Do Re Mi (aka Super Boss) (02:39)
1 21. The Tommy McCook All Stars - Super Boss (02:45) 

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