Baba Brooks- Portrait Of My Love
Oswald Baba Brooks started his musical career as a trumpet player with the Eric Dean Orchestra in Jamaica in the 1950’s. The Jamaican bands played mostly Folk, Afro, Jazz, they played at clubs, big hotels and sometimes on local radio. This was an exciting scene at the time but began to die out towards the end of the fifties. Band members began to move into the recording studios in Kingston that were emerging at the time with the advent of the Sound System. The records that were produced kept the musicians well employed. Most big bands began to die out and only a few managed to survive into the sixties and beyond. One such band was Byron Lee, they became the Islands premire band and established many talented musicians including Baba Brooks. He soon became a popular session man working for many of the top record producers and featured on many of the great Ska tracks during the golden period from 1963 – 1967. He was riding high in 63′ with three hits in the Jamaican charts, Musical Communion, Bank To Bank and his version of Watermelon Man. This was a year before the Skatalies had been formed as a band, with whom he was to play on many occasions.
With Duke Reid he had many records released on his Treasure Isle/Dutchess labels. Teenage Ska was a brilliant driving ska beat track in his instrumental style. He had a habit of using a voice over intro calling out the name of the tune as on Seven Guns Alive, Girls Town Ska, Guns Fever & One Eyed Giant. On Alcatraz Count Machuki spoke the catchphrases/lyrics in the DJ style, to great effect. Other producers he worked for were King Edwards, which produced Shank I Sheck another early Ska track. With Lindon Pottinger he had half a dozen releases on the LOP label (some not issued in the UK). Later he was to arrange sessions for his wife Sonia Pottinger for her Gay Feet and High Note record labels. He found himself working in familiar surroundings as they were held at Duke Reids Treasure Isle studio on Bond Street. One of his best instrumentals was First Session, issued on GayFeet in 1966. He only had one other chart hit with This is Thunder in 1966. Most of his instruments were written by himself or in partnership with fellow musicians such as Don Drummond. During the Ska golden period he played along side all the greats, Roland Alphonso, Don Drummond, Tommy McCook, Lester Sterling, Johnny Moore, Gladstone Anderson and Jackie Mittoo. It does seem strange that he did not record for C.S.Dodd or have any records released on his Studio One labels. He would appear not to have had any more releases after 1969.
Duration : 0:2:25
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February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Thanks for posting …
Thanks for posting a pic of Baba and for the nice history. I never knew too much about Baba Brooks before this. On the Skatalites live 1981 reunion LP, Stretching Out (released on Roir), Baba get’s up and jams with the band, to great applause. By the way, have you seen my little film about Alpha Boys School?
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
There are some cool …
There are some cool instrumentals you could use from the period of ‘60-’63 Check out Mark Lamarr’s compilation of Duke Reid produced r’nb and ska on the Trojan label for some choice cuts going back earlier than this.
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
randy , la fin du …
randy , la fin du disque, est à chier!!!!! mais ç’est un truc genial pour ceux qui aime le ska! continue !!!!!!! bravo
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Not sure why it …
Not sure why it ends like this.
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
just one of the all …
just one of the all time great ska tunes.
never get tired of listening to this one.
bit abrupt ending though.
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Many thanks. …
Many thanks. though, I wanted to include this song in a T.V Script I’m writing atm but alas it’s set a few years earlier.
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Released 1963. On …
Released 1963. On the inimitable “Island WI137″ but could of been recorded before that year. This is Baba’s version of a track covered by many.
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
What year is this …
What year is this song?
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Indeed. The Randy’s …
Indeed. The Randy’s 50th Anniversary CD compilation is brilliant.
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Randy’s !! rispect!!
Randy’s !! rispect!!
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
The Beatles…….. …
The Beatles……..It is what it is.
I was listening to ‘pete doherty’ today again……perhaps I know nothing,I like him….what can I say…..:)
Point being is there’s lots of totally different music out there(not in the charts)
We like what we like……
But many people would love many forms if only they heard it…..
I like music thats good…for the most part.
But old skool….is better for the most part, as I think you know;)
It’s the overall sound I think.
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Yeah, I’m not sure …
Yeah, I’m not sure but this track had a lyric when recorded by other artists pre 1962. There’s always a terrific Ska version of what could of been a Middle Of The Road type hit in the late 50’s early 60’s. This stuff in Jamaica was happening long before the dreaded Beatles. Pardon my French, Gary.
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Interesting what …
Interesting what you said about calling out the name of the song…..I’ve heard that in more modern stuff too….bet thats where it came from.:)
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Yea..old reggae …
Yea..old reggae rocks….would love to speed the backing up and leave the trumpet the same.
But as it is…pure.