LIQUIDATOR TALKS REGGAE

Check out this interview with Liquidator Music's head honcho Toni Face where we talk social media, funny and Reggae. MORE ›››

100 GREATEST ROCKSTEADY TUNES

DanceCrasher.com has done an exhaustive list of the top 100 Rocksteady gems of all time with label scans and sound clips. MORE ›››

THE SKATALITES STORY

Check out the liner notes from the Heartbeat Records release "Foundation Ska" that help to tell the long history of the originators! MORE ›››

HIS STORY OF US SKA

David Hillyard (Slackers, Hepcat, Donkey Show, Rocksteady 7) gives his perspective on the history of US Ska. MORE ›››

The Hippy Boys “Death Rides A Horse” Unity Version

By Lawless On July 19, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Since we discussed “Spaghetti Western” inspired reggae Friday thanks to Nina’s wonderful blog we’re going to continue that topic again.

“Death Rides A Horse” by The Hippy Boys, named after the movie of the same name, was issued in 1970 on Pama’s Unity label. Its the B-side to Max Romeo’s “Melting Pot”.

IMAGE: www.strictly-vibes.com

The Hippy Boys are sure to be familiar to regular readers of this blog and true collectors for not only their classic lineup but superb cuts. The band, formed by Lord Charmers and a stand-in for The Upsetters when Lee Perry toured the Britain for the first time, included guitarist Alva “Reggie” Lewis, organist Glen Adams (who most recently has been playing around NYC with The Slackers) and brothers Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett on bass guitar and Carlton Barrett drums respectively (who later went on to much bigger fame playing with Bob Marley of course).

There are in fact 2 other very different versions of “Death Rides A Horse” that were issued on Crab & Amalgamated too! They were both included on Trojan’s Big Gundown release from a few years ago.

Check out a sound sample of this version and more Unity singles over at www.dancecrasher.com. Thanks again guys!

While “Death Rides A Horse” is not found on the album, The Hippy Boys’ “Reggae With…” was reissued by Trojan Records in 2006. The Hippy Boys Reggae With The Hippy Boys

1. Nurse J’Kel
2. This Is It
3. Mad Movie
4. Capo (Version 1)
5. Foot Work
6. Seventh Heaven
7. Moon Walk
8. Challenge
9. Spicy (Aka Reggae Pressure)
10. Wondering
11. Cat Nip (Bonus Track)
12. Soul At Large (Lloyd Charmers & Hippy Boys) (Bonus Track)
13. Soul Of England (Lloyd Charmers & Hippy Boys) (Bonus Track)
14. What Do You Say (The Upsetters) (Bonus Track)
15. Straight To The Head (The Upsetters) (Bonus Track)
16. African Zulu (Lloyd Charmers & Hippy Boys) (Bonus Track)
17. Confidential (Lloyd Charmers & Hippy Boys) (Bonus Track)
18. Oney (Happy Clap) (The Upsetters) (Bonus Track)
19. Everybody Needs Love (Lloyd Charmers & Hippy Boys) (Bonus Track)
20. Stronger (Lloyd Charmers & Hippy Boys) (Bonus Track)
21. Mellow Mood (The Upsetters) (Bonus Track)
22. Family Man (The Upsetters) (Bonus Track)
23. Shang I (Aka Shanghai) (Lloyd Charmers & Hippy Boys) (Bonus Track)
24. Cooyah (Lloyd Charmers & Hippy Boys) (Bonus Track)
25. Capo (Version 2) The Upsetters