Monday, November 15, 2004  

Winston Wright, "Moon Invader"
Greater Jamaica: Moon Walk-Reggay (Jet Set/Culture Press, 1997; Treasure Island, 1969)

The Meters, "Look-Ka Py Py"
Look-Ka Py Py (Josie, 1969) & Funkify Your Life: The Meters Anthology (Rhino, 1995)

The U.K. single of "Moon Invader" (Trojan) lists Winston Wright and Tommy McCook as the artists. If that's true then Tommy was blowing sax over at 31 Bond St.---as opposed to 33 Bond St., where this was recorded---waaaay off mic because there ain't a sax to be heard here. But Tommy's band, the Supersonics, raprazents, with Winston's stanky organ stabs and either George Tucker or Ranny "Bop" Williams laying it down on guitar. I also wouldn't be surpried if the 7-inch didn't list the correct songwriters for this bit of funkey, funkey reggay: The Meters' "Look-Ka Py Py" is the source.

Winston is one of those quietly influential but mostly unknown Jamaican studio musicians who cut about, lemme see, a bazillion trax with little credit and likely no royalties. (That's Winston banging the keys on the Harry J All-Stars' smash "The Liquidator.") He died in 1993.

I'm not sure what Jet Set/Culture Press is up to these days; they may have bitten it, but if you know something different lemme know. Also, I think I remember reading that the label had a falling out with Lucille Reid, the widow of producer Duke Reid, whose Treasure Island records originally released Greater Jamaica: Moon Walk-Reggay. While the CD is out of print, EB Reggae has it.

Posted by CP | Link |

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