(from left to right) Hector Williams (drums) Lloyd Brevett (double bass) Alton Ellis (vocalist) Roland Alphonso (Tenor sax & leader of the group) Jackie Mittoo (organ) Ernest Ranglin (rhythm guitar) Johnny Morris (trumpet) Errol Walters (bass guitar) Ken Boothe (vocalist)

This suberb image was taken at the begining of their UK tour in 1967. Whilst in the UK they recorded several tunes thet ended up on the LP Soul Vendors on Tour issued on the Coxsone label (CLS 8010).

Track Listing:

Pressure And Slide (Tennors); Full Range (Soul Vendors); The Lecturer (Owen Gray); Ain't Nobody Home (Owen Gray); Crying In The Rain (Peter Johnson); You Trouble Me (Soul Vendors) // The Whip (Soul Vendors); Give It To Me (Owen Gray); The Raver (Owen Gray); Everybody Knows (Ken Boothe); Give Me Little Sign (Owen Gray); Just A Bit O'Soul (Soul Vendors)

Jackie Mittoo recorded the LP Jackie Mittoo in London on Coxsone CLS 8009, also while he was in the UK. Two venues they played at were the Porchester Hall, Paddington. London in October then Ram Jam club in Brixton, London in November 67.

The Soul Vendors the group that gave us 'Rock Steady', the phrase originated by Coxone Dodd, the record producer and owner of Studio One studio. This new sound was much slower than Ska, stronger base line and a persistent shuffling rhythm together with some very fine sax and trumpet solo's, and the organ was used to greater effect. The vocal styles were very soulful, heavily influenced by the USA soul and R & B records of that period.

"Rock Steady" by Alton Ellis issued in 1967 on the Treasure Isle label sums up the new style, using repeat upbeat guitar riff and the brass section answering the vocals, beautiful sax solo, even a vocal backing group, all added up to a suberb production by Duke Reid who went on to make this new sound his own.

ska2soul