The Itals

The Itals

The Itals are a Jamaican reggae vocal group formed in 1976 by Alvin "Keith" Porter, Lloyd Ricketts, and Ronnie Davis (formerly a member of The Tennors), all of whom had previously also recorded as solo artists. All three had worked together in the late 1960s in The Westmorelites. The group recorded several albums through the late 1970s and 1980s, with Ronnie Davis going on to a successful solo career in 1997 as Ronnie Davis and Idren. The Itals' debut single, "In A Dis Ya Time", is regarded as the group's finest work, and topped the Jamaican chart. 1987's Rasta Philosophy was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Reggae Album. The line-up has changed over the years, with former solo artist David Isaacs joining in 1987 when Ricketts was sentenced to a prison term, preventing him from travelling to the United States. Davis left the group in 1994, and was replaced by Porter's daughter Kada. The Itals continued to tour in 2009 in support of the newly released Let Them Talk. In 2011 original member Lloyd Ricketts was able to obtain a work permit and performed two shows with Porter and Davis before his death. Davis stepped away from The Itals again in 2012 and reunited with the Rocksteady group The Tennors, but Keith continued to tour with two of his children, Darien Porter and Kada Porter, providing harmonies. Porter released Mind Over Matter, the remastered compilation of 22 early Itals songs and a solo album of reggae covers of classic R&B songs, called Let's Get it On in July 2015.

Discography (6)

Brutal Out Deh
Nighthawk • 1981
Give Me Power
Nighthawk • 1983
Rasta Philosophy
Nighthawk • 1985
Comp. Early Recording
Nighthawk • 1971-79
Comp. In A Dis Ya Time
17 North Parade • 197X-8X
Comp. Cool And Dread
Nighthawk • 1982-83
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Brutal Out Deh The Itals Brutal Out Deh NH 303 LP Nighthawk 1981 1981
Give Me Power The Itals Give Me Power NH 307 LP Nighthawk 1983 1983
Rasta Philosophy The Itals Rasta Philosophy NHM 7491 LP Nighthawk 1985 1986
Early Recording The Itals Early Recording NH 310 CD Nighthawk 1971-79 1987
In A Dis Ya Time The Itals In A Dis Ya Time VPCD 4141 CD 17 North Parade 197X-8X 2008
Cool And Dread The Itals Cool And Dread NH 311 CD Nighthawk 1982-83

Credits & Appearances (9)

Production
Producer 3
Comp. Early Recording
Nighthawk • 1971-79
Brutal Out Deh
Nighthawk • 1981
Comp. Cool And Dread
Nighthawk • 1982-83
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Early Recording The Itals Early Recording NH 310 CD Nighthawk 1971-79 1987
Brutal Out Deh The Itals Brutal Out Deh NH 303 LP Nighthawk 1981 1981
Cool And Dread The Itals Cool And Dread NH 311 CD Nighthawk 1982-83
Technicians
Mixing Engineer 1
Comp. Cool And Dread
Nighthawk • 1982-83
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Cool And Dread The Itals Cool And Dread NH 311 CD Nighthawk 1982-83
Musicians
Backing Band 1
Comp. Cool And Dread
Nighthawk • 1982-83
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Cool And Dread The Itals Cool And Dread NH 311 CD Nighthawk 1982-83
Vocals 4
Comp. Early Recording
Nighthawk • 1971-79
Brutal Out Deh
Nighthawk • 1981
Comp. Cool And Dread
Nighthawk • 1982-83
Give Me Power
Nighthawk • 1983
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Early Recording The Itals Early Recording NH 310 CD Nighthawk 1971-79 1987
Brutal Out Deh The Itals Brutal Out Deh NH 303 LP Nighthawk 1981 1981
Cool And Dread The Itals Cool And Dread NH 311 CD Nighthawk 1982-83
Give Me Power The Itals Give Me Power NH 307 LP Nighthawk 1983 1983

Also Appears On (13)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Reggae In Your Jeggae Various Artists Reggae In Your Jeggae CDTRL 358 CD Trojan 1968-72 1996
Music Alone Shall Live Various Artists Music Alone Shall Live TBL 158 LP Success 1971 1971
You Can't Wine & Music Alone Shall Live Various Artists You Can't Wine & Music Alone Shall Live DBCD 042 CD Doctor Bird 1971 2019
Hits Of 77 Various Artists Hits Of 77 SP 155 LP High Note 1977 1977
Hits Of 77 Various Artists Hits Of 77 DBCDD 051 CD Doctor Bird 1977 2019
Street Corner Ital Food Various Artists Street Corner Ital Food GG 019 LP GG's 1979 1979
Adults Only Vol 2 Various Artists Adults Only Vol 2 CDTRL 308 CD Trojan 197X 1992
Real Authentic Reggae Volume One Various Artists Real Authentic Reggae Volume One BBECD 105 CD BBE 197X 2008
Spotlight On Reggae Vol 6 Various Artists Spotlight On Reggae Vol 6 CD Rocky One 197X
Wiser Dread Various Artists Wiser Dread NH 301 LP Nighthawk 1981 1980
Calling Rastafari Various Artists Calling Rastafari NH 304 LP Nighthawk 1982 1982
Knotty Vision Various Artists Knotty Vision NH 306 LP Nighthawk 1983 1983
Trojan Ras Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Ras Reggae Box Set TJETD 152 CD Trojan 198X-9X 2004
6 albums
9 credits
2 labels
1981 - 1987