"Liquidator" original bassline

[fadel diagne]

hi guys
anyway we are all here to share the knowledge and be corrected if there is something wrong with any information whatsoever.iam very glad to be sharing this forum with such a set of nice and smart people.iam all the more glad to notice that our musical background or passion for music is not only limited to reggae.i have always been glad ,some years ago when i discovered that"i'll take you there "by the staple singers was based on"the liquidator".at least it is a subject of pride and a good answer for those partisans of a certain elite music who have always looked upon jamaican music condescendingly.but i would like to know how (ie through whose connection)the staple singers decided to make a rendition of a trojan hit.how did they come across this track;or how stax staff members decided to make their artists do that?
i would like someone who is knowledgeable about that to go through the details if possible
kindest regards
fadel

[6anbatte]

Hi Fadel

I must admit I couldn't work this one out initially. I know Jamaicans were tuning into US radio stations, but know it wasn't reciprocated. In fact, I am not even sure that "Liquidator" would have been played on Jamaican radio anyway (I am happy to stand corrected here).

I then realised that the Stax Revue was definitely on tour of Europe in 1967 and the tour included England.

In 1967 "007" by Desmond Dekker was in the UK charts. So one of the Stax players would definitely have heard it and then possibly followed DD and similar over the next couple of years.

Interestingly "Israelites", "It Mek" and "Liquidator" were all in the UK charts in 1969.

Or maybe the Stax Revue was touring the UK in 1969 as well, which would be even better for my theory. Can someone confirm or deny this? Annoyingy I don't think they were.

Hopefully, this will motivate someone to give us the real story!

[fadel diagne]

hum interesting
that must be it certainly.they must have picked it up while on tour;and you rightfully lmentioned the fact that "israelites"and"liquidator"as well as"wet dream"and"return of django"were riding the british charts back in 1969.that could be an explanation.could someone come up with a more plausible,or know the inside story behind this story
fadel

[JP]

Trojan put out Harry J's Liquidator in the UK in 1969, and they say
http://tinyurl.com/yc34df
"What Am I To Do" by Tony Scott is the original.

[6anbatte]

Hi JP

Do you know when "What Am I To Do" was released? Presumably it was only released in Jamaica.

[JP]

I've never heard this record and can't be sure of any detail, but the track can be found on this LP:
http://www.roots-archives.com/release/3203

[pf]

It´s also in the Skinhead Reggae Box set but the sleeve doesnt talk about it. You can listen to it:
http://www.geocities.com/ateh_h/TrojanS ... mIToDo.mp3
I thought it was after the instrumental but, as JP says, its not.
Dandy has another vocal version on the Liquidator called "Everybody loves a winner".

Greetings

[pf]

I forgot to say, the Trojan 2cd History of Trojan Records (68-71) does mention that the Liquidator riddim was not original and that the Staple Singers took the bassline.

[Trevor]

Anoraks on,chaps!!
The Hippy Boys apparently "laid the original backing rhythm for a vocal by Tony Scott called "What Am I To Do".Scott sold the track onto Harry J and Winston Wright and his mighty Hammond did the rest."This is in the sleeve notes of "Reggae With The Hippy Boys" on Trojan CD.TJDCD317.(Sleevenotes written by Michael de Koenig,God bless `im.
So,can we assume, THEY did the original bassline?
Happy hunting tracking down"What Am I To Do"
Take care,Love and Peace

[6anbatte]

Hi Trevor

I do like an anorak!

The big question is who at Stax heard, and subsequently purloined, said bassline?