The Prizefighters perform ska and rocksteady from Jamaica’s golden era, their brilliant sophomore studio album “Firewalk” was their first since 2010’s “Follow My Sound”. Since that release the band has perfected their craft working side by side with the stars that created the music back in the 60’s. That resume is now quite impressive, it includes backing the “King of Ska” Derrick Morgan at Reggae Fest Chicago, twice with Stranger Cole including a duet show with Patsy, plus Chicago and Montreal showcases with the dazzling Roy & Yvonne. Their relationship with legendary harmonica player and vocalist Charley Organaire might be the most special, as he joined The Prizefighters in the recording studio for a session that lead to the 2014 mini-album Charley Organaire Meets The Prizefighters which lead to their first European tour. In the band’s words “it’s not just about playing the songs well; it’s about playing them correctly and authentically” – and the several years worth of authentic 60s Jamaican music conservatory experience between the first record and “Firewalk” really shows. Working hard on tunes with a mantra of “will this be good enough for Derrick Morgan? Or for Stranger & Patsy?” has conditioned the band to push themselves to ever higher standards. We are so proud to present this stunning new album in 2019 from one of our favorite bands. Let’s face it, without The Prizefighters we wouldn’t have been able to bring so many Jamaican legends to Chicago and keep the spirit of 60’s Jamaica alive.
Tag: charlie organaire
Derrick Morgan / Dennis Alcapone / Charlie Organaire + Susan Cadogan 7 inches! (OUT OF PRINT)
Five years in the making….recorded in Chicago on three separate occasions, our split release with Happy As A Lark is finally a reality! In 2013, Derrick Morgan performed in Chicago for a Jamaican Oldies showcase at Mayne Stage. We asked Derrick if he was interested in recording a song while he was in town – and to our delight he said YES! Anthony from The Drastics had a country-reggae-ska themed project in the works under the alter-ego TECTONICS, he produced a version of the 1950’s Webb Pierce classic “There Stands The Glass” and suggested that Derrick Morgan would be a perfect fit. When we played the backing track to Derrick over a cellphone, he immediately knew the tune (of course!) and got excited to be part of this wonderful project. A year later we brought in Dennis Alcapone to Chicago for a Jamaican Oldies showcase – we thought to ourselves…let’s recreate those old 45s and have Dennis chat over the song that Derrick recorded a year earlier! A true DJ version on the flip! The project got shelved for a few years… but in 2018 Charlie Organaire went into the studio to play harmonica on the tune. It was finally complete! A very limited initial pressing is now available from Jump Up and Happy As Lark – we each have an exclusive color. Our copies are a golden yellow and it’s limited to 100 copies.
Not to be outdone is a new DJ promo limited edition 7″ single from lovers rock pioneer Susan Cadogan! Last year we released the extended vinyl version of her latest project produced by Mitch Giro. This new 7″ single featured two brand new tracks produced by Mitch – a gentle ska groover called “I Don’t Want Anybody But You” b/w a cool rock steady ae jewel called “The Girl Who Cried Over You”. Limited to 100 hand-stamped copies!
