When people hear the name John Holt the first track that comes to mind is the ganja anthem “Police In Helecopter” but that’s really not even close to being one of his best tracks musically (I don’t even include it here). Holt started as leader of The Paragons, and recorded many titles as “John Holt & The Paragons, so his solo and group stuff is mixed here. He’s one Jamaican artist who wrote a large portion of his material and who’s vocals defined the late 60s rocksteady era, so much so that his later 70s stuff could be categorized as rocksteady, but it’s lovers rock all the way. This collection of 25+ tracks ranges from his early Duke Reid Treasure Isle stuff to his late 70s bouncier riddims backed by the Revolutionaries band, and even delves into some deep roots. The closing track is one he wrote himself and you will surely recognize it. Included is the rare Bside dub version. Enjoy and ignore some of the mixing flubs(!) and be on the look out for part 2… or even 3!   -thinman

My Best Girl (Paragons)
My Heart Is Gone
Stranger in Love
I’m The One To Blame
The Clock
Lets Build Our Dreams
I’m Your Man
Share My Rest
Everybody’s Talking
Come On And Dance With Me / You Mean So Much To Me (Paragons)
Got To Get Away / A Quiet Place
My Heart Is Gone
My Number One
Only A Smile (Paragons)
Looking Back
Fancy Makeup
Up Park Camp (Chune!)
Have You Ever Been In Love
Maybe Some Day
Every Day Is Just A Holiday
Love Me Forever
Talking Love (Paragons)
Happy Go Lucky Girl (Paragons) (A fave!)
The Tide Is High (Paragons) + Dub

John Holt & Paragons Best Chunes Vol. 1

Part two of one of the leading voices of Jamaican reggae. Many reggae fans overlook Holt's material because some of it tends to lean to the cheezier sappy cover songs, but make no mistake-- Holt can be the rootsiest and deepest vocal artists to come out of Jamaican. Were he born in American and worked as a soul artist he would've been up there with Billy Paul and Teddy Pendergrass. A true great. This mix include two tracks from the previous mix, but they're different versions. Like the majority of JA artists, Holt RE-recorded most of his hits, sometimes numerous times throughout the decades. 
TRACKLIST
1. Anywhere
2. Maybe Someday (Paragons)
3. Love Divine
4. Darling I Need Your Loving
5. Stealing Stealing
6. Left With A Broken Heart (Paragons)
7. A Little Tear
8. For The Love Of You
9. I Can’t Get You Off My Mind
10. My Eyes
11. Holly Holy
12. My Satisfaction
13. We Were Meant To Be (Paragons)
14. Have You Ever Been In Love
15. Ali Baba
16. What You Gonna Do
17. After All
18. Happy Go Lucky Girl
19. Wear You To The Ball (Paragons)
20. On The Beach (Paragons)

John Holt & The Paragons Best Chunes Vol 2

All vinyl mixed mostly Studio 1 tracks from the late 60s to early 70s.  
TRACKLIST:
1. Delroy Wilson- Run Run (Keith Hudson blank 45)
2. The Cables- Love Is A Pleasure (Studio 1 Comp. LP)
3. Alton Ellis- Jamaica (Studio 1 LP)
4. Ken Boothe- Live Good (Studio 1 LP)
5. Cornell Campbell & The Eternals- Stars (Studio 1 45)
6. Heptones- Pretty Looks Isn’t All (Studio 1 LP)
7. Beltones- Let Him Live (Studio 1 Rocksteady comp)
8. Sugar Minott- Please Be True (Studio 1 LP)
9. Johnny Osbourne- Sing Jah Stylee (Studio 1 LP)
10. Carlton & The Shoes- Me & You (Life Would Be A Dream) (Studio 1 LP)
11. Ethiopian- Incessantly (Studio 1 45)
12. Bob Andy- Going Home (Studio 1 LP)
13. Silver Shadows- Jah Will Guide (Well Charge 45)
14. Leroy Smart- Find Your Destination (Roots From The Yard 45)
15. Cornell Campbell- Queen Of The Minstrels (LP)
16. Wailing Souls- Real Rock (Studio 1 LP)
17. John Holt- Holly Holy (Studio 1 LP)
18. The Lyrics- Money Lover (Studio 1 Rocksteady comp. LP)
19. The Renegades- Big And Fine (45)
20. The Techniques- I Specialize In Good Girl (Techniques LP)
21. Kingstonians- Love Is The Greatest Science (45)
22. The Cables- What Am I To Do (Studio 1 LP)
23. Beltones- Mary Mary (Blank 45)
24. Prince Fatty & Winston Francis- Go Find Yourself A Fool (45)
25. Peter Austin & The Clarendonians- Lick It Back Festival (45)
26. Alton Ellis- Baby Can I Change My Mind (Coxsone 45)
27. Jackie Mittoo- Can I Change My Mind (Coxonne 45)

Reggae Mix 1968-'74

Extended mix of Delroy Wilson's Keep On Trying 10" on Coxsonne Dodd's Music Lab label, date unknown.

thinman.in.philly

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