IN TUNE: 10 GREAT ?REGGAE GUITAR SONGS
* It Hurts To Be Alone (The Wailers): Whether it’s the solemn intro or jazzy interlude, Ernie Ranglin does no wrong on this Studio One gem from 1964.
* Girl I’ve Got a Date (Alton Ellis): Trinidadian Lynn Taitt rocks on one of the great intros in Jamaican pop music.
* 007 (Shantytown): Lynn Taitt at his finest with solid fretwork on Desmond Dekker’s 1967 classic about rude boys
in Kingston’s ghettoes.
* The Russians Are Coming (Val Bennett): Producer Bunny Lee’s house band jams on this rock steady version of the jazz classic, Take Five. Kicks off with some sweet licks by guitarist Bobby Aitken.
* Sweet Talking (The Heptones): Few guitarists in the annals of reggae can
Luciano
match Eric Frater’s riffs. Frater’s work on this Studio One gem is an example of his under- rated talent.
* It’s A Shame
( Delroy Wilson): Eric Frater at his best on the first hit for the Channel One studio in 1973.
* Westbound Train (Dennis Brown): A teenaged Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith does justice to this 1974 Winston ‘Niney’ Holness production, inspired by Al Green’s Love and Happiness.
* Good Thing Going (Sugar Minott): Outstanding riffing throughout by veteran session man Radcliffe ‘Dougie’ Bryan.
* Who Could It Be (Luciano): Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore of Third World sets the mood with his cool reggae spin on the James Bond theme song.
* Untold Stories (Buju Banton): Known for his work as a bassist, Glen Browne delivers big time on one of the champion tracks from Banton’s 1995 album, ‘Til Shiloh.