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Post by Mrs Trellis on Feb 5, 2006 17:29:37 GMT
Anyone know who the Granville Williams Orchestra were?
I hadn't heard their name before, but have just heard a tune by them on a ska comp and looking on RKR they released several tunes from '65 - '67. From the tune I've heard ,'Third Man Theme', they sound like they might have been an 'uptown' band cashing in on the ska phenomenon....
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Post by admin on Feb 5, 2006 17:40:10 GMT
That's indeed what they were Ian. A tourist hotel type band. Mind, their cut of "Tear Up" ain't bad.
Respect
Gordy
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Post by Mrs Trellis on Feb 5, 2006 17:48:27 GMT
Thanks Gordy.
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Post by professor on Feb 6, 2006 0:30:14 GMT
Everytime a band is mentioned that was not a studio band we all know they get dismissed as "uptown" or "north coast tourist bizniz" and I reckon this a kneejerk generalisation. It was not as if there was no competition to gain a paying place in these bands and there was no shortage of players who made a living from both the studio and any live work they could pick up. I reckon it's too easy to dismiss these bands without really knowing about them. Not saying the working bands of JA weren't adept at jumping on bandwagons but these bands were also a home to many of the great players.
From the Gleaner 08.11.1964
"Once again up pops another new orchestra. The name - Granville Williams and his orchestra. Get a load of this for a bandstand - Sam lsmay, Baba Brooks, Freddie Campbell, Audley Williams and the master of them all, doing the arranging and acting as co-leader: Ernest Ranglin, who also doubles on flute. Better put a little oil in your lamp Byron and Carlos"
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Post by nickbug on Feb 6, 2006 10:07:39 GMT
I love Honky Tonk Ska which I think is on Trojan Ska 2 Box Set.  |
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Post by zapatoo on Feb 6, 2006 10:22:00 GMT
I love Honky Tonk Ska which I think is on Trojan Ska 2 Box Set. It is , Nick Re "uptown" bands, I have commented a number of times (in Trojan and elsewhere) that I always felt Byron Lee & the Dragonaires weren't rated enough by those in our communty. I presume that this was because of their "uptown" status...after all, putting aside some of their cover versions - which, taken as stand-alone tunes were often pretty good, they were fine musicians, as well as being more than instrumental (pun intended) in the success of singers like the great Bluesbusters. Thank goodness Trojan gave them a long-overdue, 2-CD retrospective a couple of years ago - I hope it opened the ears of a few doubters  BTW - Byron Lee was interviewed for the recent "Balderdash & Piffle" program on BBC2 that was researching the origins of the word "Ska" |
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Post by nickbug on Feb 6, 2006 11:09:58 GMT
Posted this on the Jimmy London thread by mistake  ; Joe I guess I'm one of those that has had a bit of an 'attitude' to some of these bands in the past which I'm now realising was misguided. A little while before the Blue Beat 45s series started doing the rounds a mate did a tribute to Laurel Aitken night locally. Not everything he played was LA though but all was ska or JA R&B. Anyone amongst the many great tunes I was getting out of my seat to go see who it was by was Byron Lee's Dumplins. Neither me or my friend had ever heard it before (only heard of it). Brilliant tune but we were both really surprised to find out who it was. Have looked at that double cd of Byron Lee several times -- I take it is well worth getting then Joe? That Trojan Ska 2 box is choc full of great horns and is possibly better than the 1st box..............plus I only had a ropey version of the Silvertones True Confessions before I got the 2nd box............worth the money for that alone Link to Post - Back to Top Logged Gordy Administrator member is offline The truth is an offence but never a sin. Joined: Dec 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 392 Location: Northumberland UK Karma: 61 Re: Jimmy London « Reply #18 on Today at 5:40am » -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Byron Lee double CD on Trojan is essential mate. They do a cracking version of Green Onions too. Respect Gordy Link to Post - Back to Top Logged -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Then you came and you took control, you touch my very soul. Loving you has showed me that, loving you is where it's at". You've Made Me So Very Happy by Alton Ellis(composed by Berry Gordy Jr.) nickbug Getting A Foot In The Door member is online Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 54 Karma: 11 Re: Jimmy London « Reply #19 on Today at 6:07am » -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I obviously posted that last one on the wrong thread. Must hear that Green Onions version. Might have chance to buy the cd tomorrow after a meeting in the smoke |
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Post by zapatoo on Feb 6, 2006 12:59:42 GMT
Gordy's comment..."The Byron Lee double CD on Trojan is essential mate. They do a cracking version of Green Onions too." just about sums it up Nick.  |
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Post by Mrs Trellis on Feb 6, 2006 19:28:12 GMT
From the Gleaner 08.11.1964 "Once again up pops another new orchestra. The name - Granville Williams and his orchestra. Get a load of this for a bandstand - Sam lsmay, Baba Brooks, Freddie Campbell, Audley Williams and the master of them all, doing the arranging and acting as co-leader: Ernest Ranglin, who also doubles on flute. Better put a little oil in your lamp Byron and Carlos" Thanks for that info professor, I wasn't necessarily dismissing them, but I made that judgement as the tune I heard sounded remarkably different from all the others on the comp I have which are Coxsone, Prince Buster etc productions, and it stood out in that respect. But as you say, from the interviews with the musicians from that time that I've heard, a few of them mention playing the hotel circuit to make a living and I certainly would be impressed and transfixed if Ernie Ranglin was playing in a hotel I was staying at! |
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Post by professor on Feb 6, 2006 20:20:59 GMT
No worries fellas - they might be corny sometimes but the Dragonaires were the biggest live band in the land and really pulled the crowds, they must have been doing something right. They always featured primo vocalists and establishing Dynamic Sounds is a fair sort of feather in Mr Lee's cap as well .
BTW Granville Williams was a keyboard player and ads in the late 60s show him endorsing Hammond Organs.
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Post by lankou2 on Feb 6, 2006 23:08:15 GMT
several members of the Skatalites also played at resort hotels and on ship cruises :
Lloyd Knibb, Lloyd Brevett, Johnny Moore, Tommy Mc Cook...like a good number of other artists who recorded for Studio 1...BOb Marley used to sing at hotels in Montego Bay...So did Stranger & Ken, Bunny & Scully...Larry Mc Donald, Sparrow Martin played for Carlos Malcolm 's band, which was considered as "uptown" and stiil recorded some of the most killer ska instrumentals ever, imho.
LLans Thelwell's Celestials is also another name that comes to mind:they recorded many "commercial "sides (even some soul) but still did some fine ska sides.
as for The Dragonaires, i have always found their groove a little "stiff" but i really enjoy their Jamaica Ska - which i've always taken to the few basement parties where i have been invited to "select" for the opening session as it always get the people dancing -and their Frankenstein Ska.
in sum, many downtown musicians found their way into uptown bands and they would be switching from a session in an ill-repute establishment (not to say a brothel!) to a distinguished ball on one of the exclusive club lawns during the same night.Some veterans managed to get hired three or four times a night, after spending most of the day in the studios!
Coxsone and his associates would also set up tours around the island for their leading artists (at least during the ska and rocksteady eras), which meant the lineups had to be pretty fluid because certain musicians were pretty much in demand (some also played jazz in seedy clubs, often in trios and quartets) and sessions at hotels could hardly be turned down, for they'd put food on the table for several days. Some of the musicians were known for not being so reliable and not just Don D, it seems!if one came late, he'd often find that the rest of the band had already left. Sometimes when they reached the venues somewhere out of Kingston, they 'd see someone play in their place! the network of musicians was pretty tight and the bands were used to juggling between various musicians. And to say they had no cellies! ; )
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