Rock Steady Music: Album, Track and Artist Charts

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Description of Rock Steady

Rock Steady was the immediate successor of early Ska -- and the immediate predecessor of Reggae -- in Jamaica's pop scene. Rock Steady faded Ska's prominent jazzy horn line and brought the bassline forward. The rhythm guitar meanwhile played a steady off-beat -- the rhythm that was to become reggae. Rock Steady's gentler pace accented the tender emotions of its lyrics, and many of its anthems were love songs. The movement's name is attributed alternately to Reggae pioneer Alton Ellis's keyboard player Jackie Mittoo, and Gladstone "Gladdy" Lewis, pianist for singer Hopeton Lewis.

Rock Steady Key Tracks

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Play/Add	Track	Artist
	1. Wear You To The Ball	The Paragons
	2. I'm In The Mood	The Techniques
	3. Love Up Kiss Up	The Termites
	4. Don't Stay Away	Phyllis Dillon
	5. It's Hard To Confess	The Gaylads
	6. Swing And Dine	The Melodians
	7. Remember That Sunday (Alternate Take)	Alton Ellis
	8. Why Baby Why	Ken Boothe
	9. My Conversation	The Uniques
	10. A Love I Can Feel	John Holt
	11. You're Gonna Need Me	Errol Dunkley
	12. Time Pass By	Justin Hinds

Rock Steady Key Albums

Filed Under

World/Reggae > Reggae > Rock Steady

Rock Steady Key Artists

Alton Ellis

Rock Steady pioneer Alton
Ellis made American soul
music Jamaican. He's
changed with the times, still
recording to this day. Ellis...

Best known for his
international hit "Israelites,"
Dekker's Ska oozed style
and grace and influenced
generations to come. Dek...

Hopeton Lewis

Hortense Ellis

Jackie Mittoo

A child prodigy, Mittoo was
already playing in
professional bands by the
time he was a teenager.

Ken Boothe

Possibly the sweetest voice
in Rock Steady, Boothe
translated American Soul
music into Jamaican terms.

Phyllis Dillon

Slim Smith

The Ethiopians

Rocks Steady heroes the
Ethiopians started
rabble-rousing in 1966,
marrying sweet harmonies
with sharp social criticism...

The Gaylads

The Heptones

This pioneering vocal trio of
the late '60s and early '70s
rock steady movement later
successfully transitioned
into reggae. They first we...

The Melodians

If you don't know the
Melodians, you certainly
know one of their hits:
"Rivers of Babylon." They're
Rock Steady superstars.

The Techniques

Toots and the Maytals

One of the most influential
reggae acts out of Jamaica,
Toots and the Maytals have
enjoyed decades of
success. Critic Lester Ban...

Rock Steady

Description of Rock Steady

Rock Steady Key Tracks

Rock Steady Key Albums

Filed Under

Rock Steady Key Artists

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