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The Ethiopians are one of Jamaica’s greatest musical treasures, leaving behind one of the most special blends, of ska, reggae, dance hall and roots music. Kingston Sounds out of the UK has compiled an extensive collection of their music called Freedom Train with both CD and vinyl prints available. With recordings all over Jamaica, the collection focuses on a large portion of time, canvasing over a decade of the groups output. If you love the rhythms of Jamaica and have yet to hear The Ethiopians, this is a perfect introduction. For long time fans, it’s always incredible to have it all in one place. The Ethiopians original 45 prints and LP’s fetch a lot in the collectors markets, making this an essential item in the resurrection of the groups output without the heavy price tag or inferior MP3 copies floating around among the dedicated researchers. Stunning remastering, Freedom Train is a collection well worth owning. Make sure to browse the archives of releases Kingston Sounds has over at Forced Exposure here for more of the best reissues sourced out of Jamaica.

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From Kingston Sounds

The Ethiopians are one of the great vocal groups to come out of Jamaica. Lenard Dillon, (b. 9 December, 1942, Port Antonio, Jamaica) the founding member of The Ethiopians, began his singing career at Clement “Coxonne” Dodd’s Studio One. Initially he recorded under the name of Jack Sparrow, and backed by The Wailers, cutting “Ice Water” and “Suffering in the Land.” Under The Wailers’ encouragement, he went on to form his own vocal group, recruiting singers Stephan Taylor and Aston “Charlie” Morris to become The Ethiopians. They cut “Live Good,” “Why You Gonna Leave Me Now” and “Owe Me No Pay Me.”

Although receiving favorable response, Aston Morris decided to leave the band and the remaining pair carried on and cut “‘I’m a Free Man” and “Don Dead Already” and “For You.” On meeting contract builder Leebert Robertson, a session was booked for Treasure Isle Studios. The session produced their seminal “Train to Skaville” track, which became an immediate hit in Jamaica and in the UK in 1967, reaching #40 in the charts. They also cut “Engine 54,” which became the title of their debut album. Its follow-up “I Need You/Do It Sweet,” did not fare so well and the band moved over to Sonia Pottinger’s stable, where they cut “The Whip/Cool It Amigo” which revived their fortunes and proved another big hit for the band. Two more hits followed “Stay Loose Mama” and “The World Goes Ska,” after which the band decided to return to a trio, adding Melvin “Mellow” Reid to the line up.

The band hit another run of successes with producer JJ Johnson “Everything Crash,” “Gun Man,” “Hong Kong Flu,” and “The Selah.” Many hits followed, leading the band to work with a variety of Jamaican producers — such tracks as “I Want to Be a Better Man,” “Conquering Lion,” “Fire a Mus Mus” Tail,” and the timeless “Reggae Hit the Town,” to name a few. Two albums Reggae Power (1969) and Woman Capture Man (1970), pulled a lot of these tunes together. Sadly, Taylor was killed in 1975 after been struck by a van in a road accident. Dillon returned to Port Antonio till 1977, when he was persuaded to return to Treasure Isle studios with producer Niney The Observer and cut the rasta-based album Slave Call. Additional members who joined for this album were Bro Fatty, Bro Ewing, Bro T, Mello, and Hychi Dread. An album that showed all the Ethiopians’ magic had not been lost.

This release includes the full Slave Call set, “Ethiopian National Anthem,” “Slave Call,” “Guilty Conscience,” “Hurry On,” “Mus Follow Babylon” (CD-only), “Train to Skaville” (1977 version, on CD-only), “Culture,” “Obeah Book,” “Let It Be,” and “I Love Jah,” alongside some of the band’s early hits including the original version of “Train to Skaville,” “Engine 54,” “Everything Crash,” “Reggae Hit the Town,” and “The Selah.” An interesting set to remind us what a great group The Ethiopians really were. CD includes two bonus tracks.

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