U-Roy - Version Galore (1973)

"Versions galore, you can hear them by the score, I could give you some more for sure," U-Roy shouts out on the title track of Version Galore, and indeed he could and did, recording scores and scores of versions of classic Jamaican hits. This album gathers up a dozen of some of his earliest, all cut for Duke Reid at Treasure Isle studio between 1969 and 1970. Included is one of his chartbusters, a version of the Paragons' "Wear You to the Ball." Paragon vocalist John Holt was responsible for bringing the DJ to Treasure Isle, and U-Roy repaid the singer by versioning a clutch of classic Paragons' songs, five of which appear here. The DJ was obviously a fan, and chatted along to the songs as one would to an old friend, most noticeably on "The Tide Is High" (Blondie would later have a hit with a cover of the original) and "Happy Go Lucky Girl." There again, on "Flashing My Whip," a version of the group's "Only a Smile," U-Roy demands that the trio put a smile on their face, a bit difficult considering the song's intrinsic heartbreak. The DJ's ease with these golden oldies allowed him to adeptly sing along, call out for the vocalists to sing on cue, wander off in other lyrical directions, and still find the perfect spot for his catch phrases. But this talent didn't end with the Paragons and rocksteady, "True Confessions," for example, was a ska-fired, doo wop-inspired hit for the Silvertones, and U-Roy motors away on this with equal ease. Interestingly enough, though, it's evident that without the vocals as a lyrical launch pad, the DJ is rather at a loss. Thus the two instrumentals here are actually the weakest tracks. But it was early days, and U-Roy's verbal gymnastics would fill in the gaps soon enough.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Tommy McCook - Your Ace From Space (2:54)
1.02 - U-Roy - On the Beach (2:40)
1.03 - U-Roy, The Melodians - Version Galore (2:58)
1.04 - U-Roy, The Silvertones - True Confession (2:39)
1.05 - U-Roy, The Paragons - Tide Is High (2:43)
1.06 - U-Roy, The Jamaicans - Things You Love (2:53)
1.07 - U-Roy, The Paragons - The Same Song (2:57)
1.08 - U-Roy, The Paragons - Happy Go Lucky Girl (3:09)
1.09 - The Melodians, U-Roy - Rock Away (You'll Never Get Away) (3:03)
1.10 - U-Roy, The Paragons - Wear You to the Ball (2:32)
1.11 - U-Roy, Phyllis Dillon - Don't Stay Away (2:36)
1.12 - U-Roy, The Supersonics - Hot Pop (2:44)
1.13 - U-Roy, Winston Wright - Wake the Town (2:43)
1.14 - U-Roy - Big Boy & Teacher (2:47)
1.15 - U-Roy, The Supersonics - This Station Rule the Nation (2:36)
1.16 - U-Roy - Love I Tender (2:29)
1.17 - U-Roy, Hopeton Lewis - Tom Drunk (2:32)
1.18 - U-Roy, Ken Parker - True, True (2:10)
1.19 - U-Roy, The Paragons - I'm Flashing My Whip (2:53)
1.20 - U-Roy, The Three Tops - Do It Right (2:16)
1.21 - U-Roy, Hopeton Lewis - Drive Her Home (1:58)
1.22 - U-Roy, The Supersonics - Behold (2:53)
1.23 - U-Roy, The Supersonics - Way Back Home (2:52)
1.24 - The Melodians, U-Roy - Everybody Bawling (2:22)
1.25 - U-Roy, Alton Ellis - Ain't That Loving You (2:38)
1.26 - The Melodians, U-Roy - Do Re Mi (aka Super Boss) (2:38)
1.27 - U-Roy, The Techniques - My Girl (2:42)
1.28 - U-Roy, The Jamaicans - Peace and Love (2:40)
1.29 - U-Roy, The Supersonics - Words Of Wisdom (2:38)
2.01 - The Paragons - On the Beach (2:33)
2.02 - The Melodians - You Have Caught Me (3:14)
2.03 - The Silvertones - True Confessions (2:42)
2.04 - The Paragons, The Supersonics, Tommy McCook - The Tide Is High (2:43)
2.05 - The Jamaicans - Things You Say You Love (2:47)
2.06 - The Paragons - The Same Song (2:46)
2.07 - The Paragons - Happy Go Lucky Girl (3:11)
2.08 - The Melodians - You Don't Need Me (3:09)
2.09 - The Paragons - Wear You to the Ball (2:38)
2.10 - Phyllis Dillon - Don't Stay Away (2:33)
2.11 - The Tennors - Hopeful Village (2:29)
2.12 - Alton Ellis, The Flames - Girl I've Got a Date (2:30)
2.14 - The Ethiopians - Mothers Tender Care (3:05)
2.15 - Stranger Cole - Crying Every Night (These Eyes) (2:31)
2.16 - Ken Parker - True, True, True (2:14)
2.17 - The Paragons - Only a Smile (2:57)
2.18 - The Three Tops - Do It Right (2:29)
2.19 - The Melodians - Everybody Bawling (2:23)
2.20 - Alton Ellis, The Flames - Ain't That Lovin' You (For More Reasons Than One) (2:49)
2.21 - The Melodians - Last Train to Ecstasy (3:01)
2.22 - The Techniques - My Girl (2:39)
2.23 - The Jamaicans - Peace and Love (2:40)
2.24 - The Silvertones - In the Midnight Hour (2:41)
2.25 - U-Roy, The Supersonics - Mighty Alley (2:25)
2.26 - U-Roy, The Supersonics - Nehru (2:53)
2.27 - Earl "Wire" Lindo, The Supersonics - The Ball (2:32)
2.28 - Winston Wright, The Supersonics, Tommy McCook - Black Power (2:43)
2.29 - Tommy McCook, The Supersonics - Drive Her Home Version (Version) (1:55)