The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady into reggae with their three-part harmonies. The Heptones were contemporaries of the Wailers and the Maytals.
Leroy Sibbles, Earl Morgan and Barry Llewellyn first came together as "The Hep Ones" in 1965 in Kingston but soon changed their name to "The Heptones". They recorded for major Jamaican record producers at the time, with a number of Jamaican hits for Studio One, beginning with "Fattie Fattie", in 1966. After moving on to record with Joe Gibbs and Harry J in the early 1970s, they had a big hit with "Book of Rules" in 1973. In 1975, The Heptones signed an album deal with Island Records, resulting in two albums: “Night Food” (1976) and “Party Time” (1977). The group toured England with Toots & The Maytals to support Night Food's release. In 1977, The Heptones recorded “Party Time” with Lee "Scratch" Perry, during Black Ark's peak period. Party Time also included remakes of Studio One tunes, as well as Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released", along with newer compositions such as "Sufferers' Time".
Sibbles left the group once more in 1978 to start a successful solo career.
(Read more at Wikipedia.)
Contents
Links to Peel
As one of the seminal vocal groups of early reggae, the Heptones were played regularly down the decades by John Peel from the mid-1970s. On his 21 November 2002 show, the DJ said he planned to put their "Country Boy (New Style)" single in his record box for upcoming live gigs.
Peel also gave airtime to solo releases by original Heptones lead singer Leroy Sibbles, described by writer Lloyd Bradley in "Bass Culture" as "one of the true giants of Jamaican music", especially for his central role in the musical output of Studio One with Clement "Coxsone" Dodd.[1]
Festive Fifty Entries
- None
Sessions
- None
Other Shows Played
- 1970s
- 01 March 1976: Mama Say (7") Island (JP: "from their LP which should be in our midst in the not too distant future")
- 26 April 1976: unknown track(s)
- 25 January 1978: Every Day And Every Night (LP - Freedom Line) Studio One
- 27 June 1979: Natural Mystic (LP - Good Life) Greensleeves
- 31 July 1979 (& Pablo All Stars): Love Won't Come Easy / Rockers Dub (12" single) Greensleeves
- 07 August 1979 (& Pablo All Stars): Love Won't Come Easy / Rockers Dub (12" single) Greensleeves
- 14 August 1979: Hypocrite (v/a LP – Rebel Music) Trojan
- 1980s
Heptones - Street Of Gold - Version
- 28 January 1980: Why Must I? (Heptones Disco Dub 12") Black Art
- 20 February 1980 (BFBS): Street Of Gold (7") Tom Tom
- 04 February 1981: Street Of Gold (7") Tom Tom
- 08 February 1981 (BFBS): Street Of Gold (7") Tom Tom
- 09 February 1981: Street Of Gold (7”) Tom Tom
- 28 October 1982: Mama Let Me Go' (Coxsone)
- 16 December 1982: We Want It (7") The Thing
- 19 November 1983 (BFBS) (& Roman Stewart): Rain A Fall (7") Rudwill
- 19 August 1986: How Can I Leave (JP - 'This is Bill Wright's or part of Bill Wright's present to me...')
- 30 May 1988: Nanny Goat
- 1990s
The Heptones - Sufferer's Time
- 29 January 1993: Sufferer's Time (album - Party Time) Island
- 14 February 1993 (BFBS) (with the Upsetters): Sufferer's Time (7") Island
- 19 August 1997: Sufferer's Time (3xCD - Arkology) Island
- 03 September 1997 (+ Jah Lion): Mr. President (v/a album - Arkology) Island Jamaica
- 05 May 1998: Street Of Gold (7") Tom Tom
- 2000s
- November 2002 (FSK): Country Boy (CD - Cool Rasta) Trojan
- 21 November 2002: Country Boy (New Style) (7") Hep Hep Records (JP: "In the next few weeks I've got to go and play out again and that record will certainly be in the box when I do.")
- 04 September 2003: Country Boy (New Style) (7") Hep Hep Records
- 07 February 2002 (Radio Mafia):
- Leroy Sibbles
- 16 January 1980 (BFBS): Ras-Tafari (v/a 12") Warrior
- 11 November 1985 (v Frankie Paul): 16 Lovers (LP - The Champions Clash) Kingdom
- 29 January 1986: South Africa (LP - Selections) Leggo Sounds
- 28 July 1991: Feel The Vibes (7") Powermatic
- 09 August 1991 (BFBS): Feel The Vibes (12") Record Factory
- 01 September 1991: Feel The Vibes (shared 12") Powermatic
- 16 May 1992: Rastafari (v/a album by Lee 'Scratch' Perry - Heart Of The Ark) Seven Leaves
- 30 June 1999: Jah Please Help (7") Xterminator
- 13 July 1999: Jah Please Help (7")' XTerminator
