The Southlanders - Britain's First Doo-Woppers - The (Almost) Complete Singles 1955-1960

Facts Long before there was ska, reggae or any subsequent form of globally accepted music from Jamaica, there was the Southlanders. The members of the quartet settled in England during the first wave of mass immigration from the Caribbean, and came together as a singing group in 1952 at the behest of leading calypsonian Edric Connor, initially singing mento and calypso with him before 'going solo' and making the recordings presented in "Britain's First Doo Woppers" between 1954 and 1960. Jasmine has collected all but one of the Southlanders' non-calypso studio recordings, along with a couple of special surprises, to bring you the first ever compilation by the first ever Jamaican group to be seen on TV or heard on radio on a regular basis. Among the highlights here are their Top 20 hit 'Alone', the ever-popular rock 'n' roll floor filler 'Penny Loafers And Bobby Socks", a rare audio aircheck of 'Ko Ko Mo' from the oldest surviving UK TV clip of rock 'n' roll and their perennial "Children's Favourite" 'I Am A Mole And I Live In A Hole'. Attractively packaged as ever, with plenty of rare photographs and ephemera alongside Jasmine's customary authorative sleeve note, it's a package that no serious student of Caribbean music, early Rock 'n' Roll or harmony vocal groups will wish to be without. "Britain's First Doo Woppers" has been a long time coming - but the wait is more than worthwhile!