Trojan. Part 13 - Song Bird, Techniques, Treasure Isle, Upsetter.

Between 1969 and 1972 around 86 singles were released on the Song Bird label, the majority but not all being Derek Harriott productions.

The first illustration, with the coloured label that featured on all but a small handfull of releases, is the Spaghetti Western styled True Grit by Bongo Herman And Les Crystalites.

The second release shown is Horace Andy's Lonely Woman/Version and shows the plain label used on the last few releases.

Spinning Wheel

Around ten issues between 1970 and 1971 and a very nice label design to boot. The initial issues were Upsetters instrumentals with production credits going to Melanie Jonas. Later the label was used for sides by Jimi Riley, Chuk Jnr, The Cimmarons and the Rudies.

The first issue, as illustrated, was Haunted House/Double Wheel (sound sample) by the Upsetters with production credits going to Melanie Jonas. A straight instrumental and an organ version of Mel (Jonas) & Dave's (Dave Barker) Spinning Wheel cut for Lee Perry. This release was probably the result of Mel Jonas aquiring the tapes to the tune and is probably more accurately described as a Lee Perry production. Spinning Wheel was the only Trojan label to be named after a specific song, Lee Perry also used the Spinning Wheel label but this came after the UK issue?.

Techniques

Named after Winston Rileys Jamaican label of the same name UK Techniques scored huge UK hits with Dave & Ansell Collins Double Barrell and Monkey Spanner, which reached number 1 and number 7 in the pop charts respectively.

The label was started in 1970 and went till 1974 issuing approximately 32 singles along the way. The first two thirds of the labels issues were Winston Riley productions, the remainder being a mix including Lee Perry, Roy Cousins, Gussie Clarke and Bunny Lee.

The illustration shows Top Secret (sound sample) by Winston Wright an organ cut of I'll Be Waiting by Alton Ellis (which was also issued on Techniques). The flip side is Crazy Rhythm also credited to Winston Wright.

Treasure Isle

Initially an Island label started in 1967 releasing the Rocksteady productions of Duke Reid, Treasure Isle came under the control of Graeme Goodalls (Doctor) Bird group in 1968. Trojan and B&C seem to have taken up the reigns around 1969, from this time to 1973 when the label was wound up around 25 releases appeared.

The illustrated label is The Great Woggie by Dennis Alcapone, a DJ cut of the Rocksteady classic You Don't Care. The Techniques original version was the very first release on the label back in the Island days.

Trojan Part 14.