Rare record labels: Unity Records

UN500(1) Slim Smith - On Broadway
UN500(2) Lester Stirling - Unity Is Strength
Supposedly only issued as a blank label but I for one have never seen a copy. On Broadway was eventually issued on Unity UN510 whereas Unity Is Strength was issued as the flip side to Rescue Me by The Reggae Girls on Nu Beat where it was credited to the Soul Mates and D.A.Leigh (Donald Lee) as a Unity Records Production.

UN 501(1) Stranger Cole & Tommy McCook -Last Flight To Reggae City.
A Lloyd Charmers production issued on the Carifta label in Jamaica in 1968. The bass line is pretty much the same as Just Like A River by Stranger & Glady a Joe Gibbs production from the same year (this was also used for Laurel Aitkens - Woppi King).
UN 501(2) Junior Smith - Watch Dem Go. A UK production, one of the first with a pronounced Reggae beat albeit with a strong Calypso flavour.
The scan on the left shows a pre release blank label copy. Whoever wrote on the label got their planes and trains mixed up.

UN 502A Lester Stirling & Stranger Cole - Bangarang. A big hit in both the UK and Jamaica this was recorded in October 1968 and alongside Lester Sttirlings saxaphone and Stangers vocal features the organ debut of Glen Adams. In Jamaica this tune appeared on both the Lee's and Carifta labels. Pama released the Bangarang LP (see below) on the strength of this and the rhythm continues to be versioned to this day. See also UN517(2)
UN502B Stranger Cole - If We Should Ever Meet. A tough late Rocksteady tune. There is a second male vocal in the mix, does anyone know who? Both sides are credited as Derrick Morgan productions on the Unity issue. In reality Bangarang was produced by Bunny Lee. The B side production is unclear though it was probably Stranger Cole himself.

UN503(1) Max Romeo - Wet Dream.
A massive hit in the UK reaching number 10 in the pop charts in May of 1969. The success was based partly on the sheer catchiness of the tune and partially on the riske nature of the lyrics. Max has spent virtually entire career trying to live this one down. Produced by Bunny Lee this utilised the rhythm first used for Derrick Morgan's Hold You Jack. There were numerous other versions of this rhythm; see UN528, UN530, UN541. Plus Wet Version by Dave Barker and Wet Vision by U Roy. On the strength of this track Pama released the A Dream With Max Romeo LP.
UN503(2) Max Romeo - She's But A Little Girl. A cautionary tale from Maxie...

UN 504A Slim Smith - Everybody Needs Love. A big rhythm for producer Bunny Lee, he used it for a number of other recordings including a second outing for Slim Smith - There Is A Light (UN542), plus cuts by Jeff Barnes (1,000 Tons Of Version), Winston Williams (Love Version) Peter Tosh (Sun Valley- UN529), The Bunny Lee All Stars (Hook Up- UN533). Plus a couple of mid 70's cuts, Ital Girl by Dennis Alcapone and A Standing Ovation by Jackie Mittoo. It must have made an impression as Slim's album for Pama was also named after the track. The Jamaican issue came out on Sonia Pottingers High Note label using the UK metal stampers. The original Slim Smith cut was also used by producer Prince Tony for a DJ cut by Winston Scotland called Quick And Slick in the early 70's.
UN504B Junior Smith - Come Back Girl. A rather pedestrian UK production, Junior Smiths second release on Unity.

UN505(1) Lester Sterling - Reggay On Broadway. An instrumental version of the classic Drifters tune, there were two vocal cuts of On Broadway issued on Unity, by Dave Barker and Slim Smith and twm more instrumentals UN509(1) and UN529(2). Most likely another Bunny Lee production though in Jamaica this was issued on the flip side of Everybody Needs Love on High Note.
UN505(2)The Clique - Love Can Be Wonderful. A bit of a mystery this one. Who were The Clique? Did they release any other tunes? Who produced this?

UN506A Tommy McCook - The Avengers. Undoubtedly named after the TV programme of the same name (check the writers credit to J.Steed!) this was a solid second cut of the Bangarang rhythm.
UN506B Laurel Aitken - Donkey Man
The matrix of this shows a crossed out NB024B which would indicate that it was originally slated for release on the Nu Beat label (the official NB024B release was Mr Soul, also by Laurel Aitken). Donkey Man is a caustic attack on Dandy Livingston with a typical UK (Rudies?) rhythm.

UN507A Derrick Morgan - Belly Woman. An uptempo vocal from Derrick Morgan, not Max Romeo as indicated on the label. Most probably a Bunny Lee production.
UN507B Paulett & The Lovers - Please Stay. Another cover of a Drifters tune. Please stay is a particular favourite and was versioned many times in the late 60's and 70's.

UN508A Slim Smith - For Once In My Life.More from Bunny Lee.
UN508B Slim Smith - Burning Desire. The soulful vocals of Slim tend to run up against the harsh jerky rhythm. It's not that they don't fit, just that a smoother rhythm might have worked better.

UN509(1) Lester Stirling - Spoogy. Lester Stirling on Saxaphone over the On Broadway rhythm together with dubbed on crowd applause. The Jamaican issue of this used a Pama stamper marked NB025-A indicating either an error at the cutting stage or that the tune had originally been slated for release on NuBeat (the former seems more likely).
UN509(2) Tommy McCook - Monkey Fiddle. Tommy plays the flute over a solid rhythm, does any one know of any other versions of this?

UN510(1) Slim Smith - Zip A Di Do Da. Originally composed by Ray Gilbert for Walt Disneys animated classic Song Of The South. The Jamaican issue came out on Carifta backed by the more immpressive Love & Devotion.
UN510(2) Slim Smith - On Broadway It's a little strange that the first vocal cut of On Broadway should be released after two instrumental cuts (UN505 and UN509) had already come out. It's hard to say which version was cut first though.


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Unity Records was one a number of labels run by Harlesden's Pama Records. Due to a number of hits, most notably the massive success of Max Romeo's Wet Dream, Unity was one of Pama's most succesful subsidiaries. A significant proportion of the releases were associated with Bunny Lee, many were his productions and others he was closely involved with from releasing, financing and sharing rhythms in Jamaica to importing, licensing and business deals in the UK. This feature is dedicated to the legendary Charlie Reggae RIP. Click on the titles for sound samples of the tunes.
	UN500(1) Slim Smith - On Broadway UN500(2) Lester Stirling - Unity Is Strength Supposedly only issued as a blank label but I for one have never seen a copy. On Broadway was eventually issued on Unity UN510 whereas Unity Is Strength was issued as the flip side to Rescue Me by The Reggae Girls on Nu Beat where it was credited to the Soul Mates and D.A.Leigh (Donald Lee) as a Unity Records Production. UN 501(1) Stranger Cole & Tommy McCook -Last Flight To Reggae City. A Lloyd Charmers production issued on the Carifta label in Jamaica in 1968. The bass line is pretty much the same as Just Like A River by Stranger & Glady a Joe Gibbs production from the same year (this was also used for Laurel Aitkens - Woppi King). UN 501(2) Junior Smith - Watch Dem Go. A UK production, one of the first with a pronounced Reggae beat albeit with a strong Calypso flavour. The scan on the left shows a pre release blank label copy. Whoever wrote on the label got their planes and trains mixed up. UN 502A Lester Stirling & Stranger Cole - Bangarang. A big hit in both the UK and Jamaica this was recorded in October 1968 and alongside Lester Sttirlings saxaphone and Stangers vocal features the organ debut of Glen Adams. In Jamaica this tune appeared on both the Lee's and Carifta labels. Pama released the Bangarang LP (see below) on the strength of this and the rhythm continues to be versioned to this day. See also UN517(2) UN502B Stranger Cole - If We Should Ever Meet. A tough late Rocksteady tune. There is a second male vocal in the mix, does anyone know who? Both sides are credited as Derrick Morgan productions on the Unity issue. In reality Bangarang was produced by Bunny Lee. The B side production is unclear though it was probably Stranger Cole himself. UN503(1) Max Romeo - Wet Dream. A massive hit in the UK reaching number 10 in the pop charts in May of 1969. The success was based partly on the sheer catchiness of the tune and partially on the riske nature of the lyrics. Max has spent virtually entire career trying to live this one down. Produced by Bunny Lee this utilised the rhythm first used for Derrick Morgan's Hold You Jack. There were numerous other versions of this rhythm; see UN528, UN530, UN541. Plus Wet Version by Dave Barker and Wet Vision by U Roy. On the strength of this track Pama released the A Dream With Max Romeo LP. UN503(2) Max Romeo - She's But A Little Girl. A cautionary tale from Maxie... UN 504A Slim Smith - Everybody Needs Love. A big rhythm for producer Bunny Lee, he used it for a number of other recordings including a second outing for Slim Smith - There Is A Light (UN542), plus cuts by Jeff Barnes (1,000 Tons Of Version), Winston Williams (Love Version) Peter Tosh (Sun Valley- UN529), The Bunny Lee All Stars (Hook Up- UN533). Plus a couple of mid 70's cuts, Ital Girl by Dennis Alcapone and A Standing Ovation by Jackie Mittoo. It must have made an impression as Slim's album for Pama was also named after the track. The Jamaican issue came out on Sonia Pottingers High Note label using the UK metal stampers. The original Slim Smith cut was also used by producer Prince Tony for a DJ cut by Winston Scotland called Quick And Slick in the early 70's. UN504B Junior Smith - Come Back Girl. A rather pedestrian UK production, Junior Smiths second release on Unity. UN505(1) Lester Sterling - Reggay On Broadway. An instrumental version of the classic Drifters tune, there were two vocal cuts of On Broadway issued on Unity, by Dave Barker and Slim Smith and twm more instrumentals UN509(1) and UN529(2). Most likely another Bunny Lee production though in Jamaica this was issued on the flip side of Everybody Needs Love on High Note. UN505(2)The Clique - Love Can Be Wonderful. A bit of a mystery this one. Who were The Clique? Did they release any other tunes? Who produced this? UN506A Tommy McCook - The Avengers. Undoubtedly named after the TV programme of the same name (check the writers credit to J.Steed!) this was a solid second cut of the Bangarang rhythm. UN506B Laurel Aitken - Donkey Man The matrix of this shows a crossed out NB024B which would indicate that it was originally slated for release on the Nu Beat label (the official NB024B release was Mr Soul, also by Laurel Aitken). Donkey Man is a caustic attack on Dandy Livingston with a typical UK (Rudies?) rhythm. UN507A Derrick Morgan - Belly Woman. An uptempo vocal from Derrick Morgan, not Max Romeo as indicated on the label. Most probably a Bunny Lee production. UN507B Paulett & The Lovers - Please Stay. Another cover of a Drifters tune. Please stay is a particular favourite and was versioned many times in the late 60's and 70's. UN508A Slim Smith - For Once In My Life.More from Bunny Lee. UN508B Slim Smith - Burning Desire. The soulful vocals of Slim tend to run up against the harsh jerky rhythm. It's not that they don't fit, just that a smoother rhythm might have worked better. UN509(1) Lester Stirling - Spoogy. Lester Stirling on Saxaphone over the On Broadway rhythm together with dubbed on crowd applause. The Jamaican issue of this used a Pama stamper marked NB025-A indicating either an error at the cutting stage or that the tune had originally been slated for release on NuBeat (the former seems more likely). UN509(2) Tommy McCook - Monkey Fiddle. Tommy plays the flute over a solid rhythm, does any one know of any other versions of this? UN510(1) Slim Smith - Zip A Di Do Da. Originally composed by Ray Gilbert for Walt Disneys animated classic Song Of The South. The Jamaican issue came out on Carifta backed by the more immpressive Love & Devotion. UN510(2) Slim Smith - On Broadway It's a little strange that the first vocal cut of On Broadway should be released after two instrumental cuts (UN505 and UN509) had already come out. It's hard to say which version was cut first though.

Unity Records - Part 1.