Supreme was one of Clement “Coxsone” Dodd’s first labels, it was started in the very early 60’s and being used consistently until around 1973. The label had two basic designs though these went through a variety of different colour combinations. Unusually for Studio One the label was fairly frequently used for pre-releases in the late 60’s and early 70’s with the Supreme logo being featured on labels without titles and artist credits.
This feature is an attempt to lists all known Supreme releases, primarily the official 60’s and 70’s Jamaican ones but we’re also attempted to include more recent reissues, official or otherwise.
Releases are listed alphabetically by artist, this was not entirely straight forward as it’s not always obvious which side was the A side so this has been guess work in some cases with the more well known/successful sides automatically assumed to be the A side. Alternative releases of the same songs on other labels are listed providing they came out in the 60’s or 70’s though blank label issues are not mentioned as it is assumed that the majority of the late 60’s and early 70’s output would have had a blank label release. Incorrect spellings or credits are usually listed as shown on the labels.
Andy & Marcia – Thou Shall Not Steal B/W
Marcia Griffith – B-A-B-Y
Released circa 1966. Andy is Keith Anderson, better known as Bob Andy.
Thou Shall Not Steal is a cover of the Dick & Dee Dee pop hit from 1965.
B-A-B-Y is a cover of the Carla Thomas ’66 soul hit written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
Basil Gabbidon – Mr Landlord B/W
Don Drummond – Reload
Mr Landlord was reissued on a white Coxsone label in the 1970’s where it was on the reverse of Beardman Ska by the Skatalites, this same pairing has been used on Supreme reissues (see the reissues section below).
Reload was also released on the All Stars label in Jamaica (paired with Aubrey Adams And The Blues Blasters -Little Willie) and on Blue Beat (on BB179 paired with Far East) in the UK in 1963, and on a black/white Coxsone label in the 70’s.
Basil Gabbidon – Enie Menie B/W
The City Slickers – Twist Walk
Released circa 1963.
Twist Walk also known as Silky. This side saw various releases including on Sight’N’Sound in Jamaica and banana in the UK in 1971 (credited to the Cyclones).
Enie Menie was reissued circa 1971 on the Iron Side label (titled Enie-Meanie-Miney-Mo). There was also a track titles Ena Mena by Basil Gabbidon released by Prince Buster around the same time as this first came out but it’s not the same tune.
Blues Busters – You Had It All Wrong B/W
Blues Busters – There’s Always Sunshine
There were two issues on Supreme, the original 1961 issue (with yellow, yellow/red and blue/silver label variations) and a second issue with the black/silver label. This was released with the same a and b side on Blue Beat in the UK (BB 73) in 1962, in Jamaica in the late 60’s on a silver on black Coxsone label and again on a white Coxsone label in the 70’s
Blues Busters – Tell Me Why B/W
Blues Busters – I’ve Done You Wrong
The same pairing was issued on Blue Beat in the UK and on Capitol in the USA in 1962.
Bob Andy – Let Them Say B/W
Bob Andy – Experience
Released in 1968 and a big seller (which you can see from the number of different label variations).
Experience AKA Too Experienced, a huge song that has been covered many times.
It sounds like Leroy Sibbles is involved in the harmonies on Let Them Say. This pairing was also released on a black print on white Jamaican Studio One label circa 1969 and on UK Studio One in 1968.
Bob Andy – Desperate Lover B/W
Shine & Bagga – Promised Land
Released circa 1970.
Desperate Lover was also issued a couple of times on black/white Coxsone in the early 70’s once with Promised Land on the flip side and once with a version, it was also issued on a Studio One 12″ circa 1979. It was issued in the UK on Bamboo in 1970 miscredited to Bob & Marcia
Note some issues list Promise Land (without the d).
Bob Andy – My Time B/W
Roy Richards – Rocking
Released in 1968.
My Time was issued on UK Coxsone in 1968 miscredited to Alton Ellis and titled Born A Man.
Rocking is on the Feeling Soul (Bob Andy) rhythm.
Bob & Marcia – Always Together B/W
Sound Dimension – Baby Face
Released 1969.
Always Together/Baby Face was also issued on white/black label Coxsone in the early 70’s and on the Coxson label.
There was a UK issue issue of Always Together on Bamboo (BAM40) in 1970 with strings added, the Bamboo version was also issued in Jamaica on the Hanging microphone Studio One label. The original Jamaican version also had a 12″ release on the Studio One label circa 1977.
Baby Face is based on Black Is Black by Los Bravos, it was also issued on Bamboo in the UK (BAM07), there was also a white/black Coxsone label Pt1/Pt 2 issue of Baby Face in the late 70’s with overdubbed syndrums etc.
Bob Marley And The Wailers – What’s New Pussy Cat? B/W
Bob Marley And The Wailers – Where Will I Find
Bob Marley and The Wailers – What’s New Pussy Cat?
Bob Marley and The Wailers – Where Will I Find
Released in 1965.
The Wailers take on the Tom Jones pop hit. The same pairing was also issued on Island in the UK (WI 254) in ’65.
Superb piece mr DC
a PROPER knowledgehustler.
MAXiMUM Respect.
p.s that Roy Richards ‘Rocking’ .. isn’t it a cut of Keith Andersons ‘Feeling Soul’ ??
Just found this excellent list. I have a couple more to add (unless I overlooked): “Rhyming time” (King Stitt) / “Always something there to remind me” (Winston Francis) on a Pre. “Crying over you” and “I am a fool” (Ken Boothe on a full labelled copy. Regards!
LOVE THIS! great to have a soundfile, label scan and backround info about that released! well done!
p.s. i have a copy of Marcia Griffiths first record – ‘Wall Of Love’ / ‘You’re No Good’. so i could provide soundfile and label scan.
Best regards
Stefan
Hi Apollo 69 – Thanks very much – any help with label scans will be greatly appreciated! You can send them to dancecrasher.co.uk @ gmail.com
(remove the spaces).
Thanks!
Tim
Hi
What about Duppy Serenade by the Innkeepers – that is on Supreme.
Cheers
Vince
There is at least one more Carlton and the Shoes release on Supreme, I have a copy of “This Feeling” b/w “You and Me”.