Last Friday night, Alton Ellis passed away at age 70, and the music world lost another great one. He was one of the most popular singers of the rock steady era before moving to England where he continued his career, releasing reggae music on his own Alltone label. Join us as we remember him through his music. You’ll also hear thoughts from Chris Wilson.

Playlist:
Alton Ellis & Eddie Perkins - My Heaven
Alton Ellis - Remember That Sunday
Duke Reid Group - Sunday Walking
Alton Ellis - I’ll Be Waiting
Sound Dimension - Park View
Alton Ellis - Joy in the Morning
Alton Ellis & the Soul Vendors - Whipping the Prince
Alton Ellis & Hortense Ellis - Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Alton Ellis - The Picture Was You
Alton Ellis - Feeling Inside
Alton Ellis - Back To Africa
Alton Ellis - Ain’t That Loving You
Hortense Ellis & Alton Ellis - Don’t Gamble With Love

Heartbeat’s latest CD, Dub Specialist - Dub is now available. The 2 disc LP set will be available in about a week. If you love dub music, this episode is for you, and if you’re into versioning, you’ll enjoy it even more. Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast via e-mail so that you can be eligible for the Dub Specialist - Dub CD giveaway.

Playlist:
Dub Specialist - Starring Dub
Cornell Campbell - Stars
Sound Dimension - Mojo Rock Steady
Dub Specialist - Mr. Joe
Soul Vendors - Swing Easy
Dub Specialist - Dub It Easy
Johnny Osbourne - Can’t Buy Love
Dub Specialist - Queen of the Dub
Sugar Minott - Come On Home
Delroy Wilson - Run Run
Dub Specialist - Runnings
Dennis Alcapone - Run Run
Horace Andy - Love of a Woman
Dub Specialist - Love of a Dub
Larry Marshall - Mean Girl
Dub Specialist - Dub Me Girl
Sugar Minott - Roof Over My Head

Johnny Osbourne - Truths and Rights Deluxe Edition includes the original 10 album tracks, plus 6 bonus tracks. On the podcast, you’ll hear music from the CD and the reasons you should upgrade to this edition. Congratulations to the Culture T shirt winners, Anders in Sweden and Mark in Connecticut, USA.

Playlist:
Johnny Osbourne - Sing Jay Style
Jah Jesco & Jucey Bravo - West Gone Black
Alexander Henry - Please Be True
Johnny Osbourne - Nah Skin Up
Basil Daley - Hold Me Baby
Johnny Osbourne - Jah Promise
Johnny Osbourne - Truths and Rights
Al Campbell - Take a Ride
Johnny Osbourne - We Need Love
Dub Specialist - Luanda
Johnny Osbourne - Jealousy Heartache and Pain

Rocksteady and early reggae music from three big producers–Clancy Eccles, Joe Gibbs, and Lloyd Daley, plus a timely song from the final Culture album featuring Joseph Hill on lead vocals.

Playlist:
Clancy Eccles - The Revenge
Larry Marshall - Please Stay
Beres Hammond - The Wanderer
Alton Ellis - Feeling Inside
Lyn Taitt & the Jets - Rock a Shock
Overtakers - Girl You Ruff
Lee “King” Perry - I Am the Upsetter
Sir Lord Comic - Doctor Feelgood
Little Roy - Bongo Nyah
Lloyd Robinson - Death a Come
Dennis Brown - Things in Life
Abyssinians - Y Mas Gan
Culture - World Peace

Cleveland Browne, of Steely & Clevie fame, joins Heartbeat Records for a look back at his musical life that started in a rehearsal room that his father set up for him and his brothers. He went on to record Dawn Penn following the Studio One 35th Anniversary show in Jamaica, and along with Steely, become the dancehall duo who dominated the Jamaican charts from the mid ’80s. And few know that Clevie was one of the session musicians and singers who sang and played on tracks at Studio One during the late ’70s and early ’80s. Clevie talks about it all right here on the Heartbeat. We’ll also preview the up-coming Heartbeat reissue CD, Johnny Osbourne - Truths and Rights Deluxe Edition, which will be available July 8, 2008.

Playlist:
Marcia Griffiths - Melody Life
Alton Ellis - Ain’t That Loving You
Steely & Clevie - Hitomi
Lloyd Robinson - Cuss Cuss
Michigan & Smiley - Nice Up the Dance
Freddie McGregor - Bobby Bobylon
Johnny Osbourne - Truths and Rights
Johnny Osbourne - All I Have Is Love
Sugar Minott - Jah Jah Children
Heptones - Hard To Confess
Freddie McGregor - Come Now Sister
Leroy Sibbles - Fatty Fatty
Steely & Clevie - Money Maker
Dawn Penn - No No No
Silvertones - Smile

Producer and singer Niney the Observer tells us how he generated support from the musicians when he was just starting out as a producer, his time with Dennis Brown, music of the 1970s, and the happiness he feels knowing how far his music has reached. We also pay tribute to Dennis Brown, who would have been 51 years old this month.

Playlist:
Niney - Blood and Fire
Dennis Brown - Westbound Train
Dennis Brown - Money In My Pocket
Michael Rose - Guess Who’s Coming For Dinner
Dennis Brown - Wolf and Leopards

Playlist:
By Saint Peter
Hand to Hand
Help the Weak
Run Rudie Run
Madhead
Cannot Wrong (And Get Right)
Mother in Law
Just Keep it Up

Playlist:
Gladiators - Roots Natty
Gladiators - Bongo Red
Gladiators - Rearrange
Abyssinians - Declaration of Rights
Abyssinians - Declaration of Rights (Original)
Abyssinians - Satta Massagana
Wailers - Another Dance
Wailers - Don’t Ever Leave Me
Wailers - Let Him Go

Playlist:
Jimmy Tucker - Cradle in Bethlehem
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Sound the Trumpet
Toots & the Maytals - Christmas Feeling Ska
Bob Marley & the Wailers - White Christmas
Roy Richards - Jingle Bells
Alton Ellis - Christmas Coming
Merry Christmas - Al & the Vibrators
Heptones - I Shall Be Released
Silvertones - Bling Bling Christmas
Johnny Osbourne - Christmas Stylee
Johnny Osbourne - Sing Jay Stylee
Tennessee Brown & Silvertones - Little Drummer Boy
Alton Ellis - Praise Jah it’s Christmas
Heptones - Christmas Time is Here
Heptones - Party Time
Brent Dowe - Christmas in Jamaica

Playlist:
Lone Ranger - Keep on Coming a the Dance
Don Drummond - Heavenless
Larry Marshall - Nanny Goat
Dennis Alcapone - Nanny Version
Horace Andy - Fever
Dennis Alcapone - Fever Teaser
General Smiley - Mama Prayed
Delroy Wilson - Conquer Me
Dennis Alcapone - The Conqueror
Sound Dimension - Heavy Beat
Lone Ranger - Noah in the Ark
Ernest Wilson - Why oh Why
Horace Andy - Skylarking
Lone Ranger - Screw Gone a North Coast