The Ethiopians
Wikimp3 information about the music of The Ethiopians. On our website we have 31 albums and 70 collections of artist The Ethiopians. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that The Ethiopians represents Reggae genres.
Biography
[Edit]Essentially a mouthpiece for singer and songwriter Leonard Dillon, the Ethiopians were one of Jamaica's most influential vocal groups during their heyday. Not only did the duo (completed by Stephen Taylor) spearhead the transition between ska and rocksteady, Dillon's heavily Rastafarian lyrics also paved the way for the socially conscious roots reggae era that was to come. Born in Port Antonio in 1942, Dillon grew up in a Christian family and discovered music through their church. Having written some original songs, he moved to Kingston in 1963; finding the going difficult, he returned home for a time to regroup, but made the move back to Kingston permanently in 1964. Not long after, he met Peter Tosh, who liked his original material and introduced Dillon to the rest of the Wailers. The Wailers in turn brought Dillon to Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One, where Dillon made his first recordings under the name Jack Sparrow. Two Sparrow singles, "Ice Water" and "Suffering on the Land," were both released in 1965.
Around the same time, Dillon discovered a street-corner singing duo consisting of Taylor and singer/guitarist Aston Morris. At first, he invited them to sing backup for him, then decided to form a full-fledged group dubbed the Ethiopians. Together they cut several excellent singles for Studio One in 1966, including "Free Man," "Live Good," and the ska/rocksteady-bridging "Owe Me No Pay Me." Morris, a songwriter in his own right, elected to leave the group by the end of 1966, reducing the Ethiopians to a duo. Meanwhile, Dillon was working a day job in construction and met another singer there named Albert Griffiths (who would later found the Gladiators). Together they convinced their boss to finance a recording session, and the result for the Ethiopians was the breakthrough smash hit "Train to Skaville," which even managed to scrape the lower reaches of the U.K. Top 40.
With this success under their belt, the Ethiopians recorded prolifically over the remainder of 1967, cutting hits like "Engine 54," "Train to Glory," "Stay Loose Mama," and another big smash in the percussion-driven "The Whip"; all but the former were recorded for rocksteady producer Sonia Pottinger, and they also worked a bit with Lee "Scratch" Perry. 1968 saw the release of their first LP, Engine 54, and the arrival of a semiofficial third vocalist, Melvin Reid. Toward the end of that year, the group teamed with producer Carl "Sir J.J." Johnson in what would become their most celebrated association. Their first hit for Johnson was the proto-reggae "Everything Crash," a socially conscious, rhythmically jerky juggernaut that became arguably the group's signature tune. Through 1970, Johnson and the Ethiopians collaborated on numerous other groundbreaking hits, including "What a Fire," "Gun Man," "Hong Kong Flu," "Woman Capture Man" (the title track of their third LP), and "The Selah," all of which helped keep them popular in the U.K. as well as Jamaica.
The restless Dillon subsequently moved the Ethiopians to a succession of other labels and producers; over 1969-1971, they recorded popular material for Harry Robinson ("Fire a Mus Mus Tail"), Lloyd Daley ("Satan Girl"), Derrick Harriott ("Lot's Wife," "No Baptism"), and Duke Reid ("Good Ambition," "Pirate"). As the group evolved into a rootsier reggae outfit over the next few years, all the producer-hopping grew even more frantic over the next several years, with Vincent Chin, Prince Buster, Joe Gibbs, Bob Andy, and Rupie Edwards numbering just some of the group's collaborators. Part of the reason was that Dillon hadn't been receiving his fair share of past royalties and was forced to record constantly just to make money. Reid left for good in 1974, by which time Dillon and Taylor had taken day jobs once again. Sadly, Taylor's day job would turn into tragedy in September 1975: he was working at a gas station when he was killed by a van while crossing the street.
Taylor's untimely death effectively spelled the end of the Ethiopians' golden age. Dillon, understandably distraught, took a hiatus from music for a time, returning home to Port Antonio for two years. Eventually, he contacted charter member Aston Morris and revived the Ethiopians name, cutting the rootsy, political album Slave Call in 1977 with producer Winston "Niney" Holness. Dillon toured off and on under the Ethiopians name afterwards, sometimes with Harold Bishop and Neville Duncan, and recorded occasionally as a solo act in the '80s and '90s. Toward the end of the millennium, he formed a new Ethiopians lineup with female backing vocalists and arrangers Sister JiJi and Gina Murrell, who appeared on the 1999 album Tuffer Than Stone.
Title: Everything Crash (Ska Rem) (Single)
Artist: The Ethiopians
Genre: Tech House, Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Reggae, Roots Reggae, Ska
Title: Train to Skaville: Anthology 1966-1975
Artist: The Ethiopians
Genre: Alternative Rock, Reggae, World Music, Latin, Ska
Title: Ethiopians Classics, Vol. 2 (feat. Neville "Ethiopian" Duncan)
Artist: The Ethiopians
Genre: Reggae
Title: Ethiopians Classics, Vol. 1 (feat. Neville "Ethiopian" Duncan)
Artist: The Ethiopians
Genre: Reggae
Title: The Aggrovators Present: The Ethiopians
Artist: The Ethiopians
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, Ska
Title: Train To Skaville: Anthology 1966 To 1975 (CD2)
Artist: The Ethiopians
Title: Train To Skaville: Anthology 1966 To 1975 (CD1)
Artist: The Ethiopians
Title: Reggae Originals: The Ethiopians, The Hippy Boys & The Rudies
Artist: The Ethiopians, The Hippy Boys, The Rudies
Genre: Reggae
Collections
Title: Early Ska Classics
Title: Jackpot Reggae
Genre: Reggae
Title: Cultural Things
Genre: Reggae
Title: Essential Jamaican Mento and Ska
Genre: World Music
Title: Reggae Classics: Uptown Top Ranking
Genre: Reggae
Title: Reggae's Greatest Hits, Vol. 5
Genre: Reggae
Title: Ska Summer Hits
Genre: World Music
Title: Essential Ska Legends
Genre: World Music
Title: 100 Reggae Hits
Genre: Reggae
Title: Rastabation
Genre: Pop
Title: Pure Reggae
Genre: Reggae
Title: Reggae Chartbusters, Vol. 1
Genre: Reggae
Title: Tighten Up Vol. 4
Genre: Reggae
Title: Reggae Anthology: Randy's 50th Anniversary
Genre: Reggae
Title: Ska Sounds, Vol. 2
Genre: Reggae
Title: Moon Walk-Reggay
Genre: Reggae
Title: Gay Jamaica Independence Time
Genre: Reggae
Title: Music History: Reggae Styles
Genre: Reggae
Title: Riding the Roots Chariot
Genre: Reggae
Title: 30 Songs for a Perfect Jamaican Wedding
Genre: Reggae
Title: Legends of Ska, Vol. 1
Genre: Reggae
Title: More Intensified - Original Ska 1963-67
Genre: Pop
Title: All Time Greatest Reggae Classics
Genre: Reggae
Title: Those Reggae Oldies
Genre: Reggae
Title: Legends at Work
Genre: World Music
Title: The Originators
Genre: Dancefloor, Reggae, Dance Pop
Title: Rarities Edition: Tighten Up, Vol. 2
Genre: Reggae
Title: Reggae Anthology: Randy's 50th Anniversary
Genre: Reggae
Title: '60s Ska Explosion
Genre: Reggae
Title: Jackpot Presents Bunny Striker Lee Story
Genre: Reggae
Title: The Ska's the Limit Vol. 2
Genre: Reggae
Title: Gay Jamaica Independence Time
Genre: World Music
Title: Luv Messenger - The Whip Riddim
Genre: Reggae
Title: In Private... Reggae
Genre: Reggae
Title: Riding the Musical Chariot
Genre: Reggae
Title: Crystal/Move & Groove Artists Collectors Edition 1
Genre: Reggae
Title: By the Rivers of Babylon: Timeless Hymns of Rastafari
Genre: Reggae
Title: Tighten Up, Vol. 5
Genre: Reggae
Title: Reggae In Your Jeggae - Gems from Trojan Records
Genre: Reggae
Title: Greater Jamaica - Moon Walk Reggay
Genre: World Music
Title: Tighten Up Volume 2
Genre: Reggae
Title: Ska Madness!
Genre: Reggae
Title: The Bunny Striker Lee Story
Genre: Reggae
Title: Trojan Christmas Box Set
Genre: Reggae
Title: Reggae Stars
Genre: Reggae
Title: Trojan UK Hits Collection
Genre: Reggae
Title: Trojan Rocksteady Collection
Genre: Reggae
Title: Reggae Xmas
Genre: Reggae
Title: Let's Do Rocksteady: The Story of Rocksteady 1966-68
Genre: Reggae
Title: Treasure Isle In Dub: Rare Dubs 1970-1978
Genre: Reggae
Title: Authentic Reggae, Vol. 3
Genre: Reggae
Title: Authentic Reggae, Vol. 3 (Platinum Edition)
Genre: Reggae
Title: Jackpot Presents Authentic Reggae Vol.3
Genre: Reggae
Title: Song Corner: Reggae Greats (Remastered)
Genre: Reggae
Title: World Classics: Rock Them Snagga
Genre: World Music
Title: Sun Is Shining: 30 Reggae Classics for Summer
Genre: Reggae
Featuring albums
Title: Late Night Tales: Belle & Sebastian (Remastered)
Artist: Belle & Sebastian
Genre: Rock, Dancefloor, Dance Pop, Alternative
Title: Good Times 3
Artist: Joey Mbe & Norman Jay Mbe
Genre: Electronica, House, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Dancefloor, Disco, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Good Times 2
Artist: Jay Norman
Genre: House, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Dancefloor, Disco, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: High Plains Drifter
Artist: Lee Perry & The Upsetters
Genre: Electronica, Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub
Title: The Mighty 2 - Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson
Artist: Joe Gibbs, Errol Thompson
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, Dub, Dancehall, World Music
Title: Reggae Anthology - Joe Gibbs: Scorchers From The Early Years (1967-73)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: Riding the Musical Chariot
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Alternative Rock, Reggae, World Music, Latin, Ska
Title: Lloyd Daley's Matador Productions 1968-72: Reggae Classics from the Originator
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, Reggae, World Music, Latin, Pop, Ska, Indie
Title: Reggae Anthology: Niney The Observer - Roots With Quality
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: Let's Do Rocksteady: The Story of Rocksteady 1966-68
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: Blood & Fire: Hit Sounds From the Observer Station 1970-1978
Artist: Niney
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: By The Rivers Of Babylon: Timeless Hymns of Rastafari
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, World Music, Latin
Title: Blood & Fire (Hit Sounds From The Observer Station 1970-1978) (CD2)
Artist: Niney
Genre: Reggae
Title: Luv Messenger Presents the Whip Riddim - EP
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, World Music
Title: Barry Myers Presents Scratchy Sounds (Ska, Dub, Roots & Reggae Nuggets)
Artist: Barry Myers
Genre: Reggae
Title: Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Ska Years
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae, Ska
Title: Merritone Rock Steady 3: Bang Bang Rock Steady 1966-1968
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae
Title: Merritone Rock Steady 3: Bang Bang Rock Steady 1966-1968
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Reggae