The Reggae Boys / Glen Adams - Ba Ba / Power Cut The Reggae Boys / Glen Adams

Reissue of the cult Boss Reggae single
produced by Lee Scratch Perry!

This new 7‑inch single is the first reissue ever of the super rare original 1969 Boss Reggae single THE REGGAE BOYS “BA BA” produced by Lee Scratch Perry, along with its terrific instrumental version “POWER CUT”!

The single was only issued once in the UK in 1969 on the GAS label, a Pama sublabel; apparently it was never released in Jamaica. This is the first ever reissue on 7‑inch vinyl since its 1969 release.

BA BA was also released on a LP one year later in 1970 on the UPSETTERS’ “CLINT EASTWOOD” L.P. produced by Lee Perry, under the name “WHAT IS THIS” along with yet another Reggae Boys’ track: “SELASSIE”. Both tracks on the album were credited to the Upsetters without mentioning the Reggae Boys.

THE REGGAE BOYS

The Reggae Boys were a mighty combo comprising Alva “Reggie” Lewis on guitar and Glen Adams on organ from the Hippy Boys along with the great Pioneers on vocals… It is unclear though if the rest of the Hippy Boys i.e. Aston “Family Man” Barrett on bass and Carlton Barrett on drums were involved in the Reggae Boys but it is very likely.

With such a lineout, the Reggae Boys released 12 excellent singles between 1969 and 1970, both on the Joe Gibbs labels and on the Pama labels with the tracks being credited either to Joe Gibbs on his labels or to Glen Adams for the Pama labels.

The singles, all collectible, include top Boss Reggae favourites such as:

“Mama Looked Deh”, “Me No Born Ya”, “The Wicked Must Survive”, “The Reggae Train”, “Dolly House On Fire”, “Selassie”, “What You Gonna Do”, “Reggae Train” and off course our new single: “Ba Ba” along with its great instrumental version “Power Cut”!

Sadly the Reggae Boys stopped recording after The Pioneers moved to the U.K. in 1970…

GLEN ADAMS

The legendary Glen Adams, born in 1945 in Jamaica, was a very influential Reggae artist, a versatile musician, composer, arranger, and producer who later settled in Brooklyn, New York. His first steps into music came early as a teenager on Radio Jamaica’s Opportunity Knocks. Performing both in groups and solo, he gained recognition in Kingston cabaret shows. His sister Yvonne was also a singer and a song writer. She wrote the song Wonder Thirst that Glen sang to catch the attention of Clement “Coxsone” Dodd who recorded it in 1960. Though unreleased, it became popular on sound systems.

He formed the duo Ken and Glen with Ken Boothe, achieving second place in the 1966 Festival Song Competition with I Remember. Adams then co‑founded The Heptones, then joined The Pioneers, appearing on Shake It Up and Good Nanny. While working as a tailor, he collaborated with Duke Reid at Treasure Isle and later with Bunny Lee as singer, backing vocalist, and A&R man.

In 1968, when musicians failed to show up for a session, Adams switched from piano to organ, despite never having played it before. He performed on tracks like Lester Sterling’s Bangarang and Slim Smith’s Everybody Needs Love, becoming a regular session player. He worked with The Hippy Boys, The Reggae Boys, and The Upsetters under Lee “Scratch” Perry, and also recorded under the name Augustus Pablo for Herman Chin Loy.

With The Upsetters, Adams toured the UK after Perry’s Return of Django. Back in Jamaica, he arranged and apparently wrote Mr. Brown for The Wailers, inspired by a local ghost tale. Though intended for himself, Perry suggested the Wailers record it, with Adams adding eerie organ riffs.

Adams regularly introduced this song at his concerts with the statement: "I wrote this song for Bob Marley".

When The Wailers left Perry in 1971, Adams stayed with Scratch, splitting his time between Jamaica and the US.

He founded the Capo label and the Blue Grass Experience band, then moved permanently to Brooklyn in 1975 where he carried on producing.

Adams passed away on 17 December 2010 at the University Hospital of the West Indies after falling ill while visiting Jamaica.

A SIDE:

This cracking super rare Boss reggae hit has been never reissued until now.

Although the single was clearly credited to Glen Adams, it featured on a PAMA album and compilations as a Lee Perry production under the name WHAT IS THIS. The cool riddim was also used by Lee Perry for The Upsetters “Cold Sweat” released in 1969. In our opinion though, the super catchy “Ba Ba with The Pioneers fine vocals is by far the best track. It is a fine and very much in demand Boss Reggae classic. What a tune!

B SIDE:

POWER CUT was released on the B side of “BA BA” on the original 1969 Gas single. It is a gorgeous organ version of the A side performed by very talented Glen Adams, a fine instrumental example of the original Jamaican Boss Reggae at its very best. It has never been reissued since then. Super rare on single and super cool…