Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Everyday Will be Like a Holiday


Every year we like to post the great  William Bell singing "Everyday Will be Like a Holiday," which was released as a single on Stax records in November, 1967. However, this year, Warner Music Group has blocked access to the video on YouTube!

Not to worry! Dig this great 1969 rendition by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. Byron Lee, who died in 2008, was a major player in the Jamaican music industry, as a performing artist (since 1950), a promoter, and as the owner of Dynamic Sounds Recording Company, perhaps the best and most popular studio in the Carribean back in the day (Toots and the Maytalls, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones). The 14-member Dragonaires are often cited as one of Jamaica's earliest ska bands, although many would say their success was largely due to Lee's business and political connections, and not so much to their pioneering music. They've released over 60 albums, and The Dragonaire's, without Lee, continue to perform today. (Website here.)

The Dragonaire's version of  "...Holiday" is actually a pretty straight and faithful rendition of the Stax version. Sweet sounds. Check it out!
















Trivia: Byron Lee and the Dragonaires played as the hotel house band in James Bond's Dr. No.


No comments: