Band Name: The Ethiopians
Music Album: Live Good
Album Release Date: January 1970
Music Genre: Reggae Ska
Record Label: Not On Label
Album Release Country: Jamaica
Music Record Type: 2 Tracks Vinyl 7"
The Ethiopians are a ska, rocksteady, and reggae vocal group, founded by Leonard Dillon, Stephen Taylor (15) and Aston Morris. The group started out recording for Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd in 1966. Dillon had previously released some mento songs under the name Jack Sparrow (2). Around late 1966, Morris left the Ethiopians. Having left Dodd, the Ethiopians started recording at Dynamic Studios for the WIRL label, releasing the ska classic song "Train to Skaville", which was their first success. In 1968 they recorded the song "Everything Crash", their first big hit. The song criticised the political situation in Jamaica at the time, such as water rationing and power cuts that led to unrest; such as an incident in which 31 people were shot by police. In September 1975, Taylor was killed by a van while he was crossing a road, but Dillon continued to tour as The Ethiopian.
| A | Live Good |
| B | Unknown |
Blank Jamaican pre-release, stamped with faint blue "Jamaica Record Manufacturers Ltd." rubber stamp on one side. Both sides can be identified as Coxsone productions from different eras.
The identified Ethiopians "A"-side ska song was recorded in 1966 and the unidentified "B"-side sounds like an early 70's outing. Matrix number falls into 1972 masters. The song appears to be a semi-instrumental/early dub on Eric Donaldson's Cherry Oh Baby-theme with some vocal snatches, sounding like young Freddie McGregor in his early teens. No artist and title can be assigned to this matrix number according to lists.
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