And so to the latest 45 from Woodfield Road Allstars, Big Shot, the first Original Gravity label material to feature on MB since way back in early June with Latin Fever EP. So did nothing come out inbetween? You’re joking aren’t aren’t you? Surely OG’s output is by now legendary? There’s been no fewer than four (!) other 45s out in the intervening weeks, two featuring covers of S.O.U.L.’s Burning Spear (in a reggae stylee and in a Latin one), one featuring ska covers of Mel Tormé’s Comin’ Home Baby and one featuring Latin and ska covers of R&B standard Louie Louie. Admittedly, knocking out covers removes the hassle of having to write original material but this is mostly the output of just one man (that’ll be label owner Neil Anderson) and it’s not like he hasn’t put out plenty of original stuff as well, including two LPs this year! In any case, Big Shot and its B-side Soul Shakedown are originals (for all that the names have been used in reggae before) and find the Allstars straddle the rocksteady/ reggae divide with Big Shot delivering organ-led early reggae thrills and Soul Shakedown providing a sparser but no less groovy rocksteady cut with that organ on overdrive.
(Out now on Original Gravity Records)
