Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee – Jumping with Mr. Lee: Reggae Classics from the Vault LP Kingston Sounds

LP version. The period of 1967-1968 when rocksteady was in full flow, would also be a turning point for Bunny “Striker” Lee, when he became a producer in his own right. Many of the great tunes during this eventful year came out of his stable and initially saw the light of day on his own imprint label “Lee’s”. Jumping With Mr. Lee has been assembled from some of those fine tunes and tells the story of reggae in what was a stellar time for both reggae and Mr Bunny Lee. Edward “Bunny” Lee, later to become known as “Striker”, got his introduction to the music business around 1962 when his future brother in law singer Derrick Morgan introduced Bunny to producer Duke Reid, who gave him a job as record plugger for his Treasure Isle label. 1966 saw Bunny Lee move on to working for producer Ken Lack who ran his own label Caltone. As stated earlier, by 1967 Bunny Lee was leading the way and his vast stable of singers, were producing hit after hit for him — many of those artists are featured on this compilation. The Sensations’ “Long Time Me No See You Girl”, The Uniques which featured the great Slim Smith are here on some of their greatest cuts “Love and Devotion”, “The Beatitude”, and “Girls Like Dirt”. “My Conversation”, a song that would be a big hit for the Uniques, would also go on to be of the most covered songs and redone over rhythms, in the history of reggae music. The great singer Pat Kelly features on “Somebody’s Baby” and “Little Boy Blue” all massive hits, when originally released. Bunny’s love of jazz and the brass sections would also shine through with some of Jamaica’s finest musicians featured here with the excellent tenor sax work of Val Bennett which provided the album title track “Jumping With Mr Lee” and “Jumping With Val”. The alto sax work of Lester Sterling is featured on the timeless cut “Bangerang” and “Tribute To Scratch”. The big sound of trombonist Vin Gordon features on “Sounds And Soul”. Not forgetting the previously mentioned king of ska Derrick Morgan on “Hold Your Jack”, a song that in a few years’ time would provide the backbone for Mr Max Romeo’s cross over and controversial hit “Wet Dream”. A fine collection of tracks from the great producer Bunny “Striker” Lee. Also features Winston “Stranger” Cole, Pat Kelly, and Ken Parker.