On The Beach With The Paragons

ジャマイカン・ミュージックの名門レーベル＜Treasure Isle＞からレジェンド、ジョン・ホルトが所属していたザ・パラゴンズが2CDとなってカムバック!ジャマイカン・ミュージック界のレジェンド的スカ、ロックステディ、レゲエグループ、ザ・パラゴンズ。1960年代前半から活動を開始し、幾度のメンバー交代を経て今もなお精力的に活動を続けている。1967年にりリリースされたザ・パラゴンズのデビューアルバムとなる『オン・ザ・ビーチ・ウィズ・ザ・パラゴンズ』をベースに53曲入り2CDとなってカムバック!ブロンディー、アトミック・キトゥンによるカヴァーでも有名な歴史的大ヒット曲「Tide IsHigh」を始めとする、スカ、ロックステディ、レゲエのクラシック曲を収録したベスト盤!

John Holt, Howard Barrett, Tyrone Evansの3人によるスーパー・グループ、The Paragons。1967年に発売された名デビュー・アルバム"On The Beach"の全曲プラス、その後の代表曲を網羅した2枚組のアンソロジー！ロックステディ全盛期に数え切れないほどのヒット・シングルをリリースし、ジャマイカン・ミュージックの発展に大いに貢献したコーラスグループ、The Paragons。John Holtのソロ活動の成功と共に1968年に一旦解散したものの、その後も断続的に再結成し、今日でも多くのアーティスト達に影響を与えている。Blondieがカヴァーや、ビールのTVCMなどでも知られる"The Tide Is High"（邦題：夢見るNo.1）や"Man Next Door"といった名曲がずらり！

In 1998, the French Jet Set label reissued this classic 1967 album on CD. The original art work was included along with informative new liner notes and write-ups on both the Paragons and Duke "the Trojan" Reid (founder of the Kingston-based Treasure Isle Records and an important figure in Jamaican music). Originally a Treasure Isle LP, On the Beach with the Paragons sold well in Jamaica and also became a hit in England (where reggae and ska have been huge since the '60s). One of reggae's finest vocal harmony groups of the '60s, the Paragons were the reggae equivalent of soulsters like the Four Tops, the Delfonics and the Miracles -- and it's impossible to miss the northern soul influence on such gems as "Island in the Sun," "Happy-Go-Lucky Girl," "Only a Smile" and their most famous hit, "The Tide Is High" (which Blondie covered with splendid results in 1980). The Paragons' charismatic lead singer, John Holt, has inspired comparisons to Bob Marley -- to be sure, there was some similarity, but Holt was certainly his own man. Not only is On the Beach essential listening for reggae enthusiasts, it's also a CD that lovers of vocal-group soul can appreciate. ~ Alex Henderson|

In 1998, the French Jet Set label reissued this classic 1967 album on CD. The original art work was included along with informative new liner notes and write-ups on both the Paragons and Duke "the Trojan" Reid (founder of the Kingston-based Treasure Isle Records and an important figure in Jamaican music). Originally a Treasure Isle LP, On the Beach with the Paragons sold well in Jamaica and also became a hit in England (where reggae and ska have been huge since the '60s). One of reggae's finest vocal harmony groups of the '60s, the Paragons were the reggae equivalent of soulsters like the Four Tops, the Delfonics and the Miracles -- and it's impossible to miss the northern soul influence on such gems as "Island in the Sun," "Happy-Go-Lucky Girl," "Only a Smile" and their most famous hit, "The Tide Is High" (which Blondie covered with splendid results in 1980). The Paragons' charismatic lead singer, John Holt, has inspired comparisons to Bob Marley -- to be sure, there was some similarity, but Holt was certainly his own man. Not only is On the Beach essential listening for reggae enthusiasts, it's also a CD that lovers of vocal-group soul can appreciate. ~ Alex Henderson