Engine 54

The Ethiopians were among the first Jamaican artists to signal their pride in Africa. They then achieved the remarkable feat of spending six weeks in the UK Top 100 over 1967's ‘Summer of Love’ with their single ‘Train to Skaville’. That this single was released on Rio Records – a tiny independent with poor distribution – and received little airplay made their achievement even more notable. In Jamaica, The Ethiopians were equally popular and thus they were given the then rare opportunity to record an album. Alongside ‘Train to Skaville’ were nine other tracks, all of them storming rocksteady numbers with the title-track, ‘Engine 54’, being another gorgeous train-themed tune.

What makes this CD essential is the 17 (yes, 17!) extra tracks that follow the original album, BMG having gathered the rest of The Ethiopians' recordings from that era (some of which have never previously been released). This is Jamaican music at its simplest and most elegiac; the duo's voices soar to the heavens on ballads (‘My Love’) then roar over jerky dance rhythms (‘Train to Glory’). Fifty-two years on these historic recordings sound as enchanting as the single that first captivated the Jamaican and British public. Superb sleeve notes add to the package.