Wailing Souls
This evergreen reggae outfit has been producing music of a remarkably consistent quality since the mid-60s. Its two core members, Lloyd "Bread" McDonald and lead vocalist Winston "Pipe" Matthews, originally teamed up with George "Buddy" Haye as the Renegades. This line-up recorded backing vocals for an Ernest Ranglin album before breaking up in 1968. Matthews and McDonald then teamed up with Oswald Downer and Norman Davis, recording "Gold Digger" for Lloyd Daley. Their next move was to Coxsone Dodd at Studio One where, like so many other Jamaican artists, they recorded some of their finest work, often credited to the Classics. However, they became Pipe And The Pipers when they recorded two classic singles, "Harbour Shark" and "Back Biter", for Bob Marley's Tuff Gong label in the early 70s. Their vocals had a raw edge, neatly counterpointed by their harmonies, and their early work set the pattern for their entire career. Their vocal prowess, and ability to write songs almost to order, meant that for the next 20 years they were never far from the limelight, recording in whatever musical style was fashionable at the time, and still making fine music of lasting quality. In 1974, Davis and Downer left, Haye rejoined, and Garth Dennis (of Black Uhuru) was added to the line-up. Joe Higgs also entered the group's ranks for a short time, but left to tour the USA with Jimmy Cliff.
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Albums
- (1992) All Over The World
- (1980) Fire House Rock
Top Tracks
- Jah Give Us Life
- Fire House Rock
- Shark Attack
- Casey Jones
- Kingdom Rise Kingdom Fall
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