Gas

Starting with "Gimme Little" by Junior Smith, released in 1968, Gas released over 70 singles until the last in 1971.The label seemed to change from green to yellow sometimes, but maybe the record stamper was using up his ink!!!
Some classy releases on Gas included Lester Sterling's "Reggie In The Wind", The Uniques
"Too Proud To Beg", Roland Alphonso's "1,000 Tons Of Megaton", "Tell Me Now" by Marcia Griffiths, and Alton Ellis' "Suzi e", "Diana" followed by the immortal "Back To Africa".
The real star of Gas though, was the great Pat Kelly, who released such gems as "How Long Will It Take", "Festival Time", "If It Don't Work Out", "Workman Song", "Tell Me Now", "Striving For The Right", "Personally Speaking" and "Tammy". Some great rock steady as well as skinhead reggae make Gas a collectors item.

Gas Discography



GAS-100
The Horse/Action Line
Eric Barnett/The Versatiles
GAS-101
Gimmi Little/Trip To Warland
Junior Smith
GAS-102
Got To Play It Cool/Jezebel
Fitzroy Sterling
GAS-103
Reggae In The Wind/Try Me One More Time
Lester Sterling/The Soul Set
GAS-104
Long Life/Oh Tell Me
Billy Gentle/The School Boys
GAS-105
Diana/English Talk
Alton Ellis
GAS-106
Te Ta Toe/Lonely And Blue
Eric Barnett/Milton Boothe
GAS-107
Pictures Of You/Searching For My Baby
Nola Campbell
GAS-108
Ring Of Gold/You've Got It
The Melodians
GAS-109
Choo Choo Train/The Load
Soul Cats
GAS-110
Workman Song/Never Give Up
Pat Kelly
GAS-111
Tell Me Now/The Weight
Marcia Griffiths/Stan Hope
GAS-112
1,000 Tons Of Megaton/Musical Resurrection
Roland Alphonso
GAS-113
Soul Call/Musical Gate
Soul Rhythms
GAS-114
Walking Proud/Why Baby
Martin Riley/Lloyd Charmers
GAS-115
How Long Will It Take/Try To Remember
Pat Kelly
GAS-116
Personally Speaking/Trouble Trouble
The Melodians/Lloyd Robinson
GAS-117
Too Proud To Beg/Love And Devotion
The Uniques
GAS-118
Wanted/I'll Always Love You
Baba Dise/The Sensations
GAS-119
Never Gonna Give You Up/Let Me Remind You
The Shades
GAS-120
Throw Me Corn/Temptation
R Williams/The Hippy Boys
GAS-121
Jane T/Believe Me
Tony & The Hippy Boys
GAS-122
Phrases/Give Me Faith
The Reggae Boys
GAS-123
Unchained Melody/You're My Girl
Honeyboy Martin/Sammy Jones
GAS-124
Festival Time Parts 1 & 2
Pat Kelly
GAS-125
If It Don't Work Out/I Am Coming Home
Pat Kelly
GAS-126
I Who Have Nothing/You Send Me
Nellie
GAS-127
Not Known
GAS-128
Look What You Going To Do/Hold On To What You Got
Vincent Brown
GAS-129
People Are Wondering/Long Time
The Show Boys
GAS-130
Pink Shark/Swing Free
Eric Barnett
GAS-131
When I Am Gone/She Brings Me Joy
The Clarendonians
GAS-132
The Vow/Why Didn't You Say
Slim Smith & Doreen/James Nephew
GAS-133
Stagger Back/The Creeper
Cannon Ball King
GAS-134
Walking The Dead/Got What You Want
Carl Bryan/Trevor & Keith
GAS-135
Ba Ba/Power Cut
Reggae Boys/Glen Adams
GAS-136
Too Much Loving/Roaring Twenties
Mood Reaction
GAS-137
King Kong/Please Stay
The Desectors
GAS-138
Sail Away/Fight A Broke
The Mavells
GAS-139
Some Day We'll Be Together/Instrumental
The Marvels/Derrick Morgan
GAS-140
Not Known
GAS-141
Leaving On A Jet Plane/Phrases
Glen Adams/The Reggae Boys
GAS-142
Satan Girl/The Pum
Ethiopians/The Matadors
GAS-143
Change Of Heart/Run Away Man
Mood Reaction
GAS-144
Tammy/I Am Not Your Guy
Pat Kelly
GAS-145
Striving For The Light/When A Boy Falls In Love
Pat Kelly
GAS-146
Something Sweet The Lady/Love Letters
Pete Western & His Orchestra/Bim, Bam & Clover
GAS-147
Bumper To Bumper/Fat Turkey
Eric Barnett
GAS-148
Change/Runaway Man
Mood Reaction
GAS-149
Not Known
GAS-150
What Kind Of Life/It's All In The Game
Slim Smith/Martin Riley
GAS-151
Suzie/Denver
Alton Ellis & The Flames
GAS-152
Lift Your Head Up High(Original)/Every Day Tomorrow(Version)
Stranger Cole
GAS-153
So Alive/Mercy Mr DJ
G G All Stars
GAS-154
I Love You Madly/Greates Love
Busty Brown
GAS-155
Pipe Dream/Suck Suck
Ranny Bop
GAS-156
Daddy, Daddy Don't Cry/I Like It
Tony King
GAS-157
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself/Whats He Got That I Aint Got
Pat Kelly
GAS-158
Teach Me/Sea Breeze
Pat/Rhythm Rulers
GAS-159
It's Christmas Time Again/If I Could See You
Norman T Washington
GAS-160
To The Other Man/Raindrops
Hortense Ellis/Music Blenders
GAS-161
Lord Deliver Us/Originator
Alton Ellis/Neville Hinds & Matadors
GAS-162
Hotter Than Scorcher/Someday Could You See
Hammers
GAS-163
Work Out/Too Long
Donald Lee
GAS-164
Back To Africa/Delivered
Alton Ellis/Neville Hinds
GAS-165
Greedy Boy/Please Stay
Nora Dean/Keith (Slim Smith)
GAS-166
I Shall Sing/Stand By Your Man
Hortense Ellis
GAS-167
Blood & Fire/33 66
Niney & The Destroyers/Roland Alphonso
GAS-168
What You Gonna Do About It/Halfway To Paradise
Ernest Wilson & Freddie/Dobby Dobson
GAS-169
Give To Me/Why
Ken Boothe
GAS-170
Not Known
GAS-171
Love/With All Your Heart
Pat Kelly

Escort

Escort didn't really set the reggae world on fire on its introduction in 1969, and by the time of its demise in 1971, theEscort label was fortunate to have clocked up over 50 releases. One of Escorts best songs was"What Am I To Do" from Tony Scott, interesting not for the quality of the song, but more for the backing, better known elsewhere as "The Liquidator" by Harry J. Other releases were from such artists as Willie Francis, Owen Grey and the great King Stitt.

One quite amazing release on Escort though was "Remember" by Stranger Cole. This song has all the hallmarks of one of the first pieces of dub music ever recorded. It isn't mixed as a dub, but played live with instruments cutting in and out, miles out of tune.
Another classic single has to be the Escort release of Bob & Marcia's "Young, Gifted & Black" Released without the strings so prominent on the Trojan version, this song has become a legend among certain collectors. Up to their usual tricks, Pama couldn't just release a different version of the song, but had to also release another version by Denzil & Jennifer. If that wasn't confusing enough, Pama had to release both versions on the same label, with the same number: ES-824.

Escort Discography


ES-801
Hold The Pussy/Wh-a-pen
Kid Gungo/King Cannon
ES-802
Adults Only/Calalue
Calypso Joe
ES-803
Shine Eye Gal/Who Nest
Vincent Foster
ES-804
Rich In Love/Zumbelly
Glen Adams/The Woodpeckers
ES-805
What Am I To Do/Bring Back That Smile
Tony Scott
ES-806
Early In The Morning/Mr Lonely
The Jamaicans
ES-807
My Love/Windsor Castle
Stranger & Patsy/Sweet Confusion
ES-808
Don't Let Me Down/Romper Room
Marcia Griffiths/Reggaeites
ES-809
Elisabethan Serenade/Don At Rest
Sweet Confusion
ES-810
Pretty Cottage/To Me
Stranger Cole
ES-811
Why Did You/Do You Remember
Stranger & Patsy
ES-812
Hotter Scorcher/Conquer Lion
Sweet Confusion
ES-813
Not Known
ES-814
Please Stay/Voyage From The Moon
Lascelles Perkins/The Matadors
ES-815
Not Known
ES-816
Darling If You Love Me/Saturday Night
Tony Scott
ES-817
Bandit/Family Man Mood
Errol Wallace/Aston Borrot
ES-818
Boss A Moon/Brotherly Love
S S Binns/Bunny Lee Allstars
ES-819
Leana Leana/Nana Na Na Nana
Stranger "Soul" Cole
ES-820
Shanghai/Soul Of England
Lloyd Charmers
ES-821
Mango Tree/The Removers
J J Allstars
ES-822*
Pussy/Let Me In
Stranger Cole
ES-822*
Fight For Your Right/Soul Fight
Busty Brown
ES-823
It Grows/We Had A Good Thing Going
Martin Riley
ES-824*
Young Gifted And Black/My Cheri Amour
Bob & Marcia/Barrington Biggs
ES-824*
Young Gifted And Black/I Am Satisfied
Denzil & Jennifer/Owen Grey
ES-825
Stampede/You Were Meant For Me
Kuraas/King Stitt
ES-826
Remember/Loneliness
Stranger Cole
ERT-827
Pop A Top Train/Doing The Moon Walk
Fitzroy & Harry
ERT-828
Not Known
ERT-829
Bits & Pieces/Nimrod Leap
The Pacesetters
ERT-830
Little Things/Till The Well Runs Dry
Stranger Cole
ERT-831
Everything With You/Picture On The Wall
Stranger Cole
ERT-832
Pussy/Let Me In
Stranger Cole
ERT-833
While There Is Life/Come On Over
Gregory Isaacs/Harry Young
ERT-834
Midnight Sunshine/You Are My Sunshine
Family Man/Gregory & Sticky
ERT-835
African Melody/Man From Carolina
G.G. Allstars
ERT-836
Hi Shan/Soul At Large
Lloyd Charmers
ERT-837
Crock Iron/Memphis Bop
Ranny Bop
ERT-838
Lonesome Feeling/Hopscotch
Barbara Andrews/Ranny Bop
ERT-839
Woman A Love In The Night/World On A Wheel
Lord Spoon
ERT-840
Engine No 9/Do It
Moose/Kurass
ERT-841
Not Known
ERT-842
Run For Cover/To The Rescue
Bob Marley & The Wailers
ERT-843
A Day Will Come/Version
Tartons/Robi's All Stars
ERT-844
Work It/Good Lover
The Melotones/Soul Man
ERT-845
Man Short/She Want It
Busty Brown/Dave Barker
ERT-846
Me A Tell Yuh/More Echo
Victors/Lloyd All Stars
ERT-847
Knock On Your Door/Set Me Free
John Holt/Uriel Aldrige
ERT-848
Burn Them/Poor Boy
Willie Francis
ERT-849
Chicken Thief/Tomorrow
Lloyd Clarke/Stranger Cole
ERT-850
Yester Me, Yester You, Yesterday/Yes Sir
Little Roy/Matador All Stars
ERT-851
My Love Come True/This Feeling
Slim Smith
ERT-852
Life Keeps Turning/My Girl
Slim Smith
ERT-853
Bachelor Boy/Colour Rights
Bill Gentles/Scorpions
ERT-854
Love Brother/Version
Hermen
ERT-855
One Woman/What Should I Do
Lloyd Terrell/Charmers
ERT-856
Not Known
ERT-857
Peace Treaty (My Love)/Brainwash
The Concious Minds
ERT-858
Girl Tell Me What To Do/Be Careful
Firzroy Sterling
ERT-859
My Girl/Plus One
Slim Smith/Reco
ERT-860
Rasta Never Fails/Version
The Charmers (Ken & Lloyd)
ERT-861
Love & Unity/Wah No Dead
The Maytones
ERT-862
African Mueseum/Version
Sounds Combine
ERT-863
Bend Down Low / The Burning Feeling
Groovers

Camel

Camel kicked off its illustrious career with The Techniques "Who You Gonna Run To", and quite frankly, the quality neverwavered. With releases like The Upsetters "Taste of Killing" and "For A Few Dollars More", Owen Grey's "Girl", along with The Maytones "Sentimental Reason", The Federals (singer Scotty, right)"You Better Call on Me" and The Uniques "Watch This Sound", this is a classic Pama label. Camel released over
100 singles: between 1969 and 1973 and as far as I know, changed colour just the once.
Other releases on Camel included Slim Smiths "Spanish Harlem" and Alton Ellis' "Wonderful World" and Pama weren't afraid to release such revolutionary sounds as the Lee Perry productions "The Coming of Jah" and "Rasta Band Wagon" by Max Romeo. Camel later released a few mediocre tunes during 1975 including "Wolverton Mountain" by Roman Stewart and "Guilty" from Tiger.

Camel Discography

CA-10
Who You Gonna Run To/Hi There
The Techniques
CA-11
Down In The Park/Love Oh Love
The Inspirations
CA-12
Can't Get No Peace/For A Few Dollars More
Monty Morris/The Upsetters
CA-13
Taste Of Killing/My Mob
The Upsetters
CA-14
Danny Boy/Reggae Happiness
Cannon Ball King
CA-15
Sad Mood/Give It To Me
Delroy Wilson/Stranger Cole
CA-16
Strange Whispering/Hard To Handle
The West Indians/Carl Dawkins
CA-17
Hold On Tight/100lbs Of Clay
The Scorchers/The Royals
CA-18
Facts Of Life/I'll Be Waiting
The Melotones/The Termites
CA-19
Every Where Every One/Go Find Yourself A Fool
The Techniques
CA-20
Since You Been Gone/Cool Down
Eric Fatter/W Hines
CA-21
Wonder Of Love/Cinderella
The Inspirations
CA-22
Run For Your Life/When We Were Young
Carl Bryan/Two Sparks
CA-23
Your Sweet Love/Keep It Moving
Soul Cats
CA-24
Midnight Spin/Money Money
Val Bennett/Soul Cats
CA-25
Girl What You're Doing To Me/Woman A Grumble
Owen Grey
CA-26
History/Just Be Alone
Harry And Radcliffe
CA-27
Sentimental Reason/Lover Girl
The Maytones
CA-28
No More Teardrops/Love Me Or Leave Me
Monty Morris/The Maples
CA-29
Cat Nip/Coo Yah
Hippy Boys/Lloyd Charmers
CA-30
Confidential/House In Session
Lloyd Charmers/Tony Cowan
CA-31
The Warrior/Don Juan
The Sensation/Johnny Organ
CA-32
Power Pack/Throwing Stones
Winston Wright/Two Sparks
CA-33
Beware Of Bad Dogs/Short Cut
Soul Mates
CA-34
Don't Take Your Love Away/Two Lovers
Owen Grey
CA-35
Nobody Knows/Somewhere
Junior English/Tony Sexton
CA-36
Bongo Nyah/Bad Name
The Little Boys/The Creations
CA-37
Every Beat Of My Heart/Don't Cry
Owen Grey
CA-38
Drink & Gamble/King Of The Road
Young Freddie/Lennox Brown & Hue Roy
CA-39
The Three Stooges/The Isle Of Love
Bunny Lee Allstars
CA-40
In This World/You Better Call On Me
The Federals
CA-41
The Worm/Afro
Lloyd Robinson/Neville Hinds
CA-42
Gold Digger/The Mine
The Matadors
CA-43
Scrooge/In The Days Of Old
Little Roy
CA-44
London Bridge/Things & Time
Neville Hinds/The Scorchers
CA-45
Dark Of The Sun/Dreader Than Dread
The Matadors
CA-46
You Come Run/Skank King
Little Roy
CA-47
Black And White Unite/Jumbo Jet
The Maytones/Glorias Allstars
CA-48
News Room/Jumping Dick
Glorias All Stars
CA-49
Since You Left/Bird Wing
The Maytones/Glorias All Stars
CA-50
Don't Sign The Paper/Packing Upm Lonliness
Owen Grey
CA-51
Bring Back Your Love/Got To Come Back
Owen Grey
CA-52
Fight Them/Dreadlock
Little Roy
CA-53
Watch This Sound
The Uniques
CA-54
Eveyday Tommorow/Lift Your Head Up High
Stranger Cole
CA-55
Feel It/Serious
Sister/G.G. Allstars
CA-56
Everybody Bawlin/Mr Brown
Dennis & Lizzy
CA-57
Selassie Want Us Back/Make It With You
Little Roys/Roy & Joy
CA-58
1970/Version Of '70
Ron Sig
CA-59
You Girl/Facts Of Life
Roy Shirley & Slim Smith
CA-60
Groove Me/No Other One
Owen Grey
CA-61
Judas/Me Nah Tek
The Maytones
CA-62
Donkey Shank/Donkey Track
Delroy & The Tennors/Murphy's All Stars
CA-63
Hold On/ Cleanliness
The Ebony Sisters/The Maytones
CA-64
I Will Never Fall In Love Again/La Fud Del
Winston Harewood/La Fud Del All Stars
CA-65
Talk About Love/Love Music
Pat Kelly/Phil Pratt Allstars
CA-66
Black Equality/Big Thing
Max Romeo/Winston Blake
CA-67
Heavy Load/Version
Pressure Beat
CA-68
Rice And Peas/All The While
Dandy And Shandy
CA-69
Be My Wife/Hit Me Honey
Delroy Wilson/Walters All Stars
CA-70*
Guilty/Funny Funny Man
Tiger
CA-71
Silhouettes/That Did It
Winston Wright
CA-72
Crying/It May Come
Stranger Cole/Dennis Alcapone & Delroy Wilson
CA-73
Nothing Can Separate us/Girl I Want You To Understand
Owen Gray
CA-74
This A Butter/Version
Dennis Alcapone/Phil Pratt All Stars
CA-75
Running Back Home/Version
Rocking Horse/The Soul Syndicate
CA-76
I Love you The Most/Version
Derrick Morgan & The All stars
CA-77
When Will We Be Paid/He's Got The Whole World
Martin Riley/Willie Francis
CA-78
Linger Awhile/Version
John Holt/Lloyd's All Stars
CA-79
Seven In One Medley/Part Two
Gaylads
CA-80
Marcus Is Alive/Freedom Train
Willie & Lloyd/The Gladiators
CA-81
Spanish Harlem/Slipaway
Slim Smith
CA-82
The Coming Of Jah/Watch And Pray
Max Romeo
CA-83
Put Me Down Easy/I Want To Go Back Home
Groovers
CA-84
I Am Just A Sufferer/We Want To Know
Derrick Morgan
CA-85
Rasta Band Wagon/When Jah Speaks
Max Romeo
CA-86
Wonderful World/Version
Alton Ellis/Fab Dimension
CA-87
Black Cinderella/Our Anniversary
Errol Dunkley/Phil Pratt All Stars
CA-88
Audrey/So Nice
Winston Shand
CA-89
Take Me Back/Where Do I Turn
Slim Smith
CA-90
Africa Arise/Holy Mount Zion
Laurel Aitken/Gi Ginri
CA-91
Aint No Sunshine/You Are Everything
Ken Boothe/Lloyd & Hortense
CA-92
Only Love/The Ten Commandments Of Joshua
Charley Ace
CA-93
Not Known
CA-94
Wonderful World/Version
Alton Ellis/Fab Dimension
CA-95
My Confession/Daddy's Home
Cornell Campbell/Pat Kelly
CA-96
Darling Forever/Version
The Clarendonians
CA-97
Not Known
CA-98
Presenting Cheater/Official Trombone
Ansel & Elaine/Ron Wilson
CA-99
Ten Times Sweeter Than You/Fat Boy
Winston Francis
CA-100
Lean On Me/Samba Pati
B B Seaton/The Now Generation
CA-101
Jamaica Song/Out Of Love
Lloyd Charmers
CA-102
The Man In Your Life/Version
Les Foster & Ansel Collins
CA-103
Must I Be Blue/Version
Owen Thompson
CA-104
Not Known
CA-105
Room Full All Full/Version
The Twinkle Brothers
CA-106
Everday Is The Same Kind Of Thing/Sweat Of Your Brow
Shorty Perry/Sister
CA-107
Rainy Weather/Version
Roy & Joy/The Den Brothers
CA-108
Baby Someday I'll Want To Know/Version
Dennis Brown Dennis Brown
CA -2001
Miss Wire Waist/Wire Dub
Carl Malcolm/Justin Hinds
CA-2002
Wolverton Mountain/Version
Roman Stewart/Carl Pitterson All Stars
CA-2003
Knotty Screwface/Face Dub
Yvonne Harrison/Underground Express
CA-2004
Lonely Days/Lonely Dub
Gregory Isaacs/GG All Stars
CA-2005
Not Known
CA-2006
Every Night/Ethiopia
Ruddy & Sketto
CA-2007
La Vien Rose/Spanish Eyes
Laurel Aitken
CA-2008
Lonely Days/Version
Gregory Isaacs
CA-2009
Everybody´s Somebody´s Fool/Version
Barbara Jones/The Sunshot Band

skinwear

FOREWORD
Before you go any further, I want to clear something up... Whilst I have listed many well known brands here this is not a list of clothes that you must wear or we wont let you in the crew, it is just a guide to some of the well known brands that seem to have become skinhead clothing over the years. I truely believe that it is how you feel inside that makes you a skin and it is the wish to be identified as a skin that makes us want to race out and buy "the right" brands.
As I was growing up and even now, I could not afford most of these items but found suitable substitutes at much lower prices. Fred Perry's can easily be replaced with $7 Polo shirts from Lowes, Best and Lest or Big W. Target and K-Mart sell button-down collared shirts that look just as good as Ben Shermans for around $20. Places like the Swell Store sell quarter-inch braces for $45 dollars when you can easily make your own simply by buying dodgy braces from woolies and quarter-inch elastic from any good material shop for around a tenner. I think Docs are probably the most expenses item on the list but with the sheer amount of people wearing them these days there are plenty of second hand outlets out there. You can even by $5 skully caps from Lowes.

Ben Sherman (Shirts)
The Ben Sherman company started out in a small shed in Brigton UK in the late 50's and hit the scene in the early sixties with their stylist button down collar shirts, tapered fit, bakc pleats, loop and additional collar button, which proved to be an instant success with the Mods, He opened his first shop in Brighton in '63 and quickly build a large empire of outlets. Mr Ben Sherman was know as a party animal and was often seen out in Carnaby Street, London during the swinging sixties, he died 1987 a very happy and wealthy man.
His products were quickly adopted as part of the Skinhead uniform in the late sixties and they have been a staple of Skinhead fashion ever since. There has recently been a resurgence into popularity as factories have sprung up throughout the world including Sydney, which has meant that prices are now very affordable and the range of patterns and prints has improved beyond Ben's wildest dreams.

Bomber Jacket Also known as Flight or Flying jackets These jackets have always been popular with Skins. The bomber is durable, waterproof, stylist and generally speaking cheaper than a harrington or leather and much easy to find thought the world. Their are two main styles: The original (as pictured) with it's harrington style front pockets, front zip flap to keep out the cold and leather zip tabs and bright orange lining... The Spicer, a cheaper copy with slash front pockets, no zip flap but some do have a hiden hood. There are some people who reckon that the Spicer is the superior jacket but I am not one of them, I know a few people who have had multiple Spicer's whilst I still have my original from over 15 years ago...

Braces
Probably the most unique article of clothing adopted by the Skinhead movement.
Braces have been popular since the late sixties but have gradually got thiner and thinner. In the early years they were generally around 1" thick and were the button-on y-back variety . These days the clip-on, cross-over variety are the most popular and if your braces are wider than 1/4" there are concidered too wide (by some). There has been much talk as to whether diferent colours mean different things - it was often said that Red = Facist (But in some cites Red = Communist), White=White Power (Some cities White=SHARP), Black or Blue are probably the safest colors and Daglo and Rainbow are definately NOT cool. In my opinion judging somebody by the colour of their braces is no better than judging them by the colour of the skin or their hair!
Braces can be worn either up or down - Alf Garnett always wore his down and was credited with starting this trend. There is also a myth that wearing them down this means you are ready for action!

Crombie (Overcoat)
Whilst it is almost too hot to wear a Crombie in Australia, I felt that any 'Skinhead Clothing Guide' would not be complete without mentioning it.
A Crombie is a wool blend 3/4 length overcoat, with 3 concealed button, one slit in the back, a hanky pocket and two side pockets with flaps, most popular in black, but also available in navy or camel (Light Brown). Wearing a hanky in the top pocket was very popular, mostly red but favourite football team colours were popular too.
The Crombie became largely associated with the suedehead movement, who wore bowler hats, smart clothes, highly polished brouges, black crombies and carried either walking sticks or umbrellars to emulate the classic english city gent. This enabled many of them to get up to all sorts of mischief without drawing undue attention to themselves. This was not a common cult movement in Sydney but there were a few of us around in the mid to late 80's when both the general public and the police were continually out to give us a hard time.

Doctor Martens (Boots and Shoes)
Dr. Martens were invented in the 1945 by a couple of Germans- Dr.Marteans and Funck (engineer). Apparently Martean had a skiing accident injuring his foot. To make things easier whilst it healed, he and an engineering mate Dr.Funck set about developing a shoe with an air cushioned sole- one that would be comfy yet durable. Funck suggested selling these shoes to others, as they had sold well to German mates.
In 1958, Bill Grigg's spots an ad in Shoe Record by Marteans and Funck. They were looking for a overseas companies to produce their unique sole. The Grigg family then acquired global rights to use the air cushioned sole.(Bet they are counting their dollars and thanking the beer god for that decision!). So their factory in Wollaston-Northamptonshire(England) started making the boots and shoes as we know today. The first boot was produced on the 1st April 1960, hence it's name, the1460. "Airwair- with Bouncing Soles" comes from a doddle Bill Grigg had made.
The emergence of the skinhead movement saw the first adoption by a British subculture of Dr. Martens boot. In 1968/69 skinheads wore concealed steel toe caps. Steel caps were often polished or painted white, though they were classed as offensive weapons so Dr. Martens soon banished these other styles. The 8 eyelet Air Wear brown was by far the most popular with the laces drawn through the heel tag and the trousers high enough to reveal it. Black Dr. Martens virtually were never worn until well into 1969/70. It became a fad in early 1970 and brown boots were often dyed black. As the year went on Dr Martens developed many other styles but the 8 hole and 11 hole seemed to be the most popular with Skins preferring the ox-blood and cherry red versions.

Fred Perry (Polos, Jumpers, Cardigans etc)
Fred Perry was Britain's first tennis player to win the Winbledon men's singles, in 1933 he repeated ths achievement in 1934 and 1935, during this period he also three U.S., one French and one Australia Championships. He was well known as one of the world best dressed players and it was not long before he decided to bring out his own brand of sports clothing. although his intial range was white, it was not long before a range of colours were introduce and eventually pipping on the sleeves and collars, the unique weave and tuff fabric make it popular on both the teniss court and as street wear, these were shirts that could be worn during the day and still concidered acceptable night wear. In the mid sixties they were a popular choice with the British Mod movement as they were distictly "British". With the Skinhead cult hot on it's heels, the look was easily adopted and has remain popular ever since.
Nowadays, the Fred Perry (street wear) range has been extended to include jumpers, cardigans, Harrington style jackets, windcheaters, hoodies, socks and even underwear. Unfortunately with fame come a price increase, some shops can now charge up to AU$130 for a standard polo. As a result many young skins wear no-name polos to emulate their predecessors.

Grinders (Boots)

Harrington (Jacket)
What is a Harrington? - it a lightweight jacket, named after Rodney Harrington, a character on TV's Peyton Place, who was always wearing them. Zip up front and button up collar in a range of colors including black, blue, red, gray and bone and always have a tartan lining. Since the 60's London has been the starting point for many of the most important trends which have always been characterised by songs, symbols and also clothes. Some of those have resisted through the years but only few of them have become a cult: one of these is certainly the Harrington Jacket. Basic but reliable, simple but fashionable the Harrington has nothing to do with new fibres or innovative textiles. People love the Harrington Jackets because of it's unique character: wearing a Harrington Jacket has something to do with a choice, skinheads adopted these jackets as part of everyday wear in the late sixties and they have proved a very popular item ever since. Many other companies now make them including Ben Sherman, Lonsdale and Merc.Levi (Jeans, Jackets and Sta-Press)
Invented in 1873, Levi's® jeans are the original, authentic jeans. Levi were the most popular, although Wrangler were also popular too. The Levi's that were worn were always 'Red Tags', 501's or 505's usually with a small stitched in turn-up. The turn-up could be anything from a quarter of an inch to an inch. Some skinheads wore their jeans with an inverted turnup, but this is not very popular these days. The length of jeans can vary, but is usually short enough to show a bit of boot and/or sock. If wearing shoes then usually white socks are worn, but I know many skinheads who prefer to wear red, or Argyle patterned.
As well as traditional denim jeans, also popular were Cords or White Jeans. Cords usually had a White tab, instead of red and a zipper fly, and the Jeans a Red Tab. Another popular feature of denim jeans was 'Bleaching' where the jeans were treated to the effects of a bottle of bleach which resulted in a patchy light and dark effect on the denim.
Levi also made Sta-Press, these are smart dress trousers which have a crease right down the front and which never need ironing. Once again the best examples of these were made by Levi's, and they were made (as far as I know) right up until the start of the 1980's. The early ones had a much straighter leg than the late ones and side pockets which were almost vertical and closed with a button. These came in a wide variety of colours, although the easiest to find these days always seems to be light blue or beige. Levi's also made them in 'Tonic', which are extremely smart indeed.

Lonsdale (Shirts etc)
Like a lot of Skinhead clothing the Lonsdale company started life suppling Boxing equipment thru a little shop in Beak street, North London. In the early years, the brand was popular mainly for it's T-shirts and Sweatshirts but more reasently the company has branched out into all sorts of street and casual wear including, hoodies, spray jackets and even their own range of Harrington style jackets. They still continue to make sports equipment but no longer is the label only associated with the noble arts.

Tredair (Boots and Shoes)

Crab

From the first release in 1968, to the last in 1971, Crab was the most consistent label for skinhead reggae. kicking off with "Children Get Ready" by the Versatiles, the pressure never slows down. The Versatiles had a few more releases like "Spread Your Bed", "I Am A King" and "Promises, Promises" before Derrick Morgan almost made the label his own with about 18 releases.

Some of his Boss tunes released on Crab included: "Make it Tand Deay", "Send Me Some Loving" "Hard Time", "Man Pon Moon", the great and original "Moon Hop" which became a British chart hit in 1970, "The Story" and "Take a Letter Maria", along with many others.
Sandwiched in between were recordings by Ernest Wilson, "Private Number", "Just Once In My Life" and "Freedom Train", The Uniques "My Woman's Love", Rudy Mills "Wholesale Love", The Tennors "True Brothers", and others by Rupie Edwards, Eric Barnett, The Kingstonians and The Paragons. The killer track on CRAB for me though, is tucked away on the B-side of a G.G. Grossett number called "Run Girl Run" and is "The Drifter" by Dennis Walks. Miss this tune and be forever lacking in this life. Truly a Boss Sound from the Brothers Palmer.


Crab Discography

CRAB-1
Children Get Ready/Someone To Love
The Versatiles
CRAB-2
Fire A Muss Muss Tail/Blacker Black
The Ethiopians
CRAB-3
River to The Bank/Reggae Limbo
Derrick Morgan/Peter King
CRAB-4
Reggae Hit The Town/Ding Dong Bell
The Ethiopians
CRAB-5
Spread Your Bed/Worries A Yard
The Versatiles
CRAB-6
Reggae City/Mellow Trumpet
Val Bennett/Cannon King
CRAB-7
I Am A King/I've Been Waiting
The Versatiles
CRAB-8
Seven Letters/Lonely Heartaches
Derrick Morgan/The Tartans
CRAB-9
Private Number/Another Chance
Ernest Wilson
CRAB-10
Run Girl Run/The Drifter
G G Grossett/Dennis Walks
CRAB-11
The First Taste Of Love/Dance All Night
Derrick Morgan/Tartons
CRAB-12
Work It/You Mean So Much To Me
The Viceroys
CRAB-13
Take Your Hand From My Neck/Equality And Justice
The Paragons
CRAB-14
Please Please/The Destroyer
The Caribbeans/The Matadors
CRAB-15
When There Is You/My Woman's Love
The Melodians/Slim Smith & The Uniques
CRAB-16
Walking By/Promises Promises
Vincent Gordon/The Viceroys
CRAB-17
Freedom Train/You Should Never Have To Come
Ernest Wilson/Stranger Cole
CRAB-18
Don't Play That Song/How Can I Forget You
Derrick Morgan
CRAB-19
Hold Down/Who Will She Be
The Kingstonians/Barry York
CRAB-20
Tears On My Pillow/I'm Trapped
Rudy Mills
CRAB-21
Just Once In My life/Mighty Organ
Ernest Wilson & Freddy/Glen Adams
CRAB-22
Mek It Tand Deay/Gimme Back
Derrick Morgan
CRAB-23
Send Me Some Loving/Give Me Back
Derrick Morgan
CRAB-24
A Heavy Load/Wholesale Love
Rudy Mills
CRAB-25
Brother Ram Goat/What A Condition
T Beckford/Starlighters
CRAB-26
Baff Boom/Feel Bad
Tennors
CRAB-27
Death A Come/The Sword
The Viceroys/Matador All Stars
CRAB-28
Hard Time/Death Rides A Horse
Derrick Morgan/Roy Richards
CRAB-29
True Brothers/Sign Of The Time
The Tennors
CRAB-30
Man Pon Moon/What A Thing
Derrick Morgan
CRAB-31
Long About Now/They Got To Move
Bruce Ruffin/Lloyd Robinson
CRAB-32
Moon Hop/Harris Wheel
Derrick Morgan/Reggaeites
CRAB-33
Greater Sounds/Live The Life I Love
GG Grosset
CRAB-34
Not Known
CRAB-35
Long Lost Love/Uncertain Love
Rupie Edwards
CRAB-36
I Want Everything/Cherry
The Tennors
CRAB-37
Quaker City/Double Up
Eric Barnett
CRAB-38
Devil Woman/Nobody Cares
The Tender Tones
CRAB-39
Without My Love/Here I Come Again
Little Roy/Winston Sammuels
CRAB-40
Big Thing/Exclusively Yours
Winston Blake/Rupie Edwards
CRAB-41
Sharp Pan Ya Machette/Redemption
Rupie Edwards All Stars
CRAB-42
Elusive Dream/Hi Cup
Ernest Wilson/Sir Harry
CRAB-43
Not Known
CRAB-44
A Night Of Sin/Telephone
Derrick Morgan
CRAB-45
Sentimental Man/It's A Lie
Ernest Wilson & Freddie
CRAB-46
Oh Baby/The Rat
Derrick Morgan/The Thunderbirds
CRAB-47
Need To Belong/Let's Have Some Fun
Derrick & Jennifer
CRAB-48
The Pill/Spring Fever
Bim & Bam/Tommy McCook
CRAB-49
Immigrant Flight/Bang Shangalang
Bim & Bam/Peter Austin & Hortense
CRAB-50
Thinking About My Baby/I Wonder
UB Barrett
CRAB-51
I Wish I Was An Apple/The Story
Derrick Morgan & The Mohawks
CRAB-52
Take A Letter Maria/Just A Little Loving
Derrick Morgan/Derrick Morgan
CRAB-53
Rain Is Going To Fall/This Game Ain´t Fair
Denzil Dennis
CRAB-54
Rocking Good Way/Wipe These Tears
Derrick & Jennifer
CRAB-55
Tennants/Western Standard Time
Jennifer Jones/Rico Rodriquez
CRAB-56
I Am Disgusted/Fire In Me Wire
Bim & Clover
CRAB-57
My Dickie/Brixton Hop
Derrick Morgan
CRAB-58
I Can't Stand It No Longer/Beyond The Wall
Derrick Morgan
CRAB-59
Endlessly/Who's Making Love
Derrick Morgan
CRAB-60
Having A Party/Man With Ambition
DD Dennis
CRAB-61
Band Of Gold/Midnight Sunshine
Joan Ross/The Hammers
CRAB-62
Hurt/Julia
Derrick Morgan
CRAB-63
I Like The Way/Tell Me Why
Winston Groovy
CRAB-64
I´ve Got To Find My Way To Win Mary Back/Wanna Be There
Winston Groovy
CRAB-65
In The Ghetto/Something Sweet
Rip & Law
CRAB-66
Birmingham Cat/Now Your On Your Own
The Invitations
CRAB-67
Searching So Long/Drums Of Passion
Derrick Morgan/Morgan All Stars