Jimmy London
Encyclopedia
Jimmy London is a reggae
singer who first recorded in the late 1960s, and achieved chart success both in Jamaica and the United Kingdom
in the early and mid-1970s.
, and the duo hung out at the Techniques rehearsal premises on King Street, becoming friendly with Roy Shirley
, who helped them to get started in the music business. They recorded their debut single "I Need Money" for producer Sir JJ at Linden Pottinger's studio, but when it failed to make much impact, they moved on to work with Lee "Scratch" Perry, recording "Tighten Up" (twice, it was originally recorded at WIRL, but re-voiced at Studio One). They released a further song for Perry, "You Know What I Mean", but dissatisfied with the attention they received from Perry, moved on to Joe Gibbs
. With Gibbs, they recorded tracks such as "Take Back Your Duck", "La La", and "The Train is Coming".
", and "A Little Love", which were both big hits in Jamaica and the UK (London was the first artist to record at the studio). Both of these appeared on London's debut album, Bridge Over Troubled Waters in 1972. Further hits followed with the likes of "Rock and Roll Lullaby", "No Letter Today", "Together", "Jim Say Hello", and "Don't Keep The Kids". In 1975, London toured the UK, with further singles being released in the following years , including the hits "Having a Party" and "In My Heart" which charted on the UK reggae chart in 1978, with further albums released in the late 1970s and one in 1980. London continued to record through the 1980s and 1990s, including tracks for Phillip Fraser's Razor Sounds label, and continued to perform well into the 2000s.
His debut album, Bridge Over Troubled Waters was reissued in 2004 with bonus tracks as A Little Love, the track "A Little Love" also being chosen to promote London
as part of Mayor
Ken Livingstone
’s "Totally London" campaign.
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
singer who first recorded in the late 1960s, and achieved chart success both in Jamaica and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the early and mid-1970s.
The Inspirations
London was a member of vocal duo The Inspirations, along with Ransford White (later known as Billy Dyce). White's brother Doraney was a member of The TechniquesThe Techniques
The Techniques were a Jamaican rocksteady vocal group mainly active in the 1960s.-History:The group was formed by Winston Riley in 1962 while still at school, with the initial line-up also featuring Slim Smith, Franklyn White, and Frederick Waite...
, and the duo hung out at the Techniques rehearsal premises on King Street, becoming friendly with Roy Shirley
Roy Shirley
Roy Shirley also known as King Roy Shirley and The High Priest was a Jamaican singer whose career spanned the ska, rocksteady and reggae eras, and whose "Hold Them" is regarded by some as the first ever rocksteady song...
, who helped them to get started in the music business. They recorded their debut single "I Need Money" for producer Sir JJ at Linden Pottinger's studio, but when it failed to make much impact, they moved on to work with Lee "Scratch" Perry, recording "Tighten Up" (twice, it was originally recorded at WIRL, but re-voiced at Studio One). They released a further song for Perry, "You Know What I Mean", but dissatisfied with the attention they received from Perry, moved on to Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs (record producer)
Joe Gibbs born Joel A. Gibson was a Jamaican reggae producer.-Biography:Joe Gibbs worked as an electronics engineer in the United States before his career in music started. Gibbs eventually returned to Kingston, Jamaica and opened an electrical repair shop with television repairs and sales as its...
. With Gibbs, they recorded tracks such as "Take Back Your Duck", "La La", and "The Train is Coming".
Solo
He was also a member of The Untouchables, and Rocking Horse (along with Keith Poppin). His biggest successes, however, would come in the early 1970s, when he teamed up with the Impact All Stars at the recently built Randy's studio to record tracks such as a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled WatersBridge over Troubled Water (song)
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" is the title song of Simon & Garfunkel's album of the same name. The single was released on January 26, 1970, though it also appears on the live album Live 1969, released in 2008. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, 1970, and stayed at...
", and "A Little Love", which were both big hits in Jamaica and the UK (London was the first artist to record at the studio). Both of these appeared on London's debut album, Bridge Over Troubled Waters in 1972. Further hits followed with the likes of "Rock and Roll Lullaby", "No Letter Today", "Together", "Jim Say Hello", and "Don't Keep The Kids". In 1975, London toured the UK, with further singles being released in the following years , including the hits "Having a Party" and "In My Heart" which charted on the UK reggae chart in 1978, with further albums released in the late 1970s and one in 1980. London continued to record through the 1980s and 1990s, including tracks for Phillip Fraser's Razor Sounds label, and continued to perform well into the 2000s.
His debut album, Bridge Over Troubled Waters was reissued in 2004 with bonus tracks as A Little Love, the track "A Little Love" also being chosen to promote London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as part of Mayor
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
’s "Totally London" campaign.
Albums
- Bridge Over Troubled Waters (1972) TrojanTrojan RecordsTrojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
- Jimmy In London (1976) Jama
- Welcome To My World (1978) Burning SoundsTrojan RecordsTrojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
- Children Crying In The Ghetto (1979) Rootsman/(1980) GC
- It Ain't Easy Living In The Ghetto (1980) Burning SoundsTrojan RecordsTrojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
- Together With Jimmy London (1989), Blue Mountain
- Hold On (1996) Lagoon (compilation)
- The Jimmy London Collection - 18 Magnificent Hits Beta (compilation)
- A Little Love (2004) ImpactVP RecordsVP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
(expanded edition of Bridge Over Troubled Waters)