Rocksteady

In mid-’60s Jamaica, rocksteady arose as the crucial sonic step between the high-octane beat of ska and the slow, simmering rhythms of reggae. The “godfather of rocksteady,” Alton Ellis gave the sound a name with his milestone dance tune “Rock Steady,” telling his fans to “shake your head, rock your bodyline.” Though it was mostly an island phenomenon, the style had its global moment with Desmond Dekker’s “Israelites,” the story of a poverty-stricken family, and a worldwide hit in 1969. And 12 years after that, the refrain “I’m gonna be your number one” from the Paragons’ 1967 song of devotion “The Tide Is High” earned a whole new meaning when Blondie’s version topped the U.S. and U.K. charts. Uncover reggae stars’ rocksteady roots in Next Steps.

Ska, rocksteady, and reggae may have been three separate stages of Jamaican music’s evolution, but they’re all connected, and some of the mightiest reggae rulers came up through all three. Bob Marley moved from skanking ska sides to the melancholy moan of “I’ve Got to Go Back Home,” with Bob Andy, before rising to the reggae throne. Ken Boothe, whose smooth Lovers’ Rock style made him a star in the ’70s, created a stellar rocksteady moment by borrowing a bit of “Beer Barrel Polka” for “Lady With the Starlight.” Hell, even Ms. “Electric Boogie” herself, Marcia Griffiths, got her mid-’60s licks in with she soul-tinged Studio One hit “Feel Like Jumping.” Get neck-deep in a river of rocksteady classics in Deep Cuts.

Even though rocksteady’s reign really only lasted until ’69, when Jamaica’s rhythm downshifted into reggae, the sound still left behind a luminous legacy all its own. The Techniques’ heavenly hit “Love Is Not a Gamble” is a shining example of the doo-wop-influenced, harmony-heavy side of the style. If you’re wondering how Errol Dunkley was able to hit all those high notes on his 1967 single “Please Stop Your Lying,” it’s because the precocious hitmaker was only a teen at the time. And while the Gaylads ruled the rocksteady roost with R&B-rooted classics like “It’s Hard to Confess,” their female equivalent the Gaylettes — featuring a young Judy Mowatt — showed that the gals could get down too with “Silent River (Runs Deep).”

In ‘60s Jamaica, young rebels known as Rude Boys were sort of Caribbean precursors to punks, and the boom-sock sound of rocksteady was their soundtrack — cooler than the frantic feel of ska, and the perfect musical platform for a new youth movement. But rocksteady’s appeal spread far beyond the realm of the Rude Boys, eventually making it overseas to the U.K. and even the U.S. Though many reggae fans may know rocksteady best as the starting point for some of their heroes, for a few golden years it was the most vital, vibrant thing to emerge from Jamaica. We’re here to help you start catching up on the all-time classic rocksteady sides and a hefty helping of hidden gems, so start rocking your bodyline right here.