And now for the final installment (for now!) of Western Reggae Cover Art — Dave and Ansel Collin’s classic album “Double Barrel” (Trojan TBL 162, 1971). This LP sold very well, as the Double Barrel single was a number one hit in the UK Charts. Mostly funky organ tracks with DJ interludes, with a handful of vocal tracks courtesy of Dave Barker.

Beause of the popularity of this release, a VG+ copy should cost no more than 10 GBP.

Track Listing:

Double Barrel
Wild Bunch
El Frego Bacca
Monkey Spanner Version
My Best Girl
Secret Weapon

I The Third
That Girl
Impossible Mission
Ten To One
I Can Count The Days
Two Four One

And now for a fantastic western reggae cover…Wanted By the Public, The Outlaw Sung By Prince Buster (BBLP 822, 1969). This album contains many western-themed reggae tunes, with both vocals and instrumentals. Some earlier ska tracks are also included.

A VG+ copy is usually 60 GBP or more, but occassionally a cheaper one pops up. The UK catalog number is Blue Beat, but the label on the album is Fab.

Track Listing:

Gun The Man Down
The Baddest
Cincinnati Kid
The Sermon
Al Capone
Any More

Happy Reggae
Hold Them
Outlaw
Burke’s Law
Fever
Phoenix City

And now for another Trojan release featuring a Western gal with her six-shooters on the cover. Hot Shots of Reggae (1970, TBL 128) is a compilation featuring many of Leslie Kong’s classic reggae productions. The songs are classic for a reason, because these “hot shots” make for an enjoyable listen.

Copies of the album turn up frequently, and a VG+ copy will run between 10 and 15 GBP.

Track Listing:

Ken Boothe – Freedom Street
Melodians – Sweet Sensation
The Maytals – Monkey Man
Ken Boothe – Why Baby Why
Beverley’s All Stars – Cotton Dandy
Joe White – So Much Love

The Maytals – She’s My Scorcher
The Pioneers – Simmer Down Quashie
The Gaylads – There’s a Fire
Delroy Wilson – Show Me the Way
The Gaylads – This Time I Won’t Hurt You
Bruce Ruffin – I’m the One

The theme continues with yet another Upsetters realease, a reggae band who (along with the Crystalites), released plenty of Western-influenced material. The Return of Django (TRL 19, 1969) includes many of The Upstters most well-known early reggae tracks, including a personal favorite “Night Doctor.”

This album sold many copies and the original is fairly easy to obtain. A VG+ copy should run about 20 GBP.

Track Listing:

Return of Django
Touch of Fire
Cold Sweat
Drugs and Poison
Soulful I
Night Doctor

One Punch
Eight for Eight
Live Injection
Man From M.I.5
Ten To Twelve
Medical Operation

Western themed reggae album cover art week continues with another album from the Upsetters, this time on Trojan — The Good, The Bad, and The Upsetters (TBL 119, 1970). Although released the same year as Clint Eastwood, the sound is very different as Lee Perry did not produce the album. Most songs have a funky feel and slower tempo.

The release in VG+ condition should run about 20 GBP.

Track Listing:

Capo
Phil The Fluter
Guns Of Navarone
What Do You Say?
Straight To The Head
Red Or Red?

Mellow Mood
Family Man
Oney (Happy Clap)
Mama Look (Monkey Man)
Snow White
The Good The Bad & The Upsetters

There were only two Upsetter albums released on the Pama imprint — Many Moods of the Upsetter (SECO 24, 1970) and Clint Eastwood (PSP 1014, 1970). Both albums feature the organ driven sound characteristic of most early Lee Perry reggae productions, with a mixture of instrumental and vocal tunes. Clint Eastwood, as the name suggests, includes several western-inspired instrumentals. Aside from the title track, the theme is represented by “Return of the Ugly,” “For a Few Dollars More,” and “Taste of Killing.”

The Upsetters’ Clint Eastwood, a classic album, is highly recommended. Once a pricier Pama release, the value seems to have dropped within the last couple years. A VG+ copy should run about 40+ GBP.

Track Listing:

Return of the Ugly
For a Few Dollars More
Prisoner of Love (Dave Barker)
Dry Acid (Intro/DJ by Count Sticky)
Rightful Ruler (Chatting by U Roy w/ Peter Tosh)
Clint Eastwood

Taste of Killing
Selassie (Reggae Boys)
What is This (Reggae Boys, same as “Ba Ba” on Gas)
Ain’t No Love (David Isaacs)
My Mob
I’ve Caught You (Intro/DJ by Count Sticky)