1959
CAROLINA * THE FOLKS BROTHERS WITH COUNT OSSIE AFRO-COMBO * BLUE BEAT 30 * GB
The story has often been told of how Prince Buster was looking for a sound that was different to the other producers and had heard about the legendary Rastafarian master drummer Count Ossie, and wanted to record him. Buster was told that it was unlikely Count Ossie would agree to make a commercial recording, and although the two men shared different faiths, Prince Buster was a Muslim, he managed to persuade the Rastafarian, along with several other drummers, and the Folks Brothers to supply vocals, to come down from their yard in the hill's to a Kingston studio to record. Carolina is a result of that session and was issued in Jamaica on Busters Wild Bells label, it was an instant hit, both in Jamaica and England, where it was adored by the Mods.
Because of it's unique sound, nobody who first heard it could guess when it might have been recorded, and the disc had a longer than usual introduction period, as it was constantly played for the first five years of issue. Regarded now as one of, if not the first, Rastafarian record, Carolina, or sometimes Oh Carolina is a testament to what can be achieved creatively, with vision, imagination and determination, and of course a little belief in oneself.
Still popular after the Blue Beat label had ceased Carolina was still being pressed up and issued on the FAB label with the original Blue Beat catalogue number, although Count Ossie was no longer mentioned and the writing credits were now C. Campbell, i.e. Prince Buster (see below)
CAROLINA * THE FOLKS BROTHERS WITH COUNT OSSIE AFRO-COMBO * FAB (BB 30) UK
See also Madness