1963
SIX AND SEVEN BOOKS * THE MAYTALS * ISLAND 075 * UK
Originally released on Rolando & Powie as Sixth And Seventh Books then latter that year as Six And Seven Books on All Stars.
The Maytals had made their debut with Coxsone the previous year with Victory, a pretty affirmative title to kick of with. That same affirmation was characteristic of many of Toots Hibbert's and The Maytals recordings, and was even reflected in the choice of name they had previously performed and recorded under: The Vikings.
Although the revisionists have been at it again, and now we are to understand that those folk known as the Vikings (the Danes), were not marauding invaders, but peaceful settlers, seen in the context of its time the choice of the Vikings for the name of the group would have carried all the connotations of those horned helmeted conquering invaders.
Six And Seven Books is a high energy proto Ska track that was very popular in the UK with young white teenagers as well the newly established West Indian communities in places like West London, Bristol and Bedford, so much so that it was one of the discs issued by Island Records that can be found on both the early label 'sun' design (above) and the latter 'bow-tie' imprint (below).
SIX AND SEVEN BOOKS * MAYTALS * ISLAND 075 * UK
See also: Old Flame [Frederick Hibbert]
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A Maytals discography: