General Article name: Skinhead Moonstomp
Genre: Reggae Product type: LP (Vinyl) Label: BURNING SOUNDS Number of tracks: 12 Tracklist LP - 1 1. Symarip - Skinhead Moonstomp 2. Symarip - Phoenix Reggae (Phoenix City) 3. Symarip - Skinhead Girl 4. Symarip - Try Me Best 5. Symarip - Skinhead Jamboree 6. Symarip - Chicken Merry 7. Symarip - These Boots Are Made for Walking 8. Symarip - Must Catch a Train 9. Symarip - Skin Flint 10. Symarip - Stay with Him 11. Symarip - Fung Shu 12. Symarip - You're Mine   Description Description

The Pyramids had built their reputation as Prince Buster's backing band during the Jamaican star's visits to the U.K., but it was with the phenomenal success of their barely disguised alias' "Skinhead Moonstomp" that the group went down in legend. Where a single venture is, an album must follow. Symarip was well aware of what their skinhead fans wanted -- more of the same, and the band served it up with relish. A dozen brace-snapping, big boot-stomping, sing- and shout-along songs, with the occasional nod back to the rocksteady era to allow the boys a time out to chat up the birds, all played with aplomb, and nicely balanced between stompers and slower numbers, Skinhead Moonstomp was the ultimate party album. There's a nod to the Pioneers' "Long Shot" on "Chicken Merry." A vocal trio-esque "Must Catch a Train" waves toward rocksteady, while two tracks later, the same rhythm supports "Stay With Me," this time swathed with a touch of Alton Ellis soul. A simmering instrumental separates the two, so that's alright. There's also a sizzling cover of "Phoenix City," and better yet, a stomping take on "These Boots Are Made for Walking." And stomp they do, and they keep on stomping across the rest of the record, as Symarip delivers up the likes of "Skinhead Girl" and most surreal of all, "Skinhead Jamboree," where an oompah band joins forces with a music hall revue and set themselves up as fashion police outside a skinhead dance. As dated as it all is, Skinhead Moonstomp is a kick and the perfect party album. [Original Symarip singer Roy Ellis and friends re-recorded the tracks from Skinhead Moonstomp in April 2017, and Secret Records released the results as the Skinhead Moonstomp Revisited LP later that year. The album was pressed on 180-gram red vinyl, and the set featured new liner notes including an interview with Ellis.] ~ Jo-Ann Greene

Jo-Ann Greene

Contributors Artist: Symarip Record Label: Secret Records