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Laurel Aitken

Laurel Aitken (Lorenzo Aitken, 1927–2005): Cuban-born Jamaican singer. “Boogie in My Bones” (1959), an early Chris Blackwell production; Blue Beat, Pama and Nu-Beat singles; “Rudi Got Married” (UK No. 60, 1980).

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Early years

Lorenzo Aitken was born in Havana, Cuba, on 22 April 1927 and moved to Jamaica with his family in 1938. In Kingston he sang calypso and mento, recording sides such as "Nebuchnezer", "Sweet Chariot" and "Baba Kill Me Goat" in the late 1950s.

Boogie in My Bones

"Boogie in My Bones" backed with "Little Sheila" (1959) was one of the first records produced by Chris Blackwell and is cited as the first Jamaican popular music record released in the United Kingdom. The shuffle-boogie sound bridged American rhythm and blues and the coming ska style.

Blue Beat years

Aitken moved to Brixton, London, in 1960 and released around fifteen singles on Melodisc's Blue Beat label before returning to Jamaica in 1963, where he recorded for Duke Reid and with the Skatalites. He went back to Britain and became one of the most prolific Jamaican artists recording there.

Skinhead reggae

In the late 1960s Aitken recorded for Pama and its Nu-Beat subsidiary, as well as Rio, Dr. Bird and other UK labels. "Jesse James", "Skinhead Train", "Woppi King", "Fire in Mi Wire" and "Landlord and Tenants" made him popular with British skinhead audiences, and he was nicknamed "Boss Skinhead". He is also widely called "the Godfather of Ska".

Later years

The 2 Tone revival brought him back to the charts: "Rudi Got Married" on I-Spy Records reached No. 60 in the UK in 1980, his only UK singles chart entry. He continued to tour with ska revival bands and died of a heart attack in Leicester, England, on 17 July 2005.

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Boogie In My Bones
Boogie In My BonesLaurel Aitken - Topic
Woppi King
Woppi KingLaurel Aitken - Topic
Laurel Aitken - Skinhead (Official Audio)
Laurel Aitken - Skinhead (Official Audio)Laurel Aitken
Laurel Aitken - Stupid Married Man (Official Audio) | Pama Records
Laurel Aitken - Stupid Married Man (Official Audio) | Pama RecordsPama Records
Laurel Aitken - Jesse James
Laurel Aitken - Jesse JamesLucs
Every record

Discography

Pulled from Discogs. Titles in yellow have a full page on Breakbeat Archive.

Studio albums 16

  1. 1966Ska With LaurelRioeBayDiscogs
  2. 1969Says FireDoctor BirdeBayDiscogs
  3. 1970The High Priest Of ReggaePama RecordseBayDiscogs
  4. 1972The Fantastic Laurel AitkenHebra RecordseBayDiscogs
  5. 1973Moria SofiaCount ShellyeBayDiscogs
  6. 1989It's Too Late (The Legendary Godfather Of Ska, Vol. 2)Unicorn Records (2)eBayDiscogs
  7. 1990Ringo The GringoUnicorn RecordseBayDiscogs
  8. 1995The Story So Far...Grover RecordseBayDiscogs
  9. 2002Live At Club SkaClub SkaeBayDiscogs
  10. 2005SuperstarLiquidator MusiceBayDiscogs
  11. 2010Voodoo WomanPressure Drop, Pressure DropeBayDiscogs
  12. 2010Everybody Ska! Rudi Got Married 1980 to 1992Pressure DropeBayDiscogs
  13. 2012Calypso Rock And RollRumble Records (10)eBayDiscogs
  14. 2013Skinhead Ska (The Collection)PressPlay, Cherry RedeBayDiscogs
  15. 2014Original Albums CollectionPressure DropeBayDiscogs
  16. 2020Skinhead TrainPressure DropeBayDiscogs

Collaborative albums 11

  1. 1973UntitledLaurel Aitken / D'Errico* · AristoneBayDiscogs
  2. 1987Floyd Lloyd & The Potato 5 Meet Laurel AitkenFloyd Lloyd & The Potato 5* Meet Laurel Aitken · Gaz's Rockin' RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 1988True FactPotato 5 Featuring Laurel Aitken · RackiteBayDiscogs
  4. 1989Mad About SkaLaurel Aitken / The Loafers · Staccato RecordseBayDiscogs
  5. 1995Damn GoodThe Ska-Flames* Featuring Laurel Aitken / Roland Alphonso / Lester Sterling · Sun Shot RecordseBayDiscogs
  6. 1996Grover Records Free 7'' EPThe Hotknives* / Intensified / Lloyd Brevette* / Laurel Aitken · Grover RecordseBayDiscogs
  7. 1999En EspañolLaurel Lorenzo Aitken* · Liquidator MusiceBayDiscogs
  8. 1999Ska Titans: Laurel Aitken & The SkatalitesLaurel Aitken & The Skatalites · Moon SkaeBayDiscogs
  9. 2000JamboreeLaurel Aitken With Court Jester's Crew · Grover RecordseBayDiscogs
  10. 2007The Very Last Concert And Studio RecordingsLaurel Aitken & The Cookoomackastick · SouLove RecordseBayDiscogs
  11. 2026 Love And UnderstandingLaurel Aitken, Mighty Megatons · Liquidator MusiceBayDiscogs

Compilations 13

  1. 1988The Early Days - Blue Beat, Ska & ReggaeBold Reprive RecordseBayDiscogs
  2. 1989Rise And Fall: The Legendary Godfather Of Ska, Vol. 1Unicorn RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 1990Rise & Fall / It's Too Late (The Legendary Godfather Of Ska Vols. 1 & 2)Unicorn RecordseBayDiscogs
  4. 1990The Legendary Godfather Of Ska, Vol. 3Unicorn RecordseBayDiscogs
  5. 1990Laurel Aitken & Derrick Morgan Two Knights Of SkaUnicorn RecordseBayDiscogs
  6. 1993Godfather Of SkaGaz's Rockin' RecordseBayDiscogs
  7. 1997Woppi King - The Early Reggae Years 1968 - 1969 Vol. 1TrybuteeBayDiscogs
  8. 1998The Pama Years (1969–71)Grover RecordseBayDiscogs
  9. 1999The Pioneer Of Jamaican MusicReggae Retro RecordseBayDiscogs
  10. 2002Rudi Got Married (The Legendary Godfather Of Ska Volume 5 - The 8Ts Collection)Grover RecordseBayDiscogs
  11. 2011Boogie In My BoonesRumble RecordseBayDiscogs
  12. 2013The Blue Beat Explosion Vol. 2 (Boogie In My Bones)Sunrise RecordseBayDiscogs
  13. 2014The Singles Collection 1959-1962Not Bad RecordseBayDiscogs
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