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Interview with Derrick (from sleeve note) hosted by Brian
Keyo (tallawah.com)
Welcome to another installment in the Reggae
Retro Derrick Morgan program. I’m pleased to be your host
for this six song EP-isode. As time is brief, we’ll get
right into it with Mr. Morgan.
BK: You told me in Toronto that you came to
meet Millicent “Patsy” Todd when you were approached by her
mother while walking up Orange Street?
DM: Yes, that’s right. She think say her
daughter can sing and want to know what I can do for her if
she can sing. So, I say where is she, take me to her. I
follow her to Drummond Street where they live across from
Penny Lodging and I meet Patsy and ask her to sing. I liked
what I heard and told her I’d be back for her later when I
was going to record. Later that day, I carry her to Duke
Reid and that night we recorded ‘Love Not To Brag’, which I
wrote off of how Monty was boasy as his family was a likkle
better off than my own. So yes, first day I meet her, I
record with Patsy.
Thirty nine years after their last appearance
together, at Kingston’s Ward Theatre, Morgan reunited with
Todd in Toronto Canada during rehearsals for the Legends of
Ska concerts in 2002.
"You're a champion Brian" exclaimed Derrick
Morgan when I played his song 'Oh Joyce' for him on August
4, 2003. "Is long time I search for that one. But I don't
think it ever get released...". Morgan was right about that.
The previously unreleased song was recorded for Arthur
“Duke” Reid on September 7, 1962. Assuming the persona of an
old friend, “Lukie from the West”, Morgan questions the girl
who left Lukie to marry someone else.
The song “Leave Her Alone” is based around
Morgan’s priceless assertion, “I fell in love with that girl
1953”. The mournful harp solo, and the intro, are by Charlie
“Organaire” Cameron. Cameron is also known as Royal Charley,
a song title that’s inspired a line of clothing in Japan.
“You I Love” is the second duet here
featuring Morgan and Patsy Todd. Ably kicked off by drummer
Lloyd Knibb, after a brass intro the song is decorated by
the soloing of Tommy McCook on tenor saxophone. (Lester
Sterling made same identification as I.)
The deep voice intoning the title “You’ll
Never Know”, is none other than John “Pluggy” Peck, whom
Morgan identified for me. This is one of the songs which got
folks thinking Morgan and Todd were a real life couple.
Another is, “Are You Gonna Marry Me”.
Derrick gives a great showing on “She Makes
Me Sad” and the band is right with him. Kicked off with
verve by Knibb and replete with soaring trumpet solo by Baba
Brooks, the song builds to a crescendo. Morgan, nearly
losing his composure, warns “Don’t believe her”, while
contemplating “her baby face”. Recorded for Prince Bluster,
it boasts a locomotive like Ska rhythm which qualifies it to
be played in public settings at high volume. So, until the
next installment, get to it! |
