1967 The Granville Williams Orchestra “Hi-Life” on G.W.O. Records

Serious old-school mainly instrumental waka waka skatellite Ska from the vaults. The title tune you see around on various comps, but the main reason to love this record is when the mighty Derrick Harriot (see post from a week or so ago) sings a few tunes, joined by the somewhat less mighty but still excellent Lloyd Williams. Check out “My Pussin” and “La Engadora”! Well, it’s HOT here today, and so it’s all treble-heavy clean strings horn arrangement slide step proto-reggae action. Simplicity is often its own genius, as well as the foundation of the construction of nuance. There’s not a ton of info to be found about our man Granville, by which I mean none, but he did sling a string of cool singles although only one LP, which is also the only LP released by GWO, which, yes, stands for Granville Williams Orchestra. The Rude Boys are skankin down over at Castle Wax! Oh yea.