{"title":"The Paragons","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Paragons are a Jamaican vocal group known for their rocksteady tracks. Originally formed as The Binders, the group consisted of Bob Andy, Garth Evans (aka Tyrone Evans), Junior Menz, and Leroy Stamp. In 1964, John Holt replaced Stamp and Howard Barrett replaced Menz, leading to a name change to The Paragons. After Bob Andy left in 1965, the group continued as a trio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing Holt's departure to pursue a solo career, the group collaborated with Roslyn Sweat and later Vic Taylor. This new trio recorded three albums together. In the early 1980s, after Blondie covered their song \"The Tide Is High,\" the classic line-up of Holt\/Barrett\/Evans reformed briefly before Holt left again after recording with [a5064].\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor fans of The Paragons' rocksteady sound, similar artists include The Jamaicans, Derrick Harriott, Derrick Morgan, Hopeton Lewis, Pat Kelly, The Gaylads,and more.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"now-30","title":"Now","description":"\u003cp\u003eReissued on vinyl for the very first time, the third Paragons album, originally released in 1982 on the UK reggae label Starlight. All songs are backed by the Aggrovators, the Bunny Lee’s house band, that includes Sly and Robbie, the Barrett brothers - both also with Bob Marley and the Wailers - Jackie Mittoo, Earl “Chinna” Smith, Winston Wright and many others. Produced by Bunny Lee, mixed by Prince Jammy.\u003ci\u003e Now\u003c\/i\u003e marked the Paragons return to the scene, in a big way. Great vibrations, dreamy melodies, a roots reggae masterpiece, not to be missed!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lantern Rec","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50413265158475,"sku":"2023680","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/7427255403579_8b61d39a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726672304"},{"product_id":"fire-and-rain-expanded-edition","title":"Fire and Rain - Expanded Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLeslie Kong’s Beverley’s Records\u003c\/strong\u003e dominated the Jamaican music scene throughout the years that immediately followed the arrival of reggae music in the late Sixties. During this hugely exciting period, Kong’s artists roster included many of the island’s finest talents, notably the Maytals, the Pioneers, Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, \u003cstrong\u003eBob Marley and the Wailers\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Melodians and, of course, the Gaylads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe latter having been regular Jamaican hit-makers ever since Harris ‘BB’ Seaton, Winston Delano Stewart and Maurice Roberts first collaborated in 1963. The trio’s tenure with Kong’s Beverley’s Records commenced in the summer of ‘69, after which they set about producing a slew of high-quality recordings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSignificant sellers from the period include enduring works such as \"\u003cem\u003eThere’s A Fire\u003c\/em\u003e,\" \"\u003cem\u003eTell The Children The Truth\u003c\/em\u003e,\" \"\u003cem\u003eSoul Sister\u003c\/em\u003e,\" and a version of James Taylor’s \"\u003cem\u003eFire And Rain\u003c\/em\u003e\" that proved so popular it provided the title for the group’s ridiculously collectible album from the close of 1970.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow, almost half a century since its original release, the \u003cem\u003eFire And Rain\u003c\/em\u003e LP is finally made available once more, with the original track-listing bolstered by the remainder of the Gaylads’ recordings for Leslie Kong, including numerous Jamaican hits and such rarities as \"\u003cem\u003eABC Reggae\u003c\/em\u003e\" and \"\u003cem\u003eBaby I’ll Be Yours\u003c\/em\u003e,\" both of which make their CD debut.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Doctor Bird","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50429859856715,"sku":"1062731","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50429860282699,"sku":"2203001","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/c98808f8-90f8-48df-a3f7-fbb14f6f522c_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726842024"},{"product_id":"on-the-beach-red-vinyl","title":"On the Beach","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Paragons were on the finest vocal harmony reggae bands. With their northern soul influenced debut album \u003ci\u003eOn The Beach\u003c\/i\u003e they created their own essential reggae album. It features one of their best known songs, the 60s hit \u003ci\u003eThe Tide Is High\u003c\/i\u003e, later on successfully covered by Blondie. It’s just one of the many songs in which they show their harmonic sounds. Other gems which are recorded for the album are \u003ci\u003eIsland in the Sun\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eHappy-Go-Lucky Girl. \u003c\/i\u003eFormed in Kingston, Jamaica, the Paragons originally started out as a vocal group heavily influenced by American Soul music. After John Holt joined the group and became its leader they softened their soulful sound and went for a more root-heavy, Rocksteady approach. With success; the Paragons became the most popular Rocksteady vocal act in Jamaica and in Britain. Money problems eventually led to the band’s breakup but the Paragons recordings are still some of the most wonderful and sublime moments in Jamaican Pop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Treasure Isle Records","offers":[{"title":"LP - Red","offer_id":50450437603659,"sku":"1042704","price":23.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":56529770873163,"sku":"R4671-5794","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/35ea3115-2354-497c-9e2d-551e3553a6c9_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727111942"},{"product_id":"abba","title":"Abba \/ Better Man Than I","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst official reissue of this 60s garage anthem, a true classic of its genre, original single going for $2000+. After multiple bootlegs, countless appearances in illegitimate compilations over the years and prices for the original vinyl sky-rocketing in recent times, this teen-rock gem receives the Altercat treatment with a deluxe reissue.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDone in cooperation with the band members, it includes a 12-page booklet with the band's story written by Mike Stax (Ugly Things magazine) and featuring previously unseen pictures. Transferred from the original vinyl and remastered by Tim Warren of Crypt Records \/ Back From The Grave fame.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt didn't appear in any national sales charts, but \"Abba\" by the Paragons is a smash hit record by any other measure. Ebullient, melodic, infectious, and eminently danceable, it's impossible not to love. For DJs at sixties events worldwide, it's a surefire crowd pleaser. Bands continue to cover it onstage and on record, including the Satelliters, the Cynics, and most recently the Rosalyns. Record collectors fight tooth and nail to get their hands on the original 45. As an exemplar of pure joyous American teenage garage bliss, it's pretty much unsurpassed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Altercat","offers":[{"title":"Black 7\"","offer_id":50481790648651,"sku":"1107758","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/cf8f863b-c4b0-43b9-adad-48d6886b9112_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727544859"},{"product_id":"when-the-lights-are-low-i-want-to-go-back","title":"When the Lights are Low \/ I Want to go Back","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a licensed reissue of the track featured on the album \u003ci\u003eOn The Beach\u003c\/i\u003e - Treasure Isle – 1967. This gorgeous and haunting song boasts remarkable singing and musicianship allied to the finest song-writing. A Rocksteady masterpiece that totally deserved being released as a single at last. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Paragons were originally called “The Binders”, a band that comprised Keith Anderson (better known as Bob Andy), Garth Evans (aka Tyrone Evans), Junior Menz, and Leroy Stamp. In 1964 John Holt and Howard Barrett replaced Menz,and Stamp and the name was changed to The Paragons. Anderson left in 1965, and The Paragons continued as a trio. After John Holt left to pursue a solo career, Vic Taylor took Holt's place. The trio initially recorded two outstanding albums: the legendary \u003ci\u003eOn The Beach\u003c\/i\u003e 1967, and the equally good\u003ci\u003e Riding High\u003c\/i\u003e - later renamed \u003ci\u003eThe Paragons with Roslyn Sweat\u003c\/i\u003e - in 1974. Most of their many masterpieces come from these two albums... They carried on recording more albums, the latest being \u003ci\u003eThe Paragons Return\u003c\/i\u003e with John Holt. In 1980 Blondie covered their song \"The Tide Is High\" with great international success. Today \u003ci\u003eOn The Beach\u003c\/i\u003e is considered by many as the definitive Rocksteady LP.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harlem Shuffle Records","offers":[{"title":"7\"","offer_id":50983762788683,"sku":"2005954","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/unnamed_ab6675b2_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1734391087"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_994620d7_thumbnail_4096_e5ee3c28-c9a0-4a35-b832-b8bec1a41527.jpg?v=1726672284","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/the-paragons.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}