On Tour / Reunion

Two rare and sought after albums in one! Reissued with both albums' original artwork, original notes by Guyanese broadcaster Basil Hinds and new notes by the bandleader Carlton Ramprashad.

On Tour - Recorded in London back in 1970, On Tour is the debut album by journeyman band The Young Ones Of Guyana. The group gained popularity in Britain through performances in London and Birmingham following the first Guyanese ‘Mashramani’, a celebration of independence from the United Kingdom. We can only assume this album was recorded during that same visit, produced by bandleader Carlton Ramprashad and issued on his own ‘Rampy’ imprint. Aside from the traditional Guyanese folk song Yellow Girl, the album covers a wide range of popular reggae, latin and calypso songs of the day, deftly performed by a group of talented musicians. Funky interpretations of reggae smash The Liquidator and Sly and The Family Stone’s Sing A Simple Song have made On Tour a rare and coveted classic for record collectors and DJs worldwide.

The Young Ones Of Guyana was an 8 piece band comprising drums and two percussionists alongside bass, lead guitar, Farfisa organ (played by local hero Geoffrey King), vocals and rhythm guitar from founder/leader Ramprashad. Recorded at the iconic Lansdowne Studios in Holland Park, On Tour captures a youthful travelling band, carrying the excitement of their nation’s newfound freedom with them as they invited their former colonial rulers to join them in celebration of Guyana’s music and culture.

Reunion. Recorded in Toronto Canada and self released in 1973, Reunion is the rare second (and final) album by The Young Ones Of Guyana. Following a successful series of concerts in the UK and their well received 1970 album On Tour, The Young Ones Of Guyana went their separate ways to concentrate on their studies. As luck would have it, several members of the band wound up in Canada, so in 1973 just for fun, they decided to book some midnight recording sessions in Toronto; Reunion was born. Like On Tour before it, Reunion covers a wide range of popular songs from the era, ranging from soul to pop and even the iconic Love Theme From The Godfather, all performed in The Young Ones’ relaxed, latin-infused style.