Here's the latest installment in Adelaide, Australia-based label Isle of Jura's new reissue series for '80s Jamaican disco rap reggae group The Pearls, 1980's 'Groovy Beat' b/w 'Groovy Rock' and a Jura Soundsystem edit.
The duo of Stanley Shaw and Norman Watson, two lifelong friends who were extremely early to understand the potential for a stylistic interplay between disco, soul, rap and reggae, The Pearls recorded and issued a series of 7" records through their own Reality Hits indie label, before catching the ear of the rhythm section of rhythm sections, Sly & Robbie, and recording an album for their Taxi label.
Norman Watson worked at the legendary Randy’s record store in downtown Kingston, which was also base of operations for the crucial V label. At Randy / V, he connected with Fats Domino, Millie Small and Augustus Pablo, and emboldened by those experiences, launched Reality Hits.
Reframing the sounds of late '70s/early '80s New York block party hip-hop (a la The Sugar Hill Gang, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five), The Pearls reframe the era's cat-in-a-hat good times raps and strutting disco grooves from a distinctly Jamaican perspective - Toaster's Delight! As such 'Groovy Beat' and 'Groovy Rock' follow similar sonic pathways, sun-kissed sounds for a daytime block part that's actually a beach party, and even better, this party goes all day, and all night long.
'Groovy Beat' by The Pearls will be available from Nov 28th in 12" vinyl and digital formats (pre-order here)