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RIDE ME DONKEY¹
Various Artists (1968)

Coxsone CSL 001A
matrix: FC 7461

Original Jamaican issue.

RIDE ME DONKEY¹
Various Artists (1968)

Coxsone CSL 8015
matrix: CSL+8015+A

UK press on blue Coxsone label

Ride Me Donkey (Dobby Dobson); Feel Like Jumping (Marcia Griffiths); Tomorrow (Ken Boothe); Pretty Looks Isn't All (Heptones); Baby Why (Cables); She'll Have To Go (Roy & Enid) // A House Is Not A Home (Soul Vendors); Puppy Love (Soul Two); Miss Hite-Tite (Westmorelites); In Love With You (Heptones); Soul Call (Jackie Mittoo); Lovers Train (Freedom Singers)

Superb compilation of rock-steady and early reggae singles, with some well known and some rather less familiar titles in the selection. Highlights include a beautiful Soul Vendors cut to Bacharach & David's A House Is Not A Home, Bennet & Dennis' (singing as Soul Two) 7" version of Puppy Love, and Roy & Enid's reading of Jim Reeves' classic He'll Have To Go.

Both these issues feature a false start to the opening track - the first few notes of Ska Shuffle are interrupted by a voice saying "A fool you...".

RIDE ME DONKEY²
Various Artists (c.1977)

Studio One SOLP 7777/PSOL 7777
matrix: POL 7777

Ride Me Donkey (Dobby Dobson); Feel Like Jumping (Marcia Griffiths); Tomorrow (Ken Boothe); Pretty Looks Isn't All (Heptones); Baby Why (Cables); She'll Have To Go (Roy & Enid) // A House Is Not A Home (Soul Vendors); Puppy Love (Soul Two); Miss Hite-Tite (Westmorelites); In Love With You (Heptones); Soul Call (Jackie Mittoo); Lovers Train (Freedom Singers)

Reissue - same tracks, but without false start to Ride Me Donkey.

The latest reissue has the identical tracks and sleeve design to the 1970s release, and even shares the same matrix number (but can be distinguished by the addition of K K mastering in the run-off groove). Sound quality is pretty clean throughout, although we are treated to a bit of crackle on the last track of side one to remind us that we are listening to a Studio One recording.