This article takes a quick look at at some of my favourite Eric Morris tracks. There's no theme to my selections, each track has been chosen strictly at random. Eric was a true star during the ska years, and continued recording into the early '70's, after which, he disappeared from the recording scene. He now lives, and occasionaly performs, in Washington DC.

WHAT A MAN DOETH
I picked this first because it is my favourite track by Eric. The lyrics are very biblical, and impart the "what you sow is what you shall reap" theory, against a solid ska beat. The punchy horn section gives a different flavour, with an almost bossa nova feel. The track is easily obtained on the 2nd volume of Intensified on Island Records.

PENNY REEL
Along with Humpty Dumpty, this is probably the song associated most with Eric's name. This mid tempo ska finds Eric singing about a girl whom he hasn't seen for a long time. The song has a slack element, as Morris asks the girl "turn your belly give me, and let me rub out me money" that she owes him. The Skatalites horn section are as tight as always, with a tenor sax (probably Dennis Campbell) riffing tirelessly throughout, as Eric is backed up call and response style by uncredited backing vocals. A Duke Reid production.

OIL IN MY LAMP
This underlines just how simple a great ska record can be. Eric repeats the traditional Oil In My Lamp lyrics over a firm ska beat, with a harmonica punctuating the bars, before breaking into the second solo. This track is great for a knees up!

THOSE TEARDROPS
A slow, soul ballad, with a truly superb vocal from Eric. Produced by Prince Buster, and available on the Buster compilation Pain In My Belly, the song is led by a wandering r&b tenor sax, with guitar and piano accompaniment. It sounds hoplessly old fashioned now, but the vocal showcases perfectly just how much talent Eric Morris possesses.

GET YOUR FEET MOVING
This record is reminiscent of Hopetone Lewis' Take It Easy and Roy Shirley's Feel Good, with a similar rocksteady backing, and a striding horn section adding to the brew. The simplistic dance lyrics don't detract from the records appeal, and it stands as a fine example of the slowing style in Jamaican music. It's a shame that Morris' recording career started to slow at the same time as the beat, as, on this evidence, he could have adapted perfectly to the new fashion.

MONEY CAN'T BUY LIFE
A slow, loping, r&b flavoured cut, from 1962, with the ubiquitous tenor sax blowing soulfully throughout. Eric quotes the old "if life was a thing money could buy, the rich would live and the poor would die" adage, which leads to the simple chorus. As with many of Eric's records, it's not the individual elements, such as the often undemanding lyrics, but everything as a whole, which makes his recordings such a treasure. This particular track also features some nice understated guitar licks.

SINNERS REPENT AND PRAY
This Prince Buster production came out around the same time as the previous entry, but is closer to the ska sound that was beginning to evolve from the Jamican blend of r&b. The lyrics are, obviously, very biblical. A warning to those living their lives in a sinful manner. It's pleasing to hear a muted trumpet blowing away in the background for a change, with yet another excellent sax solo in the middle. This is followed by an impressive, jazz style, guitar solo, before a repeat of the chorus leads to the outro, recalling the honking tenor sax from the lead in.

LOVE CAN BREAK A MAN
Recorded in 1964 for King Edwards, Eric's voice is quite deep in the mix, making it difficult at times to pick out exactly what is being sung, but the whole recording benefits from a solid, trumpet led backing. This one was issued in the UK on Blue Beat, but there is also one issued on Island WI 183 in 1965 as Love Can Make A Mansion, which has the same B side.

UNGODLY PEOPLE
This is the B side to the previous recording, and finds Eric bemoaning the fact that the non-believers of the title always try to obstruct his path, and repeatedly accuse him of things he hasn't done. He warns them that he will find a way to remove them, and that they will pay the cost for their mis-demeanour. As with it's A side, the track follows the tried and trusted ska formula, with solid walking bass, and two great solo's, first trumpet, followed by tenor sax on the play out. Also known as Worried People.

BY THE SEA
A chirpy, full blown ska number from 1965, which is instantly catchy, if not particularly inspiring lyrically. The backing sounds like the Baba Brookes Band.

SOLOMON GUNDIE
After his phenomenal success with Humpty Dumpty, it was obviously too tempting not to try to repeat the formula. This time the children's rhyme adapted to the ska beat was the tale of Solomon Gundie (actually Solomon Grundie originally), whose life and death is described day by day, event by event over the course of each week day. Eric sings "Solomon Gundie, was born on a Monday, Christened on a Tuesday, married on a Wednesday" and continues to describe his illness (Thursday), decline (Friday), and ultimate death and burial (Saturday and Sunday). The track, which was recorded for Treasure Isle, features a nice tenor solo in the middle.

It's a sad situation that Eric Morris' superb recorded legacy has been completely ignored by the re-issue specialists. There are a mere handful of Morris titles currently available on compilations, which considering the sheer quantity and quality of his work is abysmal. A collection of Eric Morris recordings from the ska to early rocksteady era, would stand as one of the finest compilations anyone could put together.