London-based sound-system man Jah Shaka ran a prolific Reggae label called Jah Shaka Music in the 1980s and '90s, but he apparently dipped a toe into the record market some years earlier in the form of an anonymous rendering of the Ben E. King classic 'Stand By Me' b/w 'Stand By Shaka Dubs' (F-1; 1974). It was produced by Winston Edwards of Fay Music Inc. (q.v.) and was presumably released through his label, which would account for the catalogue number's 'F' prefix - according to the Reggaepedia site the two men worked out of the same premises at that time. There doesn't appear to have been an F-2; subsequent Edwards productions came out on Fay Music Inc. The Discogs and Blood & Fire sites give the anonymous singer as Albert Griffiths; the Trojan Forum suggests Albert Tomlinson. Thanks to Charlie Chalk of the 45cat site for permission to use his scan here.
Copyright 2016 Robert Lyons.