"Judge Dread" (lyrics, information, sound file, & comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a sound file of and lyrics for the now classic 1967 Rocksteady song "Judge Dread" by Prince Buster.

Information about Prince Buster is included in this post along with the complete text of an AllMusic Review of Prince Buster's song "Judge Dread" by Dave Thompson and selected comments from the discussion thread for that embedded sound file.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to Prince Buster for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this YouTube example.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/03/ska-classic-pyramids-symarip-train-tour.html for the pancocojams post entitled 1967 Ska Classic: The Pyramids (Symarip) - "Train Tour To Rainbow City" (information, lyrics, sound file, comments). That song includes references to Prince Buster and the character "Judge Dread" who he created.

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Prince Buster Judge Dread



jimmytheferret, Published on May 20, 2008

One of Buster's many, many tracks issued in the UK during the sixties, and one of his best. Great sound from 1967 - flower power all around and then this comes along!

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INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCE BUSTER
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Buster
"Cecil Bustamente Campbell OD (24 May 1938 – 8 September 2016), known professionally as Prince Buster, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer. The records he released in the 1960s influenced and shaped the course of Jamaican contemporary music and created a legacy of work that would be drawn upon later by reggae and ska artists.[1]


[...]

1960s
In 1961, Campbell released his first single "Little Honey"/"Luke Lane Shuffle" featuring Jah Jerry, Drumbago and Rico Rodriquez recording under the name of Buster's Group.[5] In that same year, he produced "Oh Carolina" by the Folkes Brothers, which was released on his Wild Bells label.[2][6] The drumming on the record was provided by members of the Count Ossie Group, nyabinghi drummers from the Rastafarian community, Camp David, situated on the Wareika Hill above Kingston. After becoming a hit in Jamaica, "Oh Carolina" was licensed to Melodisc, a UK label owned by Emil Shalet. Melodisc released the track on their subsidiary label Blue Beat; the label would go on to become synonymous with 1960s ska releases for the UK market.[2]

Campbell recorded prolifically throughout the 1960s; notable early ska releases include: "Madness" (1963), "Wash Wash" (1963, with Ernest Ranglin on bass), "One Step Beyond" (1964) and "Al Capone" (1964). The documentary This is Ska (1964), hosted by Tony Verity and filmed at the Sombrero Club, includes Campbell performing his Jamaican hit "Wash Wash". In 1964 Campbell met World Heavyweight Champion boxer Muhammad Ali who invited him to attend a Nation of Islam talk at Mosque 29 in Miami.[7] That year Campbell joined the Nation of Islam and also started to release material, including a version of Louis X's "White Man's Heaven is a Black Man's Hell," on his own imprint label called "Islam". In 1965 he appeared in Millie in Jamaica[8] (a film short about Millie Small's return to Jamaica after the world-wide success of "My Boy Lollipop") which was broadcast on Rediffusion's Friday evening pop show Ready, Steady, Go!. Campbell had a top twenty hit in the UK with the single "Al Capone" (no. 18, February 1967).[9] He toured the UK in spring 1967 appearing at the Marquee Club in May and later toured America to promote the RCA Victor LP release The Ten Commandments (From Man To Woman). "Ten Commandments" reached #81 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his only hit single in the United States.[10] By the late 1960s Campbell was once again at the forefront of a musical change in Jamaica; the new music would be called rocksteady. Campbell tracks like "Shaking Up Orange Street" (1967) were arranged with the slower, more soulful rocksteady template as used by Alton Ellis ("Rock Steady") and many others. The album Judge Dread Rock Steady was released in 1967, and the title track "Judge Dread" with its satirical theme and vocal style proved to be popular to the point of parody."...
-snip-
Click http://reggaelicious.pbworks.com/w/page/8800022/Prince%20Buster for the article entitled "Biography; Prince Buster: 1938 - 1961; Shuffle up and deal" by PBworks, 2008

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A REVIEW OF PRINCE BUSTER'S SONG "JUDGE DREAD"
From https://www.allmusic.com/album/judge-dread-rock-steady-mw0001078624 AllMusic Review by Dave Thompson
"One of Prince Buster's most enduring creations, the irascibly authoritarian Judge Dread would also prove his most controversial. Rude boy society was one of the staple themes of Jamaican music, the subject of records as disparate as Buster's "Johnny Cool," Desmond Dekker's "007 (Shanty Town)," "Lawless Street," summed up by journalist Johnny Copasetic as "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Desolation Row" in a nutshell"; and Derrick Morgan's "Rougher Than Rough (Rudies in Court)." "Judge Dread," however, saw them all brought to book.

Up before the magistrate on the usual litany of rude boy charges -- looting, shooting and, strangely, mooning -- the rude boys sit through the opening remarks, then respond: "your honor...RUDIES DON'T CARE!" But that was before they encountered Judge Dread. "I am the rude boy now," he announces, "...and I DON'T CARE!" He then proceeds to live up to his own nickname (and the song's subtitle) of "Judge 400 Years" by sentencing everyone in sight to the most extended sentences he can think of. Appeals for clemency were rewarded with an extra century in jail; and behind his harsh pronouncements, the barristers glumly chorus, "you're rough, you're tough...."

It was only a record, but the real-life rudies were stunned. They were the untouchables, above the law, beyond the law, and here was one of their own, the Prince himself, lyrically condemning them all to the slammer. Immediately, other artists leaped to the defense of the Judge's Victims, before Buster, astonished at the ludicrous uproar he'd created with one single, simple, song, agreed to continue the saga himself with a new release, promisingly titled "The Barrister."

Few records, or actual legal verdicts, come to that, were so eagerly awaited. The results of the rudies' pending appeal dominated street corner conversation; the wiles and ways of the forthcoming barrister were conjectured in coffee bars; the imminent release of the 400 Year Four even made the radio news. But Buster had a surprise in store for everyone. Judge Dread wasn't about to be swayed by overwhelming public opinion. He jailed the barrister.

Again, the uproar was tremendous; more so, perhaps, than even Buster could stand. Or maybe he was simply bored with the whole surreal affair. Either way, a few weeks later he brought out the final installment in the saga, in which the Judge has a change of heart, summons the foursome back into court, turns on a record player, and they all dance the pardon. "Judge Dread Dance (The Pardon)" became one of Buster's biggest hits yet.

All three tracks appear on the Judge Dread album, together with the remarkable home-thoughts-from-abroad "Ghost Dance" and "Dark Street." Sadly, however, the rest of the album struggles to match those same standards, being largely comprised of the space-filling ballads and instrumentals with which Buster habitually padded out the breaks between his classic singles. But that handful of classics is enough to render Judge Dread Rock Steady one of Buster's best loved albums, and ensure that the Judge himself remains one of Jamaican music's most mythic icons."

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LYRICS: JUDGE DREAD
(composed and performed by Cecil Bustamente Campbell aka Prince Buster)

You're rough, you're tough, you're rough, you're tough
You're rough, you're tough, you're rough, you're tough

Order, now my court is in session, will you please stand?
First, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Judge Hundredyears
Some people call me Judge Dread
Now, I have come here to whoop you,
To try all you rudeboys for shooting black people
In my court only we talk, cause I'm vexed, and I am the rudeboy today
Hugo Hicks?
Yes, sir
Rudeboy Adolfus James?
Yes, sir
Rudeboy Emmanuel Zechariah Zechipaul?
Present
George Grabandflee?
Present

Hmm Adolfus James, I see here you have been charged with
Ten shooting attempts
Five murder charge
Six grab and flee charge

But your honor, I didn't
Hush up, guilty or not guilty?
Not guilty, sir
I don't care what you say, take four hundred years
Stand down

Emmanuel Zechariah Zechipaul?
Yes, sir?
You've been charged with fifteen charge of shooting attempts
Fifteen murder charge
And I heard that you was the one there on Sutton Street
Who tell the judge, 'rudeboys don't care'
Well, this is King Street, and my name is Judge Dread, and I don't care
Now take four hundred years
But ya don't know what I would say, your good honor
Hush up What you trying to do, shoot me, too?
No, your honor, but I
Quiet Four hundred more years for you

George Grabandflee?
Yes, sir?
Stop your crying, rudeboys don't cry, that's what I hear
But I didn't do that, dem frame me, and I don't deserve that

I don't care, hush up, this is my court
You're charged for robbing schoolchildren
Rob with aggravation
Hush up, order

Adolfus James?
Yes sir?
You rob schoolchildren
You foam the peoples' house
You shot black people
But your honor, I didn't
Hush up! Just for talking, I now charge you for contempt
And that is a separate hundred years
I hereby sentence you to four hundred years

I said hush up, hush up
You're sentenced to four hundred years and five hundred lashes
I am going to set an example, I rudeboys don't cry, don't cry
When I was in harbor, I hear you were tough
Court adjourned, take them away

Written by: C. Campbell

Lyrics © PRINCE BUSTER MUSIC

Source: https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4411330/Judge+Dread

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS EMBEDDED YOUTUBE SOUND FILE
These comments are given in relative chronological order based on their publishing date with the oldest comments given first, except for replies. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

1. ZIONHIGHER, 2008
"Classic Big Tune!!!"

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2. Missa Bob, 2009
"Chuuuuuune!!! Seleckta, dancehall sell offffff!! lol"

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3. ricodawes, 2009
"This was the inspiration for the Judge Dredd movie, starring Sylvester Stallone"

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REPLY
4. The100thAttempt, 2009
"For the comic, possibly, but that is far, far, far, away and better in every way from the movie."

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5. Mike, 2009
"Can anyone recommend me some really upbeat ska? Like guns of navarone by 'the specials'"

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REPLY
6. jahdanza, 2009
"Roland Alphonso, Prince Buster, Skatalites."

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7. Jah Rich, 2010
"And not a single comment about Mutubaruka version?"

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REPLY
8. tcoreyb, 2010
"@JahRich69 All I ever heard until now was the Mutabaruka version, too. But Prince Buster rules. He is the last remaining living link to the 50s soundclash era and through all of Jamaican music. Long live Prince Buster!" 

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9. shabaka, 2011
"Desmond Dekker may have come first, but Buster was just as big influence on ska/rock steady. "Tek dem awey!""

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10. 56postoffice, 2012
"This tune still cracks me up,especially before the end when Judge Dread went to the rudie;"Rude Boys don't cry! Don't cry!! When I was in Africa, I heard you was tough!" The rudie bawling his eyes out;"I'm not guilty,sah! I'm not guilty!"No wonder Honey Boy Martin hit back with his "Dreader Than Dread"(that tune is WICKED!)"

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11. Pete Mason, 2013
"white man who grew up with this Dub.
My black Auntie Rose showed me da Prince.
look to yourself, only woman who cared about a poor starving white boy was black.
Think I care ? naway.
That woman was more of a mother to me than my own.
colour is irellevant.

Love is a gift."

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REPLY
12. Herb Slim, 2014
"Couldn't be any more true :)"

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REPLY
13. Joel Uden, 2017
"Colour is irrelevant, sooner good people realise that the better."

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REPLY
14. Ava Karkekian, 2018
"Joel Uden race isn’t colour."

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15. chukkaman50, 2013
"This was actually based on a true story! The Jamaican government brought in judges from Africa because the local Judges were either corrupt or scared of the rudies!"

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16. Percy Barbarossa, 2016
"I heard The Specials version of this, its great that the original got put on youtube, Thank you jimmytheferret"

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17. Bergerworld, 2016
"R.I.P Prince Buster. 2016 takes another Great. Sad."

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18. Brian Wilson, 2016
"Rude boys will be crying tonight, So many great memories , Rest in Peace Prince."

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19. andrew marriott, 2016
"Rude buoys don't cry! Rest up prince"

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20. Rab Anderson, 2016
""Hush Up, Rude Boys don't cry!"
The Prince lives on through this terific music, and great lyrics!
I was wearing out the vinyl of a Madness album as a kid. When my dad recognised some familiar lyrics.
He appeared with an old Vinyl LP, with the light blue F.A.B label in the middle .
He Said "this is what your SKA bands are trying to copy!"
It's called Blue Beat! Thanks Dad. Appreciated!"

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21. Stephen Day, 2016
"My friend Trevor Harriot, a 17 year old apprentice who came alone from Jamaica in 1966 to work for British Steel in Brierley Hill in the Midlands used to play Prince Buster's music which was very new to us white kids. We were knocked out by it. My favourite "Judge Dread", was released the following year though. I still play it although it's only on CD now. Good times remembered from 50 years ago."

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22. Ray Turvey, 2016
"Why did I, a white boy from NW London growing up in the 60`s full in love with blue Beat/Ska? I must have been blessed."

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23. Carl Webster, 2016
"My uncle Byah in the early sixties and seventies, used to play all these ska/rock steady songs on his sound system in at Old Bowens, Clarendon Jamaica. He was particular for Prince Buster and Derrick Morgan records. he loved the rivalry between them. My uncle was friends with Buster who had a Duke Box in my uncle shop and came regularly to collect the money and change the records. As a young boy I was so fascinated to see and sometimes have a word or two with this Prince of a man. RIP BUSTER. Your music will live on."

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REPLY
24. ninjabluewings, 2016
"Carl Webster What a lovely memory, you are very lucky to have had this opportunity to actually talk with "The Prince" I love his music and Derrick Morgan alike, Jimmy Cliff too. I bet those records sounded fantastic on that Jukebox"

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25. Samuel Cortez, 2016
"Another legend has gone on to Zion...Rest in Zion Rude Boy!!!"

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26. 56postoffice, 2016
"One of the true pioneers and a fierce protector of Black heritage...RIP, Prince Buster, the original Rudie."

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27. maureen bayliss, 2016
"r.i.p will be missed but boy what a legacy to leave behide for us to enjoy forever x"

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28. quentin caille, 2016
"sounds like lee perry's talkin with him nope? was he working for him in the days on the voice of the people sound system ?"

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REPLY
29. Emmanuel Enyinwa, 2016
"+quentin caille Yes. Lee Perry wrote the dialogue. He used to work with Prince Buster after he left Coxsone. Also check out "Public Jestering", the same idea, this time with Perry and another DJ."

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30. Donald Morrow, 2016
"One of the most hilarious records ever made, Prince Buster plays this so deadpan that you don't know whether to double over in laughter or haul ass in fear. It doesn't help your decision any when the music behind this is so damn good. That leaves you with only one other option, dance (and pray you are not in front of this judge)."

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31. Archive Studios, 2016
"Mohair suits dark nightclubs cool moves. This dude was ahead of his time. Rest up sweet Prince."

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REPLY
32. wa32. gb50
"Just amazing, i love it, it makes me smile every time i play it. isn't that the sign of a classic ?"

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33. 56postoffice, 2017
"Tune's 50 this year!! A lot of rudie records came out during the rocksteady era (1966 - 1968) and the early reggae days. This is one of the best, cementing Prince Buster's legendary status."

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34. Halie Symmons, 2017
"Ska was the original gangster rap."

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35. ninjabluewings, 2017
"What an AWESOME TUNE! just love "The Prince" and his music, this one is a real gem and sounds so clean & crisp, these Bluebeat babies are so hard to find in good condition, I am very slowly trying to get together a modest collection of these timeless classics in clean condition without having to part with lots of money which I cannot really afford to do and I am doing pretty well so far. The thing is whether you can afford them or not the "addiction runs deep" 🤔"

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36. Chris Childs, 2018
"i had a friend who used to take me to a club that played all this great stuff back in the day i was hooked from the very first time i heard ska and still love it today"

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Visitor comments are welcome.

1967 Ska Classic: The Pyramids (Symarip) - "Train Tour To Rainbow City" (information, lyrics, sound file, comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases the now classic 1967 Ska song "Train Tour To Rainbow City" by The Pyramids.

My attempted transcription of "Train Tour To Rainbow City is song is included in this post because I couldn't find any lyrics to this song online. Please help correct and complete this transcription.

Three YouTube examples of this song are included in this post along with selected comments from two of these examples' discussion threads.

The Addendum to this post presents information about Eddy Grant, the composer of "Train Tour To Rainbow City". The Addendum also presents information about The Pyramids (Symarip) music group.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to Eddy Grant and The Pyramids for their musical legacies. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these YouTube examples.

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LYRICS: TRAIN TOUR TO RAINBOW CITY
(composer Eddy Grant; performed by The Pyramids)

This train is bound for Rainbow City.
All aboard!

Come on and get in.
Here we are goin to Rainbow City
A whole heap of Black people live there.

[Nice...]

A lot of Black vulgar women live there
[indistinguishable exchange]
Oh yeah.

For a moment if you care to look out the window you will see the house of Judge 400 years,
better known as Judge Dread.
Spotlight on Jude dread.
Yeah.

Now, if you care to look out the window, slightly to the right, you will see the house of Zacky Paul.
You all know Zacky Pont.
[Of course, mon. I know the guy...]
Alright. I know him well.

A bit to the left please. And a moment of silence for the dead Rude Boy.
You can see his grave.
[????]
Silence please.

Carefully to the right, mind you, very carefully
and you will see the house of Prince Buster.
[Who is Buster, Rasta?]
He is a man that has given me competition. So hush up. Hush up.

Two miles now for Phoenix City.
You all know Phoenix City.
[Yes. Yes, mon...]
Ah, Roland Alphonso, tell me about that.
[...It’s there]
Rougher than rough
in Phoenix City.
Phoenix City.
Yeah, I know.

We are now in Phoenix City.
This train travels fast.
[Will it stop?]
No, sir. (pronounced like "sah"). It only stops here on Sundays and today is Monday.
[????]

Please! One mile to Skaville and two miles to Rainbow City.
Let me go! Heh! Heh! Heh! Heh!
Ya’ll fit? Rude Boys up there.
Nice.
Alright.

We are now in Skaville.
Take ah look to the right.
Take ah look to the left.
Take ah look-
Alright. Look all around
And you will see the bad Black people that live in Skaville.
You see them?
[Oh my, I can’t see them.]
You can’t see them?
Take a look carefully
[????]
Your eyesight is bad.
Must be bad.

By the way, we are now in Rainbow City.
[man exclaiming with joy]
Do you like it?
[Of course...]
You see all the big Black bad women
And do you like it?
[Yes, man]
Do you like it?
[Of course …Look at that little thing there mon, that sweet thing.]
Please.
Train docks in two minutes.
[????
Quicker the better, quicker the better
All these Black people I go see
[song fades out]
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from sound files of this song.

Most of the words are spoken by the male "tour guide". The words in brackets are spoken by "a male passenger on the train". "???" means that I'm not sure what was said. Ellipses (...) means that I'm not sure what was said by the passenger after the words I think that I heard.

Update: I made two corrections to this transcription thanks to Colin, May 20, 2020.

**
Read comment #3 below for Example #2 for a possible explanation regarding the reference to "Zachy Paul" in these lyrics.

Here's a comment that is likely about that same man:
DJ ANTONY, 2014
"...Rudeboy Emannuel Zacheriah Zachepaul ! Hush Up ! Order !..Prince Buster King Of BlueBeat..what a lyrical construction !"
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That comment is found in the discussion thread for a
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/03/judge-dread-lyrics-information-sound.html for the pancocojams post that showcases that Prince Buster song.

**
The word "bad" in this song has the African American Vernacular English meaning "good".

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: TRAIN TOUR TO RAINBOW CITY the pyramids 1967 skinhead reggae



Bootboysgoonforever, Published on Feb 15, 2009

president label 1967

(eddie grant ) the pyramids
-snip-
Here are two comments from this sound file's discussion thread
Hadas Hall, 2008
"Roy Ellis is the vocalist , ask him he's still gigging!"

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looniechewnz, 2011
"No this is Roy Ellis singing who became Mr. Symarip (Skinhead Moonstomp Etc..)"

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Example #2: The Pyramids - Train Tour To Rainbow City



jimmytheferret, Published on Jun 15, 2008

Great slab of chugalong ska from the pen of Eddie Grant in 1967.

Music
"Train Tour to Rainbow City" by Symarip Pyramid
-snip-
Here are a few comments from this sound file's discussion thread (with numbers assigned for referencing purposes only).
May 20, 2020- This sound file is no longer available, but-for whatever reason- it had comments while the other two sound files featured here and a few other YouTube sound files of this song have only a few comments.

1. paulthepill, 2008
"big up jimmy...i,ve been searching this for years... black vulgar women...nice..."

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2. mrdaddylonglegs, 2009
"who the hell is Zacky Pont!!!!"

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REPLY
3. LQUID8R, 2009
"Sounds like he means Emmanuel Zacariah Zachepa h(?) one of the unlucky guys that comes up in front of Judge Dread along with two Gun Tex and george GrabandFlee"

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4. Sue Feeney, 2009
"Wow thank you Jimmytheferret. Loved this for 42 years - scary. "You are now n Rainbow City" and I am now in nostalgia heaven!. Skanking around the room here - never knew it was Eddy Grant though. Takes me far away and back to SE London in the 60's - such music and what a time. : ) Sue"

**
5. Bluemauvey, 2010
" "Who is Buster, Rasta?
He is a man that has given me great competition, hush up!"

Fantastic."

**
6. keasyman, 2017
"This track should be part of the national school's music curriculum!!

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REPLY
7. engine-54, 2018
"true true true!!"

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Example #3: TRAIN TOUR TO RAINBOW CITY FRANK PITTER



Symarippyramid Music, Published on Jun 30, 2012

SYMARIP PYRAMID FIRST NATIONAL CHART SONG FT EDDY GRANT
-snip-
There are no comments for this video (as of May 20, 2020) Update.

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ADDENDUM
INFORMATION ABOUT EDDY GRANT
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Grant
"Edmond Montague "Eddy" Grant (born 5 March 1948) is a Guyanese-British musician. He was a founding member of the Equals, one of the United Kingdom's first racially integrated pop groups. He is also known for a successful solo career that includes the platinum single "Electric Avenue". He also pioneered the genre ringbang.

[...]

Career
In 1965, Grant formed The Equals, playing guitar and singing background vocals, and the band had two hit albums and a minor hit with the single "I Get So Excited" before having a number one hit in 1968 with his self-penned song "Baby Come Back".[7] The tune also topped the UK Singles Chart in 1994, when covered by Pato Banton featuring Robin and Ali Campbell of the reggae group UB40.[8] The Equals had five further top 40 hits in the UK up to the end of 1970.[9] The Baby Come Back album featured a song by Grant titled, "Police on My Back" which was covered by The Clash on their 1980 album Sandinista!.[10] Willie Nile released his cover of "Police on My Back" on his Streets of New York CD.[11] The Equals' song "Green Light" co-written by Grant from their 1968 album Supreme, was covered by The Detroit Cobras, on their 2007 album, Tied & True.[12]

In this period he also worked as a songwriter and producer for other artists, including The Pyramids (producing their debut single "Train Tour to Rainbow City") and Prince Buster, for whom he wrote "Rough Rider", and started the Torpedo record label, releasing British-made reggae singles.”...

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From http://marcoonthebass.blogspot.com/2011/04/musical-tribute-to-eddy-grant.html
Sunday, April 3, 2011
"A Musical Tribute To Eddy Grant: The Songwriter Behind 'Rough Rider' And 'Police On My Back'
....[Eddie] Grant is a pioneer and trailblazer who has left his mark on ska, reggae, calypso, rock and pop music and perhaps more than anyone else deserves credit for merging and combining the best of Black and White music beginning in the mid-60's all the way through the mid 80's. Many of Grant's songs, whether bubble gum pop, skin head soul, reggae or garage punk always display a lyrical or musical edge of some kind. What's so impressive to me about Grant is the variety of hats he has worn throughout his long and successful musical career. He's been Eddy the songwriter, Eddy the producer, Eddy the singer, Eddy the studio musician, Eddy the studio owner, and even Eddy the indie-label president.

While you may be very familiar with Grant's hits from the 80's like 'Electric Avenue' and 'Romancing The Stone' did you know Grant was the song writer behind a number of iconic ska and reggae tracks? Grant penned Prince Busters rocksteady classic 'Rough Rider' and The Clash's popular rock anthem 'Police On My Back'. That's not to mention the many other genre breaking songs he wrote with The Equals including 'Baby Come Back' 'Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys' and as a solo artist including 'Hello Africa', and 'Living On The Frontline'.

Blazing out of London in the mid 60's Grant help to found The Equals who mixed up fuzzy garage pop rock with healthy helpings of soul and proto-ska and reggae. The band also made pop culture history by being one of the very first multi-racial bands creating the rough template for 2-Tone bands some ten years later. Signed to the independent label President Records, Grant was asked to work with label mates The Pyramids -- later to become Symarip -- who had backed Prince Buster on his recent U.K. tour. Besides composing songs for the band (and one for Prince Buster himself, the rude classic 'Rough Rider' later covered by The English Beat), Grant also wrote and produced The Pyramids debut single and sole U.K. skinhead reggae hit, 'Train to Rainbow City.' According to an interview Grant did with the Miami New Times in 1994,

"By the time I started playing pop music with the Equals, I had been experimenting with different ethnic forms for a while," Grant recalls. "One of them was ska -- most people don't know that I made the first successful British ska record, 'Train Tour to Rainbow City,' which went to number 31 [on the British pop charts] in 1966. I was the first to add strings to reggae music, also in 1966. The great Prince Buster copied two of my songs -- he tried to steal them, but the law stopped him and he eventually gave me credit -- 'Train Tour to Rainbow City,' which he called 'Train Toward the Girls Town,' and 'Rough Rider,' which was covered by the English Beat. And they credited Buster for it!"

-snip-
Notice that Eddy Grant gives 1966 as the date for the record "Train Tour To Rainbow City" while other online sources that I've read give that date as 1967.

Since "Train Tour To Rainbow City" mentions Prince Buster's 1967 song "Judge Dread", it appears that Eddy Grant may have misspoken when he gave that 1966 date.

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNeawl4cppY for a YouTube sound file of Prince Buster's cover of "Train Tour To Rainbow City" which is entitled "Train To Girls Town".

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE PYRAMIDS (SYMARIP)
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symarip
"Symarip (also known at various stages of their career as The Bees, The Pyramids, Seven Letters and Zubaba) were a ska and reggae band from the United Kingdom, originating in the late 1960s, when Frank Pitter and Michael Thomas founded the band as The Bees. The band's name was originally spelled Simaryp, which is an approximate reversal of the word pyramids.[1] Consisting of members of West Indian descent, Simaryp is widely marked as one of the first skinhead reggae bands, being one of the first to target skinheads as an audience. Their hits included "Skinhead Girl", "Skinhead Jamboree" and "Skinhead Moonstomp", the latter of which was based on the Derrick Morgan song, "Moon Hop".

They moved to Germany in 1971, performing reggae and Afro-rock in Germany under the name Zubaba. In 1980, the single "Skinhead Moonstomp" was re-issued in the wake of the 2 Tone craze, hitting No. 54 on the UK Singles Chart.[2][3] The band officially split in 1985 after releasing the album Drunk & Disorderly as The Pyramids. The album was released by Ariola Records and was produced by Stevie B.

Pitter and Ellis eventually moved back to England, where Ellis continued performing as a solo artist, sometimes using the stage name Mr. Symarip. Mike Thomas, who had moved to Switzerland and met a Finnish girl there, moved to Finland where he worked as a musician, doing the groundwork for the Finnish reggae culture through his band Mike T. Saganor. Monty Neysmith moved to the United States, where he toured as a solo artist.

In 2004, Trojan Records released a best of album that included a new single by Neysmith and Ellis, "Back From the Moon". In 2005, Neysmith and Ellis performed together at Club Ska in England, and a recording of the concert was released on Moon Ska Records as Symarip – Live at Club Ska. In April 2008, they headlined the Ska Splash Festival in Lincolnshire as Symarip, and later performed at the Endorse-It and Fordham Festivals. Pitter and Thomas now perform in a different band as Symarip Pyramid. Their Back From The Moon Tour 2008–2009 was with The Pioneers. In 2009, to celebrate the rebirth of the band and the reunion of the two original members, Trojan Records released a compilation album, Ultimate Collection. Pitter holds all copyright and trademark rights for the name Symarip Pyramid."

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