The Drifter Rhythm
The Drifter - Dennis Walks (CRAB / Moodisc 7")
The Drifter was recorded in 1969, produced Harry Mudie. It was one of a handful of tunes such as 'Cuss Cuss' (Lloyd Robinson for Harry J Johnson) and 'Satta Masaganna' (self-produced by The Abyssinians) to be recorded at Studio 1 by producers other than Coxsone Dodd during this period, many of which went on to attain legendary status.
Mudie, known for his skilful production and attention to detail, was smart enought utilise the abundance of talent at Brentford Road. The bass was played by none other than Leroy Sibbles, Heptones singer and Studio 1 arranger.
Originally released as a b-side on the UK Crab label, a subsiduary of Pama, Mudie then released it on his own Moodisc and HAM labels in Jamaica. He issued a DJ cut, I-Roy's 'Musical Drifter', which sold well, encouraging him to release other artists on the rhythm. Instrumentals featuring Tommy McCook soloing on saxophone ('Midnight Drifter') released under the umbrella name Mudie's All Stars, and Bongo Herman's hand-drumming classic 'Car Pound Drifter' were also well received, prompting Mudie to revisit the rhythm many times.
Like many rhythms Drifter has become a standard in Jamaican music going on to be recorded by many artists and producers, resulting in over 100 releases thus far.
Dennis Walks recorded many songs but this remains his best known, a classic of Jamaican music. Other singers, Dennis Brown in particular, have incorporated the song into their regular live shows as a regular favourite.
This is an attempt to document every release of this rhythm, all additions and corrections are welcome.
Drifter - Dennis Walks - (CRAB) (Run Girl Run/The Drifter G G Grossett/Dennis Walks ) Also on Moodisc (JA)
Heart Don't Leap - Dennis Walks / Drifter - Dennis Walks (Blank Moodisc pre with hand stamped titles)
Drifter On The Ball - Big Joe (Mudie)
I Roy - Musical Drifter (Jah Life Time)
I Roy & Dennis Walks - Combination Drifter (Moodisc 12") 1977
I Roy & Dennis Walks - Combination Drifter (Moodisc 12") 1981
I Roy & Dennis Walks - The Drifter (Moodisc / Afro) 1971
Car Pound Drifter - Bongo Herman & Rhythm Rulers - (Mudie)
M.B.V. & Rhythm Rulers - Midnight Drifter (Mudie)
Mudies All Stars - Midnight Drifter (Moodisc/Jungle) 1974
Drifter In 79 Style - Brigadier Jerry -
Drifter - Cornell Campbell - Now Team / Reg Lowe
Drifter - Dennis Brown - (Words of Wisdom LP) Laser
Drifter - Dennis Brown - (Live at Montreaux 1980 LP) Blue Moon
Drifter - Dennis Walks - Jazzbo 1989
Drifting In Fly Style - Dennis Walks - (Mudie)
Jonnie Big Mouth - Don Carlos -
Roots Style - Dub Specialist - Coxsone Dodd
Dub a natty dread - Dub Specialist - Coxsone Dodd
Come Down Jesus - Frankie Paul -
Traveller - Frankie Paul -
A Friend - Garnett Silk -
Jah Jah Is The Ruler - Garnett Silk - (Star Trail)
Drifting Ting - Junior Delgado & Grindsman (Star Trail)
Rocking The Drifter - Gladstone Anderson & Mudies All Stars - (Mudie)
Reggae Foundation - Harry Mudie, King Tubby & Rhythm Rulers - (Mudie)
Dub In Red - Harry Mudie & Mudies All Stars - (Mudie)
Mr. Talkative - Horace Andy - (Mudie)
Mr. Talkative Vs (Dub talk) Mudie's All Stars Harry Mudie
D.J. Drifter - I-Roy - (Mudie)
Drifter - Joseph Cotton -
Rock And Come In - Johnny Osbourne -
Rock And Come In - Papa Tollo
Everything She Want - Lone Ranger - Coxsone Dodd
Midnight Drifter - M.B.V. & Rhythm Rulers - (Mudie)
Mental Slavery - Mikey Dread (World War III)
Shaolin Plat - Nicodemus -
Traveller - Pinchers -
Nine Months Belly - Ranking Joe -
Masculine Gender - Ranking Trevor - (Jo Jo Hookim (Channel One))
Drifter Bratah - Rhythm Rulers - (Mudie)
Sister Candy - Candy And Kelly - Bunny Lee
Rough Rankin' Tiger - Tiger -
Drifting With A Flute - Tommy McCook & Mudies All Stars - (Mudie)
Death trap - The Revolutionaries (Jo Jo Hookim (Channel One)
Is love I a deal with I Roy (Jo Jo Hookim (Channel One)
Rema Skank Revolutionaries, The Jo Jo Hookim (Channel One)
Repatriation - Al Campbell - Jo Jo Hookim (Channel One)
Three Wise Man - Kool Roots - Jo Jo Hookim (Channel One)
Brothers And Sisters - Mighty Diamonds - Jo Jo Hookim (Channel One)
Drifting Dub - Mudie's All Stars with Dennis Walks Harry Mudie (Mudie)
Drifter Vs, The Rhythm Rulers, The Harry Mudie (Mudie)
Mudie's mood Rhythm Rulers, The Harry Mudie (Mudie)
Pablo's drifting Dub - Augustus Pablo - Bunny Lee
East West North and south - Don carlos - Bunny Lee
Rock On Come Ya - Johnny Osbournre - Bunny Lee
Drifter - Cornell Campbell - Bunny Lee
Bubble With Me - John Wayne - Bunny Lee
Version - Jackie Mittoo & the Aggrovators - Bunny Lee
It Was Good, It Was Bad - Sugar Minott (Rockers Plantation 12")
Drifter - Sugar Minott (Up Tempo 12") ( B side to Dennis Pinnock - Drifting Away - not on Drifter rhythm)
? - Papa Tullo (Jammys)
? - I Roy (Jah Life - digital cut)
More Vibes - Barry Brown w/Stamma Ranks
? - Rod Taylor - Lonely Girl LP
African Dream - Hugh Griffiths
Jah Bible - Hugh Griffiths (Ujama)
Keep Trying - Clive Hylton (Black Successors)
Love & Harmony - Troy (Love Linch 12")
Bible Connection - Sister Chinna
Drifter In 79/Orthodox Style - Briggy - Freedom Street
Mental Slavery - Mikey Dread
Roots Rock Reggae - Clint Eastwood - Bellaphon/Cord
why worry - sluggy ranks & ras iwa (White Mice) (Living Room)
Old gun Town / ANDY LIVINGSTON (Fan Club)
I know you want To / JIMMY RILEY / Jammys
Murderer / ZAGGY ZARR / Roots Tradition
Jah Jah Live / JAH REUBEN / Roots Tradition
Step Aside / BERES HAMMOND / Mister Tipsy
Pass The Dubplate - Brian & Tony Gold - Jammys
Fatal Attraction - Maxine Miller
Request - Jah Mason - Belleville Hill
? - Lutan Fyah - unreleased Jah Warrior production
? - Ranking Joe - unreleased Jah Warrior production
Boom Work - Big Youth King Jammy on 12" Gregory Isaacs: My Heart Is Bleeding; Super Power, SPD 44
Come To Pass - Half Pint - on Half Pint Classics LP
Jah is my only - Luciano - Greensleeves sampler 21
Can't Take The Fuss aka Me Nah Run Down Bus - Michael Palmer (Greensleeves 12")
Live And Let Live - Audley Rollens (Just For You)
East Man Dub - King Tubby (King Dub, Ja-Man LP)
Drifter Dub, Part 3: Phillip Smart [Megawatt Dub]
Drifter Dub, Part 4: Phillip Smart [Megawatt Dub]
True Love - Icho Candy (Cash Bound 12")
The Winner (aka Father & Son) - Zebra & Dennis Walks - Prince Jazzbo
Ranking Devon - Oily Back Drifter - Reggae Connection (Reggae Connection 1977 7 inch DSR8120A)
Reggae Singer - Natural Vibes (from their Life Hard A Yard LP)Also a Joe Gibbs 12"
Tony Rebel - Highly High - Pot Of Gold - 1991
Tony Rebel - What Is A Leader - Pot Of Gold - 1991
DYCR - Sucker - Pot Of Gold - 1991
Nitty Kutchie - Drifter - Pot Of Gold - 1991
Wayne Perilous - Perilous Time - Pot Of Gold - 1991
Richie Stevens - Don't Burn Your Bridges - Pot Of Gold - 1991
King Kouchy - Drifter - Pot Of Gold - 1991
Bounty Killer - Petty Thief - Pot Of Gold - 1991
Reggae George (Daley)- Drifter - Flames & also on Sky High 1978
Gladstone Anderson - Drifter (HAM) 1976
Gladstone Anderson - Rocking The Drifter (Moodisc) 1976
Jimmy Cliff - (on LP, 2004)
Errol Dunkley - Drifter (Jetstar?) 2005
LALP 32 Various Artists - Super Stars Hit Parade Vol. 6
Tracks: Boom Boom (Big Youth) / Set It (Chaka Demus) / You Have To Make It (Johnny P) / Dedicated To All Lovers (Toughest) / Perilous Time (Derrick Irie) // Still Drifting (Dennis Walks) / Give Love A Chance (Jimmy Riley) / I'm Holding On (Phillip Frazer) / My Love Is Not A Gamble (Thriller U) / Nah Let It Go (Bunny General)
Produced by King Jammy
All tracks on Drifter rhythm
2 Cornel cuts or same one?