The Melodians

by Steve HueyVocal trio the Melodians were one of Jamaicas greatest rocksteady groups, cutting a series of classic singles during the late 60s and early 70s that included the internationally famed Rivers of Babylon and Sweet Sensation. The group was formed in the Greenwich Town area of Kingston in 1963 and included Tony Brevett (brother of Skatalites bassist Lloyd Brevett) and Brent Dowe, who split lead vocal duties, plus full-time harmony singer Trevor McNaughton. Additional member Renford Cogle never sang with the group, but wrote or co-wrote much of their material, and also served as an arranger. In their early days, the Melodians performed quite successfully in talent shows around Kingston, which eventually led to their first recording session — for Clement Coxsone Dodds Studio One label — in 1966. Only two of the four tracks were released, and drew little attention.The Melodians moved over to Duke Reids Treasure Isle imprint from 1967-1968, and it was there that they had their first taste of success. Singles like You Have Caught Me, Expo 67, Ill Get Along Without You, You Dont Need Me (which featured groundbreaking chatter U-Roy), and Come On Little Girl established them as one of the sweetest-sounding vocal ensembles on the rocksteady scene. After Come On Little Girl became a hit in 1968, the group joined up with producer Sonia Pottinger and scored two more successes that year, Little Nut Tree and Swing and Dine.The Melodians broke through to a wider international audience when they began recording for producer Leslie Kong in 1969, an association that resulted in many of their most celebrated songs. Sweet Sensation sold quite well in the U.K. as well as Jamaica, and it was eclipsed in both places later that year by the smash Rivers of Babylon, which became the groups signature tune. Rivers of Babylon also marked the emergence of a Rastafarian spiritual consciousness in the groups songwriting, which had heretofore tackled mostly romantic concerns; they would occasionally return to Rasta themes on songs like Black Man Kingdom Come. Continuing to enjoy significant success with Kong, they stuck with him until the producers untimely death in 1971.The tragedy effectively marked the end of the Melodians heyday. They cut a few more records for producers like Lee Scratch Perry, Harry J, and Byron Lees Dynamic Sounds studio and made second go-rounds with both Pottinger and Reid. Nothing quite recaptured their success with Kong, however, and Dowe left the group in 1973; they disbanded not long after, despite Rivers of Babylon finding a whole new audience via its inclusion on Jimmy Cliffs soundtrack for The Harder They Come. Dowe and Brevett both recorded solo singles during the mid-70s, the former with Lee Perry. They re-formed the Melodians in 1976 and re-recorded many of their old hits for Harry J, but the venture didnt get much further. The trio reconvened once again in the early 80s and cut a reunion album of new material, Irie Feeling, in 1983 (the same year UB40 covered Sweet Sensation on their hit Labour of Love album). Irie Feeling failed to re-establish them, but they later found work on the revival circuit and made a living by touring internationally and performing their classics of old.