Photo: Mbdortmund · CC BY-SA 3.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Laurel Aitken
Person · male · Cuba · Havana · born 1927 · died 2005 · recording since 1959
Cuban singer (1927–2005)
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Also known as Laurel Aitkens · ロウレル・エイトキン
Timeline
24 events▣ Album 21◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1920s
1950s
· Debut release
Debut release: Heavenly Angel / Boogie Rock
First documented Single in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1960s
1970s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Biography
English biography757 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1374188259
Biography
Lorenzo "Laurel" Aitken (22 April 1927 – 17 July 2005) was a Cuban-Jamaican singer and one of the pioneers of ska music. He is often referred to as the "Godfather of Ska".
Career
Born in Cuba of mixed Cuban and Jamaican descent, Aitken and his family settled in Jamaica in 1938. After an early career working for the Jamaican Tourist Board singing mento songs for visitors arriving at Kingston Harbour, he became a popular nightclub entertainer. His first recordings in the late 1950s were mento tunes such as "Nebuchnezer", "Sweet Chariot" (aka the gospel classic "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot") and "Baba Kill Me Goat". Aitken's 1959 single "Boogie in My Bones"/"Little Sheila" was one of the first records produced by Chris Blackwell and the first Jamaican popular music record to be released in the United Kingdom. Other more Jamaican rhythm and blues orientated singles from this period include "Low Down Dirty Girl" and "More Whisky" both produced by Duke Reid.
Aitken moved to Brixton, London, in 1960 and recorded for the Blue Beat label, releasing fifteen singles before returning to Jamaica in 1963. He recorded for Duke Reid, with backing from the Skatalites on tracks such as "Zion" and "Weary Wanderer", before returning to the UK, where he began working with Pama Records. He recorded hits such as "Fire in Mi Wire" and "Landlord and Tenants", which led to a wider recognition outside of Jamaica and the UK. This cemented his position as one of ska's leading artists and earned him the nicknames The Godfather of Ska, and later Boss Skinhead. He gained a loyal following not only among the West Indian community, but also among mods, skinheads and other ska fans. He had hit records in the United Kingdom and other countries in the 1950s through to the 1970s on labels such as Blue Beat, Pama, Trojan, Rio, Dr. Bird, Nu-Beat, Ska-Beat, Hot Lead and Dice. Some of his singles featured B-sides credited to his brother, guitarist Bobby Aitken. Aitken also recorded a few talk-over/deejay tracks under the guise of 'King Horror', such as "Loch Ness Monster", "Dracula, Prince of Darkness" and "The Hole". Aitken settled in Leicester with his wife in 1970. His output slowed in the 1970s and during this period he worked as an entertainer in nightclubs and restaurants in the area including the popular 'Costa Brava Restaurant' in Leicester under his real name Lorenzo. In 1980, with ska enjoying a resurgence in the wake of the 2 Tone movement, Aitken had his only success in the UK Singles Chart with "Rudi Got Married
Rudi Got MarriedSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Rudi Got Married3:252Honey Come Back to Me3:403Big Fat Man3:104It's Too Late3:155Mad About You3:046Sahara2:207Skinhead4:418Hey Little Girl4:319Sally Brown4:5510Je T'aimerai Toujours3:3311Eh Mon Amour4:2412Don't Turn Your Back3:4813I Love You, Yes I Do3:3514Peggy Sue2:2615Rude Boy Dream3:2916Hitchhike3:4617Ringo the Gringo4:3318Skinhead (12" edit)6:24" (No. 60) released on I-Spy Records (the label created and managed by Secret Affair. Aitken's career took in mento/calypso, R&B, ska, rock steady, and reggae, and in the 1990s he even turned his talents to dancehall. He performed occasional concerts until his death from a heart attack in 2005. After a long campaign, a blue plaque in his honour was put up at his Leicester home in 2007. Punk band Rancid covered Aitken's "Everybody Suffering" on their 2014 LP Honor Is All We Know
Albums
The Original Cool Jamaican Ska (1964, Decca)
Ska With Laurel (1965, Rio)
Laurel Aitkin Says Fire (1967, Doctor Bird)
Fire (1969)
High Priest of Reggae (1969, Nu-Beat)
The High Priest Of Reggae (1970)
Laurel Aitken Meets Floyd Lloyd and the Potato Five (1987, Gaz's) (with The Potato 5)
Early Days of Blue Beat, Ska and Reggae (1988, Bold Reprive)
True Fact (1988, Rackit) (with The Potato 5)
Ringo The Gringo (1989, Unicorn)
It's Too Late (1989, Unicorn)
Rise and Fall (1989, Unicorn)
Sally Brown (1989, Unicorn)
Ringo the Gringo (1990, Unicorn)
Rasta Man Power (1992, ROIR)
The Blue Beat Years (1996, Moon Ska)
Rocksteady Party (1996, Blue Moon) (with The Potato 5)
The Story So Far (1999, Grover)
Woppi King (1997, Trybute)
The Pama Years (1999, Grover)
The Long Hot Summer (1999, Grover) (Laurel Aitken and The Skatalites)
Clash of The Ska Titans (1999, Moon Ska) (Laurel Aitken versus The Skatalites)
Pioneer of Jamaican Music (2000, Reggae Retro)
Godfather of Ska (2000, Grover)
Jamboree (2001, Grover)
Rudi Got Married (2004, Grover)
En Español (2004, Liquidator)
Live at Club Ska (2004, Trojan)
The Pioneer of Jamaican Music (2005, Reggae Retro)
Super Star (2005, Liquidator)
You’ve Got What It Takes/That’s How Strong (My Love Is) (2005 - Mini CD)
The Very Last Concert (2007, Soulove) (CD + DVD)
Love & Understanding (with The Mighty Megatons) (2026, Liquidator)
Videos/DVDs
Live at Gaz's Rockin' Blues (1989, Unicorn) (VHS)
Laurel Aitken And Friends – Live at Club Ska (2005, Cherry Red) (DVD)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 22 | 83.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 46 | 93.7th |
| Studio albums | 21 | 96.7th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 24 | 95.3th |
| Recording span (years) | 46 | 86.9th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (46 release groups · 21 studio albums)
Albums · 21
1965 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks
1Streets of Glory2Lonesome Traveller3Madame Sorosie4We Shall Overcome5Call the Doctor6Freedom7Hallelujah Train8Looking for My Baby9Woman Is Sweeter Than Man10It's Coming Down11Take Off My Pyjamas12Leave My Woman Alone1969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 43:08
1Scandal in a Brixton Market3:312Madame Stragge3:453Stupid Married Man5:264Tammering5:275Have Mercy2:526Night Cricket3:477Run Powell Run3:538Teddy Bear2:119Mr. Soul2:5810Woke Up This Morning3:3711Babylon2:5012Stop the War in Vietnam2:511969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 31:58
A1Fire2:46A2Worried Over Me2:39A3Halfway to Paradise2:14A4Coconut2:19A5Quando Quando2:54A6If You Need Me3:06B1La La La2:46B2Rice & Peas2:22B3Stand by Me3:09B4Sunnyside2:45B5Mr. Lee2:18B6Gonna Get Married2:401970 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 34:10
A1Jesse James2:43A2Mr. Popcorn2:37A3I Got to Have Your Love2:47A4John B2:21A5Shoo Bee Shoo Bee2:34A6Hailes Selaise3:15B1Landlords & Tenants2:48B2Save the Last Dance3:11B3Walk Right Back2:22B4Don't Be Cruel2:08B5Woppi King3:39B6Suffering Still3:451972 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks
1Baby Please Don't Go2Sex Machine3Heile Heile4Chop Chop Rock5Can't Turn Your Back On Me6Since You Left7Do the Boogaloo8Soul of Africa9Dancing With My Baby10Dallas Texas11Rock Steady12Reggae Mood1990 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 56:24
1I Love You, Yes I Do3:392Lookin' in the Mirror3:083Night Train to Tokyo3:534Don't Turn Your Back3:505Rock With You Tonight3:526Ringo the Gringo4:357Peggy Sue2:288Going Back to the Frontline3:299Rude Boy Dream3:3010Hitchhike3:4811Hey Little Girl4:3312Sally Brown4:5613Since You Went Away2:4314Je T'Aimerai Toujours3:3615Eh Mon Amour4:241991 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 30:38
A1Bad Minded Woman2:42A2Adam and Eve2:26A3Hometown2:24A4Devil or Angel2:40A5Sunshine2:33A6Freedom Train2:44B1Life2:35B2Fire2:43B3The Saint2:25B4Mary2:32B5Peace Perfect Peace2:26B6Lion of Judah2:281995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 49:34
1Roll Jordan Roll4:532Little Sheila2:233Boogie in My Bones2:164Bartender3:495Its Too Late5:436Zion City3:057Sugar Sugar3:478Bad Minded Woman3:259Rudi Got Married3:4110Sally Brown4:2611Mad About You3:3412Sahara5:0313Boogie With the Bartender3:291997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 20 tracks · 1:00:45
1Woppi King3:412Everybody Suffering2:383Deliverance Will Come2:364Babylon2:505Big Fight In Hell Stadium3:476Pussy Price3:027Gimme Back Me Dollar2:438Have Mercy2:499Hailes Selassie3:1410Heile Heile (The Lion)2:3811Freedom2:2112Babylon Gone2:1613Suffering Still3:4314Landlords & Tenants2:4615Jesse James2:4316Stop The War In Vietnam2:4817Run Powell Run3:5318Tammering5:2219Blues Dance2:2020Reggae Prayer2:351998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 52:16
A1Apollo 122:21A2Donkey Man4:21A3John B2:23A4Walk Right Back2:23A5Scandal In Brixton Market3:36A6Don't Be Cruel2:16A7Benwood Dick2:40A8Blue Mink2:02A9Soul Jerker3:45B1Reggae 693:02B2I Got To Have Your Loving2:50B3I Will Never Let You Down2:27B4Baby Please Don't Go3:21B5Reggae Popcorn2:45B6I'll Never Love Any Girl2:24B7The Best I Can2:42B8True Love3:46B9Save The Last Dance3:121999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 36:58
1La paloma4:572Negro3:543Médico brujo3:264Quizás quizás2:305Auge y caida3:296Niña niña2:507Ojos sexys2:588Perfidia4:379Sahara4:1310Mi vida sin tu amor4:041999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 44:26
1Mood for Ska3:042It's Too Late3:083Same Old Song3:184I Love You3:555Come Down3:256Summertime5:537Rude Boy Dreams3:568Bad Minded Woman3:369Come Down (Live)4:1810Sugar Sugar (Live)9:532000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 41:20
1Jamboree3:062Dance Wid’ Me, Baby2:563Get Ready Rock Steady4:074Brown Eyed Girl3:215Rudeboy Is Back in Town3:576We People3:397Woman Is Sweeter Than Man2:098Pretty Baby3:219Fulfillment4:1410Cockroach2:4111Rudeboy Dream3:2612I’m Still in Love With You, Girl4:23Laurel Aitken Meets Floyd Lloyd & The Potato 5
2000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 34:38
1Tear Up3:352Jesse Jackson3:193Spin on Your Head2:294Big City4:405Western Special3:536Sally Brown3:457Mad About You3:058Sahara2:219Long Time (I've Been Watching You)7:312001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 43:28
1Rocksteady Party3:312That Was Then2:303Do the Jerk6:084Burnin' Fire4:275Pancho the Mexican Bandit3:066Bluebeat Suit2:457Things That I Do3:448Dial M for Murder2:599Reburial5:0610Car Chase2:5611Got to Go3:5312He Man Versus Skeletor2:232004 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:08:59
1Rudi Got Married3:252Honey Come Back to Me3:403Big Fat Man3:104It's Too Late3:155Mad About You3:046Sahara2:207Skinhead4:418Hey Little Girl4:319Sally Brown4:5510Je T'aimerai Toujours3:3311Eh Mon Amour4:2412Don't Turn Your Back3:4813I Love You, Yes I Do3:3514Peggy Sue2:2615Rude Boy Dream3:2916Hitchhike3:4617Ringo the Gringo4:3318Skinhead (12" edit)6:242005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 41:31
1Superstar4:222If You Need Good Loving Tonight3:533Rum & Coconut Water4:134Something's Got to Be Wrong3:545Oooh Baby2:406Dance to the Music2:297Gloria3:598People of the World Unite4:349Down in Africa3:3310Maria3:0711Who Say4:472005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 46:31
1In the Mood for Ska3:012It’s Too Late3:043Same Old Song3:154I Love You3:515Come Down3:216Summertime5:507Rode Boy Dreams3:538Bad Minded Woman3:339Come Down (live)4:1410Sugar Sugar (live)6:1711Confucious (live)6:122009 · studio album
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Tracklist · 29 tracks · 1:16:49
1Fire2:462Freedom Train2:463Peace Perfect Peace2:304Bad Minded Woman2:455Devil or Angel2:426You Are My Sunshine2:367Hometown2:288Life2:389Adam and Eve2:3010Mary2:3011I Shall Remove3:0712We Got to Move2:3513What a Weeping2:3214Zion City Wall2:3515One More River to Cross2:3116Lion of Judah2:3517Remember My Darling3:1218The Saint2:3419Go Gal Go2:3920Rock of Ages2:1821You Left Me Standing4:0622Bag a Boo2:3323Jericho1:5824Yes Indeed2:1125Let My People Go3:0226Bachelor Life1:4827You Was Up2:2228Don't Stay Out Late2:5129Be Mine3:092015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 20:31
1Brother David2:512If It's Money You Need2:153I'll Love You More Everyday3:534Nebuchadnezzar2:445Rege Dege Ding3:126Nightfall in Zion (aka Roll River Jordan)2:447Sweet Chariot2:522018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 54:30
1Outlaw2:432Thief a Dollar2:453That Mink Is Blue2:024Cost Rising3:045Need Your Love2:456Pure Suffering2:367Tearful Valley2:498Corner Where I'm Standing2:279Don't Go3:2410Bird Song3:0311Want to Be Free2:2112Be True3:4813Pop Go the Corn2:4714Best You Can2:4415Bargain3:1416Groovy One2:4417Love Justification2:5418Proud Walk3:2719Need Love2:53
Single · 9
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Heavenly Angel / Boogie RockSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksAHeavenly Angel BBoogie Rock | 1959 | ||
| 1960 | Boogie in My Bones / Little SheilaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksABoogie in My Bones BLittle Sheila | 1960 | ||
| 1969 | Woppi KingSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 6:47AWoppi King3:44 BMr. Soul3:03 | 1969 | ||
| 1996 | SkinheadSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 8:19ASkinhead4:39 BHitchhike3:40 | 1996 | ||
| 2015 | Skinhead Train / Kent PeopleSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksASkinhead Train BKent People | 18 July 2015 | ||
| 2016 | Suffering Still / Reggae 69Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksASuffering Still BReggae 69 | 6 January 2016 | ||
| 2017 | Scandal in Brixton Market / Soul JerkerSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksAScandal in Brixton Market BSoul Jerker | 2017 | ||
| 2017 | Lawd Doctor / Big Fight in Hell StadiumSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksALawd Doctor BBig Fight in Hell Stadium | 2017 | ||
| 2021 | Landlords & Tenants / Everybody SufferingSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksALandlords & Tenants BEverybody Suffering | 2021 |
Album · 16
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | No More SorrowsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 5 tracksA1Medley: Beyond the Sea / Mr. Lee / Tell Me Darling / Little Girl / Tell Me Baby / No More Sorrows / I Would Like to Hold You Tight B1Guilty (instrumental) B2Sweet Little Girl B3Mad About You B4Sally Brown | Compilation | 1982 | |
| 1992 | Rasta Man PowerSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 23 tracksA1Boogie Rock A2Bouncing Woman A3You Got Me Rockin’ A4Brother David A5Back to New Orleans A6Daniel Saw the Stone A7Sweet Jamaica A8Bug‐a‐boo A9Whole Lotta Rock A10Jesse James A11Skinhead Train A12Fire in My Wire A13Rise and Fall B1Heile Heile B2Shoo Be Doo B3Gimme Back Mi Dollar B4Who’s Taking You Home B5It’s Too Late B6Baby, Baby B7Witchdoctor From Amsterdam B8Rasta Man Power B9Rude Boy Dream B10Ringo the Gringo | Compilation | 1992 | |
| 1996 | The Blue Beat YearsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks · 50:411Mad About You3:39 2It's Too Late5:50 3Sahara5:09 4Rudi Wedding3:47 5Roll Jordan Roll4:57 6Boogie With The Bartender3:32 7Sally Brown4:30 8Sugar Sugar3:53 9Boogie In My Bones2:20 10Zion City3:12 11Little Sheila2:29 12Bad Minded Woman3:30 13Hey Bartender3:53 | Compilation | 1996 | |
| 1999 | The Pioneer of Jamaican MusicSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 25 tracks · 1:07:221Ghana Independance (They Got It)3:07 2Mas Charlie (Prisoner Song)2:42 3Nebuchadnezzar2:24 4Baba Kill Me Goat (A Line)2:36 5Tribute to Collie Smith3:36 6West Indian Cricket Test3:28 7Aitken's Boogie3:06 8Come Back Jeannie2:23 9Mary Lee2:21 10Yeah Yeah Baby3:11 11If It's Money You Need2:16 12Low Down Dirty Girl2:40 13Railroad Track2:54 14Going Back to Kansas City2:14 15Judgement Day2:52 16Mash Potato Boogie2:40 17Bossa Nova Hop2:46 18Zion City2:12 19Mary Don't You Weep2:26 20Bachelor Life1:48 21You Was Up2:22 22We Shall Overcome3:15 23Green Banana2:33 24Looking for My Baby2:42 25I Believe2:48 | Compilation | 1999 | |
| 2000 | Godfather of Ska, Volume 3Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 21 tracks · 54:141Shake2:08 2Jamboree3:05 3Let My People Go3:04 4Rock of Ages2:20 5Jericho2:00 6Take Off My Pyjamas2:09 7Clementine2:21 8Coconut Woman2:38 9Woman Is Sweeter2:10 10Bag-A-Boo2:29 11Ring Don't Mean a Thing3:05 12Revival2:30 13This Great Day2:59 14Propaganda2:59 15What a Weeping2:34 16Madame Sorosie2:55 17I Don't Want No More2:34 18Call the Doctor2:16 19Jenny Jenny2:24 20Street of Glory2:58 21Life2:36 | Compilation | 2000 | |
| 2002 | Live at Club SkaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 55:441Intro - Geno Blue / Boogie in My Bones4:02 2Zion City3:38 3Mad About You5:32 4Eastern Standard Time4:25 5Bartender3:54 6Sally Brown5:27 7Skinhead Train3:30 8Al Capone5:25 9Skinhead4:07 10Sahara5:40 11It's Too Late4:29 12Caladonia5:35 | Live | 2002 | |
| 2006 | SuperstarSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks · 41:501Superstar4:24 2If You Need Good Loving Tonight3:55 3Rum & Coconut Water4:15 4Something's Got to Be Wrong3:56 5Oooh Baby2:42 6Dance to the Music2:31 7Gloria4:01 8People of the World Unite4:36 9Down in Africa3:35 10Maria3:09 11Who Say4:46 | Compilation | 29 September 2006 | |
| 2007 | The Number One HitsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 23:001She’s Gone to Napoli1:00 2That’s How Strong My Love Is2:00 3Too Weak to Fight2:00 4You’ve Got What It Takes2:00 5Preghera2:00 6My Way2:00 7Pain in My Heart2:00 8Jamaica2:00 9It’s Too Late2:00 10Zion City2:00 11My Way (unplugged)2:00 12You’ve Got What It Takes (Bedo version)2:00 | Compilation | 2007 | |
| 2009 | The Godfather of Ska AnthologySearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 52 tracks · 2:33:40Disc 1 1Nebuchenezer2:24 2Aitken's Boogie3:05 3Boogie Rock2:34 4Come Back Jeannie2:21 5Baba Kill Me Goat2:36 6Little Sheila1:55 7Boogie in My Bones2:49 8Love Me Baby2:30 9Mary Lee2:20 10Judgment Day2:54 11Railroad Track2:53 12More Whisky3:08 13Bartender2:37 14Mabel2:38 15Brother David2:52 16(She's Gone to) Napoli2:35 17Have Mercy Mr Percy2:09 18That Great Day2:55 19Freedom Train2:44 20Lion of Judah2:34 21Zion City Wall2:35 22Bachelor Life1:47 23West Indian Cricket Test3:27 24You Left Me Standing4:05 25Bag a Boo2:32 26Yes Indeed2:11 27Propaganda2:56 28Green Banana2:32 29Rock Steady2:26 Disc 21Fire (In Your Wire)2:44 2The Rise and Fall (Of Laurel)2:27 3Woppi King3:40 4Suffering Still3:43 5Run Powell Run3:52 6Landlords and Tenants2:45 7Scandal in a Brixton Market3:33 8Jesse James2:41 9Pussy Price Gone Up3:02 10Skinhead Train3:03 11Mr. Popcorn2:39 12Reggae Popcorn2:40 13It's Too Late3:15 14Delilah (Is a Woman)3:16 15Fatty Bum Bum Gone to Jail3:04 16Witch Doctor From Amsterdam4:03 17Rudi Got Married3:24 18Big Fat Man3:11 19Mad About You3:05 20Sahara2:20 21Ringo the Gringo4:33 22Sally Brown4:56 23Skinhead4:40 | Compilation | 10 November 2009 | |
| 2010 | Boogie In My Bones/The Early Years (1957 to 1960)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 28 tracks · 1:16:591Mass Charlie (The Prisoner'S Song)2:42 2They Got It (Ghana Independence)3:07 3Calypso In Rock N' Roll2:53 4Nightfall In Zion (Aka Roll River Jordan)2:44 5Nebuchnezer2:23 6Sweet Chariot3:14 7The Walls Of Jericho3:13 8Rege Dege Ding3:12 9Aitken's Boogie3:04 10Cherrie2:53 11Whole Lotta Rock2:20 12Come Back Jeannie2:21 13Boogie Rock2:34 14Heavenly Angel2:57 15Tribute To Collie Smith3:40 16Baba Kill Me Goat2:35 17Boogie In My Bones2:48 18Little Sheila1:55 19Honey Girl2:01 20Drinkin' Whiskey2:37 21If It'S Money You Need2:16 22Jeannie Is Back2:23 23Low Down Dirty Girl2:42 24Yea Yea Baby3:20 25Judgement Day2:54 26More Whiskey3:08 27Stars Were Made2:34 28Love Me Baby2:29 | Compilation | 2010 | |
| 2010 | You Got Me Rockin' - The Blue Beat Years 1960-1964Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 28 tracks · 1:16:571Mary Lee2:20 2Railroad Track2:53 3Tell Me Darling2:50 4Bartender2:37 5Mash Potato Boogie2:47 6Nursery Rhyme Boogie3:06 7Bouncin' Woman2:31 8Mighty Redeemer2:51 9Please Don't Leave Me2:42 10Brother David2:51 11Back To New Orleans3:02 12Mabel2:38 13You Got Me Rockin'2:13 14Lucille3:55 15I Love You More Everyday3:57 16Sixty Days And Sixty Nights3:22 17Going To Kansas City2:13 18Weary Wanderer2:35 19Jenny Jenny2:21 20She's Gone To Napoli2:35 21Have Mercy Mr Percy2:09 22Sweet Jamaica2:05 23Bossa Nova Hop2:48 24Zion2:11 25Swing Low Sweet Chariot2:18 26Daniel Saw The Stone3:20 27This Great Day2:54 28I May Never See My Baby2:53 | Compilation | 2010 | |
| 2013 | Skinhead Ska: The CollectionSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 20 tracks · 1:03:361Skinhead Invasion2:19 2Rudi Got Married3:24 3Freedom2:21 4Sally Brown4:56 5Boogie in My Bones2:50 6Skinhead4:42 7Jesse James2:42 8Honey Come Back to Me3:41 9Dancing With My Baby2:15 10It's Too Late3:15 11Landlords and Tenants2:46 12Rude Boy Dream3:28 13Bartender2:37 14Mad About You3:06 15Fire (In Your Wire)2:43 16Sahara2:21 17Pussy Price (Gone Up)3:02 18Scandal in a Brixton Market3:34 19Hey Little Girl4:31 20Skinhead Train3:03 | Compilation | 6 May 2013 | |
| 2014 | The Singles Collection 1959-1962Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 40 tracks · 1:51:46Disc 1 1Nebuchnezer2:24 2Sweet Chariot3:13 3Aitken's Boogie3:05 4Cherrie2:53 5Baba Kill Me Goat2:36 6Tribute To Collie Smith3:40 7Boogie In My Bones2:48 8Little Sheila1:55 9Honey Girl2:01 10Drinkin' Whiskey2:37 11Mary Lee2:19 12Lonesome Lover3:48 13Low Down Dirty Girl2:39 14Boogie Rock2:34 15Heavenly Angel2:56 16Jeannie Is Back2:22 17If It's Money You Need2:15 18Judgement Day2:53 19Yea Yea Baby3:17 20Railroad Track2:51 Disc 21Tell Me Darling2:49 2More Whisky3:07 3Love Me Baby2:30 4Stars Were Made2:34 5Bar Tender2:37 6Mash Potato Boogie2:44 7Bouncing Woman2:31 8Nursery Rhyme Boogie3:06 9Mighty Redeemer2:49 10Please Don't Leave Me2:41 11Brother David2:50 12Back To New Orleans3:00 13Lucille3:54 14I Love You More Everyday3:53 15Sixty Days & Sixty Nights3:22 16Going To Kansas City2:12 17Jenny Jenny2:22 18Weary Wanderer2:42 19Mabel2:37 20You Got Me Rockin'2:20 | Compilation | 2014 | |
| 2014 | Original Albums CollectionSearch SpotifySearch YouTube Music | Compilation | 15 September 2014 | |
| 2020 | Skinhead Train: The Complete Singles Collection 1969–1970Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music | Compilation | March 2020 | |
| — | Rise & Fall / It's Too LateSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 24 tracks · 1:10:001You Got Me Rockin2:13 2Baby Baby3:36 3Back to New Orleans2:57 4Skinhead Train3:05 5Bug-a-Boo2:28 6Heile Heile (The Lion)2:42 7Witchdoctor From Amsterdam4:04 8Boogie Rock2:35 9Rasta Man Power3:00 10Who's Taking you Home3:01 11Let Me Love You Little Darling4:14 12Rise & Fall2:28 13Its' Too Late3:08 14Shoo Bee Do2:46 15Bouncing Woman2:29 16Daniel Saw The Stone3:14 17Blue Beat Dance4:03 18Mr. Popcorn2:33 19Fire in me Wire2:36 20Gimmie Back mMi Dollar2:53 21Brother David2:53 22Sweet Jamaica2:05 23Whole Lotta Rock2:21 24Jesse James2:36 | Compilation | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Laurel Aitken head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 22 | 83.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 46 | 93.7th |
| Studio albums | 21 | 96.7th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 24 | 95.3th |
| Recording span (years) | 46 | 86.9th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gruvy Beats(band) | — | present | |
| Laurel & Girlie(band) | — | present | |
| King Edward Allstars(band) | — | present | |
| Laurel Aitken & His Calypso Band(band) | — | present | eponymous,original,principal |
| Laurel Aitken Band(band) | — | present | eponymous,original,principal |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aitken14.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/aef5b6b3-c1f3-4dbb-9755-50842da36a63discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/aef5b6b3-c1f3-4dbb-9755-50842da36a63core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q536566genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q536566seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurel_Aitkenbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurel_Aitken
Why this artist is in the database
- List of reggae musicians
- List of ska musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Mbdortmund · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q536566 · MusicBrainz: aef5b6b3-c1f3-4dbb-9755-50842da36a63
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