Message Board Archives

I had never heard of this bloke,he had a great choon in the 70s,he's Jamaican sings Reggae.The song I heard is Pitta Patta,i wudda put it for allyuh to listen but me cyah do it,I hope someone does it fuh me thanks,who never hear it will enjoy.

In reply to granite

Ernie Smith is a gorgon (Jamaican term for rock solid - as opposed to an ugly person). Pitta Patta is one of his best offerings along with Life is Just for Living.

In reply to JoeGrine

How de hell I ever missed that chune in the 70s,ah must give these Jamaican performers much credit.Thanks for that new word "gorgon",Ernie is definitely one.Me going listen to Life is just for Living.

In reply to granite

You ever hear bout Pluto Shervington?

In reply to Curtis

Ernie is in a class by himself in terms of a Performing artiste, Solo Pop Artiste, Performer, Songwriter and 'genkleman.'
Pity the ugly politics of the '70's that forced him out of his homeland and clearly contributed to a period of substance use. (I doan seh sufferers of substance use are abusers, you can only abuse what you can control) may have robbed him and us of his best period of songwriting.
Life is Just for Living
Sammy
One Dream
Hail Di Man
All for Jesus
Jah Kingdom
Duppy Gunman
To Behold Jah.
He is as unique a special Jamaican Music Performing Artiste as Bob Andy, some would say more so unique.

In reply to granite
My favourite Eenie is Folk Songs of Jamaica starting with Evening Time

In reply to Brerzerk

Hail the Man get nuff play on my ipad.

In reply to Brerzerk

That is a classic, Life is just for living, timeless.

There was a time in my younger days where Ernie, Pluto, Ken Lazarus, Jimmy Cliff were dishing out chune after chune after chune, pre Bob.

In reply to granite

Just for you

In reply to Curtis

Yes man Pluto hit de UK late 70s wid Gimme ah pound ah dat ting.All the white boys was trying to sing it.

In reply to Maispwi

Thank you man I've listened to this chune about 10 times,and even get up and make some moves all on me own.This fellow was ahead of his time.I checked him out on Youtube and he still got a nice head ah dreads and his beard white.I am sure he said he was born in May Pen.I just love to go back to Jamaican music of the past,that was when the revolution started

In reply to Brerzerk

Please add "Rebel Music" to the list. In my humble opinion one of the best songs recorded by Mr. Smith. Give it a listen. The arrangement is so sweet.

Also don't forget the ballad "I can't Take it" recorded around 67/68. Later Johnny Nash did a nice reggae cover version.
Sorry, same song as "Tears on my Pillow". Thanks Raggs.

In reply to CWWeekes

Can always depend on you and DonD to 'sweeten the pot'

He wrote ' Tears On My Pillow' sung by Jonny Nash. In fact when Marley was providing songs for the American Texan, Mr Smith's composition was among the mix. I rated him from then.

In reply to Brerzerk
Eent

Thanks to all my MB frens for info, I would never find info that you all gave, thanks to yall,I'll find every chune.I didn't imagine he did so much.IMO he shudda be a worldwide star.This fellow in the business for over 50years ,well done man.

In reply to granite

In reply to granite

Yeh man thanks for the thread. If you love music, not just reggae music then you should know about Ernest Marchangelo(sp) Smith. His name belongs up there with best of them, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley etc. One more Ernie choon for you "Brown Sugar" might have been the song that got him in trouble with the socialists. There is another great love song with great lyrics that he wrote and was popularised by Ken Lazarus, but I cannot now remember the title.

add to Bio: A Yorkcastle man.

In reply to CWWeekes
LOL for Yorkcastle

In reply to Chrissy

I have no relationship with Yorkcastle, but just wanted to put it out there that in addition to Xavier Marshsall they also produced a Ernie Smith.

In reply to CWWeekes
I know that's why I LOLd

In reply to CWWeekes

Knew he had a St. Ann connection but never knew it was via 'Castle.' No wonder my schoolmate (RIP Oms) a St. Ann man who knew Ernie had it so easy getting him to play at one of our reunion functions for almos' nutt'n.
Two truly great Yard songwriters- The Other Bob (Andy) and Ernie. Very talented, very socially conscious, very apt at putting both words of love (all forms romantic,pragma, agape....) and protest to beautiful melodies. 60's 70's-80's great decades to be either pickney, young or both

Ole Dread introduced me to Bob Andy at his place many years ago.

In reply to granite
Pluto died This morning
I cannot believe this.

In reply to Chrissy

I can't also, only last night i was looking at him and Ernie Smith.RIP Pluto Shervington.

In reply to granite

First, RIP Pluto.

One thing we forgot to mention is the fact that his song "Life is just for Living" won first prize in a world song competition, in Japan I believe, about 72/73. The song was later used in a very popular Red Stripe Beer tv commercial. A song done by fellow Jamaican Lou Sparkes had won the competition a year or two before.

In reply to CWWeekes

I am still amazed that he wasn't a massive star like those of the 70s right here in the UK,sometimes a lucky break makes all the difference.

In reply to granite

I think Ernie was more of a live performer.

In reply to granite

Use to been one of my fave growing up

In reply to granite

In the 70s I believe it helped an artiste's career to take on the rasta persona, so wearing locks and smoking a big spliff would get you noticed; not saying this factor alone contributed to Ernie not really breaking out. Plus, some might not want to admit it but in JA in many cases so called "uptown people" or people from the middle to upper class are not taken seriously when they choose music as a career. I would say though that Ernie got his recognition in Jamaica but never broke out internationally. Ernie's locks came later after he had those string of hits in the early 70s.

In reply to CWWeekes

Me neva get noticed back then.