The Heptones - Better Days (Vinyl LP | FR Original | 1978)

The Heptones – Better Days is a 1978 album by the Jamaican harmony group The Heptones, produced and arranged by Winston “Niney” Holness. The rhythms were cut at Channel One, with vocals and mix at Harry J; the players include Sly Dunbar, Ansel Collins and Tony Chin. After Leroy Sibbles left in 1976, the group sang as Barry Llewellyn, Earl Morgan and Naggo Morris, who co-wrote several songs. Besides originals, the album includes covers of “Suspicious Minds” and “Crystal Blue Persuasion”. This copy is a pressing on Third World (cat. no. TWS 916), listed by us as French, 1978.

Pressing details

• Label / Cat. no.: Third World TWS 916
• Format: Vinyl LP, Album
• Pressing: FR original
• Country: France
• Year of this pressing: 1978
• Genre: Reggae, Roots Reggae

Condition

• Condition: Second hand
• Media: NM-
• Cover: VG+ (some shelf wear)

Graded to Goldmine standard (see Vinyl Grading). The images are our own scans of the actual copy for sale (SKU D SH 127).

Tracklist

Side A

1. Suspicious Mind (Mark James)
2. Crystal Blue Persuasion (Ed Gray/Mike Vale/Tommy James)
3. Land Of Love (Llewellyn/Morgan/Sibbles)
4. No Bread On My Table (Naggo Morris)
5. Better Days (Llewellyn/Mannings)

Side B

1. God Bless The Children (Jimmy Halliday)
2. Ready Ready Baby (Llewellyn/Morgan/Sibbles)
3. Every Day Life (Llewellyn/Morris)
4. Mr. Do Over Song (Llewellyn/Morris)
5. Key To The Heart (Llewellyn/Morris)

Personnel

The Heptones: Barry Llewellyn, Earl Morgan, Naggo Morris (vocals).

Musicians: Sly Dunbar (drums), George “Fully” Fullwood (bass), Tony Chin (lead guitar), E. Lamont (rhythm guitar), Ansel Collins (organ), Jah Macca (piano).

Production: Winston “Niney” Holness. Engineer: Sylvan Morris.

FAQ

Is this the original pressing?
The album was first released in the UK in 1978 on Third World (TDWD 1). This edition carries catalogue number TWS 916 and also dates from 1978; it is not listed on Discogs, where the known French editions are on Celluloid.

Does Leroy Sibbles sing on this album?
No. Leroy Sibbles left the Heptones in 1976. On “Better Days” the singers are Barry Llewellyn, Earl Morgan and Naggo Morris, who is credited as writer on several songs. “Land Of Love” and “Ready Ready Baby” were written by the earlier line-up.

What does Media NM- / Cover VG+ mean?
NM- (Near Mint minus) means the record is close to new with at most minimal signs of play. VG+ (Very Good Plus) means the sleeve shows light wear, here some shelf wear. All grades are explained on our Vinyl Grading page.

Do you have more Heptones records?
Yes, for example The Heptones – In A Dancehall Style and the 12" Leroy Sibbles & The Heptones – Give Me The Right. More titles are in our Reggae, Ska & Dub collection.