The Liquidator (song)
| "Liquidator" | |
|---|---|
| Single by The Harry J Allstars | |
| B-side | La La Always Stay - Glen and Dave |
| Released | 1969 |
| Genre | Ska, Reggae |
| Label | Harry J Records |
| Writer(s) | Harry Johnson |
| Producer(s) | Harry Johnson |
"Liquidator" is a reggae instrumental recorded by the Harry J Allstars in 1969.
Carlton Barrett says the instrumental was originally for a song by Tony Scott, "What Am I to Do". Harry Johnson bought the rights from Scott, licensed the track to Trojan and credited it to the Harry J Allstars. Alton Ellis said the core of the song was a lift from his rocksteady hit "Girl I've Got a Date".
Musicians involved in the recording included the core of the Hippy Boys: bassist 'Family Man' Aston Barrett, drummer Carlton Barrett and guitarist Alva Lewis. They later formed the core of The Upsetters and The Wailers.The organ was played by Winston Wright who, as a member of Tommy McCook's Supersonics, was acknowledged as Jamaica's master of the Hammond organ. Wright featured on other Harry Johnson hits, including The Beltones' "No More Heartaches" and on Boris Gardiner's "Elizabethan Reggae".
A variation was recorded featuring the sax of Val Bennett (entitled "Tons of Gold"), but the Hippy Boys' original instrumental had the most success.
The Staple Singers used the bass line and introduction from "Liquidator" for their 1972 hit "I'll Take You There".
The Specials covered "The Liquidator" as part of the ska covers medley "Skinhead Symphony" on their live EP The Special A.K.A. Live! which reached number one in the UK singles chart in January 1980. The renewed interest in the song led to Trojan Records reissuing the Harry J Allstars version as a double A side with the original version of another song featured in the medley, "Long Shot Kick De Bucket" by The Pioneers, in March 1980. The reissue reached number 42 in the UK singles chart.
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