King Chubby The Versatile: The Many Moods, Voices, & Reggae Anthems of Junior Byles (1968-79) (LXXV)

In late 1967, Kenneth Byles, also known as "Junior Byles", "Chubby", or "King Chubby", formed a vocal group named the Versatiles. They cut their first session for release on Joe Gibbs's Amalgamated label. Three superb titles "Just Can't Win," "The Time Has Come" and "Trust The Book" were recorded under the supervision of Lee Perry with musical backup from Lynn Taitt & The Jets.

When Perry's association with Bob Marley briefly came to an end, he sought a singer-songwriter to work with who would fill the void, and Byles fit the bill. Between 1970 and 1974, Perry and Junior collaborated in the production of a series of hits, including, "Curly Locks," "Rasta No Pickpocket," "Place Called Africa," "Beat Down Babylon," "King Of Babylon," "Cutting Razor" and "Long Way."

By the mid-seventies, Junior was a major star in Jamaica poised for international exposure. However, his health began to decline and he suffered from depression. By 1976, he was admitted to Bellevue Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Kingston. Throughout the later part of the decade, Junior was in and out of the care while still managing to make many great records for a variety of producers.

These included "Chant Down Babylon" and "Pitchy Patchy" for Ja-Man, "Weeping" for Niney The Observer and the undisputed classic "Fade Away" at Channel One.

Tribute To The Everlasting Works of Junior Byles.
(2 February 1948 – 15 May 2025)

Compiled & Mixed Direct To Sony UX 90 By Selektah Twice In His Vault on Facebook LIVE - September 12th, 2023.


Side One -

Junior Byles & The Versatiles (1968-69)

1. The Time Has Come
(Amalgamated AMG 826 B 1968)

2. Trust The Book
(Amalgamated AMG 826 A 1968)

3. Long Long Time
(Amalgamated AMG 854 B 1969)

4. Push It In
(Amalgamated AMG 839 B 1969)

5. Children Get Ready
(Crab CRAB 1 A 1968)

6. Worries A Yard
(Crab CRAB 5 B 1969)

7. & 8. Spread Your Bed + Deebo
(Crab CRAB 5 A 1969)


King Chubby & King Scratch (1970-74)

9. & 10. Place Called Africa w/ Winston Prince
(Upsetter US 365 B 1970)

11. Do It Madly
(Spinning Wheel SW 101 B 1970)

12. Rasta No Pickpocket
(Upsetter, 1973)

13. Got The Tip
(Punch PH 77 B 1970)

14. Beat Down Comrade Man
(Dubplate)

15. When Will Better Come (Alternate)
(Upsetter, 1973)

16. 17. & 18. Curley Locks + Dreader Locks + Silver Locks
(Dip DL 5035 A 1974)



Side Two -

Chant Down Babylon (1975-79)

19. Lorna Banana
(Advance, 1975)

20. & 21. Ain’t Too Proud To Beg / Last Of The Love Songs
(Advance, 1975)

22. Bur-O-Boy
(The Thing, 1975)

23. Pitchy Patchy
(Ja-Man, 1976)

24. & 25. Fade Away + Rootes Dub
(Well Charge, 1975)

26. Chant Down Babylon w/ Rupert Reid
(Ja-Man, 1975)

27. Remember Me w/ Rupert Reid
(Ja-Man, 1975)

28. Heart & Soul
(Errol T. 1977)

29. & 30. Sugar Sugar + The Wise Sheep w/ Big Youth
(Tanasha, 1977)

31. W-E-E-P-I-N-G
(The Thing, 1978)

32. & 33. Dreadlocks Time + Fist To Fist w/ Kojak & Liza
(Joe Gibbs Music, 1979)