My thwarted career as teenage reggae music journalist : 1972 : Jamaica

I blame Jesse James. Though cowboys and westerns held zero interest for me, something about the record 'Jesse James' appealed, much as an Israeli novelty song 'Cinderella Rockefella' the previous year had possessed sufficient charm to become my first ever vinyl single purchase. Now, having heard this reggae tribute to the outlaw played on 'BBC Radio One' or 'Radio Luxembourg', I placed my order at the record counter on the first floor of 'Harveys' department store in Camberley and, within a fortnight, it arrived. There was no song, merely Laurel Aitken shouting 'Jesse James rides again' with gunshot effects over an incessant rhythm. Nevertheless, I had just purchased my first reggae record [Nu Beat NB 045] and I loved it. It was 1969.