Born in Cuba of mixed Cuban and Jamaican descent, Aitken and his family settled in Jamaica in 1938. After an early career working for the Jamaican Tourist Board singing mento songs for visitors arriving at Kingston Harbour, he became a popular nightclub entertainer. His first recordings in the late 1950s were mento tunes such as "Nebuchnezer", "Sweet Chariot" (aka the gospel classic "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot") and "Baba Kill Me Goat". Aitken's 1958 single "Boogie in My Bones"/"Little Sheila" was one of the first records produced by Chris Blackwell and the first Jamaican popular music record to be released in the United Kingdom. Other more Jamaican rhythm and blues orientated singles from this period include "Low Down Dirty Girl" and "More Whisky" both produced by Duke Reid.
Aitken moved to Brixton, London, in 1960 and recorded for the Blue Beat label, releasing fifteen singles before returning to Jamaica in 1963. He recorded for Duke Reid, with backing from the Skatalites on tracks such as "Zion" and "Weary Wanderer", before returning to the UK, where he began working with Pama Records. He recorded hits such as "Fire in Mi Wire" and "Landlord and Tenants", which led to a wider recognition outside of Jamaica and the UK. This cemented his position as one of ska's leading artists and earned him the nicknames The Godfather of Ska, and later Boss Skinhead. He gained a loyal following not only among the West Indian community, but also among mods, skinheads and other ska fans. He had hit records in the United Kingdom and other countries in the 1950s through to the 1970s on labels such as Blue Beat, Pama, Trojan, Rio, Dr. Bird, Nu-Beat, Ska-Beat,Hot Lead and Dice. Some of his singles featured B-sides credited to his brother, guitarist Bobby Aitken. Aitken also recorded a few talk-over/deejay tracks under the guise of 'King Horror', such as "Loch Ness Monster", "Dracula, Prince of Darkness", and "The Hole". Aitken settled in Leicester with his wife in 1970. His output slowed in the 1970s and during this period he worked as an entertainer in nightclubs and restaurants in the area including the popular 'Costa Brava Restaurant' in Leicester under his real name Lorenzo. In 1980, with ska enjoying a resurgence in the wake of the 2 Tone movement, Aitken had his only success in the UK Singles Chart with "Rudi Got Married" (#60) released on I-Spy Records (the label created and managed by Secret Affair. Aitken's career took in mento/calypso, R&B, ska, rock steady, and reggae, and in the 1990s he even turned his talents to dancehall. He performed occasional concerts almost until his death from a heart attack in 2005. After a long campaign, a blue plaque in his honour was put up at his Leicester home in 2007. Punk band Rancid cover's Aitken's Everybody Suffering on their 2014 LP Honor Is All We Know
Laurel Aitken (April 22, 1927 - July 17, 2005) became famous as one of the originators of Jamaican ska music in the late 1950s.
Aitken was born as Lorenzo Aitken in Cuba, and is the brother of singer Bobby Aitken. He moved to England in the 1960s, and had a loyal following among Skinheads and other ska fans. He had massive hits in the 1950s through 1970s, while recording for Blue Beat Records, Pama Records and Trojan Records. He recorded one of the earliest ska records, the double A-sided Boogie in My Bones / Little Sheila (1958). It was the first record on producer Chris Blackwell's Island Records label.
Aitken, who is known as "The Godfather of Ska", made his home in Leicester UK and performed live almost until his death. He suffered from a serious illness following a heart attack about a year before he died. He died from a heart attack in Leicester, UK on July 17, 2005.
Apollo 12
Laurel Aitken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Read all about it! read all about it!
Skinhead invasion!
This one is called apollo 12
Leaving from shanty town to brixton
Sheggae, reggae, jeggae, reggae, sheggae
Everything will be all right if we just unite
Sheggae, reggae
Skinhead moon invasion!
Leaving from shanty town to brixton
Sheggae, reggae, jeggae, reggae, sheggae
Reggae, sheggae, jeggae
Read all about it! skinhead invasion! read all about it!
Sheggae, reggae, jeggae
Apollo 12, moon invasion
The song "Apollo 12" by Laurel Aitken is a classic ska melody that speaks to the rising popularity of skinheads in Jamaica in the 1960s. The opening lines of the chorus, "This is our sensation, all over the nation! Read all about it! read all about it! Skinhead invasion!" is a clear reference to the growing influence of skinheads and their unique fashion sense as they spread throughout Jamaica. They had a profound impact on the music culture and were known for their love for ska and reggae music, which is evident throughout the song.
Aitken's lyrics in the song highlight the different sub-genres of reggae music, with "Sheggae, reggae, jeggae, reggae" being repeated throughout the song. The repeated use of these words emphasizes the rich diversity and variety within the Jamaican music scene at the time. The line "Is not black, is not white, is what is right, everything will be all right if we just unite" speaks to the philosophy of unity among different races and how music can bring people together.
This song is not only a celebration of music but also a reflection of the social and cultural dynamics of Jamaica at the time. It captures the energy and spirit of the skinhead and reggae subculture and the growing sense of black identity and nationalism.
Line by Line Meaning
This is our sensation, all over the nation!
Our movement and style is spreading across the entire country, and we are proud of it.
Read all about it! read all about it!
We want to make sure everyone knows about our cause and our music.
Skinhead invasion!
Our group of skinheads is coming to make a statement and be heard.
This one is called apollo 12
We've labeled this mission Apollo 12, perhaps to symbolize our journey and goals.
Leaving from shanty town to brixton
We are moving from our humble beginnings in shanty towns to the more established Brixton area.
Sheggae, reggae, jeggae, reggae, sheggae
We mix different genres of music together to create our own unique sound.
Is not black, is not white, is what is right
Our group is about doing what's right, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Everything will be all right if we just unite
We believe that if we come together and stand as one, anything is possible.
Skinhead moon invasion!
We are making a bold statement and asserting our presence, even to the point of invading the moon.
Reggae, sheggae, jeggae
Once again, we are blending different musical styles to create something new and exciting.
Read all about it! skinhead invasion! read all about it!
We want everyone to know about our mission and what we stand for. We are making noise and we will be heard.
Writer(s): Laurel Aitken, Aguirre Marazuela
Contributed by Gabriella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.