Lynn Taitt got his start as a musician playing in local Trinidadian steel drum bands, before taking up the guitar aged 14. He formed his own band, which was booked by Byron Lee to perform at the 1962 independence celebrations in Jamaica. Taitt decided to stay in Jamaica, living in Kingston, and played in a number of bands including The Sheiks, The Cavaliers, and The Comets, and worked with Baba Brooks, The Skatalites and Tommy McCook and the Supersonics. The most successful of his groups was The Jets, formed in 1966 and which included Hux Brown, Headley Bennett, Hopeton Lewis, Gladstone Anderson, and Winston Wright. Taitt's guitar style was inventive and unconventional, with a sharp percussive sound that accented the rocksteady beat. Lynn Taitt and the Jets played on hundreds of recording sessions for Jamaican producers such as Bunny Lee, Duke Reid, Joe Gibbs, Coxsone Dodd, and Sonia Pottinger, often performing up to five sessions a day. Their recording of "Take It Easy" was one of the first rocksteady singles and it reached number one in the Jamaican singles chart.
Taitt's contribution to Jamaican popular music includes his role as arranger and session leader for many of the recordings that he appeared on. He has been credited as having created the first rocksteady bassline, on the song "Take It Easy" by Hopeton Lewis. Various other Jamaican recordings have been cited as the "first" rocksteady release such as Alton Ellis & the Flames' "Girl I've Got a Date", and the Derrick Morgan rude boy anthem "Tougher Than Tough" with Lynn Taitt playing guitar on all of three.
Taitt emigrated to Toronto, Canada in August 1968, to take up the position of arranger for the house band at the West Indian Federated Club. Although he left Jamaica just before the rise of reggae, his playing was a strong influence on musicians such as Hux Brown who adapted Taitt's approach to the newer reggae style. Taitt's work can be heard on various 60s recordings by Derrick Morgan, Desmond Dekker, Lee Perry, Ken Boothe, Bob Marley and Joe Higgs, among others. He recorded with Johnny Nash on some of the latter's international hits, including "Cupid" and "Hold Me Tight".
Taitt remained active as a musician in Montreal, having recorded with such acts as The Kingpins ("Let's Go To Work" CD 1999) as well as performing live with the Montreal Ska All Stars and at the Montreal International Jazz Festival with The Jets (2002) and the Fabulous LoLo sings Rocksteady (2006).
He was the subject of the 2006 documentary Lynn Taitt: Rocksteady, directed by Generoso Fierro, and another titled Ruff 'n' Tuff.
Taitt died on 20 January 2010 after a long battle with cancer. His death was recorded in Montreal, Canada, at the age of 75.
Discography
Glad Sounds (1968), Bigshot (Gladdy with Lynn Taitt & the Jets)
Rock Steady: Greatest Hits (1968), Merritone (Lynn Taitt & the Jets)
Hold Me Tight: Anthology 65-73 (2005), Trojan
Chances
Lynn Taitt & The Jets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
You ain't nothing to me if you got nothing to say
I don't know what you got that I can use anyway
Last chance, honey
Your last chance, honey
Last chance, honey
Yeah, this is your last chance, woo
You ain't nothing to me so keep your honey in check
I got something for you that you ain't never gonna get
So come on
Last chance, honey
Your last chance, honey
Yeah, this is your last chance, honey, woo
Last chance, honey
Yeah, this is your last chance, woo
Yeah
Yeah, this is your last chance, honey, woo
Last chance, honey
The lyrics to Lynn Taitt & The Jets's song "Chances" convey a sense of frustration and indifference towards someone who is trying to make an impression but fails to do so. The singer asserts that their worth diminishes if they have nothing interesting or meaningful to contribute. The line "You ain't nothing to me if you got nothing to say" suggests that the singer values intellectual and emotional engagement rather than superficiality or empty words. They don't see any value in what the person has to offer, hence the line "I don't know what you got that I can use anyway."
The repeated phrase "Last chance, honey" emphasizes that this is the final opportunity for the person to make a meaningful connection or impression. It implies that the singer has given the person multiple chances to show their worth or prove themselves, but they have fallen short time and again. The phrase is also delivered with a sense of warning or finality, as if to say that the opportunity is slipping away.
In the second verse, the singer dismisses the person's attempts to impress them, asserting that their efforts are in vain. They declare that they have something to offer the person that they will never be able to obtain, suggesting a sense of superiority or self-assuredness. The repeated plea for the person to take their last chance implies that the singer is ready to move on and leave the person behind.
Overall, "Chances" conveys a message of not settling for mediocrity or superficial connections. It underscores the importance of meaningful engagement and having substance in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You ain't nothing to me if you got nothing to say
If you have nothing meaningful to communicate, you hold no value in my eyes
I don't know what you got that I can use anyway
I fail to see any benefit or advantage in whatever you possess or offer
Last chance, honey
This is your final opportunity, dear
Your last chance, honey
Your ultimate opportunity, dear
Yeah, this is your last chance, honey, woo
Indeed, this serves as your final opportunity, my dear, with enthusiasm
You ain't nothing to me so keep your honey in check
You hold no significance to me, therefore, control your affectionate terms
I got something for you that you ain't never gonna get
I possess something that you will never possess or acquire
So come on
Hence, proceed or take action
Yeah, this is your last chance, honey, woo
Indeed, my dear, this represents your final opportunity, accompanied by enthusiasm
Last chance, honey
This is your final opportunity, dear
Yeah, this is your last chance, woo
Indeed, this serves as your final opportunity, with excitement
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Christopher Cester, Cameron Thane Muncey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ShortieLeeroy
Back in time to a instrumental whine.
@briankeyo7815
The band photo has the horn section cropped out, which is how I licensed it to the Guardian for Taitt's obituary. The full 8 x 10 photo, with the 4 piece horn section, is part of the Lynn Taitt tribute article at my site tallawah.com
@musikfanat
No-Lyn Tait was from Trinidad. The rest were Jamaican. I know all of them. Lynn Tait and Winston Wright-RIP
@benjaminmiller2421
Thanks for setting me straight! I didn't do my homework so well ; ) I love their style so much!
@musikfanat
Blessings!