Words by Jesse Serwer–
I don’t know about you but when I think of vintage, way-back-in-the-day Jamaica, an Alton Ellis tune is always what’s playing in the vision. Alton just had that voice that takes you back, even if you were never there. It’s only fitting that Ellis’ singer son, Christopher Ellis (though he doesn’t particularly sound like his old man) would take a page from his pops, bringing a classic feel to his music when the riddim calls for it.
Chris’ latest tune has some real old-school vibes, but not in the way you’d expect; the Damian Marley-produced “Don’t Change Your Number” (yup, Jr. Gong made this one) comes over more like Billy Joel’s ’80s-era ’50s nostalgia (like “Uptown Girl”) than a yard ting— at least until the guest deejay spot from Bay C of T.O.K. comes in.
The song’s got a black-and-white period piece video (directed by Mochilla, the dudes behind the visuals for West Coast folks like Flying Lotus and Aloe Blacc, plus Damian’s “Affairs of the Heart”) to match, with young Ellis chasing an elusive femme fatale in a vintage cab on his scooter. Perfect way to start a Throwback Thursday.