OLDIES SUNDAY: Dave And Ansell Collins – Double Barrel (1970)

For today’s “Oldies Sunday” selection, we feature a song that you have heard before, in a number of ways. Today, we go back in time to check out Dave And Ansell Collins’ “Double Barrel“.

Produced by Winston Riley and released through the Techniques Label in 1970, Dave And Ansell Collins delivers what could be called a theme song for British Spy James Bond in, “Double Barrel”. The track is mostly an Instrumental with Dave (Dave Barker) performing a series of ad-libs and chants. The aforementioned James Bond was an inspiration behind recording the track, and was done in one take. The production featured the first appearance on record of a young Drummer by the name of Sly Dunbar, who would go on to create History. “Double Barrel” was a hit for Dave and Ansell, and was the second Reggae song to top the UK Singles Chart. It also went to #1 in Mexico and The Netherlands, and sold 300,000 copies after only 33 Radio plays in the UK. “Double Barrel” was sampled numerous times over the years, and is one of the most sampled songs of all time, featured on releases from Kanye West, Special Ed, Slick Rick, MadLib, Biz Markie, Prince, The Alchemist, and even Fast Food giant Arby’s.

Check out our special “Double Barrel” Playlist here.

Since the release of “Double Barrel”, Dave And Ansell Collins went on to release more music together before parting ways after the release of their 1971 album also named, “Double Barrel” (3 more albums were released, 2 in the 70s and 1 in the 90s, but were just collections of previously-released music, and were not deemed official albums by the duo). They unsuccessfully made a comeback in the 80s, but fell back into solo work. Fun fact: Reggae Artist I-Wayne was raised by Ansell Collins, who was married to Wayne’s Aunt. “Double Barrel” remains Dave And Ansell Collins’ most successful release.