STRANGER COLE AND PATSY RECLAIM THE THRONE ON ROYAL
Stranger Cole’s place in reggae history is undeniable. Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee once claimed Bangarang, Cole’s 1968 single, as the first true reggae record. That tune sparked a musical revolution. Now, almost six decades later, the 82-year-old vocalist returns with Royal, a rich and radiant collaboration with the honey-toned Milliecent ‘Patsy’ Todd.
Back in the early ’60s, Cole and Patsy recorded a string of duets that blended ska’s rhythmic bounce with soul-infused melodies. When Patsy’s voice came drifting out of a tour bus stereo years later, Stranger knew it was time to reunite. Their voices still intertwine with natural grace, carrying echoes of Studio One and Duke Reid sessions.
COLE AND PATSY NEVER LEFT THE CROWN BEHIND
Produced by Dutch maestro Boss Capone of The Upsessions, Royal (Aggrobeat Records) celebrates the spirit of ska’s first wave. Eleven tracks, cut to vinyl, bristle with hand-played horns, shuffle rhythms, and a lightness that defies age.
Stranger Cole and Patsy, once again, craft something timeless. Much like 2023’s Kings and Queens, this record bridges generations, linking past to present with clarity and warmth. Cole and Patsy never left the crown behind. They just kept it polished, waiting for the right moment to wear it again. That moment is now.
ROYAL LP TRACKLIST
A1. Bam! Festival
A2. Royal
A3. I Will Be A Queen
A4. Hot Like Cooking Pot
A5. Mahalia
A6. I Want To Ball
B1. All This Teasing
B2. Lonely Girl
B3. Dusty Brown
B4. Gimme Gimme
B5. Tougher Than You
ABOUT STRANGER COLE
Stranger Cole emerged in 1960s Kingston with Rough and Tough, a ska anthem shaped by Duke Reid’s production and post-independence pride. His duets with Patsy Todd, like When You Call My Name, redefined reggae’s emotional core.
Always collaborative, Cole linked vocalists to instrumentalists, ska to rocksteady, Kingston to London. Albums like Forward in the Land of Sunshine and Morning Train trace a career of reinvention. Even now, his voice moves through time, steady and unshaken.
MORE FROM STRANGER COLE
LINK WITH STRANGER COLE
ABOUT PATSY
Patsy, aka Renske de Boer, brings analogue soul to the heart of European reggae. Her voice, both sharp and soulful, effortlessly moves between ska, rocksteady, and early reggae.
Working closely with producer Boss Capone, she shaped Kings & Queens (2023) and Blackfire (2024), records that bridge eras and continents.
Whether alongside George Dekker or leading The Originators, Patsy cuts through with purpose. She recharges vintage reggae with style, depth and fire.
