The Heptones enjoyed great success during the early days of rocksteady. Formed in 1965, the trio began their recordings at Coxsone's Studio One, and released anthems such as Fatty Fatty, Party Time (which was then re-recorded at the Black Ark in 1977), and I Hold the Handle.
Book of Rules was released in 1973 on Jay Wax, a label owned by producer Harry J.
As it was common in the rocksteady era, most of their songs from the period were love songs. At the start of the 70s though, the recordings were turning towards minor-key conscious music, a term used to define songs dealing with reality.
Songs would cover the suffering endured in the ghetto, slavery, and rasta faith, as would be illustrated by many of the Heptones' later songs, such as Sufferers Time, Mistery Babylon, Mr President and many more.
Such is the case with Book of Rules. The songs is actually based upon a poem by American writer R.L. Sharpe called A Bag of Tools.
Isn't it strange
That princes and kings,
And clowns that caper
In sawdust rings,
And common people
Like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass,
A book of rules;
And each must make,
Ere life is flown,
A stumbling-block
Or a stepping-stone.
That princes and kings,
And clowns that caper
In sawdust rings,
And common people
Like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass,
A book of rules;
And each must make,
Ere life is flown,
A stumbling-block
Or a stepping-stone.
R.L. Sharpe
Singer Barry Llewellyn extended the poem, and the trio enjoyed considerable success upon release.
Unfortunately The Heptones' worldwide recognition doesn't match the importance of their contribution to Jamaican music but few ears will disagree with these wonderful harmonies.
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