Junior Dell & The D-Lites - Step On / Meanwhile On The 15th Floor

Year Released: 2022 (2025 Ltd. reissue)
Genre: Reggae Ska.
Detailed Description: 

Few modern bands capture the warmth and swagger of classic rocksteady quite like Junior Dell & The D-Lites, and this two-sided 7-inch is a perfect reminder of why they’ve built such a loyal following among soul and reggae collectors.

“Step On” is the immediate standout. Built on a tight, vintage-styled rhythm section, the track blends a classic rocksteady groove with a Northern soul-leaning urgency. What many listeners might not realize at first is that the song is actually a reinterpretation of “He’s Gonna Step on You Again,” originally recorded by John Kongos in 1971, later made famous in indie circles by Happy Mondays’ “Step On.” Junior Dell & The D-Lites transform the track completely: the hypnotic rhythm of the original becomes a laid-back but driving rocksteady beat, while Junior Dell’s smooth yet commanding vocal glides over bright horns and crisp guitar chops that feel lifted straight from a late-’60s Jamaican studio session. The result is a version that feels both familiar and entirely new—tailor-made for the dancefloor.

Flip the record and “Meanwhile On The 15th Floor” offers a slightly moodier counterpart. Instrumentally rich and atmospheric, the track leans deeper into reggae textures while maintaining the band’s retro soul sensibility. The arrangement breathes more here, giving the organ lines and rhythm guitar space to create a laid-back but hypnotic groove. It’s a perfect late-night spin—less immediate than the A-side, but rewarding in its subtle details.

What makes this release special is its authenticity. Junior Dell & The D-Lites aren’t merely referencing the golden era of Jamaican music—they inhabit it. From the warm analog feel of the recording to the sharp, economical songwriting, this 7-inch sounds like a lost gem pulled straight from a late-’60s rocksteady session