ALI & FRAZIER – Uptown Top Ranking (1993)

“Uptown Top Ranking” is a song by Jamaican teenage singers Althea Forrest and Donna Reid, recorded when they were 17 and 18 years old respectively. Released in 1977, the song comprises the girls ad-libbing to deejay track “Three Piece Suit” by Trinity. The lyrics were written by the duo and Errol Thompson. It was produced by Joe Gibbs, using a re-recording of the riddim of the 1967 Alton Ellis song “I’m Still in Love”, which had already been re-popularised in the 1970s by Marcia Aitken’s cover “I’m Still in Love With You Boy”, and “Three Piece Suit” by Trinity, to which “Uptown” was an “answer record”.

The record was initially recorded as a joke. It was accidentally played by BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel resulting in numerous requests for additional plays. With early championing by Peel and a performance on Top of the Pops, it soon became a surprise hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart in February 1978. The track spent a total of 11 weeks in the charts. Althea & Donna became the youngest female duo to reach the number-one spot on the UK chart.

See me in me heels and ting Dem check, sey we hip and ting True dem no know an’ting We have dem going and ting

Nah pop no style, I strictly roots Nah pop no style, I strictly roots

See me ‘pon de road, I ‘earin’ you call out to me True you see me in m’pants and ting See me in me ‘alter back Sey me gi’ you ‘eart attack Gimme little bass, make m’wine up m’waist Uptown top ranking

See me in m’Benz and ting, oh Drivin’ tru Constant Spring Dem check sey me come from Cosmo Spring But a true dem no know an’ting Dem no know sey we top rankin’, oh Uptown top rankin’

Shoulda see me and de rankin’ dread, oh Check ‘ow we jammin’ and ting Love is all I bring Inna m’khaki suit and ting

Nah pop no style, I strictly roots Nah pop no style, I strictly roots

Watch ‘ow we chuck it and ting Inna we khaki suit and ting Love is all I bring Inna m’khaki suit and ting

Nah pop no style, I strictly roots Nah pop no style, I strictly roots

Love inna you ‘eart, dis a bawl out fe me When you see me in m’pants and ting, oh See me in me ‘alter back Sey me gi’ you ‘eart attack Gimme little bass, make m’wine up m’waist Uptown top rankin’, oh

See me ‘pon the road and ‘earin’ you call out to me True you see me in m’pants and ting, oh See me inna me ‘alter back Sey me gi’ you ‘eart attack

Gimme little bass, make m’wine up m’waist Gimme little bass, make m’wine up m’waist Love is all I bring Inna m’khaki suit and ting

Nah pop no style, I strictly roots Nah pop no style, I strictly roots

You shoulda see me and de rankin’ dread, oh Check ‘ow we jammin’ and ting Love is all I bring Inna m’khaki suit and ting

Me nah pop no style, dat true, I strictly roots