Vintage reggae or the "early reggae" era can be looked as starting in roughly 1968. The influence of funk music from American record labels such as Stax
began to permeate the music style of studio musicians and the slowing
in tempo that occurred with the development of rocksteady had allowed
musicians more space to experiment with different rhythmic patterns. One
of the developments which separated early reggae from rocksteady was the "bubble" organ pattern, a percussive style of playing that showcased the eighth-note subdivision within the groove.
The guitar "skanks" on the second and fourth beat of the bar began to be replaced by a strumming pattern similar to mento
and the so-called double chop that can be heard so audibly in the
introduction of Bob Marley's "Stir It Up" was developed during this
time. More emphasis was put on the groove of the music, and there was a
growing trend of recording a "version" on the B-side of a single. The
mass popularity of instrumental music in the ska and rocksteady eras
continued in reggae, producing some of the most memorable recordings of
the early reggae era. Cover versions of Motown, Stax and Atlantic Records soul songs remained popular in early reggae, often helping Jamaican artists gain a foothold in foreign markets such as the UK
As a testament to its far reaching impact in other markets, this era
and sound of reggae is sometimes referred to in retrospect as "skinhead reggae" because of its popularity among the working class skinhead subculture
in the UK during the late 1960s and early 1970s. One Caribbean band
based in London, The Pyramids, even released an entire album dedicated
to the unruly English youth culture under the name Symarip
which featured songs such as "Skinhead Moonstomp" and "Skinhead Girl".
Eventually the, often experimental, sounds of early reggae gave way to
the more refined sound made popular by Bob Marley's most famous
recordings. Indeed this era seems fittingly capped off by the 1973
release of "Catch A Fire". Notable artists from this era include John Holt, Toots & the Maytals and The Pioneers.
source: Wikipedia
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