The first version of the Uniques formed in 1966 when two members of the Techniques, Slim Smith and Franklyn White, joined with Roy Shirley to create a new group. The original lineup recorded a few ska sides for J.J. Johnson that year before disbanding, only to reform again almost immediately, this time with a front line of Smith, Lloyd Charmers, and Jimmy Riley (and occasionally Cornel Campbell). The reconstituted Uniques had a brief run from 1967 to 1969, recording several vocal trio classics with producer Bunny Lee, including two impressive covers (Stephen Stills' "For What ...