Falling in Love (Again) Perry Leopold
Archive for the 'Lee Perry' Category
Burning Spear
Friday, November 28th, 2014
Listen: Lion / Burning Spear
Listen: King of beasts / Burning Spear
Most consider MARCUS GARVEY and the accompanying dub version, GARVEY'S GHOST, both from '76, to be the ultimate introduction to Burning Spear. Non me. The '77 followup, MAN IN THE HILLS, takes the prize hands down.
Blame it on the compilation THIS IS REGGAE MUSIC (Volume 3). Howard Thompson sent a re-create with a agglomeration of Island punk and reggae releases in his very showtime mailing that began our friendship. It was known every bit a care package in those days, the kind you'd load a new pal up with when you lot worked at a record company. Just go over to the cupboard and pull i of anything remotely skilful, then ship it off. And the cupboards at Isle were bursting with skilful stuff back then.
I dare telephone call information technology life changing. Sure, that sounds manner over dramatic. Simply no, information technology'south actually not. The records in that big box did just that, not only to me, but to my closest friends and Corinne besides. She for one, dove head first into a reggae addiction from the go get. Took her years to shake, to notice a normal remainder between it and everyday life, simply not earlier upwardly and going to London to see Burning Spear and Aswad at the Rainbow, with Karen. I think they had some unfinished Eddie & The Hot Rods concern on that particular journey besides.
The box. Aye. I can still call up every record in it:
LP'due south:
Diverse Artists THIS IS REGGAE MUSIC (Volume iii)
Eddie & The Hot Rods TEENAGE Depression
John Cale HELEN OF TROY
The Upsetters SUPER APE
Rico Human being FROM WAREIKA
Jah Lion COLUMBIA COLLY
Aswad ASWAD
Toots & The Maytals REGGAE GOT SOUL
The Heptones Night Nutrient
Derek & Clive Live
Max Romeo & The Upsetters War INA BABYLON
Bunny Wailer BLACKHEART Man
45′s:
Eddie & The Hot Rods 'Writing On The Wall'
Eddie & The Hot Rods 'Wooly Bully'
Eddie & The Hot Rods 'Teenage Depression'
Lee Perry 'Roast Fish & Cornbread'
Dillinger 'Cokane In My Brain'
Aswad 'Back To Africa'
Aswad 'Three Babylon'
Inferior Murvin 'Police & Thieves'
The Heptones & The Upsetters ' Sufferer'south Time'
The Heptones 'Volume Of Rules'
Justin Hines & The Dominoes 'Burn down'
Justin Hines & The Dominoes 'Carry Get Bring Come'
Kevin Ayers 'Falling In Dearest Again'
Sparks 'Big Boy'
Sparks 'I Like Girls'
Ultravox 'Unsafe Rhythm'
Max Romeo & The Upsetters 'Ane Pace Forward'
Max Romeo & The Upsetters 'Chase The Devil'
Trevor White 'Crazy Kids'
The Dwight Twilley Band 'I'm On Burn down'
Fay Bennett 'Big Cockey Wally'
Leroy Smart 'Ballistic Affair'
J.J. Cale 'Travelin' Light'
The Jess Roden Band 'Stay In Bed'
Rico 'Dial Africa'
Agusutus Pablo 'King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown'
Burning Spear 'Lion'
Might equally well go this over with now: the vii′s were all promo copies. Lamentable.
Yeah, go ahead. Take a breather. I tell you what. In that location was no preparing for that package in real life either. I wasn't expecting a box, peradventure a few records, but non a box. Howard had rung me from his part shortly later receiving a letter I'd sent off to Isle, written on WITR stationary. We talked for a bit, he filled me in on Eddie & The Hot Rods, who were my original reason for writing, suggested we trade some records and that we should stay in touch. Little did I know both his package and that phone call would change my life forever.
A week or so later, I just found this big box from Isle Records U.k. in my apartment edifice'due south lobby. Cost something like £xl to ship, a fortune in '76. Hoisted it upstairs and into our place, could non open it fast enough. Fuck me, a stupor to the organisation indeed, like my heart froze. Even so somehow I've lived to tell.
We poured over these records, the bunch of us, for weeks. You couldn't wait for whatever was playing to end, then you could brainstorm some other. Corinne worked nights dorsum so, and I vividly recall staying up until dawn, those first ii days in a row, eating white crosses and only playing them, waiting for her to come home. Wow, what a fantastic flashback.
Every track on THIS IS REGGAE MUSIC became anthems to us, every one a badge of award, knowing nosotros'd establish some of the best music of our lives, of a sudden a whole new world opened up, and that album did information technology.
Burning Spear was fiddling known to me at that point. Saw the U.s.a. copies of those start ii albums occasionally, but hadn't heard either, or even tried to. Reggae had not entered my life. Once this compilation arrived, I became insatiable for it though.
'Human In The Hills', the title track, opened Side ii of the comp. It was instant. Immediately tore through that pile of 7′southward, sure I'd seen a Called-for Spear single amongst them. The whole day was a mistiness, it was hard to process this all at once. Yeah, there it was. 'Lion' / 'Door Peep' past Burning Spear
'King of beasts' defines my very favorite fashion of reggae, where the chorus keeps getting sung over and over and over. Just a lazy, hypnotic swirl that'due south difficult to fight. The genre has many a unique vocalisation, just Winston Rodney's, well it'southward 1 of the greatest.
The Heptones / The Upsetters
Thursday, May 16th, 2013
Listen: Book Of Rules / The Heptones
Book
Been digging out a lot of reggae stuff lately, combing through the shelves separated out specifically for the genre, well ska and blueish beat out are on them too.
A Burning Spear post from few years dorsum details my initial introduction to reggae proper, basically via an unexpected crash course box full of seminal records from Howard Thompson when he worked at Island UK in '76. Fast forward twelve years, I'thousand employed at Island New York and was given the task of assembling a promotional cd for the label's reissue series encompassing well-nigh of their classic 70′s reggae titles. Both cd and campaign were called 96º IN THE SHADE. Information technology was good fun, and honestly a slice of cake. So this is called a job?
I just started off with Jimmy Cliff's 'The Harder They Come' and using the Island master printout which chronologically lists every unmarried and album by itemize number, I picked out the gems. It was easy.
And I'm proud to say, the compilation got such expert response from the shops that we renamed it GROOVE YARD, changed the encompass, squeezed on a few more skillful ones, and released it commercially. The cd sold well.
Like the balance of the solar organisation, I don't use cd'south much anymore. The Airbooks in the house don't even have disc drives, so near of those compact discs are boxed and in storage, although some I do keep shelved for the car. I grabbed GROOVE K on my way out recently and plant myself reliving the greatness of quite a few tracks from the era, as well equally some sentimental memories of those times.
'Book Of Rules' is certainly 1 of my 10-ish favorite reggae 7′southward. Fantastic song, nice clean vocal and lovely production by Chris Blackwell.
Mind: Book Of Rules (Version) / The Heptones
Volume
Released as the single's B side in '73, 'Volume Of Rules (Version)' seems to have preceded full on dub by a year or two, when instrumentals with decorative sound effects thrown in were still called 'version' and always used as B sides. I've always wanted 'Book Of Rules (Version)' to be a bit more exciting or something more moving but it basically isn't. Regardless, information technology's interesting to hear how dub was getting started.
Listen: Sufferer's Fourth dimension / Heptones with The Upsetters
HeptonesSufferersTime.mp3
By '76, Lee Perry is at the controls, The Black Arc in total swing and with The Upsetters doing the tracking, The Heptones were in tune with the times. Another archetype, 'Sufferer'south Time', is basically perfect in every way. I never spin information technology just once. Tin't. I'll even exist belatedly for something of import to hear the vocal that one extra time.
The real fun bit here being that Island United states of america, like the Uk visitor, issued it as a 7″. I'm guessing there were pockets of Jamaican communities in some of the major U.s.a. cities that would warrant say a 1000 or 2000 piece run. Those sales figures are again guesses, and as the manufacturing details were very sloppy at Island. I never could effigy out a real number on this nor a few others that had been shockingly issued here on 7″, to my disbelief.
This I can tell you lot. There weren't many pressed as I've never seen some other US re-create of 'Sufferer'due south Fourth dimension'. But happened to stumble on this while going through some deeply buried boxes in the Isle New York mailroom, a process of completion that took a calendar month or two, but I managed them them all and it was well, well, well worth the sleuthing, trust me.
Listen: Sufferer's Dub / The Upsetters
UpsettersSufferDub.mp3
Not only is the A side a eye threatener, but by '76, proper dub was in serious swing hence this monster example of it on the flip, aptly titled 'Sufferer's Dub'. Oddly credited only to The Upsetters despite many Heptones vocal drops, it makes for even more excitement. An American single by The Upsetters. Never been some other.
I go very excited by records.
Listen: Political party Fourth dimension / The Heptones
Political party
When 'Political party Time' beginning arrived in the mail, dependably hot off the presses from Howard, I was mildly disappointed and that was very stupid of me. Information technology'due south a jewel.
I had the original U.k. LP pressing too, but now find only the US Mango copy in my wall shelf. Somewhere in the black hole of unfiled records it does lurk.
Jah Lion
Dominicus, October 21st, 2012
Listen: Soldier & Law War / Jah Panthera leo
Soldier
Next time you scan a list or read an article spotlighting reggae's masterpiece recordings, guaranteed y'all'll observe Republic of colombia COLLY by Jah Panthera leo omitted. Despite being amongst Lee Perry'south well-nigh revered Black Ark productions during '76 – '77, along with albums such as The Congos Center OF THE CONGOS or The Upsetters SUPER APE, it really is surprising this i is consistently overlooked.
My recollections of 4am listens, waiting for Corinne to get home from her dark shift all those years ago, are equally plain as day, or night, I suppose I should say. Colombia COLLY was probably the almost haunting tape in my possession. At times, even in an just slightly paranoia state of pot and speed combination, my regular cocktail as a higher kid, I'd seriously need to suddenly take information technology off the turntable. Combined with the eerie stillness coming through our un-air conditioned windows during those summer nights, the album occasionally gave me the creeps. It was, and even so is, that powerful.
I was both shocked and thrilled when Howard Thompson included a newly released Jah Lion single in one of those early on Island packages he'd regularly send from his London function. I mean, who exactly thought Jah Lion would sell singles? Chris Blackwell is my judge. God, those were the days, weren't they?
So hot off the heels of the Lee Perry produced 'Police & Thieves' past Junior Murvin came this, his dub variation of that original track, retitled 'Soldier & Police War' and released every bit a British A side by Jah Panthera leo.
But wait, there's more. Island's U.s.a. reggae subsidiary, Mango, besides issued this non-LP track equally a single. Now this was surely not destined for big things on American radio, but instead released to serve the small but agile Jamaican music buyers pocketed in various The states cities.
In fact, I've never seen some other domestic copy, bar the ane pictured above, accidentally discovered in the New York Island mailroom amid a long cached and very dusty 25 box of assorted United states Island and Mango reggae 7′s during my years in A&R at the label, late 80′south. Yes, I froze in that discovery position for a practiced minute or 2. And it wasn't only this tape that nearly had me leaving on a stretcher.
Apparently, for US consumers, the somewhat easier to remember title of 'Constabulary And Soldier' was afforded it's very own pressing.
In some ways though, this only further confused the situation, one whereby despite Lee Perry beingness pictured as the artist on the aforementioned Republic of colombia COLLY album, was indeed not. Jah King of beasts was actually Jah Lloyd, as Duane taught me. Apparently, as with artist identities, Lee Perry oft shuffled songs titles likewise.
Scratch & The Upsetters
Mon, June 18th, 2012
Listen: 3 In One / Scratch & The Upsetters
Three
Went through a pretty intense eBay trolling this Sunday. My Father'southward Day present was to do whatever I pleased, with no pressure level of attending to weekend chores and such. Therefore I became perfectly content settling into my storage garage, digging through boxes and doing some online tape shopping. All the while being treated to a not cease supply of my favorite homemade food. A perfect day.
Except of form for all the stress brought on by hundreds of demos and dj pressings currently engulfing eBay. Several seriously hard to find items ended their auctions today and I was not a frequent winner. Some guy outbid my by one penny, no prevarication one penny, for the Joyce Bond SOUL AND SKA album. This was an original pink Isle beauty. My top bid being £109.99. The bleeding thing sold for £110.00.
The one record that crushed me though was Scratch & The Upsetters' 7″ of 'Three In 1' from SUPER APE. You just do not see it on eBay. Not always. Not until now. I've had this particular unmarried on an automatic eBay search for years, and finally today there came a notification alert to my inbox. A copy had just listed with a 99p starting price. Could this moment truly exist happening!?!
My globe roughshod downward upon clicking through to the listing. Disaster. The record's center had been punched out. Fewer things can debunk my involvement in a UK unmarried more this. I was devastated. Stared at the page for 2 or three minutes contemplating and then trying to justify a possible purchase. I'd deem it a starter copy just, which could always go straight to the jukebox. How will I pass this upwards? But, ultimately I decided against going for it.
Several hours later on, when checking on my Lee Perry seven′s, just to brand sure they were all safe on the shelf, I realized I had '3 In I' this whole time.
It was like a miracle occurred before my eyes, given there isn't a molecule of recollection almost e'er acquiring this copy. No idea where it originated from. Non a inkling as to how long it'southward been there either. Regardless, with all good stories there comes a happy ending. And this was officially a adept story.
Every bit Corinne said virtually my particular circumstance, "What a mitzvah".
Zap-Pow
Sunday, April 22nd, 2012
Mind: This Is Reggae Music / Zap-Pow
This
Recorded and originally released in '73, don't exist surprised if you think 'This Is Reggae Music' is blatantly influenced by HELL UP IN HARLEM Blaxploitation soundtrack product. At that place was a lot of it about. Harry Johnson and Chris Blackwell must accept been knee deep in the stuff at the time.
By and then, as a upshot of 'Shaft', the worldwide hitting single for Isaac Hayes from the film of the aforementioned name, the manner pretty much became a mainstay at RnB, or Black radio as it was referred to, finding it's fashion into everything including reggae apparently.
Lead vocalist Dwight Pinkney certain does accept a voice that later should accept been confused for Steve Perry'southward from Journeying. In fact, that band could have hands pulled off a version of 'This Is Reggae Music' had they known and felt a fondness for the genre, which I'k betting the bank they did not.
The other guys in Zap-Pow played on many of Lee Perry's Black Ark sessions.
Justin Hines & The Dominoes
Thursday, December eighth, 2011
Listen: Acquit Go, Bring Come / Justin Hines & The Dominoes
Carry
Back in '76, when Howard Thompson was still a junior A&R scout at Island United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, nosotros struck up a quick friendship. Well it happened quick but information technology's nonetheless going today and as potent a friendship equally i can have. The offset package he sent over, and a big one at that, included the compilation THIS IS REGGAE MUSIC (Volume 3). His accompanying note implored me to listen, citing the 'most psychedelic' nature of the songs and their production. More than authentic words have never been written. That sampler changed my life.
I couldn't get down the phone fast enough to him. The call was quickly followed by a box, a fucking box, jammed with full length LP's from just nigh every act on that comp: Aswad, Jah Lion, Burning Spear, Inferior Murvin, Max Romeo & The Upsetters and Justin Hines & The Dominoes' JEZEBEL – plus a slew of 7 and 12″ singles from all the above and more (Lee Perry, Fay Bennett, The Skatalites, Leroy Smart, Rico, Lord Creator, Millie, Dillinger, Augustus Pablo) each with that vital dub B side. A treasure trove if e'er, ever, e'er in that location was one. I'll never forget ripping that ane open. Tin can you imagine how it blew my mind and my friend's minds too? Well it did.
In that location were a couple of singles in in that location from Justin Hines & The Dominoes. A and then current reggae remake of his very own decade former Jamaican ska hit (then listed as Justin Hinds & The Dominoes) 'Carry Become, Bring Come up'. This newer version beingness my preferred choice.
Listen: Jezebel / Justin Hines & The Dominoes
Jezebel
Information technology'south flip, 'Jezebel,' a confusingly titled non-LP track from the JEZEBEL album, stay with me here, is actually a very nice dub of the A side 'Carry Go, Bring Come'. Give it a listen and see for yourself.
To my cognition, it'southward never appeared on a reissue of any sort.
Listen: Fire / Justin Hines & The Dominoes
Burn down
'Fire' notwithstanding reminds me vividly of that summer '76 when Corinne worked the dark shift and I had the place to myself, with non a responsibility in the earth between semesters but doing a bunch of play whatever yous desire radio shows. So I'd spend all night spinning records and drinking tea, then sleeping the morning away once she got back domicile. Ah the joys of being young.
'Fire' in detail was the well worn vii″, a perfect vocal to overlay onto the properties of an alarmingly silent city, all comatose, not even a mouse was creeping on the deserted streets – quite eerie. Jack Ruby, the tape'due south producer, was indeed known for simply such a haunting production quality. I still prefer to think of him as Reggae'due south Joe Meek. Nosotros'd heed to it at least a few times, religiously, every morning before passing out.
Heed: Natty Take Over / Justin Hines & The Dominoes
Natty
There'southward not a bad track on that JEZEBEL album, yet there is a favorite: 'Natty Take Over'. A near obvious A side to me, yet relegated every bit a B, I was just happy it was on a 7″ at all.
It fit in perfectly with the Island promo shirts announcing these reggae releases. The shirts came in many colors. I preferred the royal one with sky blue lettering that said quite simply, REGGAE on the front, with that palm tree Island logo on it's sleeve. What amend thing to wear almost daily during a squeamish hot summer. I still have that shirt.
Dillinger
Th, April 14th, 2011
Listen: Natty B.Sc. / Dillinger
Natty B.Sc. / Dillinger
Amongst the wave of deejay toasters who rose to prominence during the mid 70′south, Dillinger went global with single 'Cokane In My Brain'. In fact, that record is a bigger calling card for reggae coming together punk than the media gives credit to. It was everywhere, and still is. 'Get Upwards, Stand up' my foot. It was all about drugs. Those mainstream media anthems, like The Disharmonism faking their way through 'Police & Thieves', had naught on Peter Tosh 'Legalize It' or 'Cokane In My Brain'.
In seemingly no time at all, 'Marijuana In My Brain' was released as a vii″ by a competing label. Good move, it would appear a logical followup to an unsuspecting public. Trouble existence the single wasn't neat. The hoax failed.
Even at the time, Dillinger had released half a dozen albums on as many labels in the Jamaican market, so UK record companies in search of all things reggae had, as with loads of acts, plenty to pick from when licensing production for Britain. To date in fact, Dillinger has released some thirty albums worldwide.
But the real followup single was 'Natty B.Sc.', this time on the Black Swan label, then an Island subsidiary. Born Lester Bullock simply christened Dillinger past Lee Perry, the connection to Black Swan makes some sense. Scratch didn't produce any of his Island/Black Swan output, but had indeed been the showtime to take him into the studio for 'Ready Natty Dreadie' in '75.
Heed: Buckingham Palace / Dillinger
Buckingham Palace / Dillinger
The favored side of WIP 6380 was by far 'Buckingham Palace', ane of the very best tracks from CB 200. A perfect representation of the hard, political audio we all loved back and so. Everyone did. Homo, this stuff sound great when cranked upward late at night. A precursor to LKJ fifty-fifty.
Al Grey
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
Listen: Salty Papa / Al Grey AlGreySaltyPapa.mp3
Ella Fitzgerald'south version of 'Black Java' is archetype. Some adult radio station spun it while riding in a friend'due south parent's car back in the early on lxx′s. His Dad was driving u.s.a. somewhere or another, a couple of hours away, and everyone was well fidgety trying to tolerate the music. Indeed, it was a challenge until this came on, then suddenly worth the struggle.
Shortly afterward, I institute a promo of her then current Reprise album, THINGS Ain'T WHAT THEY USED TO Be, in a used shop for $one.00. Non only was 'Black Coffee' included, but her rendition of 'Sunny' was as well. Perfect.
Al Greyness featured on the trombone. Although not one for brass, it was hard to ignore his mail-swing era style, about muzak or bachelor pad. You couldn't have matched a better player to the songs.
Fast forward to September 2010. While rummaging through a Detroit junk shop, I came beyond a fairly beat copy of Al Grey'south 'Salty Papa' on Argo. A no brainer at 25¢.
Somewhat more in the Lionel Hampton or Airheaded Gillespie pocket than I was expecting, 'Salty Papa' has all the same settled nicely into the Seeburg's C4 slot, parked between The Marvelettes' 'I'll Proceed On Belongings On' and Lee Perry's 'Roast Fish And Cornbread'…and sounding perfectly at abode.
The Persuaders / Junior Tucker
Wednesday, Oct 6th, 2010
Heed: Some Guys Take All The Luck / The Persuaders PersuadersLuck.mp3
Merely in hindsight did I hear The Persuaders version of 'Some Guys Have All The Luck'. God only knows how that happened. I worked at a one-stop in Autumn '73, delivering records to accounts, and to my apartment….bad karma. I thought at that place wasn't a 7″ I had left out of those personal allocations, but obviously I was wrong.
Add to that, how did I miss it on the radio? There was nothing else to listen to while doing those said deliveries and this one went pop, peaking at #39 in Billboard that very Nov.
Eventually, around the Christmas season, I got moved inside, pulling orders and restocking. At this I was a whizz. Could practice it in my sleep – and loved information technology. I was in the LP department – all organized by label, then chronologically by catalog number within each. Can you imagine sections for King, Okeh, Fontana, Sue, Deram, Philips, Parrot, Stax, Smash…….ok enough torture.
The front end half of the warehouse was defended to the 45′s. Maude did my version of the chore up at that place, and she had a Kevin pile – one of everything. Well, sometimes 5 or x, depending on varying factors. In one case a one hundred count box was full, off to the tape dispenser, then on to the cart, spring for the delivery truck, information technology went. Oh to go dorsum in time.
Notwithstanding, I didn't end up with a copy of this one for years.
Heed: Some Guys Have All The Luck / Junior Tucker JuniorTuckerSomeGuys.mp3
Fast forward. 1980.
Oldest trick in the book: cover classic soul songs in a reggae style. Pretty much works every fourth dimension. In this example, across groovy.
I fell in dear with Junior Tucker's 'Some Guys Accept All The Luck' upon release. I dare say information technology got played hundreds and hundreds of times in my record room that year, and on my radio shows.
Corinne and I were both reggae lovers, having been weened on the difficult corp Lee Perry and Jack Blood-red releases Howard was sending our way starting in '76. An all time favorite series, THIS IS REGGAE MUSIC, peculiarly Volume 3, became our crowd'southward anthem anthology. And I dare say all my all-time friends from that menstruation can be transported back to some of the greatest times of our lives when nosotros spin information technology nowadays.
Had I known then, that nearly ten years later Volume 3′s release, I would ane afternoon walk into Chris Blackwell's office, and suggest reviving the serial with a Volume four and v (Volume 5 exclusive to reggae mode RnB covers – this was included), and that he would say "Yes", my center would have frozen.
The Congos
Sunday, June sixth, 2010
Listen: Congo Man / The Congos CongosCongoMan.mp3
Equally with anyone, once you get into a phase, like my recent reggae one, you probably end up trolling through loads of related records. In the case of reggae/ska here at home, they're all separated into their own shelfs, both singles and albums, unlike any other genre. Reason: Corinne was such a reggae nut, I preferred to proceed them separated so as non to take her pawing through all my other records, misfiling and doing harmlessly exactly as every other person would, being a bit sloppy nearly how they should be housed. Me: I'm immaculately ridiculous. I acknowledge it.
When I stumbled on The Congos (aye it is misspelled on the label) the other solar day, I had suddenly remembered how extreme, maybe the most farthermost 'Lee Perry at his druggy-ist product always' this one and simply Black Swan Britain unmarried was. And besides what apparent controversy surrounded it (coming later).
All that aside, I cranked information technology, through the big Tannoy speakers. Truth exist told, I'm no audiophile, and happily spin singles on either one of the two portable suitcase players I ain. Occasionally, I'll fire up the two turntable, DJ mix fix up with all the speakers, either for an evening of playing records with a shortlist of shut friends or for reggae. The bass is nevertheless astonishing on those massive, and probably by today'south electric current loftier forehead standards, archaic Tannoys.
And so out comes 'Congo Man', on goes the big system and loud goes the book. (The house was empty otherwise I'd have not even made information technology to :20). Wallop. I had forgotten this record's power. And at 45 rpm, every bit with all singles, there's fifty-fifty that much more seize with teeth.
Well, this is easy, I've just establish my side by side mail service.
Listen: Congo Homo Chant / The Congos CongosCongoChant.mp3
Having no recollection of the dub B side, then verifying it was never included on ARKOLOGY, the basically fantabulous Lee Perry anthology Island did back in the late 90′s, this flashback was no allow down. This dub version could either catechumen or scare anyone.
I had thought Island'due south rejection of The Congos anthology, only the above unmarried was pressed as a promo simply, never given a catalog number (which would be four digits and prefixed with WIP) was the reason Lee Perry burned downward his infamous Black Arc studio. And then I went to the skillful, Duane Sherwood, for confirmation. Information technology was not. His reply is beneath:
"Congo Man' was the but single Island accounted suitable for release from the rejected Centre OF THE CONGOS album.
Equally far as I know, it's the only serious blunder Chris Blackwell made in his stellar career (although some merits this was more than almost a business dispute than the music), sheparding Jamaican music thru Island and its sub-labels. The Lee Perry produced album is now in the Top 5, if not #ane, on many of the most knowledgeable reggae musicoloigists all time lists. In Jamaica, the unmarried was preceded by 'Row Fisherman', which came out a while earlier the album. Also, in Jamaica, at least iii other singles were released from the anthology, two of them as extended, speaker burning, Blackness Art 12″southward.
The trio, Cedric Myton, Ashanti Roy Johnson and Watty Burnett, introduced Perry to the ancestry of his rasta religion. They got him taking improve care of his health, and that'south when the pictures of him with tiny dreads spiking upward in his hair began to evidence upwards. Bankroll The Congos were the classic house rhythm section The Upsetters: Mikey Boo Richards on drums, Boris Gardiner on bass, Winston Wright on organ and Ernest Ranglin on guitar. The trio reunited and went on tour when the Britain Blood & Burn label reissued HEART OF THE CONGOS in the 90′due south, and played the entire album in forepart of enthralled erstwhile timers who never idea they'd see it.
'Congo Man' is a relic from the gilt era of Perry'due south Black Ark studio. Perched backside his house in Washington Gardens, the cinderblock and wood structure had go the coolest place in Jamaica in the mid-seventy′s, basically making it the coolest place anywhere in the universe at that time. Diverse upward and coming singers hung around, hoping to be the closest one when Scratch suddenly got an idea and was looking for someone to sing it. The established stars of Perry'southward stable, such every bit Junior Murvin, Jah Panthera leo, Augustus Pablo and The Heptones were e'er about, adding harmonies and parts.
Only in that location were too a growing population of 'blood-suckahs, pimps and 'ooligans' frequenting the studio. Heavy hitter rastas came calling, looking to induct Perry deeper into their arrangement, which he resisted. He got fleeced by a promoter, who he invested with for a broadway musical most reggae and rasta. A lot of women were almost too, and Lee Perry was a mover, despite his married woman and family being around. Some of the more than orthodox stars like Gregory Isaacs stopped coming, on account of "likewise much farn-i-cay-teen" on the premises.
The whole vibe, combined with the copious amounts of ganga being passed effectually and the rum being sipped, was a recipe for trouble. As Island started rejecting many of the full length releases Scratch was continually submitting, frustration started to build. Perry used to agree up an actual Island record with the island of Jamaica at dusk in the background on black vinyl. "See? Chris Blackwell surroundings the island" he used to say.
At some point, his married woman Isha began an affair with Danny Clarke from The Meditations and that fix the collapse in movement. Scratch decided he was done with all the hangers on and rasta theologians. He started acting crazy, put a sign on his front gate saying "I'm a Batty Boy" (JA slang for faggot). He started putting a huge piece of pork on the antenna of his machine to go along the rastas abroad when he went out. It was always surrounded by flies in the hot Jamaican dominicus. He had been writing all over the walls of the studio for a while now, but he began drawing 'X's over the writing and everywhere, even burning them into the big leaves of the garden with a magnifying glass. Around this fourth dimension, equally the news started coming in about Bob Marley's worsening condition, Scratch began walking around town backwards, stopping every so often to strike the footing with a hammer.
It'southward generally believed that this is when he burned the studio down, but in actuality that happened several years later. He had left to America, made records backed by American reggae-rock bands like The Majestics, and returned. There are a few versions of the fire story, my favorite beingness the German tourist that showed upwards and wouldn't leave. Perry got so frustrated, he grabbed 1 of the glass bottles of petrol in the driveway and threw it on the roof, and then prepare it ablaze to scare the tourist off, which it did. Perry turned on the garden hose to put the fire out, just the local h2o had been turned off for the dark. Scratch is said to have immediately sent his son out to purchase a bottle of rum, saying "If Black Ark a chiliad'waan burn down, nosotros haffa keep a political party!"
Mind: Fisherman / The Congos CongosFisherman.mp3
Mind: Can't Come In / The Congos CongosCantComeIn.mp3
In 1980, The Beat'south ska based, and generically visual leaning characterization, reissued the album, pulling two more tracks from HEART OF THE CONGOS as a single. They are to a higher place.
The Heptones / The Upsetters
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
Listen: Book Of Rules / The Heptones HeptonesBook.mp3
Been digging out a lot of reggae stuff lately, combing through the shelves separated out exclusively for the genre, well ska and blue beat are in there too of class.
A few posts back, Justin Hines & The Dominoes to be exact, the story of my initial introduction, basically an unexpected crash grade box full of seminal records from Howard, had me pull out a cd compilation I did at Island, created specifically to market, via in shop play, the reissue series encompassing most of their archetype 70′s reggae titles. Both cd and entrada were called 96º IN THE SHADE. It was proficient fun, and honestly a piece of cake. I simply started with Jimmy Cliff's 'The Harder They Come' – and using the Island master printout (which chronologically lists every single and album past itemize number – if anyone would similar a pdf of it – email me – information technology's fascinating) picked out the gems.
And I'thou proud to say, the comp got such good response from the shops, that we renamed it GROOVE YARD, inverse the cover, squeezed on a few more than skillful ones, and released it commercially. Information technology sold well. I'm pretty certain it's still in print – no wait – I but checked Amazon – out of impress merely there's ane new copy for sale: $142.00. I demand to dig out that box lot from the garage this Saturday.
Like the remainder of the solar system, I don't utilise cd's much anymore – the Airbooks in the house don't even have disc drives, so most of those meaty discs are boxed and in storage, although some I do go along shelved for long drives. I grabbed GROOVE One thousand on my mode out to Stony Brook University to run across Matt & Kim the other weekend, and plant myself reliving the greatness of quite a few tunes from the era, too as some sentimental memories of those times.
'Book Of Rules' is certainly one of my ten-ish favorite reggae seven′s. Fantastic song, dainty make clean vocal and lovely product. Well done Chris Blackwell.
Mind: Volume Of Rules (Version) / The Heptones HeptonesBookDub.mp3
Released in '73, it seems to have merely preceded total on dub, hence instrumentals with decorative sound effects thrown in were then called 'version' – and oft used equally B sides. I've always wanted 'Book Of Rules (Version)' to be a bit more exciting or interesting or something moving – just information technology basically isn't. I've posted information technology to quench curiosity. Plus it's interesting to come across how dub was getting started.
Listen: Sufferer'southward Time / Heptones with The Upsetters HeptonesSufferersTime.mp3
By '76, with Lee Perry at the controls, The Black Arc in full swing and The Upsetters doing the tracking, The Heptones were in tune with the times. Another classic, 'Sufferer's Time', is basically perfect in every mode. I never spin it just once. Can't. I'll even be late for something important to hear it that i extra time.
The real fun bit here it that Island US issued information technology as a seven″ as well. I'm guessing in that location were pockets of Jamaican communities in some of the major Usa cities that would warrant, say a 1000 – 2000 piece run. Those sales figures are again guesses, and the manufacturing details were very sloppy at Isle, so I never did figure out a existent number on this and a few other jaw droppers (in that I couldn't believe they'd been issued in the US on 7″) while at the visitor.
This I tin tell you – there weren't many as I've never seen another Us copy of 'Sufferer's Fourth dimension'. Just happened to stumble on this while going through some deeply buried boxes in the mailroom – a process of completion that took a month or two, merely I got through 'em all and information technology was well, well, well worth the sleuthing, trust me.
Mind: Sufferer'due south Dub / The Upsetters UpsettersSufferDub.mp3
Not only is the A side a killer, but by '76, proper dub was in serious swing – hence this monster example on the flip, aptly titled 'Sufferer'southward Dub'. Oddly credited but to The Upsetters despite many Heptones vocal drops, it makes for even more excitement in one way – an American single by The Upsetters. Never been another. I get excited by unexpected things admittedly.
Listen: Party Time / The Heptones HeptonesPartyTime.mp3
When this offset arrived in the mail, dependably hot off the presses from HT, I was mildly disappointed. That was stupid. It'southward awesome. I had the original Great britain LP pressing likewise, but now find but the Us Mango copy in my wall shelf. Basically, I know Duane stole it – he always denies it – but it'due south plain and unproblematic true. No biggie – at least I know where it is.
But if yous try to bear on the single Duane, be prepared to pull back a bloody stub.
The Upsetters
Thursday, June quaternary, 2009
Listen: Cow Thief Skank / The Upsetters cowthief.mp3
Listen: 7 & three/four Skank / The Upsetters 834skank.mp3
Jamaican artists are the original recyclers of culture. Their lack of virgin vinyl to feed the record presses meant that every month the unsold singles got melted down to printing into next months hopeful hits. So in that location was concrete recycling, just they recycled content too. The versioning of popular songs originally started in the tardily 60′southward with the dancehall clashes betwixt competing DJs. If one had a hit on a certain riddim, you could be certain a week later the contest would have their own version out, looking to 1-up the DJ with his ain vocal. That tradition continues in full force today.
Lee Perry was one of the original innovators in a lot of what eventually became Rap/ Hip Hop, and the Brooklyn & Bronx style DJ/MC combos that defined the eighty′s dance floors in the Us. Perry's early sonic experiments led to a lot of that. Here'due south an instance from '73. 'Moo-cow Thief Skank'.
It'south literal splicing together of two rhythm tracks that had nothing to do with each other was unheard of at the time, just that approach would come to fuel the early hip-hop sound collaging DJ's a decade subsequently. 'Cow Thief Skank'southward original rhythms are instrumental versions of 'Musical Transplant', and 'Meliorate Days'. And for equally odd reasons, a picayune disco reggae thing is stapled onto the beginning of the track, snipped from 'Stand Past Me' by The Inspirations. The terminate consequence is something that both feels similar it fits & feels like information technology doesn't fit. A truly unsettling tape. Heed to the dub version to really hear a further version of what'southward going on with that razor blade.
Charlie Ace is the vocalist, and he tells the fable of fellow producer, Niney. In information technology, Niney is caught stealing a cow and farm justice is served, heavy manners fashion, when Niney's finger is cut off. That's how he got he name Niney. Scratch can be heard chanting "Cow Thief Skank" in the background, before joining in the story.
The cows-mooing vocal was the debut of an outcome he would call upon in later Black Ark years. These recordings, all the same, were made in the twelvemonth before the Blackness Ark was built, in Kingston studios like Dynamic.
Duane
THE GATHERERS / PRINCE DJANGO
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
Listen: Words / The Gatherers Words.mp3
Listen: Hot Tip / Prince Django HotTip.mp3
Some other highlight from the career of Lee Perry…
In 1973 Perry was working at Dynamic Studios when The Gatherers were brought to come across him for the first fourth dimension. He was and then impressed and excited, he recorded them on the spot. 'Words Of My Mouth' (its formal title) was one of the songs they did. It was to become one of his most famous songs, and likewise most indelible rhythms. He remixed and re-vocaled it countless times over the next few years, I know of ten distinct remixes.
Released as a unmarried quickly after 'Words…', the first DJ verson was 'Hot Tip', a scorcher that starts off fighting, with Scratch admonishing a young studio upstart. The squabble is brought to an stop by the quick snap of a rolling timbale intro. Prince Django, delivers the goods with his promise of a 'Hot Tip…' but the instrumental section in the eye gives opportunity for the statement to start upwardly again, with Scratch alarm the youth to "Step dorsum, Jah!"
A version of 'Hot Tip' was included in an altered course on the ground-breaking BLACKBOARD JUNGLE DUB LP, in its original wide stereo kickoff pressing edition. Titled 'Kasha Macka Dub', it is largely a dub version, lacking nearly of Django's exact gymnastics.
Both tracks have a very much Black Ark studio sound, yet both were recorded several years before that studio was congenital.
Duane
JUSTIN HINDS & THE DOMINOES
Wed, May 27th, 2009
Mind: Botheration (Ska) / Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
BotherationSka.mp3
Listen: Botheration (Rock Steady) / Justin Hinds & The Dominoes BotherationRckStdy.mp3
Justin Hinds & the Dominoes were one of those unique & ethereal rock steady bands who first hit in the ska era, then successfully migrated directly thru to roots reggae in the late '70s. Led past Justin Hinds clear & distinctive lead vocals, with the tight harmonies of the Dominoes – Dennis Sinclair & Junior Dixon, they released the beginning pop records that openly mixed rasta ideology into their lyrics, infusing a deep spiritual sensibility into their infectious pop hooks.
In Jamaica, it became mutual for an creative person to re-tape pop textile from earlier in their careers. Called-for Spear did information technology, as did Bob Marley on the KAYA album. Justin Hinds (later known in the UK as Hines) re-recorded several of his hits over the years, besides. 2 such versions of 'Botheration' are presented here. He as well released ska, rock steady, & roots versions of his striking, "Carry Go Bring Come", over the form of his career.
Released in 1965, Botheration makes for a good armed forces mode ska track, with its pumping "forward charge" horns. Information technology was released in Jamaica on Treasure Isle & licensed to Island in the Britain, as shown here.
It's equally constructive in its rock steady version from the 1971, with a Hammond organ replacing the horns & Justin's more soulful delivery. Both ska & stone steady versions are Knuckles Reid productions.
Mr. Reid, a onetime cop, used to wear a gun belt & pistol everywhere he went. He was a tearing competitor, and an intimidating strength to exist dealt with. In the mid '60s, he had Stranger Cole record & release a hitting single called Ruff & Tuff, written past a then unknown & uncredited immature Lee Perry. When Perry showed up to complain & seek his share of the profits, Reid punched him in the head then hard he knocked him out cold. Justin Hinds & the Dominoes stayed with Duke Reid for about a decade, resurfacing in the mid '70s when they began to record heavier roots oriented material with Jack Ruby, releasing the brilliant JEZEBEL anthology, among others.
In the mid-90s Hinds & the Dominoes played a rare evidence in NYC at Tramps that is forever burned in my encephalon. Only almost 150 showed upward, but that didnt matter. The band was filled with elderly JA session legends who came out first & played a 20 minute instrumental tribute to Don Drummond, the Studio Ane trombone star who died in prison after murdering his girlfriend. And so Justin Hinds & the Dominoes came on & played a showcase of all their hits, basically in lodge, starting with the baking ska unmarried "Over the River", thru their Rock Steady hits similar "Save a Bread" & "Sinners" thru to their roots hits such as "Dip And Autumn Back", "Burn down is a Desire" and "Prophesy Must Fulfill", all complemented past the troop of nyabinghi drummers seated at the left of the stage.
Wick-edd.
Justin Hinds passed away in 2005.
Duane
The Heptones / The Upsetters
Monday, January 26th, 2009
Listen: Volume Of Rules / The Heptones HeptonesBook.mp3
Heed: Book Of Rules (Version) / The Heptones HeptonesBookVersion.mp3
Listen: Sufferer'southward Time / The Heptones HeptonesSuffer.mp3
Listen: Sufferer'due south Dub / The Upsetters UpsettersSufferersDub.mp3
Ii double siders.
'Book Of Rules (Version)' whomps 'Book Of Rules', the designated A side. Too much ear candy. Still beingness a seminal song, information technology'south still a one thousand thousand times better than about everything else.
'Sufferer's Time' and it's B side 'Sufferer'south Dub' (credited only to The Upsetters), are Scratch at his most prolific, those Blackness Ark years when he did no wrong. How great is a world whereby this gets released on vii″ vinyl?
THE JOLLY BROTHERS
Saturday, Dec 20th, 2008
Heed: Witting Human / The Jolly Brothers 01 Conscious Human ane.mp3
In that location's a story well-nigh this record, told to me many times by Duane Sherwood, who knows all there is to know reggae-wise. It forever gets cloudy in my memory, just here goes. There was a menstruation when Lee Perry's human relationship with Island Records in London was going south every bit they were rejecting many of his submissions, due to the sheer book of his output. It lead him to burn his Black Ark studios, only not before making some of the near historic reggae recordings ever. One such rejection was The Congos album, an original Jamaican copy will set yous dorsum. It'south been beautifully reissued past Blood & Burn down, but you tin never replicate the sound of recycled Jamaican deep groove vinyl, hence the quest for the original.
And so there'southward this, The Jolly Brothers 'Conscious Human'. Scratch was so annoyed past Island, he plainly never even offered them The Jolly Brothers chief. He only licensed it off to United Artists in England, and information technology became a hitting. For whatever reasons, those early pressings don't even credit his production, just it only takes one listen.
Information technology was everywhere during an October '78 London trip, when we'd stayed at Howard's place in Hammersmith and did the town with him every nighttime. I retrieve finding the picture sleeved copy at Harlequin Records just off Marble Arch. Never saw another.
Max Romeo / The Prodigy
Sat, June 21st, 2008
Heed: Chase The Devil / Max Romeo 03 Chase The Devil.mp3
Listen: Out Of Space / The Prodigy Out Of Space (Edit).mp3
Dorsum in '76, I was the music managing director and program director of my college radio station. I'd returned to school later on a few years of fucking off in England and working for a one stop record distributor, but remembered the tricks of the trade: get into the radio station pronto, and snag both Doc and PD slots if possible (oh yeah, and become the concert chairman while you lot're at information technology as well), thereby insuring ALL the records pass through your mitts get-go, allowing i's self to continue the extra (and sometimes the only) copy received. Yes those were some of the cruel measures necessary when plagued past a record collecting habit. I was very into pub rock then: Ducks Palatial, Doc Feelgood and specially Eddie & The Hot Rods. The Hot Rods were signed to Isle U.k., and considering nosotros were playing their Alive AT THE MARQUEE EP, and it was selling a few at the local record store, I felt quite justified in writing Island'due south London part letting them know of this incredible success story, oh and um….looking for some freebies. Talk about a smart move. The letter, the first ane nearly Eddie & The Hot Rods from the US equally it turned out, was handed to the young A&R scout who had signed them, Howard Thompson. He rang me, we began exchanging letters, phone calls, the latest releases and ended up all-time friends for life. He gave me my first real job at Elektra 8 years afterward, hence the smart motility comment. Just back to '76, I would look in huge anticipation of his packages showing up, as they were always filled with the latest punk singles and Island releases. A turning point that got me into reggae, was when Howard sent over the Isle compilation, THIS IS REGGAE MUSIC (Volume 3). It in itself is a classic reggae title. Every deed on there being seminal (Lee Perry, Peter Tosh, Justin Hines & The Dominoes, Inferior Murvin, Bunny Wailer, Called-for Spear amidst them – and all groovy tracks as well). This was also Lee Perry heavy, equally he either performed on, or produced most everything on the comp. And ane of the tracks, 'War Ina Babylon' was by Max Romeo & The Upsetters. The annotation that Howard enclosed described this Lee Perry stuff as 'near psychedelic', and no truer words accept ever been written. Of course, I needed all the singles and total length albums by each of these acts, which Howard rapidly and thankfully supplied (run across Max Romeo unmarried pictured higher up). Fast forward a decade or two, and sampling has started. I remember reading Bowie'due south comments on the procedure, he loved it as long as he got paid. Most artists weren't equally adventurous, not wanting their music altered, chopped, processed etc. But Bowie, non surprisingly, loved the ability of reinterpretation it afforded. Fast forrad over again to mash ups….which brings me to this record by The Prodigy: 'Out Of Space'. From their classic and 'must own' PRODIGY Feel album, this may be the commencement always mash upwardly, earlier they were even called mash ups. If not, then it certainly samples Max Romeo's 'Chase The Devil' generously, mixing their own song with his. From the looks of The Prodigy's label copy, neither Romeo nor Lee Perry were credited at the time, but I tin can't imagine that hasn't been sorted since. Never mind. Both singles are cracking and stand beautifully on their ain.
Fay Bennett / Lord Creator
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Mind: Big Self Wally / Fay Bennett
Large
When thinking about blatant and nasty x-rated records, as is the case with the ending to Gloria Lynne's 'Watermelon Man', I couldn't help but call back 'Big Cocky Wally', a Lee Perry production from '76, somehow never reissued or compiled. I call up these style records were officially labelled rude. When coupled with the psychedelic dub Scratch was known for at that moment, information technology became an underground sensation, and difficult to observe.
Fay Bennett was non new to this style either, having released 'Sleeping accommodation Mazurka' and the hysterical 'Punanny', which if you lot know your patois translates to…go alee, guess.
"Gimme da majestic flush" has to be the best one liner ever….
Mind: Big Pussy Sally / Lord Creator
Large
As with loads of hits from Jamaica in the sixty′south and 70′s, an answer record was many times hot on the heels. 'Big Pussy Sally', when scheduled, held loads of anticipation. Will Lord Creator out filth Fay Bennett?
Unfortunately, the serious song delivery in a lover'south style softened the impact, and so to speak. And lack of any racey lyrics didn't help.
ferrellcouspit1953.blogspot.com
Source: http://www.somanyrecordssolittletime.com/?cat=75
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