The Reggae Thread

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Toots & The Maytals - Unplugged On Strawberry Hill (Music On Vinyl)

I’ve not been familiar with this until now, really enjoyable and entertaining set, great fun to kick back with.
No DVD as per the original 2012 issue, but again a superb Record Industry pressing

BBC Review

These songs will never grow old, and this is Toots’ best album in years.

Angus Taylor 2012

Frederick “Toots” Hibbert is one of the great voices in popular music. His voice has remained timeless since he split from the golden harmonies of “Jerry” Matthias and “Raleigh” Gordon of the Maytals – even if the digital production of his later work has dated. But this acoustic revisit to his vintage hits is such an inspired idea that it’s a wonder no one thought of it before.

Recorded on Island patron Chris Blackwell’s colonial ex-plantation property Strawberry Hill, Unplugged marries the unique instrument that is Toots’ pipes with his own guitar plus percussion, bass and his daughter’s backing vocals. This being a scuffs-and-all live jam, Toots hangs loose with the lyrics, going off into revival-style exhortations and adlibs.

The mood is playful: Toots counts “one, two, nine, 10,” before the uplifting but foreboding Pressure Drop, and remarks that “This song is easy to play – not so easy to sing, though” of the mighty Monkey Man.

Even more recent material, like True Love Is Hard to Find (the title piece from 2004’s Grammy winning duet project), has a simple grit the studio cuts lack.

Also present are historic milestones: 1966 Jamaican Festival Song contest winner Bam Bam, and Do the Reggay (thought to be the debut use of the word on record – although Larry Marshall and Clancy Eccles have claims to the first tune in the style).

The major criticism is that, given it dovetails with 50 years of Jamaican Independence, more of the Maytals’ old ska numbers could have been included. The one example here, I’ll Never Grow Old, (with My New Name tacked on at the end) is a high point.

The album comes with a DVD containing three filmed recordings. There’s the Strawberry jam, a 1981 concert for German TV institution Rockpalast, and the informative – if uncritical – documentary Reggae Got Soul. Here, we hear that Toots wrote Monkey Man for then-producer Leslie Kong’s legendarily ugly brother.

Just as Toots’ fellow Kong label-mate Jimmy Cliff recently went back-to-basics and recorded a late landmark, Mr Hibbert has done the same. These songs will never grow old, and this is Toots’ best album in years.

Edit: the Reggae Got Soul doc has been broadcast by the BBC and on Iplayer, it’s also up on youtube

Toots and the Maytals - Reggae Got Soul - BBC documentary

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Toots & The Maytals - In The Dark (Music On Vinyl/Trojan)
See review below from reggae-vibes.com

MUSIC ON VINYL

The 1974 LP In The Dark is now re-released by Music On Vinyl. This well known Dutch reissue label (vinyl only!) has already released several Toots & The Maytals albums. Check Reggae Got Soul, From The Roots, Pass The Pipe, and Funky Kingston.

IN THE DARK

The set was the second LP that Chris Blackwell pushed to the international market. First, he issued Funky Kingston, then In The Dark and one year later he repackaged the two albums for a US release, aimed to introduce the group to a wider international audience. With a spiritual undertone and positive energy, From The Dark sounds more polished then previous albums such as From The Roots and Monkey Man. Lyrically, the opening track Got To Be There is undiluted gospel: “Got to be there, Just to answer to your name when the roll is called for your fate”. But there’s also room for a social commentary song like Time Tough: “I’ve got four hundred/month rent to pay, And I can’t find a job”. Outstanding song!

COVER

There’s an interesting cover version of John Denver’s world-wide country hit Take Me Home Country Roads. Toot’s solid version replaces ‘West Virginia’ with ‘West Jamaica’ in the lyrics. The inclusion of the late 1960s hit tune 54-46 Was My Number was a strong selling point. For the soul ballad fans, there’s Take A Look In The Mirror, not our cup of tea. The semi-autobiographical Having a Party is a soul-fueled track, the balladesque I See You sees Toots inna romantic mood. Fever vibrates with soul (listen to the horns) and funky grooves, a typical Toots & The Maytals dance tune! The album closer Sailing On is an obligate handclappin’ sing-a-long crossover song.

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Alton Ellis - Mr Soul Of Jamaica (Music On Vinyl/Trojan)
An absolute gem recorded for Duke Reid at Treasure Isle Studio’s in the late sixties, one of the true greats in the history of Jamaican music Alton Ellis.
These recordings are never going to be on the lists of “audiophiles” but this MOV pressing is the best I’ve heard this record sound, miles better than my JA pressed Treasure Isle copy.

For anyone who might be interested Trojan have an expanded 2CD edition of the album, but as I’ve said before with these MOV’s really nice to have in its original format on a superb Record Industry pressing

Trojan Records

Alton Ellis - Trojan Records

Paying a fitting tribute to the career of Alton Nehemiah Ellis in just a few paragraphs is an impossible task.

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Scratch The Upsetter - Cloak & Dagger (Music On Vinyl/Trojan/Upsetter

Early seventies set, some of the first Dub experiments by Lee Scratch Perry prior to his building the legendary and out there Black Ark Studio, brilliant!

Review from reggae-vibes.com

LEE ‘SCRATCH’ PERRY

Living reggae legend Rainford Hugh Perry, better known as Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry (or Pipecock Jackson, The Gong, Upsetter) is one of the most important and influential figures in the history of Jamaican popular music. He made his initial impact performing at Studio One in the ska era, was instrumental in Joe Gibbs’ early success, and made radical impressions with the most innovative work of Bob Marley & The Wailers.
He built the Black Ark studio in 1973 behind his family’s home in the Washington Gardens neighborhood of Kingston. Not hindered by the somewhat rudimentary set-up and its basic equipment, Lee Perry found himself building top-notch productions, known for their creative, experimental production and recording techniques. His sound became a blueprint and source of inspiration for later generations of music producers. At the end of the decade, during a long-lasting period of increasingly bizarre and erratic behavior, he burned the studio to the ground.
In the 1980’s he kept alow profile, while the world re-discovered the sheer quality and brilliance of his music. The 1990s was a prolific period, collaborating with a diversity of musicians and producers. Although he in his 80s, he’s still busy, recording, and touring all over the globe.

MUSIC ON VINYL

The Dutch vinyl only (high quality 180g LP’s and 7# pressings) reissue label has already earned respect in the reggae scene with superb vinyl reissues of classic albums. Some of their releases are Bob Andy’s 1978 album Lots Of Love And I, Ini Kamoze’s debut set Ini Kamoze and Jezebel by Justin Hinds and The Dominoes. More noteworthy releases sets are Live And Direct from Aswad and African Anthem Dubwise by the late, great Mikey Dread. One of their most recent efforts is the reissue of the Lee ‘Scratch The Upsetter’ Perry – Cloak & Dagger lp.

CLOAK & DAGGER

The initial release of the album in 1972 was entitled Upsetter – Cloak And Dagger and only released in Jamaica. A year later another version of the album popped up in the UK and the US with some different tracks and variations (tempo!) in the mix. The current reissue LP is the sought after UK set, issued by Rhino Records in 1973. The extravagant, horror-esque, sleeve portraits Perry and his then-wife, Pauline Morrison.
The album sees Perry moving from his early reggae style into experimenting with dub and playing around with dubbed up instrumentals. Not much later he would surprise the world with the totally essential dub lp Blackboard Jungle Dub

The opening track Cloak & Dagger, preceded by a typical Perry spoken intro, is credited to Tommy McCook & The Upsetters. An amazing tight instrumental, dominated by Tommy McCook’s saxophone workout. Later a reconstructed version of the riddim, known as Dub Organizer, was included on Blackboard Jungle Dub. We can hear dub influences on Rude Walking, an adaptation of Horace Andy’s hit tune Skylarking.

Particularly weird is Caveman Skank with it’s an intro of a Native American Chief reading from the Bible in Cherokee. It’s Perry scatting around and it seems he’s splashing and dashing in the bathroom. Keyboard player Winston Wright shines on Hail Stone, a very laid back organ instrumental. The same goes for Liquid Serenade. The B-side opens with a small introduction from Perry followed by Iron Claw with its distinctive bassline and accompanying horn lines by Tommy McCook. Later he released the same tune as Mek It Soon. Also worth mentioning is Pe We Special, an instrumental by the mighty Upsetters.

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Belated look back at the late U Roy from Bandcamp some interesting and less obvious picks

Remembering Reggae Legend U-Roy

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Ini Kamoze - Statement (1984)

Review from reggae-vibes.com
Originally released in 1984, the same year his self-titled debut mini-album hit the streets. Despite problems with the mix, a certain lack of weight in the riddim section and some slighty cheesy effects here and there, this is Ini Kamoze’s second strong album. In comparison with his debut LP, the production and the songs featured on “Statement” are a little more fleshed out. However, the dark feel of his true dancehall masterpiece can still be experienced, although here it’s perhaps slightly less menacing around. Ini Kamoze’s real strength is his voice and melodic lines, which are very catchy in each and every song. After almost 36 years most of the tracks still pack a punch, which despite Sly & Robbie’s dated technological experiments really says something. True highlights are “Babylon, Babylon” (aka “Statement”), “I Want It Ital”, “Call The Police” and “England Be Nice” – in 2013 reinterpreted by Protoje for his song “Kingston Be Wise”.

[Dreadatthecontrols]

The Lions of Ladbroke Grove,

Aswad - New Chapter

AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger

New Chapter was one of the career highlights for Aswad, and one of the stronger undiluted reggae albums to appear on a major label in the early '80s. The group at this point had command of several qualities that not many reggae acts were able to combine all at once: strong soulful harmonies, modern squiggly and swooping electronic effects, tight rhythms, a sweetly mournful brass section, and a variety of repertoire that ran from politics and pride to devotion and romance. The result was not only a good record, but also one that contained considerably more variety than much reggae by other artists of similar renown. The vocal harmonies and snazzy horns dovetailed with each other especially nicely on “Natural Progression,” while “I Will Keep on Loving You” and “Didn’t Know the Time” showcased the group’s skill with tuneful ballads that could have found snug homes with American soul vocal groups. The 2002 CD reissue on Columbia/Legacy adds four tracks from 1981 12" singles: “Finger Gun Style” and its dub version (titled “Dub Style”), and an extended version of “Ways of the Lord” and its dub version (titled “Ways of the Dub”).

Aswad - A New Chapter Of Dub

[CliveB]

It’s apparently the 40th anniversary of Bob Marley’s funeral and there’s an excellent account of the event in Jamaica on Richard Williams’ blog, the Blue Moment.

thebluemoment.com

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Brilliant Clive, thank you so much for sharing the article.
There is one slight error, the author confuses Junior Murvin with Junior Marvin. Junior Marvin is the guitarist with the Wailers whilst Junior Murvin is a different artist, the vocalist famous for songs like the great Police And Thieves. But I’m being pedantic I know.

Respect and thanks again

[Dreadatthecontrols]

The official video of Bob Marley's funeral

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Jah Live!

Jah Live (1976) - Bob Marley & The Wailers

[glevethan]

Hey Dread
What song is playing on the Marley funeral video? It sounds like a live version?

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Sellassie Is The Chapel, it was originally only pressed in a handful of copies as private gifts for Rasta Bretheren.
Extremely rare until it surfaced on the JAD compilation The Complete Bob Marley & The Wailers 1967 - 72 Part 1. That’s how I have it, but it may also now be available elsewhere. It’s an adaption of Elvis Crying In The Chapel
Hope this helps

[Dreadatthecontrols]

May '71 Dave & Ansell Collins Double Barrel, Trojan records first No1 Hit, to commemorate Trojan have made this neat animated video of the choon…
Selecta!..

Dave and Ansel Collins - Double Barrel (Official Video)

The album…

[glevethan]

@Dreadatthecontrols

Hope this helps

Just seeing this reply now.
Thanks!

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Streaming, nice 28 track expanded version of the great Junior Byles classic
Beat Down Babylon (Trojan 1972)
One of the best earlier Lee Perry productions pre dating his legendary Black Ark Studio.

And from the same period Africas Blood

Upon release in 1971, Africa’s Blood was the first record Lee “Scratch” Perry released under his own name, although his band The Upsetters do appear on most of the tracks. If any album serves as a good peak into what was happening in Jamaican music in the early 70s, Africa’s Blood is the way to go. There’s an undeniable influence from American contemporary R&B, but still Perry’s signature dub and reggae fusion shines through.

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Dub London: Bassline of a City

[Dreadatthecontrols]

The new album from Bristolian roots Reggae legends

Black Roots - Nothing In The Larder

Check it on Bandcamp

With “Nothing In The Larder”, Black Roots creates another original set of tracks and brings in some of the best musicians based in the UK.
Together they bring a new sound, despite the narrow confines of roots
reggae. The message is strong, coherent and relevant in today’s world of pandemic inequality, racism and discrimination.

Uncertainty and global distrust reign due to the world’s politicians, whose objective is to reduce individual freedoms and to submit populations to their will. It is in this context that Black Roots uses, as usual, roots reggae to get his message across.

In “Enlightenment”, the group calls us to see beyond reality and to rise spiritually; the message is carried by beautiful layers of brass, which reinforces this impression of escape.

Through the reggae melodies of “Nothing in the Larder”, the band provides a timely reminder that we must continue to promote equality, justice and open-mindedness.

Selah!

[Dreadatthecontrols]

Enjoying the recent album from the revitalised Wailing Souls produced by Italian reggae supa Alborosie who has also deconstructed it for a great companion dub album.
On all formats, check it out…
Wailing Souls - Back A Yard
Alborosie- Back A Yard Dub

Remember those classic late seventies rolling into the eighties albums like Firehouse Rock, Greensleeves dub albums with the Roots Radics Band and Prince Jammy, Scientist et el, then this is for you

[IainB]

Thanks for the Horace Andy/Dance Hall Style recommendation. Playing it right now, and loving it.