idle thoughts for idle moments

Justice for Smiley Culture

2011-03-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

Ward 21

2011-02-12T15:04:00.000-08:00

Iration Book

2010-10-29T09:00:00.001-07:00

Just imagine that there is an hilarious War Inna Babylon (1939-45) related joke here.

Rootsman on Disciples

2010-10-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

Over at Tales from Bradistan, the mighty Rootsman starts to waft away the mists of time (and for some the fug of smoke) that engulf the development of UK DUB as it is now known.

More please, but less when I am genuinely upset I haven't been able to make a dance. The last time I saw Russ D play Leeds lingers long in the memory.

New Car Mix

2010-05-06T04:15:00.000-07:00

So, we bought a new car at the weekend and what’s the first thing one should do on making such a purchase?

Why, take the stereo for a test drive of course

So here is a quick compilation of the tracks I used to "check the performance" (is that what people like Clarkson say?).

All reggae, mainly represses but with a sprinkling of new(er) stuff.

No track listing this time because it’s not ‘mixed’- it’s full vocal followed by full dub in the main.

However, if you can get the entire track listing correct, there is a duplicate copy of one of the records in this mix going for free.

It’s like a shit version of John’s office party blogariddims!

d/l here

Colin Ward....

2010-04-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

Too late, I know, but this is not a zeiteist type of blog now is it?

Colin Ward had (has) a fundamental influence on my thinking regarding anarchism (Norman Dennis also being key, despite being an ethical socialist) - no longer was it some sort of utopian dream, which can so easily lead to theoretical escapism- but rather it can be a day to day method in practice.

It doesn't feel right commenting much more, given how little I do with regard to overt political activism, so read this nice obit from Stan Cohen:

http://newhumanist.org.uk/2269/diary-the-gradual-anarchist

And at the very least, read his books...

Jah Lightning and Thunder at Red Bull Academy

2010-03-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

A very rare chance to see Aba Shanti interviewed.

Me a go Bellevue

2010-03-15T06:18:00.000-07:00

A weekend in Bristol, the Sun was shining, Rooted records was using Woofah 4 as a key selling point in their window display. They also have a nice garrard 4hf as shop turntable.

Walked past the skate shop where I got my first pro-deck when I was 14 (a Powell Peralta Tony Hawk, rather boringly). I probably bought some horrible garish Vision Street wear rubbish at the same time. Ah, the stupidity of youth.

We managed to miss both David Rodigan on Friday and what looked like a nice roots session on Sunday.

Had some lovely real ales though.

Woofah 4 is out!

2010-03-04T11:42:00.000-08:00

After much delay, the latest issue of the UK's (nay, the world's!) finest bass culture mag is out.

No doubt the best yet, crammed with obscure side roads and bye ways to explore at your leisure, a lovely design and suitably out of date record reviews.

As my contribution gets less (not that it was ever great), the mag gets better- I could track this on a graph. As the kids might say, shout outs to the Woofah fam.

Tribe in Leeds will have some next week, as the simple opportunity to get copies up north a couple of weeks ago was spurned in favour of pointless venting (me) and lazer targetted insight (Eden) at Exodus/DMZ, whilst Mr Meme got the local yoot doing gun finger.

Otherwise get it here, or at the most discerning of record outlets.

Be quick now:

2009-10-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

Fanzine Review: 'Reggae Hit the Town' by Jenni Stalmach

This one away, 30 colour page zine is a valient, if somewhat patchy attempt to map the history of reggae in Huddersfield, one of those oft forgotten mid-size towns that played no small role in the process of making reggae music the popular form that it is today in the UK (see also Southend and Bradford for potential alterative histories). It's not ALL about the London, See?

It does this by firstly discussing the venues where reggae could be heard in the 1970s and 80s (namely the now destroyed West Indian Social Club on Venn Street and Huddersfield Poly), before switching tack and briefly interviewing a number of people involved in the revive/dubstep scene in the present day (Axis Sound System; the people behind the Chicken Scratch and Powah nights).

The early material is a nice, though very brief overview over well trodden grounds, with a local twist- yep, Steel Pulse, Matumbi and Aswad all played the town, whilst Eek-a-Mouse shows his face; a sense of place is fleetingly touched upon, where 'commercial reggae' is the norm, but roots and culture could be found if one persevered.

Whilst in his interview, Dr Huxtable (Axis Sound System) mentions half a dozen, mostly long forgotten, sounds that have run in the town over the past 30 years, alongside some interesting additional miscellania.

The problem with this approach is that it begins to feel like an opportunity missed. It is well documented that sounds such as Shaka were playing in towns like Hudds in the 70s and 80s, but of this there is no mention and the interviews tend to focus on the issues surrounding white people playing reggae and incredibly cliched charts, rather than the role the music played (and plays) in the formation of community and identity in a cold, wet, northern mill town.

In Woofah 1, Mark Iration commented that Huddersfield was an important place in his development as a selector, but the period when sounds like Iration Steppas were playing in the town regularly (the 1980s and 1990s) don't really get a mention. These are the stories I would have really liked to be told. Given that figures such as Earth Rockers soundsystem and Dan Man are name checked, but not interviewed is an opportunity missed.

However, saying that, Reggae Hit The Town remains a nice primer on its subject and a potential starting point for more research into a much neglected area of UK bass music, for which the author should to be praised. Not to mention the joy of reading a paper copy of someone's labour of love.

Reggae Hit The Town costs £2.00, From Wall of Sound records in Huddersfield, or from their virtual shop.

Jenni Stalmach's Blog

expletive undeleted on Leeds in the late 80/early 90s

2009-04-29T15:36:00.000-07:00

Essential reading:

http://smith3000.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/hip-replacement-charly-by-the-prodigy-xl-recordings/#more-1078

A couple of pictures

2009-04-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

You can attempt to avoid all musics by an escape into the countryside, but sometimes, reminders remain:

A pretty picture:

A Man Reviews Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle

2009-04-02T04:32:00.000-07:00

Mr Lee's TV series is far from perfect (drop the sketches for one thing) and not a patch on his live stand up, but in a world where the two from the mildly diverting Gavin and Stacey get to make whatever they want, for ever and ever, that it exists at all is something of a miracle.

Tom disagrees:

My m8 uses this website and WTF!!!! Moyles iz well betta than this shitheaded okford idiot!!1!!!!!!!! Him and comdy dave shit all over his rubbish show!!!!! Cnt beileve i pay my taxes for this shit the BBc shold make good programs like balls of steel and jackass!! infact get moyles to do a program where he takes the piss out of this wanker!!!!!!! and OMG not knowin what a rapper iz!! wt sort of grandad iz he!>!>?!??!? so yeah dnt watch this shit watch horne and corden instead a decent program frm the BBC for once not the usaal tax wasting shit like this!!!

Tom, w, March 2009

More Peace and Love and Unity

2009-03-31T04:39:00.000-07:00

Interesting because it makes BBC news...

"Reggae singer Luciano has been charged with harbouring a fugitive who shot and wounded three police officers, Jamaican police have said."

Peace and Love and Unity

2009-03-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

A number of strange and depressing incidents have occured involving members of the Jamaican musical community recently.

First Luciano gets attacked with a lead pipe in an argument about money.

Then Risto Benji gets charges with robbery.

Now, Ninja Man has been charged with murder.

Finding your own relevant You Tube links to embed won't be difficult.

But it probably won't be appropriate either.

(links via Chocolate Soldier at B&F)

The End of Selectadisc

2009-03-13T03:55:00.001-07:00

The closure of one of the best record shops outside of London gets national recognition (after some local coverage).

I lived in Nottingham from 1995 until about 2000. The main reason for moving there was for the music- there was an excellent DIY/Hardcore (punk) music community, members of which I'd got to know through chance (living next door to in Newcastle, for example) and by putting on shows in Oxford. In addition Notts had a wicked array of record shops- from Way Ahead to Rob's Records to the reggae shack (the name of which eludes me) just off Alfreton Road- all tastes were catered for.

Over the years the number of shops dwindled, whilst others sprung up for short periods (JP Morrow's Cage Records upstairs in Non-Stop being one. John Paul used to keep a pillow behind the counter it was so quiet) but Selectadisc remained a constant, as fixed and as permanent as the lions overlooking Old Market Square.

Sure, the staff in the 12" shop could be twats, but everyone in the album shop up the hill were fine and dandy and it was the centre of Nottingham's musical activity, a hub in those pre-Internet days.

Few other cities have anything like Selectadisc (that is, a genuine non-genre specialist independent record shop): Leeds' Jumbo Records is good, carrying a range of stock, but its not (can't be, due to space) as deep as Selectadisc; Manchester's Picadilly is on a par (and there are the other shops on Oldham street to trawl through); Birmingham's shops on the other hand, were almost universally shit when I lived there- I used to have to make trips to buy stuff in Nottingham to get my fix.

So that it is closing is a sad day not just for Notts, but for record/ music buyers in general- if they can't stay open, I doubt there's much long term hope for many of those that remain (shops mentioned above excepted, fingers crossed). Maybe genre specific shops will be fine- Tribe (UK Bass musics) seems to do OK, for example, but in such establishments you rarely come across the unexpected or broaden your listening palette. Rather you dig deeper and refine that which you already know.

Which isn't always a good thing.

Just ask my non-reggae obsessed better half

Dissensus Tape Swap

2009-02-25T08:58:00.000-08:00

As part of the most recent round of the Dissensus tape swap, I've done my review.

Obligatory Snow Pictures

2009-02-04T05:00:00.001-08:00

Work has been closed on both monday and tuesday (and there's little point in me being here today, frankly), so like the rest of the nation I thought I'd bung some pictures up (poor quality, from phone).

Yesterday was crisp, cold and sunny, so a long walk was had. Very few people on top of the moor, plenty of people sledging at the bottom.

It was a good feeling trudging through 6 inch deep virgin snow for a couple of miles, before coming across other people's tracks again.

I saw a man wearing snow shoes.

It was so windy, snow had frozen to whatever vegetation was left open to the elements in an orderly fashion:

There were lots of grouse about, the snow leaving them feeling exposed what with their brown plumage and all. Like humans,they used it as an excuse to noisily attack each other. I couldn't take an actual photo of the birds in action, so here's a foot/wing print:

Those benches might be familiar if you used to read the old blog:

Stopping for a hot drink at White Wells was tempting. But not tempting enough for an intrepid explorer like me. I saved myself for Tescos.

BBC Look North weatherman Paul Hudson must be shaking in his boots at the threat this post poses to his daily weather photos section

Steinski: A Talk on the History of Hip Hop, 8th January 2009

2009-01-29T03:45:00.000-08:00

Having negotiated Bradford’s traffic light ridden ring road(s), all of them going against me, I finally managed to get to the ‘Action Zone’ in the National Media Museum. This tantalisingly titled area is reminiscent of a 30 person seminar room. Mainly because it is a 30 person seminar room.

Slipping quietly into a seat, I immediately clocked Steinski (or ‘Steve’, as those in attendance now like to call him) standing at the front, an avuncular figure cutting a dash in an orange polo shirt, combats and hybrid trainers/hiking boots:

Alongside a hand written message on a flip chart:

This sign somehow set the tone for the following two hours; Steve is not only an interesting man, passionate about music and its effect on people, he is also dryly hilarious.

The talk was organised as part of the Timecode Seminar Series, run by the Communications, Cultural and Media Studies research group at Bradford University, which aim to “explore the relationship between media, technology, culture and society” and last year had Dick Mills from the Radiophonic Workshop. Which I missed.

Anyway, Steve ran through a personal history- with many an aside- from discovering spoken word and musical recordings in a library aged nine; to attending college and dropping out; to living in the middle of nowhere; to moving back to New York and getting a job in advertising, which led to a deep understanding of the power of communication and how to transmit messages- skills he was to use with devastating effect in the early 1980s and beyond.

He also told of how he became a deejay of sorts (he worked at a food co-op that had the odd party and no-one wanted to be responsible for the music); tales of record buying; how he heard hip hop for the first time (via a radio station guest spot by Blondie that he happened to tape. Deborah Harry and Chris Stein (no relation, ifaik) had been to a party the night before and had so enjoyed the music they borrowed the deejay’s records to play on the show. Steve still seems a touch rankled that no information had been provided over the air other than “wasn’t that great” etc); how he found out this music was called hip hop (via The Family); on attending the Roxy; discovering what ‘breaks’ were (in a record store on Time Square, involving a kid in a ankle length fur coat and a gun requesting ‘the box’ containing 7"s which was kept under the counter).

Before moving on to discuss the entering of a Tommy Boy remix competition with the help of Douglas DiFranco, creating ‘Lesson 1’ and its consequences (walking out of a store after buying a drink and hearing the start of ‘Lesson 2’ come on the radio of a boombox owned by two young kids across the street, who immediately started singing along and dancing) up to the present.

He also spoke of his working methods, views on copyright, his favourite reggae record when playing out:

And more. Much more.

http://www.steinski.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Dee_and_Steinski

Martin BTI on Woofah 3

2009-01-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

Read here

You may wish to listen to this (and associated following clips- about 5 in total) after reading. An upsetting lack of swearing though:

Some Record Reviews

2008-12-09T13:13:00.001-08:00

First up, a couple of new(ish) 12"s from Falasha Recordings that no doubt have been played on Aba Shanti I's dances on dubplate for ages.

Sister Audrey's 'Forward Home' in which she wishes for a trip back home (guess where) "1 by 1 and 2 by 2", thankfully sounds nothing like this:

Which is less shocking than some attempts at similar I've heard in recent times.

Three dubs take up the rest of the vinyl, including a blazing horns version.

The real killer material is on the Emmanuel Joseph 'Road to Zion' 12" (who gives glory to all those you'd expect- Jah, Selassie etc, as well as those who show mercy in effective, upbeat fashion), in particular The Shanti-Ites 'Jah Lord' which is on the B-side.

This one has been warming up the last couple of dances featuring Aba that I've attended and is a stunner. A laid back back organ driven number, underpinned by bass as heavy as you'd expect, it's hypnotic, particularly in a darkened room with huge speakers enveloping you, the odd echoed test tone, nyabinghi drums and dubbing adding to the effect. But really it's all about the organ line. Wicked.

Black Redemption have got Fred Locks to update his classic 'Voice of the Poor' inna UK style.

Original:

The B-side is however, dreadful- horrible electric lead guitar wank destroying an already fairly tepid song.

In revive mode, Pablo Gad's 'Hard Times' has got a repress on 10". Not much to say really, when you can listen to it:

apart from: Classic Steppers (with some excellent deejay chat as the song progresses).

oh look, there was also a 2-step garage tune (it's all the rage, you know) that samples it:

Apparently 'Hard Times' was an update of an old Silvertones rocksteady tune, but my knowledge of the Silvertones rocksteady output is flimsy to say the least. Regardless, you get the late '70s/early 80s original and 'Gun Fever'(a nice enough slice of roots, but not why you buy this) plus dubs.

I've also picked up a reissue of the following on Archive Recordings (who were also responsible for the amazing Symbols and Rod Taylor/ Prince Alla 12"s more recently). One for fans of White Mice:

Also recommended are Mungo's Hi Fi/ Brother Culture's 'Wickedness' 12" (Scotch Bonnet), which has an ace dubstep remix on the flip (although it plays too fast) and would sound lovely next to the King Midas Sound 12" (The Bug and Roger Robinson), but you'll know all about that release anyway.

Shit, as I root around, I keep finding other records that should be mentioned. I'll do this again...but maybe I'll leave it a while, just so I can remain suitably out of date.

Woofah #3 is Out

2008-12-05T07:03:00.000-08:00

New issue of the world's best independently produced reggae/grime/dubstep magazine.

Available now from http://www.woofahmag.com

Available soon from your favourite stockists (see site for details)

Contents this issue:

The Bomb Squad - exclusive interview with Hank and Keith Shoklee
Flowdan - the lowdown from the Roll Deep MC and collaborator with The Bug
Dusk and Blackdown - navigating the bass cultures of London
Twilight Circus - dubbing from the Netherlands to Jamaica
Soulja - Rinse FM and FWD stalwart Sarah
An extensive history of UK Dub, including a top 30 essential tracks with comments from the artists and producers
2562 - next level dubstep
Bellevue - an investigation into the notorious Kingston mental hospital and its links with reggae
Badman Commandments
Reviews
And much much more.

60 pages, perfect bound.

NO adverts!
NO rehashed press-releases!
NO pdfs or downloads - printed version only!

A Mix to Listen to Whilst Reading M. Veal's 'Dub' Book

2008-11-22T11:48:00.000-08:00

I re-discovered this on my hard drive last night, having forgetten about it for about a year. Its creation was due to this dissensus thread. Paul Automatic also reviewed it for Woofah 2. But all you will know that already...

Thus, here is a mix of the king tubby's stuff as discussed in detail in chapter 4 of the book (e.g. those songs that are in the 'king tubby in the mix' sub-section(s)). page numbers included.

track list is as follows:

1. ken boothe- 'silver words' (p118)
2. king tubby- 'silver bullet'

3. johnny clarke- 'enter his gates with praise' (p119)
4. king tubby- 'this is the hardest version'*
5. dennis brown- 'live after you'
6. king tubby- 'dubbing with the observer'

7. tommy mccook- 'death trap' (p120)
8. king tubby- 'living style'

9. jackie mittoo- 'sniper' (p120)
10. king tubby- 'dub fi gwan'

11. vivian jackson and the prophets- 'fire fire' (p121)
12. king tubby- 'fire fire dub'

13. jacob miller- 'baby i love you so' (p122)
14. king tubby- 'king tubby meets the rockers uptown'

download here

YouTube Dubplate

2008-11-19T05:01:00.000-08:00

The vocal of this dub will always remind me of dances in the second half of 2008- it's been battered by Iration, and is dropped here by Aba Shanti I:.

Martin Campbell- 'Wicked Rule' 10" (Log On!!)

2008-11-17T10:49:00.000-08:00

When you see an artist photo such as the one above on the back cover of a reggae record, you have to give it at least a cursery listen.

And so it was that I came to drop needle on a slab of vinyl featuring the name Martin Campbell.

Having a dull feeling that I had previously come across the name somewhere before, combined with the vocal- I heard a crooning Tenor Saw- a purchase was made. It then sat on the shelf, almost unlistened to.

Despite a lack of publicity photography, his latest 10" has hardly left my turntable since I got it.

Originally released in 1990, this repress and has had me scurrying round the web for clips. It's that good.

Here we have Channel One Sound System playing it at Notting Hill:

Here Martin Campbell sings it live:

A little more research came across the www.channeloneuk.co.uk website*. Which yields:

Martin Campbell, Channel One UK, 1995

In addition to original plus version (which itself is some of the finest UK-Dub you are likely to hear), you get the newly recorded 'Jah Soon Come' by Peter Culture on the same rhythm with dub. Its on coloured vinyl too.

Run to your local record shop. Quickly!

*Not the same Channel One who feature in the first clip, obviously, but rather the UK offshoot of the Hookim brother's Channel One JA setup.

The Diggers Filmed: Winstanley

2008-11-08T16:23:00.000-08:00

As part of the Leeds Film Festival, there has been a screening of the 1975 film about Gerrard Winstanley, 'leader' of The Diggers-an offshoot of The Levellers- who called for and created- after the failure of the Putney Debates- a community based on the idea of "making the earth a common treasury for all, both rich and poor" (it failed within a year, mind).

The film is a moving piece, beautifully executed given the tiny budget, with nature taking centre stage (often drowning out dialogue- which in the spririt of realism, is how it should be). there are clips on the internet too!

This ties in nicely with a current exhibition at the British Library, which we went to last week, an excellent way to while away a few hours- you can see original versions of the Magna Carta, the death warrent of King Charles I- signed and sealed by Cromwell, amongst others, diaries from emprisoned suffregettes and copies of OZ magazine (if that's your bag) amongst other primary documents.

The focus on legal definitions of freedom are somewhat limiting, but, hey, in these times of 'Big Ben British Values', which include imprisonment without trial, it's important, innit.

The irony that the land that the diggers worked (Saint George’s Hill, Cobham, Surrey) is now the home (or one of the homes) of the likes of Elton John, George Michael and wealthy bankers, is not lost.
this page provides some excellent links to further reading

further context

Serious Time Mix

2008-10-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

Two posts in a week? Don't worry, it won't last, but this mix has been sitting on my hard drive for a while now, awaiting a final order and tracklist, so I thought it was about time to send it off into the ether.

As usual, it features stuff I've been listening to a lot (second hand finds, represses) alongside a couple of tunes heard out over the past few months.

1. Basil Miller- 'Rasta Shall Overcome' (Heavy Duty 7”)

2. Mighty Two- 'Don't You Weep'

3. Milton Henry- 'Cornbread and Butter' (Freedom Sounds 7”)

4. King Tubbys- 'Cornbread Dub'

5. Tetrack- 'Only Jah Jah Know' (Greensleeves 7”)

6. Rockers All Stars- 'Jah Jah Dub'

7. Omar Bernard- 'Man A Kill Man' (Uhuru LP)

8. Pisa- 'More Peace on the Land'

9. Oameron- 'Version Man'

10. Sylford Walker- 'Lamb's Bread Collie' (South East Music 10”)

11. Prince Allah- 'Bosrah' (Stars 7”)

12. Bosrah Dub Plate Mix

13. Mr Bojangles- 'Election Derby' (Socialists 7”)

14. Joe Higgs- 'Creation' (PK 10”)

15. Augustus Pablo & Super 8 Corporation- 'Creative'

16. Prince Alla- 'Heaven is My Roof' (Archive Recordings 12”)

17. Musical Intimidator- 'Heaven is My Roof (Version)'

18. Symbols- 'Suffering Child' (Archive Recordings 12”)

19. Version

20. Henry & Louis meets Blue & Red featuring Shalom- 'Jah Jah N ever Fail I' (2 Kings 7”)

21. Version

22. Ghetto Priest meets The Dubateers- 'Armageddon' (Dubateers 10”)

23. Blazin Dub

24. Cornell Campbell- 'Natty Don't Go' (Sip A Cup CD)

25. Gussie P All Stars Meets Mafia and Flux [sic]- 'Dub On The Go'

26. Joe Higgs- 'Wages of Crime' (Pressure Sounds LP)

27. King Tubby's- 'Wages of Crime Version'

28. Earth, Roots & Water- 'Innocent Youths' (Light In The Attic LP)

1hr 14mins 32 secs

Download here

1. Basil Miller- 'Rasta Shall Overcome' (Heavy Duty 7”)

2. Mighty Two- 'Don't You Weep'

3. Milton Henry- 'Cornbread and Butter' (Freedom Sounds 7”)

4. King Tubbys- 'Cornbread Dub'

Does Milton Henry really like cornbread and butter, or is he sick of it? Frankly, I think he's conflicted.

5. Tetrack- 'Only Jah Jah Know' (Greensleeves 7”)

6. Rockers All Stars- 'Jah Jah Dub'

7. Omar Bernard- 'Man A Kill Man' (Uhuru LP)

8. Pisa- 'More Peace on the Land'

9. Oameron- 'Version Man'

10. Sylford Walker- 'Lamb's Bread Collie' (South East Music 10”)

Lambs Bread has had a bit if a revive recently with both Young Warrior and Iration playing it out in recent months. Still a cracker.

11. Prince Allah- 'Bosrah' (Stars 7”)

12. Bosrah Dub Plate Mix

13. Mr Bojangles- 'Election Derby' (Socialists 7”)

Worth the cash just for the label:

Thankfully, the song- a fictional re-telling the 1976 JA election in horserace form- is ace too. Capitalism is the loser.

15. Joe Higgs- 'Creation' (PK 10”)

16. Augustus Pablo & Super 8 Corporation- 'Creative'

The biggest addition to my record collection this year has been the work of Joe Higgs. Lord knows how I never really noticed him before, but this 10” and his songs on the Pressure Sounds a) repress of his classic 'Life of Contradiction' LP; b) the associated 7”s and c) Micron comp, have changed all that.

The LP is a gorgeous mix of reggae and soul (think Al Green style), with compositions that are more thoughtful than much of that being released at the time (flying cymbols was in full swing), whilst his contributions on this mix (see also below) are more straight up reggae than 'life...' as they are more fitting, but no less powerful for it.

17. Prince Alla- 'Heaven is My Roof' (Archive Recordings 12”)

18. Musical Intimidator- 'Heaven is My Roof (Version)'

19. Symbols- 'Suffering Child' (Archive Recordings 12”)

20. Version

21. Henry & Louis meets Blue & Red featuring Shalom- 'Jah Jah Never Fail I' (2 Kings 7”)

22. Version

Another record I dug out after it was the first tune dropped by Young Warrior at Subdub in April, which set the scene for a righteous session.

23. Ghetto Priest meets The Dubateers- 'Armageddon' (Dubateers 10”)

24. Blazin Dub

25. Cornell Campbell- 'Natty Don't Go' (Sip A Cup CD)

26. Gussie P All Stars Meets Mafia and Flux [sic]- 'Dub On The Go'

Two cracking UK-dub tunes, with Dubateers slowing things down nicely and Cornell Campbell's contribution to one of my records of the year being followed by a wicked dub.

27. Joe Higgs- 'Wages of Crime' (Pressure Sounds LP)

28. King Tubby's- 'Wages of Crime Version'

29. Earth, Roots & Water- 'Innocent Youths' (Light In The Attic LP)

A melodica driven instrumental from Canada ends things nicely.

Blogariddims Terminus: Some Introductions to Reggae Songs

2008-10-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Coming after what I have no doubt will be an excellent mix from Eden and Meme (http://blog.grievousangel.net/blogariddims-terminus), even if they're obviously taking the piss with over 8 minutes, is my six and a half minutes of the introductions to reggae songs. Starting in the late nineteen sixties and finishing at the end of the pre-digital era (not strictly chronologically ordered)

At first, this contribution to the final Blogariddims was to feature only drum intros; you know that first few seconds of recorded sound that emanates from the vast majority of reggae when recorded using live players of instruments.

However, in the end, I allowed myself to include other introductions as long they ended with a solo drum sound, no matter how small (and even that rule I probably broke. More than once).

So, onwards...

In a genre where unwritten rules exist to be broken, one of the few constants of reggae has been that after the initial needle drop, when the subsequent vinyl crackle has- hopefully- calmed down a little, the drummer has a fleeting opportunity to show their flare, ready all those gathered and build excitement/ anticipation for what is to follow.

The calm before the storm...

I suppose it makes sense that a popular music derived from nyabinghi goundations can utilise some stretched animal skin, plastic and tempered metal to create instantly recognisable signifiers of what is to follow. Legends such as Sly Dunbar and Style Scott made intros an art unto itself, ably assisted by the development of dub, which stretched the anticipation quotient further and further during the 1970s, aided and abeted by the odd vocal interjection and yelp.

So, here we have 80 odd of the things, from early reggae, through Studio 1, the Black Ark, the Aggrovators, the Revolutionaries and Roots Radics, finishing with those moments before digital took over (which didn't see the use of the drum intro as a compositional tool coming to an end).

It was an honour to be asked to get involved in the Blogariddims series at all, let alone the final swan song, so a hearty hail to Droid in particular and everyone else involved- on this, and the other 49. You have enriched my listening greatly over the past couple of years. Thank you.

Now see how many you of these things you recognise and then get frustrated that the release never comes...

Download the whole mix here:

http://www.weareie.com/audio/blogariddims/blogariddims50.mp3

or here:

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1. Scientist- 'Blood On His Lips'
2. Larry Marshall- 'Nanny Goat'
3. Lone Ranger- 'Love Bump'
4. Dennis Alcapone- 'Forever Version'
5. Horace Andy- 'Every Tongue Shall Tell'
6. Don Drummond- 'Man in the Street'
7. Skatalites- 'Guns of Navarone'
8. Burning Spear- 'This Population'
9. Cornell Campbell- 'Pretty Looks Isn't All'
10. Billy Dyce- 'Take Warning'
11. Cat Campbell and Nicky Thomas- 'Hammering'
12. Alton Ellis- 'Sunday Coming'
13. Sugar Minott- 'Love Gonna Pick You Up'
14. Sugar Minott- 'Try Love'
15. Judah Eskender Tafari- 'Jah Light'
16. The Heptones- 'We Are In The Mood'
17. Michigan and Smilie- 'Eye of Danger'
18. Harry J Allstars- 'Liquidator'
19. Bob Marley- 'Keep on Moving'
20. Eric Donaldson- 'Cherry Oh Baby'
21. U Roy- 'Way Down South'
22. Judah Eskender Tafari- 'Rastafari Tell You'
23. Light of Saba- 'Sabebe'
24. Jah Creation- 'Creole'
25. King Tubby and The Aggrovators- 'The Knockout Punch Version'
26. Prince Far I and the Arabs- 'A Message'
27. Johnny Clarke- 'African Roots'
28. Johnny Clarke- 'Too Much War'
29. Jacob Miller- 'I'm In Love'
30. King Tubby and The Aggrovators- 'Dub Place'
31. Linval Thompson- 'Whe the Wicked (2nd take)'
40. Johnny Clarke- 'Rastafari'
41. I Roy- 'The Duke'
42. Barry Brown- 'Better For I'
43. Dr Alimintado & Jah Stitch- 'The Barber Feel It'
44. King Tubby- 'Drum and Bass'
45. King Tubby- 'Harder Dub'
46. Little Joe- 'Tradition Skank'
47. Big Joe- 'Crucial Natty Dread'
48. King Tubby- '555 Dub'
49. I Roy- 'Satta'
50. Ranking Caretaker- 'No Dash It Wey'
51. Jnr Byles- 'Coming Again'
52. Bunny Scott- 'I've Never Had It So Good'
53. Jnr Murvin- 'False Teachings'
54. The Upsetters- '10 Cent Shank'
55. The Congos- 'Children Crying'
56. Brent Dowe- 'Down Here in Babylon'
57. Lee Perry/ Sly & the Revolutionaries- 'Long Sentence Dub'
58. Impact All-Stars- 'Wire Dub'
59. The In Crowd- 'Just Another Dub'
60. Alton Ellis- 'Too Late'
61. Little Roy- 'Hurt Not the Earth'
62. Hugh Mundell- 'One Jah, One Aim, One Destiny'
63. Hugh Mundell- 'Don't Stay Away Dub'
64. The Royals- 'Pick Up The Pieces'
65. Israel Vibration- 'Why Worry'
66. Johnny Osbourne- 'Take Me To A Rub A Dub Session'
67. Barry. Brown- 'Far East'
68. The Mighty Diamonds- 'I Need A Roof'
69. The Mighty Diamonds- 'Right Time'
70. Jnr Byles- 'Fade Away'
71. Sugar Minott- 'Babylon'
72. John Holt- 'Up Park Camp'
73. The Jays & Ranking Trevor- 'Queen Majesty'
74. Ringo- 'Working Class'
75. Frankie Paul- 'Worries In The Dance (Version)'
76. The Revolutionaries- 'Bossman Dubplate Mix'
77. Dillinger- 'Forward Commandments'
78. Sam Bramwell- 'It Go A Dread Inna Babylon'
79. The Revolutionaries- 'Afraid Of Dubplate mix'
80. Knowledge. 'Centry'
81. Devon Irons- 'Jerusalem'
82. Mr Bojangles- 'Election Derby'
83. Scientist- 'Beam Down'

(6 mins 33 secs)

The selection starts with a bit of ska and early reggae, with a focus on Studio 1. Records that were to lay the foundation for many, many future version excersions. Already the use of dum intros is evident, but possibly not yet formalised. The Studio 1 house band, the Soul Vendors drummer Bunny Williams and the Skatalites Lloyd Knibbs are featured.

Things really got going with the Aggrovators, Bunny Lee's session band. The main drummer was Carlton 'Santa' Davies who developed the 'flying cymbols' sound- named after Santa's use of the high hat- although Sly Dunbar and Carlton Barrett also featured on some sessions.

This is one of many styles named after what the drummer was doing behind the kit- 'one drop', 'rockers' and 'steppers' being other obvious examples, which make explicit the importance of the drummer and possibly gave license to explore increasingly complex intros.

All this was ably assisted by King Tubby's use of post production and the development of dub. Echo and delay were deployed and voices from the other side of the glass can be heard.

Arch experimentalist Lee Perry ignored drum intros by comparison, but then considering what he was doing with the rest of the song, this is perhaps understandable. House band at the Black Ark featured Carlton Barrett (until he joined the Wailers) and Michael Richards.

In the mid 1970s Channel One Studios developed a distinctive drum sound. House band the Revolutionaries- the first working partnership of Sly Dunbar (drums) and Robbie Shakespeare (bass)- created the 'rockers' rhythm.

The early 1980s saw the rise of Scientist, an apprentice of Tubbys and the Roots Radics (drummer: Style Scott) who recorded for Henry Junjo Lawes. The dub albums that came out of this relationship have brilliant titles and artwork, whilst the slow, pared down rhythms provided plenty of opportunity for experimentation.

Obviously, I've missed out a whole load of stuff on this mix (the Mighty Two, for example), but frankly, who cares?

Next up, Mr Rambler ( http://johnsonsrambler.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/blogariddims-50-terminus/) the man who has recently finished his Phd! He's a new father! His other Blogariddims contributions are marvellous! He still finds time to contribute to this one! BASTARD ;).