reggae 45

musicology #573

Essential Cuts #3

(Jerry Jones – Still Waters)

Didn’t manage to lay a cut yesterday..BIG night Friday and as a result I floated through yesterday in a bit of a bubble. That’s one of the things about BIG nights out..sleep deprivation..Worth it though. Music was excellent, company too. Met some good people, (all genuine music lovers), which is always a real pleasure. In fact it was a proper gathering of musicologists. The Filthy Six were excellent and by a strange serendipitous, (having already laid it down on themusicologist a few hours earlier) quirk had included Sookie, Sookie in their set. If any of you cats and/or kittens get the opprtunity to catch them live…take it. If not then second best is to buy their self titled set available on Acid Jazz.

Part of what I, (Sir Errol too judging from his recent comment), enjoy about music is the voyage of ‘discovery’ and on the night Corinna Greyson and Noel McKoy were both welcome additions to my list of noteworthy vocalists. I can’t lay an example of Corrina’s vocals on you as I don’t have any to pass on but I bought 2 copies of Noel’s latest CD, (Brighter Day), on the night so hopefully, (if/when I confirm with him that it’s ok), I’ll lay down an example on themusicologist.

So on with the Essentials…(all cuts that, for me, ‘stand’ at the top of the musical mountain). Today’s cut is another from the number one Jamaican sound ‘Sir’ Coxsone ‘Downbeat The Ruler’s Studio 1. Absoulte marrow trembler released 1970 in the UK on the Bamboo label….Jerry Jones’s version of the Four Tops scorcher.

Listen Tune.

musicology #402

Sound&Fury #5

(Admiral Tibet – Time Is The Master)

Momentum…Focus….Discipline. I find them a constant challenge. Take your eye off either one for more than a breath and they try to slip away, (the bastards !) take themusicologist for example when the momentum slips the focus wavers and the discipline flies out the window making it difficult to get back on the right track.

‘So many things to do and so little time to do them in’ is a well worn cliche but fits me like a John Pearse tailored suit. Not that I’m complaining…I would much rather be busy than not it’s just that there are, (as we all know), only 24 hours in a day and it just isn’t enough for me to get the job done. So with that in mind allow me to lay this cut on you.

A slice of Jamaican ‘Steppers’ from themusicologist’s ROCKET BOX. One of my most cherished pieces of the shiny black stuff from One of my favourite Dancehall artists, Kenneth ‘Mr Reality’ Allen a.k.a Admiral Tibet whose consciousness and integrity are something to behold. Never have I heard the Admiral speak anything other than righteousness. An artist that, like Terry Callier, deserves our FULL support.

BOSS TUNE.

musicology #326

DownbeatTheRuler #6

(Dave Barker – Johnny Dollar)

Today’s page of the Downbeat story is a 45 from an artist known by the name of Dave Barker, (a nom de plume courtesy of Lee Perry), who is probably best known for his part on the well known single ‘Double Barrel’. A singer and ‘DJ’ who was among the earliest proponents of the ‘chatting’ style made popular by such luminaries as U-Roy, Dennis Alcapone, I-Roy and Dillinger. There were earlier Cats who dropped ‘chat pon the mic’ but it wasn’t until Hugh Roy stepped up that the genre came of age and flew out of the dance and into the recording studio in 1970 on Arthur ‘Duke ‘ Reid’s definining rocksteady rhythms.

This one, a 1970 cut on the English Studio 1 subsidary label Ackee, is a cover of Garnett Mimm’s earlier majestic 1964 Soul recording ‘A Quiet Place’ and finds Mr Barker, who in my opinion was a much better singer than ‘DJ’, in fine voice expressing concerns about people intruding on his quiet time.

musicology #325

DownbeatTheRuler #5

(Burning Spear – Creation Rebel)

Today’s cut is from one of music’s greatest ambassadors; Winston Rodney better known as Burning Spear whose message of defiance and determination has always been as clear as crystal.

The Spear was born in March 1948 and raised in St Ann’s Bay Jamaica along with Bob Marley, (and before them Marcus Garvey), who introduced him to Coxsone in 1969. Over the next few years he recorded without much success or financial reward until hooking up with Jack Ruby who produced his seminal works Marcus Garvey and Man In The Hills. The rest as they say is History.

This one, recorded sometime in the early 70’s and backed by the ‘New Establishment’ (including the ‘dub’), holds a special place in themusicologist’s heart as it was one of the pieces that helped me through my darkest hours a few years back and as a result will always hold deep meaning.

For more information on the man and his music check his personal site..and take a listen to his personal message.

musicology #293

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #4

(The Techniques – Queen Majesty)

Fourth slice of the vocalgroup and the second outing, (link below), on themusicologist for a group of Cats known collectively as The Techniques with their unique rendition of the Curtis Mayfield / Impressions 1961 cut ‘Minstrel & Queen’. Recorded for the Trojan’s, (Duke Reid), outstanding set up, Treasure Isle.

If you don’t know it and you like your music sweet and soulful then as far as I’m concerned you’re in for a treat. Lead on this one is sung by Junior Menz, (previously of the Ambassadors), with backing by Winston Riley but not Pat Kelly, (who sung lead on ‘You Don’t Care’), as he had returned to America to continue with his education…

“Queen majesty, may I speak with thee,
So much I’ve longed , I’ve longed to speak to you alone,
True I agree, I’m not of your society,
I’m not a king just a minstrel,
With my song to you I sing,
Though just a minstrel in life we’re so far apart,
But royal queen I see love in your heart, your heart
I love you too, your majesty…….hmmmmm,

Isn’t this really true,
These things I ask of you…hmmmm,
Oh,oh majesty would you really care for me,
As long as you love me,
And it wont be so hard,
As long as I see love in your heart, (your heart),
I love you too, (honest I do),
Hmmmm..(your majesty), hmmmm..(your majesty)
Ohh I love you too, (your majesty)
Hmmmm queen majesty…”

musicology #195

teachings of billionaire YenTzu #5

(Beres Hammond – Focusing Time)

Guiding The Horse, (Governing Your Willpower)

The horse reared in fright as the shrouded man walked unexpectedly onto the path and startled it.

‘Ho there,’ gried the carriage driver, struggling to regain control of his animal. ‘What devil does such a thing! What do you think you are doing suddenly appearing like that?’

‘In peace, I am no devil, moreover, if there were a demon it is within your hand, creating a reign of terror upon unsuspecting travellers,’ answered the man.

‘You are either a sage or a simpleton, speaking as you do,’ said the carraige driver. ‘The former I’ll wager, for any fool can see that this powerful horse has been finely trained and is well harnessed,’

‘Of what good is the strength of a horse and the control of a harness, if the direction of the will guiding the driver’s hand is elsewhere?’ said the sage. ‘It is clear that you are on this road against your will.’

‘What nonsense do you speak of?’ retorted the carraige driver, wondering how the sage had hit upon the truth with his last remark. ‘Explain yourself, or you’ll feel the lash of more than my tongue!’

‘The fine carraige in which you sit can be likened to the body; the powerful horse to your feelings and desires; you, as driver, are like the mind; and your will is the master of them all. Will is the development of a wish, the command that turns a wish into an action. It is clear that you have no wish to travel wherever you now go, because your will was not ready for the unexpected. The unexpected is the test of true constancy, Man’s self-governing key. You did not wish this trip, so, your will lacked the tenacity, steadfastness, stability and fortitude that a road such as this demands. A resolute will has power, control and direction working together. When man lacks this unity, his lack of will is plain for all to see, no matter how he may disguise it.’

‘In truth I have no desire to make this trip,’ said the carraige driver. ‘But the will of my master is such that I have no choice, though in my heart I know misfortune will come of the business I am ordered to do.’

‘It is indeed far easier to train a wild beast than educate one’s own will to perform, because of Man’s uncertainty as to what he really wants,’ replied the sage. ‘That is why Man continues to yield the power of his own will to the will of others and calls it destiny.’

musicology #151

ladiesweek2 #5

(Tanya Stephens – Friends)

first of two cuts today and the penultimate on the ladiesweek2 selection.
having thrown down four from the distant past it’s time to bring it up to date a piece.

this one was bought by themusicologist from dubvendor, (Ladbroke Grove), where I spent MANY happy and fruitful hours, (and ££’s), buying up armfuls of top ranking 45’s. If I was given the choice to have treble my money back in return for said wax the answer would be:

“not for all the tea in China”

not only the music but the memories are priceless and money doesnt buy ’em.
Released on the ‘Hyped’ label in 1996, produced and arranged by ‘Callo’ Collins and sung by Tanya Stephens, (one a few on the Rhythm), for themusicologist this is the choicest of them.

special request to ‘Redman’ and ‘Face’..musicologists of the first degree

“everybody wants to be close to you,
cause you’re a star,
you can’t see this little person,
from up there where you are,

and it hurts to know,
that there’s nothing I can do,
but sit around and wait,
for reality to catch up with you,

for when the glory days are over,
and the spotlight turns away,
and nobody wants to know you,
cause you belong to yesterday,

it’s all about the friends who were there from the start,
should never part you are my friend,
not about the ones who are coming around,
now that thing’s a gwan, that makes me vex,

all about the friends who were there from the start,
should never part you are my friend,
not about the ones who are coming around,
now that thing’s a ‘gwan, that makes me vex….vex,

everyone wants a piece of you,
cause you’ve got fame,
you’re so caught up in the light,
you don’t even hear me calling your name,
and it’s sad to see that you could be so naive,
that everything you see you’d be willing to believe,

but when the glory days are over and the curtain starts to fall,
and nobody wants to hear you, let me be the one you call,
cause it’s all about the friends who were there from the start,
should never part, you are my friend,
not about the ones who are coming around,
now that thing’s a ‘gwan, that makes me vex…vex,

cause when you’re feeling alone thinking you’re on your own ill be waiting,
and when the shadows fall and your backs to the wall I’m still waiting,

you are my friend, my friend, you’re my friend, you are my friend,

everybody’s got a thing for you cause your in style,
your so ????????????????????????
that you get fooled by every smile,
and its sad to see that you could really be so weak,
that you think every friend is genuine and every friend is fit to keep,

but when the glory days are over and the curtain start to fall,
and nobody wants to hear you, let me be the one you call,
cause it’s all about the friends who were there from the start,
should never part, you are my friend,
not about the ones who are coming around,
now that thing’s a gwan, that makes me vex…vex