themusicologist

musicology #323

DownbeatTheRuler #3

(Alton & Hortense Ellis – Easy Squeeze)

Out all day yesterday working the tees so apologies for not dropping a next ‘Downbeat bomb’ through your speakers. Hopefully today’s slice of the Coxsone pie will make up for it.

A classic piece of Brentford Road Rock Steady that has trembled my marrow for many years. Could have thrown it down a few times on previous themes but for reason unbeknown to ‘mesang’ didn’t until today.

One of the most emotive, hard hitting, Rough & Tough cuts of the Rock Steady period in my humble opinion…lyrics, vocals, music all combining in soul searching harmony to communicate a message concerning  the quest for that most elusive of feelings, True Love.

Recorded and first released in 1966? for Dodd by the Godfather Of Rocksteady Alton Ellis alongside his younger Sister Hortense, both of whom are sadly no longer with us. What is however (and will be for as long as music like this is being loved and played), are their ‘works’ many of which sit comfortably at the very top of the musicology tree.

Hortense was Jamaica’s ‘first female vocalist’ cutting her teeth as early as 1959 on such legendary talent shows as Vere John’s Opportunity hour, (where many a ‘Jam Down’ legend begun their careers), but it wasn’t until a few years later in 1961 under the tutelage of Downbeat that she begun a recording career. For sure having Alton as a brother helped but anyone who has heard her sing would agree that merit was the foundation stone apoun which she built a career that stretched right up to her untimely death in 2000 AD. Recording for many of the greatest Jamaican producers such as Duke Reid, Bunny Lee, Harry Mudie and Gussie Clarke, (to name a few)

As regulars may be aware Alton has featured more than any other Jamaican artist on themusicologist over the preceeding two years so I won’t wax lyrical on the man and his music today other than to reiterate that it was he and the previous Artist, (Bob Andy), who first opened my ears and heart to Downbeat The Ruler’s output and for that I am eternally grateful..

So in Tribute to the memories of Alton, Hortense and Clement Seymour ‘Sir Coxsone / Downbeat The Ruler’ Dodd hold this…..

musicology #320

SongsOf Protest&Freedom#6

(Otis Redding – A Change Is Gonna  Come)

final cut of the freedom&protest…and what better way to finish with one of the greatest songs sung by one of the greatest singers. Sam Cooke’s original has already featured on themusicologist but couldn’t pass up this opportunity to throw it down again.

Otis singing Sam Cooke…doesn’t get any better. Taken from the LP ‘Otis Blue’…With Issac Hayes on the Keyboards, (and production), as well as the full Stax/Volt family Donald Dunn, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson, Wayne Jackson, Andrew Love, Gene Miller and Fred Newman.

musicology #319

SongsOf Protest&Freedom#5

(Billy Bragg – Ideology)

Day 5 of the freedom selection is a cut from  Singer, Songwriter and performer; Stephen William Bragg featured a couple of times already on the musicologist with his critique on two subjects close to my heart ‘Big Pharma‘ and National Identity.

This one, (another of the subjects close to my heart),  is taken from his 1986 set ‘Talking With The Taxman About Poetry’.

“When one voice rules the nation,
Just because they’re top of the pile,
Doesn’t mean their vision is the clearest,

The voices of the people
Are falling on deaf ears,
Our politicians all become delirious,
They must declare their interests,
But not their company cars,
Is there more to a seat in Parliament,
Than sitting on your arse?
And the best of all this bad bunch,
Is shouting to be heard,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing,

Outside the patient millions,
Who put them into power,
Expect a little more back for their taxes,
Like schoolbooks, beds in hospitals,
And peace in our bloody time,
All they get is old men grinding axes,

Who’ve built their private fortunes on the things they can rely,
The courts, the secret handshake, the stock exchange and the old school tie,
For God and Queen and Country,
All things they just defy,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing,

God bless the civil service,
The nation’s saving grace,
While we expect democracy,
They’re laughing in our face,
And although our cries get louder,
The laugh gets louder still,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing,
Above the sound of Ideologies,
Above the sound of Ideologies,
Above the sound of Ideologies clashing…..”

musicology #318

SongsOf Protest&Freedom#4

(Fela Kuti – Colonial Mentality)

Utilising the universal language to communicate protest is not as easy as it sounds as there are many forces at work that try to silence the minstrel from speaking the truth and for themusicologist no one signifies this more than musicologist and freedom fighter supreme..Fela Anikulapo Kuti who was a constant thorn in the Nigerian, (and other African ‘state’), Government’s side.

Third time featured on themusicologist for a Cat who certainly walked it like he talked it. Fortunately someone out there has translated and transcribed the lyrics for this 1977, (borrowed from the LP Sorrow, Tears & Blood), cut otherwise It would be hard for many of us to follow, (although not to understand), and for that I am extremely grateful.

LISTEN TUNE…

musicology #317

SongsOf Protest&Freedom#3

(The Kinks – Got To Be Free)

Today’s slice of the Freedom pie is from a well known and highly respected  English group yet to feature on themusicologist…with a cut from their 1970 LP ‘Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround’.

Ray and Dave’s career is reported to have began in a pub in North London in 1957 !! but it wasn’t until 1963 that the original line up formed and became known, (after a few name changes), as the Kinks.

The line up featured here however is minus original member Pete Quaife.

musicology #316

SongsOfProtest&Freedom#2

(Max Romeo – Blowing In The Wind)

Generally speaking protest&freedom springs from the well of first hand experience concerning the trials and tribulations in question. Although, I hasten to add, not always as there is also a concept known as empathy whereby others can feel/appreciate the anguish and frustrations? I’ll be honest with you up until a few months ago this was a concept that I couldn’t accept but then it was explained to me in language I understood and subsequently I felt it.

Today’s cut is, for me, an example of this. A tune that many people know, (or at least have heard), that concerns a human’s right to freedom. The human beings in question are still judged in many ways by the colour of their skin and not the love in their hearts. It might not be as blatant these days but as with all discrimination it is rife. The point I am making here is that Bob Dylan, (the songwriter and original singer of this cut), was empathising.

It wasn’t his personal experience but still he ‘felt’ it and wanted to do what he could to highlight and make comment on the situation. Sam Cooke loved it and was almost upset that it wasn’t written by him.Accordingly ‘The Lion’ was inspired though and wrote one of THE most passionate ‘songs of freedom’ ‘A Change Is  Going To Come’ which, if it hadn’t already been thrown down on themusicologist would most certainly have been in this theme.

This 1969 version is by Jamaica’s own Max Romeo who unfortunately is perhaps best known, (outside of Reggae circles), for the forgettable but, at least in the UK, popular early ‘Skinhead’ cut ‘Wet Dream’. He is MUCH better than that as witnessed by his output over the years.

Listen Tune

musicology #315

SongsOfProtest&Freedom#1

(Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston – Better World A Comin’)

this weeks selection is a collection of songs that speak the language of protest and freedom. bypassing the rhetoric of the chattering classes to deliver the message as directly as possible to those who have the power to make change….the people.

The ‘establishment’ know this so, as with all modes of communication, do their best to bury such knowledge and even wisdom beneath the mountains of information that are served up 24 – 7 – 365.

Who and what are the establishment?..I’m not saying there is a group whose ‘job’ it is to serve up such mis-information I don’t believe that’s not the nature of such things…ideology provides such a platform so no one person or even group is to blame, making it almost impossible to step outside of. Our times are not much different from previous ones although globalisation can and does, (for now), provide an opportunity to connect and communicate instantly which is relatively new. Obviously this is a two sided coin making it easier to spread the word of freedom as well as slavery but at least there is a choice as to what we spend our time doing, listening to, reading and watching.

only time will tell what opportunity is taken? education or entertainment.

With that in mind hold this cut from one of the fathers and greatest proponents of the protest/freedom song, Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, (named after the former president of the USA), whose relatively short life was FULL of experience and incident…

Mr Authenticity as far as I’m concerned whose musicology has touched my heart and mind from first hearing it a couple of years ago.Since introduction themusicologist is often to be found rocking and a rolling to this Cat.. This cut taken from the 1940’s ‘Asch’ Recording dates features his friend the singer and one time actor, Cisco Houston who along with Jim Longhi persuaded Woody to join the Merchant Marines during W.W II. Being political Woody was against supporting what was considered by some a Capitalist Fraud but rather than be drafted he settled for washing dishes and entertaining the troops.

Anyway….enough of the words and on with the music.

musicology #313

Live&Direct #9

(The Jam – Going Underground/Dreams Of Children/That’s Entertainment Live)

themusicologist regulars will know that along with Curtis Mayfield this Cat, Paul Weller, has exerted major influence on my thoughts, from first exposure in 1977 as a fresh faced nine year old right up to the present day. ‘Words’ have meaning as far as I’m concerned and his rank up there with the best I have ever had the pleasure of listening to and learning from.

Today’s cut is from his Jam days. A three cut selection recorded live at the Glasgow Apollo in 1982. Taken from the LP ‘Dig The New Breed’.

Watch the ride……

musicology #312

Live&Direct #8

(Prince Buster – Move Over ‘Live’)

Time for a slice of the Rocksteady pie from legendary Jamaican musicologist Cecil Bustamente Campbell a.ka Prince Buster a nickname gained from his days alongside Lee Perry, (among others), as Coxsone’s ‘Security’ in the early days of the fierce rivalries between the various Sound Systems . ‘Prince’ Buster was known in and around Kingston for his boxing skills and fearlessness when confronted with opposing promoters ‘Dance Crashers’ whose sole purpose was to disrupt and close down the dance but it was with the ground breaking 1960 recording ‘Oh Carolina’ featuring Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation that his music career began to take shape.

Recorded live in London at either the Marquee or Brixton’s Ram Jam in 1967. Taken from the ‘Live On Tour’ Set..

musicology #311

Live&Direct #7

(Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Blockheads)

Was intending on Slowing the tempo down for the next few cuts but then I came across this one from one of London’s favourite son’s Ian Dury featuring, of course, The Blockheads. So Influential were this group of Cats in themusicologist’s early life that I can’t overstate it. Not only that but in their earlier incarnation as Kilburn & the High Roads it was they, along with Doctor Feelgood and, for me, Steve Marriott that changed the trend, (at least on London’s scene) from listening to overhyped, overpaid and overrated so called supergroups of which I’ll mention no names to authentic, local, talent out of which sprung the attitude that became known as Punk. ‘The High Roads’ were vanguards and deserve recognition.

So without delay hold this, one of their classic cuts which brings memories flooding back..especially of my Uncle Phil who I can almost picture screaming the words…”BLOCK’EADS OI OI”…recorded live in 1990 showing that they had lost none of the energy and quality which saw them through from performing on the thriving ‘pub scene’, of the 70’s (which has now almost dissapeared), up to concert hall venues both here and ‘up and down a foreign’.

p.s after listening to this one at least four times ‘on the spin’ and rocking all round me ‘gates’ HAD to lay the lyrics down for yah…

“You must have seen parties of Blockheads,
With blotched and lagered skin,
Blockheads with food particles in their teeth,
What a horrible state they’re in,

They’ve got womanly breasts, pale mauve vests,
Shoes like dead pigs’ noses,
Cornflake packet jacket, catalogue trousers,
A mouth what never closes,

You must have seen Blockheads in raucous teams,
Dressed up after work,
Who screw their poor old Eileens,
Get sloshed and go berserk,

Rotary accessory watches,
Hire-purchase signet rings,
A beauty to the bully boys,
No lonely vestige clings,

Imagine one puffing and blowing in your ear’ole,
Thoughtful and kind with a well-stocked mind,
Blockheads can’t think very far,

Who wants tonight’s star prize?
Tonight’s star prize,
Is a solid gold Rolex watch,
It’s tonight’s star prize…..

Bigger brained Blockheads often acquire,
Black and orange cars,
Premature ejaculation drivers,
Soft-top’s got roll-bars,

‘Fill her up, they say the Blockheads,
Stick it where it fuckin’ well hurts,
Shapeless haircuts don’t enhance,
Their ghastly patterned shirts,

Why bother at all about Blockheads?
(Superior as you) are,
thoughtful and kind,
(with a), well stock, (mind),

Who want’s tonight’s star prize?
Imagine finding one in your laundrey basket,
banging nails in your big black dog,

Who wants tonight’s star prize?
Tonight’s, why bother at all about Blockheads?
Why should you care what they do
‘Cause after all is said and done,
You’re all blockheads too…ain’t cha,

Who wants tonight’s star prize?
A Rolex, original Rolex from Brixton market,
You can’t get any batteries,

Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads, who wants it?
Blockheads, who wants it?
Blockheads
Blockheads (oi oi)
Blockheads (oi oi)
Blockheads (oi oi)
Blockheads (oi oi)
Blockheads (oi oi)
Blockheads (oi oi)
(oi oi)
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads
Blockheads”

Taken from the Live! Warts ‘n’ Audience Set…What a performance…..

musicology #310

Live&Direct #6

(Jimi Hendrix Experience – Like A Rolling Stone Live)

Today’s cut features one of the best known and most talked about Cats in recorded musical history…Johnny Allen, (Jimi), Hendrix about whom much has been written and said. No need for themusicologist to bore you with facts and details about his life and times so I’m just going to lay his version of Bob Dylan’s famous song, (about Edie Sedgwick i do believe?), on you. Recorded live at Monterey in 1967. In a word…magic.

“Once upon a time you dressed so fine,
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didnt you?,
People call, say, beware doll, youre bound to fall,
You thought they all were kiddin you,
You used to haha laugh about,
Everybody that was hangin out,
Look atcha, but now you dont talk so loud,
Now you dont seem so proud,
‘Bout having to be scrounging yeah your last meal,

How does it feel,
Oh how does it feel baby,
To be on your own,
??????????????????
Look atcha a complete unknown,
Like a rolling stone?,

Gone to the finest school all right, hahah miss lonely,
But you know you only used to get juiced in it,
Nobody here to taught you how to live out the streets,
And now you just gonna have to get used to it,
You say you never you never compromise,
With the mystery tramp, but now you got to realize,
He’s not selling any alibis,
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes,
And he says hey baby would you like ta to make a deal?

How does it feel baby,
How does it feel,
To be on your own,
No direction home,
A complete unknown,
Look atcha like a rolling stone,

Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people,
They all laugh and drinkin, thinkin that they huh got it made yeah
Exchanging all precious gifts and things but ah,
But you’d better take your diamond ring, I think you’d better,
you better pawn it babe,
Yes I know I missed a verse, don’t worry,

You used to be so amused,
At napoleon in rags and the sweet talk that he used,
Go to him now, he calls you, you cant refuse,
When you aint got nothing, you got nothing to lose,
Youre invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal,

How does it feel,
Oh how does it feel baby,
To be on your own,
With no direction home,
A complete unknown,
Look at ya like a rolling stone”.

musicology #308

Live&Direct #5

(Lou Rawls – Goin’ To Chicago Blues)

Today’s cut features yet another of the great vocalists…Louis Allen Rawls. Life long friend of ‘Mr Soul’ Who was equally at home singing Gospel, Soul or Jazz whose impassioned response to Sam Cooke on the immortal 1962 cut ‘Bring It On Home To Me’ deserves special mention. A singer of the highest order about whom Frank Sinatra was quoted to have said “he has the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game”…

This cut, first performed, (and written), by Jimmy Rushing and the Count Basie band was recorded for Capitol in 1966 featuring musicians James Bond, Earl Palmer, Tommy Strode, Herb Ellis..produced by David Axelrod.

musicology #307

Live&Direct #4

(Etta James – Something’s Got A Hold On Me)

Fourth slice of the Live & Direct….and one you may not have heard before? A rousing performance overflowing with Soul, Blues, Rhythm and emotion from a Songstress who certainly tore the house down from beginning to end at the New Era Club in Nashville Tennesee over two performances during September 1963. Taken from the album ‘Rocks The House’….nuff said.

musicology #306

Live&Direct #3

(Humble Pie – I Don’t Need No Doctor)

Excited to say that I have some real gems lined up for this theme…

Today it’s the turn of English Rock and Roll supergroup Humble Pie featuring one of the best vocalists to come out of these ‘green and pleasant lands’, original Mod icon, Stephen Peter Marriott…(a Cat who featured last year on the SixSixSix hall of fame).

Recorded at New Yorks famed Filmore East in 1971it was to prove the end of the road for Peter Frampton’s involvement in the band after becoming dissilusioned with Steve’s dominance, (the band was originally put together as a front for Frampton), so this is the band in all their glory covering a Ray Charles song penned by Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Jo Armstead.

musicology #305

Live&Direct#2

(Fela Kuti – Mistake – Live)

Day two of the theme has an element of synchronicity for me as the performance was recorded in Berlin…what has that got to do with anything I hear you say? well not only does one of my most valued ‘brethren’ live there but the woman in my life is there today working on/at the film festival. Couldn’t resist or pass up this ‘oppo’ to throw down a second piece on themusicologist by the legend that is, Fela Kuti.

Recorded in 1978 a year after his Kalakuta Republic had been destroyed by a thousand soldiers during which horror his elderly mother had been thrown out of a window suffering fatal injuries with Fela almost being beaten to death for his non-stop scathing critique of Nigerian politics. Word has it that after the tour most of the band left him as he intended to use all the proceeds to fund his election campaign.

Perhaps THE most political musician of all time Fela was his own project and an ‘Existentialist’ in the truest sense. NEVER allowing anyone to deny him the freedom to say and do what he thought right. The hugely influential philosopher Martin Heidegger spoke about Authenticity in relation to one’s life and for themusicologist Fela lived life in a way that, (among others), Heidegger would have been proud of.

musicology #304

Live&Direct #1

(Sam Cooke – Somebody Have Mercy – Live)

New theme on themusicologist starting today concerning Live performances. Not that a recording can truly do them justice but other than being there, and in the case of the majority of artists featured during this theme who are no longer with us, it’s the best I can offer. All powerful performances…starting with the Lion…Mr Soul who has already been a major player on themusicologist over the preceeding two years, this being the second cut featured here from the infamous ‘Live at the Harlem Square’ session recorded in 1963. All I can add is that Words don’t do it justice.

musicology #303

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #14

(The Paragons – The Tide Is High)

The end of the road for this theme. hard to pick a favourite but I’m going for the Wailers – Cry To Me. Tunes like that certainly don’t grow on trees and it resides in my top twenty of all time.

Today’s final slice of the ‘action’ is perhaps better known to many for the Blondie Version from the early 80’s. Or even the most recent version by Kardinal Offishal..My daughter reminds me that, (among others), there was also a poor pop version by The Atomic Kittens but thankfully I don’t know it. Blondie’s version was ok but not a scratch on this, the original from another one of the great J.A Vocal Groups led by John Holt, (who also wrote it)

The group also featured such luminaries as Bob Andy, Tyrone Evans, (who formed the group), and Junior Menz who, following Pat Kellys departure, sung lead for the Techniques most notably on Queen Majesty, (musicology #293), completing the trio on this cut was Howard Barret. A Duke Reid ‘Treasure Isle’ classic from 1967.

musicology #302

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #13

(The Voiceroys – Love & Unity)

Today’s slice of the J.A vocal group pie is yet another from the ‘Golden Age’ of the Vocal Group, the 1960’s. In fact, thinking about it, by the mid 1980’s the group sound had almost disapeared to be replaced by the single artist and ‘DJ’. Not sure exactly why? but it would probably have something to do with economics..the least people involved, the less money would have to be paid out. Producers are generally the people who earn the lions share of the ‘reddies’ leaving the artist, (especially in Jamaica), with very little. It’s a sad state of affairs that hopefully we are seeing change as the internet could and should reverse such injustice…let’s hope so.

This one is a Coxsone Dodd, (Studio 1), production from 1967 led by Wesley Tinglin, backed up, (probably) by Linval Williams and/or Daniel Bernard..

Listen Tune..

musicology #301

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #12

(The Uniques – Hooray, (One Fine Day)

Seeing this theme through until the end of the week and then I’ll be rolling out something fresh on Monday. Just like to thank all you Cats for the visits and comments on the Wailers cut, (and tee), most apprecited. Following a marrow trembler like that is nigh on impossible..one of them cuts that has left me ‘chewing canvas’ to use an old boxing colloquilism…you know the score, hanging on to the opponent for dear life hoping that the bell tolls for the end of the round..so without further delay hold this cut from one of Jamaica’s finest vocal groups The Uniques featuring one of the greatest vocalists to ever grace the M.I.C…Keith ‘Slim’ Smith, alongside Jimmy Riley and Lloyd ‘Charmers’ Tyrel with a first outing on themusicologist. A 1967 Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee production that sounds like it was recorded at the Dukes ‘Treasure Isle’ studio…the home of Rocksteady.

musicology #300

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #11

(The Wailers -Cry To Me)

So…the day has finally arrived when ‘The Project’ is revealed. (Imgs Below)

Allow me to elucidate..Ever since I first clapped eyes and ‘pulled up’ for my first ‘statement Tee’, (shirt), back on a stall in Greenwich market as a sixteen year old, (1984), I have harboured a dream to design and produce screen prints that communicate a message. The one that spoke to me was the classic, (UK), Red and White Studio One Label, blown up and screen printed onto a plain white t-shirt. Nowdays it is not uncommon to see ‘Label Tees’ for all different genres but back then, (at least in London), it was fresh and new.

That Tee went everywhere with me and I always wore it with pride, connecting myself with the music and message of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae. I still own and cherish that same Tee even though it has almost disintegrated and can’t be worn. So last year I decided to take the plunge and learn the art of screen printing. Essentially I am an ‘ideas man’ and my head and heart are full of tributes to Artists, Producers, Genres and even Songs, (among others), so the actual process of printing was neceesary to learn as I wanted to design, produce and provide authentic Tee Shirts that encapsulated the passion I have for Culture without dilution from external economic influences.

After 8 months I feel ready to share these ‘Tribute Tees’ with you and what better place to start than with the legendary Wailing Wailers who have had a major impact on themusicologist from my earliest days…

Available to order in Four ‘cuts’ and, (for now), Three Sizes, (Small / Medium / Large)

The 45, (Plain WhiteTee),  33, (Long Sleeve), Dubplate, (Bamboo&Organic Cotton), and The Sweat Shirt.

At the moment I am working on the most effective way to provide them online but for now the only way to make the transaction will be via my ebay account. It is more of a passion than a business but as we all know a man needs to make a living !! and this is the way I aim to do it by sharing a genuine passion for music, originality, style and culture wrapped up in the humble Tee or Sweatshirt…Feedback and Critique is most welcome, appreciated and valued.

The cut featured today is a song probably better known for the version on Marley’s Rastaman Vibration. But for themusicologist there is no comparison with this 1964? cut featuring the Wailers at their most effective and original. No doubt that as great as Bob Marley was he in no way overshadowed his two partners Bunny and Peter. This cut bears witness to that. Listening to this Trinity of cats harmonizing brings not only tears to my eyes but also joy to my ears and heart. The only downside is that it finishes….but at least it can be enjoyed for free and the message be spread far and wide.

Click on Images To See them in all their glory…