1974-1980 reviews on current reggae releases...

[stepping razor]

UK REGGAE CHARTS 1978:

September 28, 1978:

SINGLES:
1. Dennis Brown - Money In My Pocket - Joe gibbs.
2. Pat Kelly - No Love - Justice.
3. Ranking Joe - Dub Sister Dub It - Greensleeves.
4. The Bold One/Clint Eastwood - Dry Up Your Tears - Cha Cha.
5. Jimmy London - In My Heart - Music Force.
6. Diamonds - Danger In Your Eyes - Gussie.
7. Aswad - Stranger - Grove.
8. Burning Spear - Social Living - Island.
9. Rockers All Stars - Pablo Meets Mr. Bassie - Rough Trade.
10. Hugh Mundell - Let`s All Unite - Greensleeves.
11. Heptics - Natural Woman - D-Roy.
12. Dillinger - Out The Light - Jamaica Sound.
13. Pablo Gad - Bloodsuckers - Burning Sounds.
14. Ruddy Thomas/Trinity - Every Day is Just A holiday - Joe gibbs.
15. Gideon Jah Rubaal - Rich Man - Jah Rubaal.
16. Revelation - With You Boy - Write Sound.
17. Johnny Clarke - Play Fool Fe Get Wise - Justice.
18. Burning Spear - The Whole We A Suffer - Spear.
19. Dr. Alimantado - Still Alive - greensleeves.
20. I Jar Zif - How Could I Leave My wife - Greensleeves.

ALBUMS:
1. Linval Thompson - Negrea Love Dub - Trojan.
2. Hugh Mundell - Africa Must Be Free By 1983 - Message.
3. Jah Thomas - Stop Yuh Loafin` - Greensleeves.
4. Various Artists - Your Last Chance - Front Line.
5. Revolutionaries - Culture Dub - High Note.
6. Revolutionaries - Leggo Dub - Cash & Carry.
7. Gregory Isaacs - Slum In Dub - Burning Sounds.
8. Culture - Baldhead Bridge - Joe Gibbs.
9. Ranking Joe - Weakheart Fadeaway - Greensleeves.
10. Royals - Ten Years After - Ballistic.

Supplied by Greensleeves, 44 Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush, London W12.

peace

[stepping razor]

UK REGGAE CHARTS 1978:

October 14, 1978:

SINGLES:
1. Israel Vibration - The Same Song - Top Ranking 7".
2. Hugh Mundell - Great Tribulation - Message 7".
3. Johnny Clarke - Play Fool Get Wise - Justice 12".
4. Aswad - Stranger - Grove Music 12".
5. The Diamonds - Danger In Your Eyes - Gussie 7".
6. Dennis Brown - Money In My Pocket - Joe Gibbs 12".
7. Errol Dunkley - Little Way different - Arawak 12".
8. Pat Kelly - No Love - Justice 12".
9. Ranking Joe - Dub Sister Dub It - Greensleeves 7".
10. Junior English - In Loving You - Burning Sounds 7".
11. The Bold One - Dry Up Your Tears - Cha Cha 12".
12. Culture - Send Some Rain - Joe Gibbs 12".
13. Capital Letters - Smoking My Ganja - Greensleeves 12".
14. Junior Delgado - Armed Robbery - DEB12".
15. Burning Spear - Civilised Reggae - Island 12".
16. The Chosen One - Party Night - Love And Inity 7".
17. Te-Track - Isn`t It Time To See - Rockers 7".
18. Hugh Mundell - Let`s All Unite - Greensleeves 7".
19. Tamlins - Hurting Me - Cha Cha 12".
20. Pablo Gad - Blood Suckers - Burning Sounds 12".

ALBUMS:
1. Dr. Alimantado - Best Dressed Chicken In Town - Greensleeves.
2. Burning Spear - Marcus Children - Burning Spear.
3. Yabby U - Beware Dub - Grove Music.
4. Hugh Mundell - Africa Must Be Free By 1983 - Message.
5. Culture - Baldhead Bridge - Joe Gibbs.
6. Abyssinians - Arise - Front Line.
7. Revolutionaries - Negrea Love Dub - Trojan.
8. Jah Thomas - Stop Ya Loafing - Greensleeves.
9. Revolutionaries - Slum Dub - Burning Sounds.
10. Dennis Brown - Visions Of Dennis Brown - Lightning.

Supplied by Greensleeves Records, 44 Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush, London W12.

peace

[stepping razor]

UK REGGAE CHARTS 1978:

November 11, 1978:

SINGLES:
1. Errol Dunkley - Little Way Different - Arawak 12".
2. Mikey Dread - Robbers Boost - 40 Leg.
3. Heptones - Crystal Blue Persuasion - Third World 12".
4. Trinity - Dragon Dance - DEB 12".
5. Capital Letters - Smoking My Ganja - Greensleeves 12".
6. Junior English - In Loving You - Burning Sounds 12".
7. The Bold One - Long About Now - Channel One 12".
8. Phil Callender/Jah Stich - Baby My Love - Cactus 12".
9. Culture/Clint Eastwood - Send Some Rain - Joe Gibbs 12".
10. Dr. Alimantado - Still Alive - Greensleeves 7".
11. Junior Delgado - Armed Robbery - DEB 12".
12. Cool Notes - My Tune - Jama 7".
13. Johnny Clarke - Play Fool Fe Get Wise - Justice 12".
14. Dennis Brown - A True - Joe Gibbs 7"/
15. Ranking Joe - Dub Sister Dub It - Greensleeves 7".
16. Hugh Mundell - Great Tribulation - Message 7".
17. Revelation - With You Baby - Write Sound 12".
18. Yabby You - Get Lost Babylon - Vivian Jackson 12".
19. Trinity - Lively Tribulation - Vivian Jackson 7".
20. Ruddy Thomas - Long Time Ago - Earthquake 12".

ALBUMS:
1. Dr. Alimantado - Best Dressed Chicken In Town - Greensleeves.
2. Arabs - Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 1 - Hitrun.
3. Burning Spear - Marcus Children - Burning Spear.
4. Vivian Jackson - Beware Dub - Grove Music.
5. Abyssinians - Arise - Front Line.
6. Hugh Mundell - Africa Must Be Free By 1983 - Message.
7. Jah Woosh - Gathering Israel - Dread And Dread.
8. Professionals - African Dub Chapter 3 - Lightning.
9. Junior Delgado - Taste Of The Young Heart - DEB.
10. Marumbi - Seven Seals - Harvest.

Supplied by Greensleeves Records, 44 Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush, London W12.

peace

[stepping razor]

Black Music Feb 1975:
[cover=899,1040][cover=5135,1040]
Augustus Pablo: "This Is Augustus Pablo"
Dub Organizer / Please Sunrise / Point Blank / Arabian Rock / Pretty Baby /
Pablo In Dub / Skateland Rock / Dread Eye / Too Late / Assignment No.1 /
Jah Rock / Lover`s Mood.
(Tropical)

Pablo, real name Horace Swaby, plays piano, clavinet, organ, and melodica, notably the latter. His rise to roots reggae cult fame in Jamaica began in 1972 with "Java". It was best intrumental of the year, and since then his live appearances and his recorded melodica workouts have been a major musical stimulant to ghetto youth in Kingston, New York, London, Birmingham. . . all over. The rhythm musicians on his recordings are always good and the prominence of drum and bass, which his audience love so much, is always a special feature.
This is sound system music: you`ll never hear it on the radio - not unless Pablo has a hit, which seems unlikely. Nevertheless, the music is good, and occasionally quite moving, as in the dramatic "Dub Organizer" and "Assignment No. 1", or in the intense "Arabian Rock" with its powerful rhythms, and the joyous "Jah Rock".
The melodic bass playing of Wailer Family Man is excellent throughout (he also plays rhythm guitar comfortably enough) and Lloyd Adams` drumming is just as good. Even if you`re not a reggae fanatic you`re bound to find this music interesting if you give it a chance.
Carl Gayle

peace

[Marky Dread]

these posts are fascinating, thank you muchly for keeping on it! like a time capsule...

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: DECEMBER 1973 - First Issue 25p. - NO.1:

UK REGGAE CHARTS:

SINGLES:
1. In The Dark - The Maytals (Dragon).
2. Lonely For Your Love - Nicky Thomas (Horse).
3. I Miss You - The Heptones (Ashanti).
4. Reggae In The Ghetto - John Holt (Trojan).
5. Reggae Stuff - Matumbi (Horse).
6. Say Wonderful Things -Ken Parker (Dragon).
7. Tonight - Hubert Lee (Ackee).
8. Silver Platter - I.Roy And Keith Hudson (Randys).
9. Build Me Up - Brent Dowe (Horse).
10. Way Over Yonder - Judy Mowatt (Trojan).
11. Country Boy - Charlie Ace (Ackee).
12. Jennie Jennie - The Selectors (Ethnic).
13. Everyman Ought To Know - Max Romeo (Pama).
14. That`s When It Hurts - The Silvertones (Technique).
15. Blackbirds Singing - Roslyn Sweet And The Paragons (Duke).
16. Sweet Cherrie - Honeyboy (Catus).
17. Standing On The Hill - Shenley Duffus (Pama).
18. La La At The End - Norman Brown (Big Shot).
19. This Is Reggae Music - Zap Pow (Island).
20. Wake Up jamaica - Dennis Alcapone (Treasure Isle).
21. Children Of The Night - The Chosen Few/For The Good Times - Lloyd Charmers (Duke).
22. That Lady - The Paris Connection (Explosion).
23. Theme From Peyton Place - Jackie Edwards (Trojan).
24. Conqueror - Stranger And Gladys (Dragon).
25. It`s Too Late - The Chosen Few (Duke).
26. Hole Under crotches - Henry And Lisa (Dragon).
27. Can You keep A Secret - Big Youth (Pyramid).
28. What`s Your Name - Audley Rollins (Harry J).
29. Country Road - The Maytals (Dragon).
30. Big Five - Prince Buster (Prince Buster).

ALBUMS:
1. Reggae Around The World - Byron Lee & The Dragonaires (Dragon).
2. Sings For I - John Holt (Trojan).
3. Grounation - Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari (Ashanti).
4. Funky Kingston - The Maytals (Dragon).
5. Tighten Up Volume 8. - Various Artists (Trojan).
6. Version To Version Volume 2. - Various Artists (Trojan).
7. Presenting I.Roy - I.Roy (Trojan).
8. This Is Reggae Volume 4. - Various Artists (Pama).
9. John Holt`s Greatest Hits - John Holt (Melodisc).
10. Catch A fire - The Wailers (Island).
11. Screaming Target - Big youth (Trojan).
12. The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff (Island).
13. Chi Chi Run - Big Youth (Melodisc).
14. 16 Dynamic Hits Volume 2. - Various Artists (Trojan).
15. Cloak And Dagger - The Upsetters (Rhino).
16. Reggae Time - Various Artists (Ashanti).
17. Soulful reggae - Various Artists ( Trojan).
18. African Herbsman - Bob Marley & The Wailers (Trojan).
19. Soul Of Jamaica - Various Artists (Island).
20. The Heptones & Friends Volume 2. - The Heptones (Attack).

peace

[stepping razor]

Carl Gayle On The New Wailers Album - Black Music Dec 1973:
Burnin` And Lootin` Tonight:
[cover=116,118][cover=7908,118]

Who would have thought that a ska group which was singing the Bacharach/David song `What`s New Pussycat` in 1965 would in 1973 be singing songs like `Concrete Jungle` or `Burnin` And lootin` and would eventually come to be known for the social and political content of their songs?

Yet this is the main reason why the majority of the pop press have been acclaiming The Wailers - more than any other Jamaican group - since the release of `Catch A Fire`, their first "important" album as some writers put it.

It`s true that The Wailers are one of the best Jamaican bands around. Reggae fans have been aware of that for some time. But the weight of praise - no matter how hard won and deserved - that is being heaped upon them alone will indirectly hinder the progress of other stalwart, and other smaller JA bands who have never had the opportunities of big business that That Wailers have been blessed with. And it will compel The Wailers to develop musically along the lines of the commercial pop machinery which produces pop stars, a system which is inhibiting and is contrary to the idealistic nature of the band.

Now That the second album has been released it confirms yjat the social/political/musical path which they took with their last LP has been adhered to strictly. But the refinement in the music and in the dialectic quality of the vocals only go to show that the search for commerciality has meant a loss in authenticity, no matter how small.

The Wailers have woven a complex texture of rhythms which form a perfect backdrop for the drive and lyrical depth of their emotive songs. The result is a very strong piece of music which is uniquely representative of their sound (the rebel music) although for me this album lacks the sheer beauty of `Catch a Fire` and lacks the ethnic quality evident in songs like `Concrete Jungle` or `Midnight Ravers` from the same album.

Of course, the Wailers have been conscious of the relationship between themselves and their society for a long time. Back in the mid-60s they still found it necessary to reflect the social conditions of their W. Kingston surroundings in the first ever song about the rude boys (`Rude Boy`) which thet followed up with `Let Him Go` (Rude Boy Get Bail), themes which triggered off a whole area of JA music concerning the rude boys of Kingston Jamaica.

One of the most popular of those numbers was Desmond Decker`s `007` or `Shanty Town` which had the lyrics "Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail - a Shanty Town/Rude boy a weep and a wail - a Shanty Town". This description of the rude boys rioting in the town is a situation which Marley foresees (or which he expects will recur) in the slow melodic `Burnin and lootin` from the new album. The song`s lyric reflects anxiety and near despair: "How many rivers do we have to cross/Before we can talk to the boss/All that we got it seems we have lost/We must have really payed the cost/That`s why we`re gonna be burning and looting tonight" "Weeping and wailing tonight."


In `Small Axe` too Marley issues another (less immediate) warning "whosoever diggeth a pit shall fall in it" but since this time he also makes reference to Jah, he is speaking on behalf of al Rastafarians.
"Why boasteth thyself oh evil men/Playing smart and not being clever/You`re working iniquity to achieve vanity...but the goodness of Jah Jah endureth for ever/If you are the big tree, we are the small axe sharpened to cut you down, to cot you down."
It is obvious that this song, originally issued early in 1971 was used here because of the political message, but unfortunately much of the real anger of the original has been bypassed for more melody and a greater depth of sound.

By means of a Western analogy Bob Marley shows what can happen if the warning issued in `Small Axe` is not heeded. `I Shot The Sherriff` is a cowboy ballad in which the hero is being hunted for the killing of a deputy (which he denies) when he admits only to the killing of the sherriff which he justifies.
"Sherriff John Brown always hated me for what I don`t know/Everytime I plant a seed he say kill it before it grow."

Near the end, the bass and drums which had been dominating the rhythm all along the fade out on their own, illustrating perfectly the unique percussive blend that Aston and Carlton Barrett have become known for in reggae music. The sound they make conjure up an image of the wanted cowboy riding off into the lonely horizon.

Lee Perry was the producer who helped The Wailers get back on their feet when the group had been struggling after leaving producer Coxsone Dodd. Bob Marley has always been the group`s life blood.
When he left Jamaica to go on a tour with Johnny Nash in 1968 The Wailers entered a period of non-productivity and his jail sentence, plus the trouble that Marley, MacIntosh, and Livingstone had with their first record label `Wailin Soul` did not help either.
Undoubtedly The Wailers` association with Lee Perry (The Upsetter) helped them tremendously in regaining their confidence and musical direction. During that time some of their best tunes including `Small Axe` and ` Duppy Conqueror` were made.

In a way `Duppy Conqueror` continues the `cowboy` story if you accept that the guy who himself had served a jail sentence for a ganja rap has said of the song "It was really for every prisoner who came out at that time because it was so good just to be back on the street again." There is a punch line in the song which goes "If you are a bull bucker, I`m a duppy conqueror." In the Jamaican dialect a "duppy" is a ghost, or an evil spirit, so in the context of the song duppy refers to the evil forces within the oppressive establishment of Jamaican society. The lyrics explain it:
"Yes I`ve been accused and wrongly abused/But through the power of the most high they got to turn me loose." Unlike `Small Axe` `Conqueror` does not lose any of its original sharpness, this slower more melodic version is a slight improvement on the 1970 single, released on The Upsetter label.

Bunny Livingstine`s lead vocals on "Hallelujah Time" are more akin to soul than reggae and show the influence of Curtis Mayfield. Bunny adheres to the doctrines of rastafarianism more closely than any of the others in the band, and this reflects itself in the pessimistic view of Jamaican life that he reveals in the song. "But now it`s not rain that waters the cane crops/But the sweat from man`s brow the substance from our spine/We got to keep on living, living on borrowed time..."

Bunny takes a much more optimistic view in `Pass It On` (since after all he is talking about `the kingdom of Jah!) in which he preaches brotherly love. "Be not selfish in your doings - pass it on/Help your brothers in their needs - pass it on/In the kingdom of Jah man shall reign - pass it on." The song has a Jamaican church `feel` similar to `Rivers Of Babylon` by The Melodians and if not for the reggae riff it might have been The Impressions singing.

Pete MacIntosh (Tosh) has the same kind of message in `One Foundation` but the lyrics are too trite: "Got to come together cause we are birds of a feather/Or there will never be no love at all." His straightforward approach in `Get Up Stand Up` which he co-wrote with Marley is much more significant especially after the stand he took in `400 Years` last time round. In `Get Up Stand Up` Tosh sings "We know and we understand, almighty God is a living man/You can fool some people sometimes but you can`t fool all the people all of the time."

"Rasta Man Chant" brings us full circle from the "What`s New Pussycat" group to the band which now identifies strongly with the doctrines of Rastafarianism. It`s the first time that The Wailers have recorded in the rasta style (percussion/chant), and already this traditional number is being heavily featured on Sound Systems. the harmonious fusion of the voices is like church singing, it`s totally hypnotic: "I hear the words of the rasta man say/Babylon your throne gone down."

Ultimately, the corrupt element in the society has been defeated. "I say fly away home to Zion (Ethiopia). Fly away home"..."One bright morning when my work is over I will fly away home."

Carl Gayle article in the Black Music Mag First Issue December 1973.

peace

[6anbatte]

Please keep this coming, Stepping Razor. Excellent stuff!

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC APRIL 1974:

UK REGGAE CHARTS:APRIL 1974:

SINGLES:
1. Here I Am Baby (Come And Take Me) - Al Brown & Skin Flesh & Bones Inc (Trojan TR7915).
2. A Little Bit Of Soap/Hit Me With Music - The Pioneers (Trojan TR7906).
3. I Am Ready To Go - Monty Morris (Ackee ACK527).
4. I`m Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More - Llyod Charmers (Harry J HJ6662).
5. Rock And Roll Lullabye - Jimmy London (Green Door GD4065).
6. Kiss An Angel In The Morning - Ken Parker (Attack ATT8063).
7. Chucky - The Viceroys (Harry J HJ6658).
8. Dr. Kitch - Judge Dread (Trojan Tr7905).
9. White Rum And Salvation - Llyod Charmers (Big Shot BIG24).
10. Pardon - George Dekker (Trojan TR7908).
11. Reggae Stuff - Matumbi (Horse HOSS39).
12. I`m Gonna Get Married - Danny Ray (Trojan TR7903).
13. Pussy Cat - Lloydie & The Lowbites (Harry J HJ6660).
14. I Miss You - The Heptones (Ashanti ASH407).
15. Save The People - Lloyd Charmers (Green Door GD4064).
16. Sugar Dandy - Happy Junior (Ashanti ASH 418).
17. Buy You A Ring - The Ethiopians ( Harry J HJ6663).
18. What A Festival - Eric Donaldson (Dragon DRA1017).
19. Year Full Of Sunday - King Sporty (Green Door GD4063).
20. At The Club - Sydney George & Jackie (Attack ATT8064).
21. He`s Got The Whole World In His Hands - The Marvels (Trojan Tr7904).
22. Country Road/Funky Kingston - The Maytals 9Dragon DRA1013).
23. Say Wonderful Things - Ken Parker (Dragon DRA1015).
24. Way Over Yonder - Judy Mowatt (Trojan TR7900).
25. Papa Was A Rolling Stone/Feeling High - Sydney George & Jackie (Attack ATT8054).
26. Sandra - The Upsetters (Count Shelly CS052).
27. So Long Baby - Jimmy Stratdan (Ethnic ETH13).
28. Heck Boy - Tit Collins (Ethnic 14).
29. Free Education For All - Flick Wilson (Count Shelly CS037).
30. No Work No Pay - The Tellers (Pyramid PYR7011).

ALBUMS:
1. 1000 Volts Of Holt - John Holt (Trojan TRLS75).
2. The Marvels - The Marvels (Trojan TRLS67).
3. Twenty Dragon Hits - Various Artists (Dragon DRLS5002).
4. Just Tito Simon - Tito Simon (Horse HRLP702).
5. The Further You Look (Sings For I) - John Holt (trojan TRlS55).
6. Jimmy Brown - Ken Parker (Trojan TRLS80).
7. Build Me Up - Brent Dowe (Trojan TRLS67).
8. Twenty Explosive Reggae Hits - Various Artists ( Trojan TRLS81).
9. Freedom Feeling - The pioneers (Trojan TRLS64).
10. Clancy Eccles - Clancy Eccles (Big Shot BILP101).
11. Double Dekker - Desmond Dekker (Trojan TRLD401).
12. DJ`s Choice - Various Artists (Trojan TRLS74).
13. Grounation - Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari (Ashanti ATI301).
14. It May Sound Silly - Gladstone Anderson (Ashanti SHAN103).
15. African Herbsman - The Wailers (Trojan TRLS62).
16. Burnin - The Wailers (Island ILPS9256).
17. John Holt`s Greatest Hits - John Holt (Melodisc MLD12171).
18. Pipeline - Various Artists (Trojan TRL203).
19. Blackbirds Singing - The Paragons & Roslyn Sweet (Horse HRLP703).
20. Tighten Up Volume 8. - Various Artists (Trojan TRL207).

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC Sep 1974:

Tommy McCook: "Tommy McCook" (Attack ATLP 1008)
Yard Broom / Carry Go Bring Come / Twelve Minutes To Go / Magic / Strolling In /
Dan-De-Lion / Apanga / Eastern Standard Time / Rough And Tough / Musical Store Room / When You Call My Name / River Bank:

Superb album that brings Jamaican rhythm and blues and ska together by way of the fabulous tenor sax player Tommy McCook, a former leader of the Skatalites, and super session musician of the sixtes.
There are three vocal numbers of which "Carry Go Bring Come" and "Rough And Tough" sung by Justin Hines and Stranger Cole respectively, are brilliant. Brass riffs dominate the background as McCook blows effortlessly but with great technique and control while two of the most unique and celebrated voices of the ska era sing the "blues".
The best instrumental ska numbers here are all prime examples of the kind of music that used to set the dance floors on fire in the hectic heyday of ska. And the R&B instrumental numbers like "Yard Broom," "Magic" and "Strolling In" depict the style of the earliest big bands that were prominent in JA before ska.
Carl Gayle.
Black Music Sep 1974.

peace