Roots Archives Forum

BLACK MUSIC: NOV 1976:
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Rupie Edwards All Stars "Dub Basket Chapter Two" (Cactus 117)

Abracadabra / Meditation / No Bars / Hanky Panky / Orthodox Inspiration / Skip And Flip / Freedom From The Idren / Happiness Is / Having What You Want / Wanting What You Have / The Right Spirit / Never Say Goodbye:-

* * *

Dub albums now are out of style. But here comes Mr Smoothie Rupie with his second chapter. I put my hand in the basket and what do I get, "Abracadabra" it`s a rocking sensation. "Orthodox Inspiration" is a iry lickle piece a music me dear sah. It used to name "I Wanna Be Loved By You" I think, but now it gaan dubwise and it still sweet and merry. Cheer up here comes Mr Edwards again. I put my hand in the basket and fool around a while, coming out finally with a thing called "Freedom From The Idren", a latter day rocker with bongos and superb vocals. They don`t make music like this anymore. Well congratulations Rupie this must be what you`re famous for. If you don`t understand a word I`m saying remember that I`m speaking in jest and that the seasons are changing. Now since all that happens when I play dub albums is that I recall an age not so long gone by when the grass was green and the birds were singing, and the young sisters used to giggle and hide their face with the palms of their hands, I can only say that things are not what they used to be `cause all the young ladies have grown up and are now listening to nothing at all in the absence of a decent reggae show on the air. Now Rupie it`s time you did something new and leave the dub alone. That apart, all is well.
Carl Gayle -
Review
Black Music November 1976:

peace

BLACK MUSIC: NOV 1976:
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The Chosen Few "In Miami" (Trojan 131)

Night And Day / I Am A Man / In The Rain / Wandering / Funky Buttercup / Candy I`m So Doggone Mixed Up / Why Can`t We Live / Drift Away / Daniel / Hit Me With Music:-

* * *

If I was a funky music fan perhaps I`d give this album four stars. The funky numbers "Funky Buttercup", "Why Can`t We Live", and "Hit Me With Music", aren`t far in feel from funk made by black Americans. And the soul ballards "I Am A Man", "Wandering", and "Candy I`m So Doggone Mixed Up"are very authentic, the latter song being an outright winner. The Few are an excellent Jamaican vocal group who prefer to sound like Americans. They want to prove themselves in that field. But they never will.
The accuracy in feel to R&B is the good work of producer King Sporty, a Jamaican living and working in Miami, but even he would have to admit that the discerning soul fan would spot the Jamaicans in the bunch. Their most effective songs are of course the reggae tracks, notably "Night And Day" and "In The Rain". The material here, again, is old and sounds like it. A Goodish album nevertheless.
Carl Gayle -
Review
Black Music November 1976;

peace

BLACK MUSIC: NOV 1976:
[cover=6222,4461]
Fabulous Five "My Jamaican Girl" (Trojan 129)

Love Me For A Reason / My Jamaican Girl / Shaving Cream / Married Lady / For You /
Strong Man Tom / Starlight: -

* * *

There is little or nothing on this album to prove that the Five fit the description of themselves. And their music is not my music. But we must bear in mind that the music here is, courtesy of Harry J, all old stuff. "Love Me For A Reason" is light, airy and nice for romantics. So is "My Jamaican Girl" which is far too long. "Married Lady", "For You" and "Starlight" are similar in all respects also. Pleasant stuff that does not deserve, nevertheless, to come from JA. The Five are not serious enough to carry any weight. Let`s hope they change their ways.
Carl Gayle -
Review
Black Music November 1976:

peace

BLACK MUSIC: NOV 1976:
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The Heptones "Cool Rasta" (Trojan 128)

Cool Rasta / Black On Black / Peace And Harmony / Do Good To Everyone / Dreadlock / Suffering So / Autalene / Bago Boo / Wah Go Home / Over And Over:-

* * *

Recorded for Harry J between 1974 and `75, some of the material here could have made the Island album "Night Food". But mostly, the quality here is below that LP.
The group would not have consented to this LP`s release, if their consent was required, for sure. "Cool Rasta" is "Mama Say" with a different set of lyrics, while "Black On Black" is a new version of the song "Be A Man" which Bamboo released in Britain in 1969. "Peace And Harmony", sung by Barry, "Wah Go Home", and "Over And Over" are good examples of the trio`s forte. Those stirring soulful lead vocals backed by cool swaying vocal harmonies. Earl`s rendering of "Dreadlock" is beautiful, it suits his tender voice. He sounds like Tabby from the Diamonds.
A goodish album just because it`s the heptones, but a ragged one.
Carl Gayle -
Review
Black Music November 1976:

peace

BLACK MUSIC: NOV 1976:
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Justin Hinds & The Dominoes "Jezebel" (Island 9416)

Natty Take Over / Dip And Fall Back / What You Don`t know / Other Land / Precious Morning / Prophecy / Fire / Babylon Children / Spotlight / Carry Go Bring Come:-

* * * *

It`s a shame that the best track on this LP is "Prophecy" because I and I know that Justin has plenty better material, some he can`t even remember. Why even last year, on his return to the studios, he made two superb songs that Pama released on their "This Is Reggae" series. Namely "Sinners Where You Gonna Hide", and "If It Is Love You Need". But justin has made so much good music, it`s a crying shame his name isn`t always heard of . He ought to re-record old Duke Reid sides like "I`m Gonna Teach The Youth", "Once A Man", "The Higher The Monkey Climbs", and even "Rub Up Push Up". It`s a shame, too, that the big Duke is no longer participating in the recording industry `cause he alone knows how to record Justin the right way. Not to say that Larry`s not an equally good producer though. If you didn`t know already well Justin Hinds is one singer of Jamaican music who is consistent in the quality of the songs he creates. He is an intelligent man inspired by what he knows of God.
If that was not so his music would be quite ordinary for his voice isn`t particularly outstanding. His music has the power of the hypnotist, the humour of the comedian, and the wisdom of the prophet. I love "Prophecy", "Babylon Children", and "Precious Morning", while "Fire", "Other Land" and "Spotlight" are close in my estimation.
A welcome album from a ska authentic and an original.
Carl Gayle -
Review
Black Music November 1976:

peace

BLACK MUSIC: NOV 1976:
[cover=83,90][cover=7706,90]
Max Romeo & The Upsetters "War In A Babylon" (Island 9392)

One Step Forward / Uptown Babies / Chase The Devil / War In A Babylon / Norman / Stealin / Tan And See / Smokey Room / Smile Out Of Style:-

* * * *

Read the words on the back of the album sleeve. Now listen to "Chase The Devil". I was at a sit-in the other night and we were runnin` out of music when we put on this LP. But the daughter dem remained seated. Now when "Chase The Devil" played, Angus the drummer, known with Aswad as "Drummie", he got movin`. And if he wasn`t the worst dancer I`ve seen in years I don`t know who is. But he was so good that I never stopped laughing for five minutes. The track is a winner. So is "One Step", "War", "Norman" and "Stealin". "Smile Out Of Style" and "Smokey Room" take time to grow on you. But "Uptown Babies" is another fine song despite being too long. It`s a crying shame though that Island didn`t see it fit to print Maxie`s and Scratch`s lyrics for the songs would make a lot more sense to those unfamiliar with the JA lingo.
It`s possible however that this LP will outsell all Island`s other reggae albums (bar `Rastaman Vibrations`) in Britain since Scratch has a way with rydims. It`s still a fine album even if it doesn`t. But Maxie still has to live up to my highest expectations of him.
Carl Gayle -
Review
Black Music November 1976:

peace

BLACK MUSIC: NOV 1976:
[cover=131,136]
Peter Tosh "Legalize It" (Virgin 2061)

Legalize It / Burial / Whatcha Gonna Do / No Sympathy / Why Must I Cry / Igziabeher (Let Jah Be praised) / Ketchy Shubby / Till Your Well Runs Dry / Brand New Secondhand:-

* * * *

Peter makes what I`d call `downtown market music`. The music of the people who bring country to town and town to country, who buy and sell country, who only have country money fe spend, who chat mocco chat, sell like experts, and love songs like "Brand New Secondhand", country music. Jamaican country music is different. It`s lewd. You don`t have to sound like the Starlites or Justin Hinds, and it`s nothing to do with Johnny Cash or Dolly Parton, it`s to do with the slang you use and the way your music dips and falls back. In fact down town market music has little to do with country. it`s only `cause Peter was born in Westmoreland and the maga dog he sung about was a country gal. Peter`s music has a hard backbone that jook` you (prods you suddenly) in a you back and make you move, and some old time slang like "you jawbone favour Spanish Town handcuff. . ." to make you remember` all you know about the people I was talkin` about just now. That is the essence of this album and all Peter`s musical creations. The irritating thing about this album is that it is a lot better than it seems to be. To appreciate what I`m saying you`d have to hear it as it was before it was doctored, tampered with, diluted, flushed out, after its backbone, through the magic of the control boards, had been severely elasticated.
So that when Peter sings "Ketchy Shubby" the bass doesn`t punch like a kangaroo, and the thunder and lightning and earthquake in "Igziabeher" does not shake down your house like it`s supposed to. Yet this is a successful album all round. And if you disagree it`s only because you don`t know how little you know.
I only wish "Till Your Well Runs Dry" was Shorter and Family`s bass was louder. "Burial", "Whatcha Gonna Do", "Ketchy Shubby", and "Brand New Secondhand" have that downtown market flavour "Legalize It" is a concrete rocker that ought to be Nicky Horne`s signing on tune (Your Mother Wouldn`t Like It). The next album will please all those who don`t know how little they know.
Carl Gayle -
Review
Black Music November 1976:

peace

BLACK MUSIC: NOV 1976:
[cover=50,49]
The Gladiators "Trenchtown Mix Up" (Virgin 2062)

Mix Up / Bellyful / Looks Is Deceiving / Chatty Chatty Mouth / Soul Rebel / Eli Eli / Hearsay / Rude Boy Ska / Know Yourself Mandkind / Thief In The Night / Hello Carol: -

* * * * *

An album of parables. I love it for its honesty and its country and its bouncing joy. I love it for its melodic hooks, its fresh, natural, straightforward approach, its rock steady roots, its intelligent reasoning, its warm unavoidable humour (a humour out of thin air), its beautiful harmonies. I love it for Sly`s drumming and for Albert`s vocals in particular. "Woe woe wohy, a ya so it a go deh. . ." sings Albert in "Bellyful". It`s a warning, the ominous drumming says so. Where the lyrics are dramatic so the music echoes it. Words and music gel throughout. Trembling guitar picking and send up styled backing vocals reflect the humour in lines like "Cow never know the use of him tail till the butcher cut it of. . .". They sing like school teachers, their songs give advice. "Remember this hearsay, that bush have ears? Pick sense out of nonsense you`ll get the answer / Bush don`t have ears my friend but someone may be in it hearing what you have said about your brothers. . . ." "Know Yourself Mandkind" sold well as a 45 on Prince Tony`s label in JA. It`s a fine fine song. So are they all.
Great album T. It done too quick though!
Carl Gayle -
Review
Black Music November 1976:

peace

BLACK MUSIC: NOV 1976;
[cover=127,131]
Bunny Wailer "Black Heart Man" (Island 9415)

Blackheart Man / Fighting Against Convictions / The Oppressed Song / Fig Tree / Dreamland / Rastaman / Reincarnated Souls / Amagideon / Bide Up / This Train:-

* * * * *

He does everything in his music perfectly so that all criticism, once the critic understands fully what motivates him, its rendered null and void. He does it to satisfy his own elevated standards of creativity and achievement and to prove himself unmatchable on that level of thought, action, and production. He is inspired. His music is fresh and clean. It will astonish some ears and perplex others. For it will not be fully appreciated by some, being an album which requires serious meditation. It must be praised for its completeness, the attention to detail, the lyrical and vocal qualities, the poise, the depth of emotion and the sincerity of the song. It is an album of majesty Bunny! It reflects your own self discipline and thoroughness. There is no music here that does not speak of Rastafari, the concept of I, the Word, God Almighty. And there is no use in me dwelling on any one track when all are equal.
A deep and spiritual album.
Carl Gayle -
Review
Black Music November 1976:

peace

BLACK MUSIC NOVEMBER 1976:

UK REGGAE CHARTS NOV 1976:

REGGAE SINGLES:
1. Police And Thieves - Junior Murvin (Island).
2. MPLA - Tapper Zukie (Klik).
3. Work All Day - Barry Biggs (Dynamic).
4. Rasta Business - Gregory Isaacs (Olympic).
5. Ten Against One - Tapper Zukie (Klik).
6. We Should Be In Angloa - Pablo Moses (Lizard).
7. Fire - Justin Hines & The Dominoes (Island).
8. Chase The Devil - Max Romeo & The Upsetters (Island).
9. Cool It - Bill Campbell (BB).
10. Stop - Pat Rhoden (Jama).
11. Madness - The Maytones (Mango).
12. Jah Heavy Load - I Jah Man (Concrete).
13. False Brethren - Just I (Lucky).
14. Sweet Feeling - The Abbyssinians (Nationwide).
15. When Jah Come - Devon Irons (Lox).
16. How Long - Pat Kelly (Nationwide).
17. Keep On Riding - Eric Donaldson (Dynamic).
18. Gee Baby - Al Campbell (Sunshot).
19. Stop The War In A Babylon - James Brown (Mango).
20. Roast Fish And Cornbread - Lee Perry (Island).
21. I`ll Take A Melody - John Holt (Trojan).
22. Discipline - The Prophets (Dynamic).
23. Samba Pati - Willie Lindo (Dynamic).
24. Who Have Eyes To See - Errol Holt (Olympic).
25. Judgement Time - Junior Ross & The Spears (K and B).
26. I Am A Levi - I Jah Man Levi (Lucky).
27. Police And Youth In The Grove - Tapper Zukie (Klik).
28. Behind Closed Doors - George Williams (Lucky).
29. Telephone LIne - Tony J (Stonehouse).
30. Child From A Broken Home - Larry Lawrence (Ethnic Fight).

REGGAE PRE-RELEASE SINGLES:
1. I`m Still Waiting - Delroy Wilson (LTG).
2. You`ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine - John Holt (Justice).
3. Jah Jah Go Beat Them - Cornell Campbell (Jackpot).
4. Hang On Sloopy - Trinity (Well Charge).
5. Tradition - Trinity (Prophets).
6. Love Will Conquer - L. Robinson (Form Records).
7. You`ve Caught Me Baby - Johnny Clarke (Jackpot).
8. Ballistic Affair - Leroy Smart (Well Charge).
9. Disgraceful Woman - Johnny Clarke (Attack).
10. Let`s Do It Again - Cornell Campbell (Attack).
11. King Of Kings - Trinity (Well Charge).
12. Let`s Turn The Table - Jimmy Cliff (Sun Power).
13. Itheopia - Jah Stitch (Distant Drum).
14. Quarry Holding And Marley - Andell Forgie (Top Tune).
15. Hit Song - Roman Stewart (?).
16. Ketch Vampire - Devon Irons (Upsetter).
17. Man From Bosrah - Tapper Zukie (Stars).
18. Find Someone - Dennis Brown (Observer).
19. A Whole LOt A Dread - Cleopatra Williams (Virgo).
20. Third And Four Generation - Jah Stone (Scorpio).

REGGAE ALBUMS:
1. Blackheart Man - Bunny Wailer (Island 9415).
2. The Front Line - Various Artists (Virgin 503).
3. Legalize It - Peter Tosh (Virgin 2061).
4. Satta Dread - U. Brown (Klik 9018).
5. Natty Rebel - U. Roy (Virgin 2059).
6. Man In The Hills - Burning Spear (Island 9412).
7. Crisus Time - I. Roy (Virgin 2011).
8. Before The Next Teardrops Fall - John Holt (Klik 9021).
9. Trench Town Mix Up - The Gladiators (Virgin 2062).
10. Super Ape - Lee Perry & The Upsetters (Island 9417).
11. Kick Boy Face - Prince Jazzbo (Third World 109).
12. War In A Babylon - Max Romeo & The Upsetters (Island 9392).
13. Mr Biggs - Barry Biggs (Dynamic 3005).
14. Right Time - The Diamonds (Virgin 2052).
15. Rastaman Vibrations - Bob Marley & The Wailers (Island 9383).
16. Sattamassagana - The Abbyssinians (White Label) *.
17. Hit The Road Jack - Big Youth (Negusa Negast) *.
18. Dreadlock Affair - Jah Woosh (Trojan 133).
19. I Sus - Delroy Washington & I Sus (Virgin 2060).
20. Black Star Liner - Fred Locks (Jahmik Music).
* Import Albums

Reggae charts are compiled with the assistance of the following record shops:
Daddy Kool, London W1;
Lee`s Sound City, Model Market, Lewisham;
Don Christie`s Birminghan;
Joe`s Record Shop, Brixton Market.

BLACK MUSIC NOVEMBER 1976:

peace