the Dancehall
MIKEY SPICE was the best new Reggae star to emergefrom Jamaica in 1995.With a string of hit singles anda very good debut album,("Happiness",produced by BarryO'Hare of the reputable X-Rated label),Spice has provedthat he is no one hit wonder.His second album,"Stand Tall" which he and master producer Bobby Digital(Digital, a student of King Jammy) played to me atDigital's studio long before any release date is oneof the best albums produced in 1995. It's a masterblaster album that will stand eternally tall in harmonyhall. Digital gets my award, The "MANDINGO AWARD"for the BEST PRODUCER FOR 1995, by virtue of the factthat he produced a string of hits by many different artistesthus displaying his versatility. Bunny Wailer album commemorating Bob Marley's 50th.anniversary in 1995 is a classic. Bunny is also producingand releasing music by old and new artistes for his ownTuff Gong label. He told me that his court case with ChrisBlackwell who made his fortune by releasing Jkan musicin Britain in the early sixties, is at a crucial stage re:ending the matter once and for all.The case with the English born Black well (Blackwell's JA link lies in his mother,Blanche Lindo who is a descendant of the Jewish Lindofamily who owned a lot of plantations in JA.'s colonial era)is a multi-faceted one in that it involves the variousaspects of the Wailers' musical rights etc. Mandingo Newsletter, issue three, is available in allleading Reggae shops and Afrikan book shops like HeadstartBooks & Craft, 25,West Green Road,London N15 or phone0181-802-2838 etc.Write to me for more info to:PO Box879, London NW10 9QX re how to obtain a copy by enclosing a stamped addresed envelope. Jazwad the London born Afrikan musician is doing a lot ofexcellent work for various leading producers and artistesin JA. like Bobby Digital,Bounty Killer et al. Condolences tothe family of the late great Jkan musician cum producerGeoffrey Chung aka Mao. Condolences to Chris Hanson of Black Slate band fame and the owner-operator of the dubcutting and mastering complex, Music House in North London,who lost his beloved MOTHER recently. Condolences to thefamily of the genius Junior Walker of Jnr. Walker & the All-Stars fame who died of cancer late November,1995.Walker's music was very popular in JA. in the sixties andseventies and inspired Alton Ellis the Great to do twoclassic versions for C.S. Dodd's Studio One label, "These Eyes" and "Gotta Hold On To This Feeling". Barry White the Maestro is stricken with a flu virus and itis so sad,especially as he recently given us another megahit in the form of "Practice What You Preach" which MikeySpice interpreted into Reggae for the X-Rated Barry O'Harelabel which resulted into Spice's biggest hit to date. A massive memorial service was held for George Price akaPeckings of Studio One fame, Sunday,26 November.Peckingswas the first Jkan to import recor-ds from JA. on acommercial basis in the early sixties. Bogle nee GeraldLevy the leading creative dancer for the past few years inJA. and also a trend -setter fashion designer is tearing up the place with some new dances and designer clothes. About five London Reggae shops are being prosecuted foradvertising on so-called pirate radio stations whom I calltruthfully, FREEDOM STATIONS.I WISH THESE SHOPS SUCCESSIN THEIR FIGHT FOR EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND ECONOMICJUSTICE. Sting and other concerts in JA. are being finetuned for the December, early January season. LloydieCoxsone of Coxsone (UK) fame told me that in July 1997,yes, 1997, he will commence a tour of JA. for the firsttime.Oldies dances in JA. doing well as the nostalgia for oldies but goodies continues unabated. Latest venue tocarry the oldies swing is Afrique bar / pub in FranklinTown, East Kingston. Castro Brown, music entrepreneur,planning ChristmasEve awards for foundation and continuation UK soundsystems and New Year awards for past and presentFreedom Radio stations in the UK at the Norwood BanquetingSuite , London. Club Jamin is the place to be in Camden Town,London,re: their Reggae Monday Nights featuring live bands andsound system Djs. Louchie Lou and Michie One debut album "11Be Free" doing ok and the duo will tour Japan, January,1996. Sharon Gordon of November Records (USA label) has releasedtwo excellent compilation albums on the label :"DancehallMassive 4" and "DJ Connection" featuring top of the line chatbout Jkan artistes. Kwanzaa, 26 December to January first, the Pan Afrikancultural holiday is gaining widespread global recognitionwherever Afrikans are found and deservedly so....CHAT BOUT! Congrats to Beat FM the London Freedom radio station whocelebrated their first anniversary,10 December 1995. BujuBanton,Coco Tea and Sanchez delivered CHAT BOUTperformances at UTECH Auditorium,10th November,1995. Stone Love, JA.'s most popular sound was also in devastating form.. CHAT BOUT!! Congrats to promoters:"I A SEH- POSITIVE MUSIC '95". Diana King the Spanish Townsongstress of "Shy Guy" fame was in excellent form at herconcert 26th November 1995 at Labatt's Apollo, Hammersmith, London.Top Seventeen Reggae(Some) Singles(In No Particular order) 1.Sign Up-Junior Reid(J R Productions) 2.Run Come Look InnaYou Bible Boy-Jah Youth(J R Productions) 3.Holy Mount Zion-Shabba & Coco Tea(Digital B) 4.Untold Stories-Buju Banton(Operation Willy) 5.Praise Him-Sanchez (Xterminator) 6.I C I-Buju Banton (Cell Block) 7.Get Up And Know Where You Stand-Beenie Man(Arrows) 8.Book Book Book-Bounty Killer(Jammys)9.Born Again-Mikey Spice(Digital B) 10.Ketteh Drum-BeenieMan & Determine(Digital B) 11.Practice What You Preach-MikeySpice(Xrated Record Int.) 12.Rearrange My Life-Sanchez(Fashion)13.It's Me Again Jah-Luciano(Xterminator) 14.How Can You-Luciano(Xterminator) 15.Mavis-Merciless(Big Yard)16.Boombastic-Shaggy(Big Yard) 17.Big Up And Trust-Beenie Man(Shocking Vibes)REGGAE REVIEWSBig Youth:"Higher Ground'(J R Prods.-V P lp,U.S.A. import).Majestic return of the original Rasta dj aka Jah Youth andthe grandmaster displays to all and sundry, just come,hurrycome up,rascal bandwaggonists as to who is the pioneer. Youth rides the well crafted current rhythms like a conqueringlion sitting on his throne.Buy now, yuh hear!! Sanchez:"Rearrange My Life"(Fashion,U K & JA. 7").0riginal lyrics bySanchez written to the music of the classic Studio OneHeptones(Earl Morgan wrote and lead sung) hit of the sixties, "Pretty Looks".One of the best love songs for 1995 and destinedto be another Reggae classic. Mikey General:"Sinners"(Charm-Xterminator,U K album).One of the best albums for 1995 andthe rhythms are ever tight and razor sharp.All songs writtenby Mikey General and my faves are "Sinners","New Name" and"Rastaman Have to Be Strong". Heptones:"Pressure"(RAS-TappaRecords,USA lp).The first album since the Heptones reunitedrecently and a very good album it is.A mixture of original andcovers of ten songs.l like "Rastaman Live Up","Marcus GarveyWords Come To Pass","Country Boy" et al.Nice One. Garnet Silk:"Lord Watch Over Our Shoulders"(Greensleeves,UK lp).Goodposthumous lp from Silk.Various producers, King Jammy, BlackScorpio, Philip Smart and E.J. Robinson aggregated to makethis album second only to Bobby Digital's seminal classicalbum,"It's Growing".A must for your collection with songs likethe title track,""Cry Of My People", "Fill Us Up With Your Mercy","Zion In A Vision , "Let Them Talk","Babylon Be Still"," "RetreatWicked Man", "Spread the Love". Bounty Killer:"No Argument"(Greensleeves,UK lp). DefinitiveBounty Killer lp with the tracks produced individually by KingJammy, Trevor "Uncle T" James (Jammy's brother) and Jammy'sson, John John. A lot of the 1995 hits are here:Cellular Number,More Gal, Miss Ivy Last Son, No Argument etc.The Killer is alsoenjoying success with his own productions on his Priceless label. Gwaan Bounty Killer,You A Winner!! Frankie Paul:''Freedom''(Charm,UK lp).Nice album produced by Philip "Fattis" Burrellof Xterminator label."Songs of Freedom" is my fave song andthis album reminds us that Frankie Paul is here to stay.therhythms are tight and crisp. Sanchez:"Forever"(Charm, UK Ip).Good lp from Sanchez,with atough set of rhyt hms to match the dulcet vocal tones of theWild Sanchez.The CHAT BOUT songs are "Praise Him","Never Dis The Man", "Forever","Kiss Me Honey"....Cho Man... the lpjust BAAD,CHAT BOUT!!Various artistes:"Conscious Ragga"(Greensleeves,UK lp).Very good selection of conscious Reggae(so-called Raggais simply the Reggae music of today that the rebel youthsof today love, analogous to the Rude Bwoy music of the sixties) with cutting edge artistes like Garnet Silk, Luciano,Louie Culture, Coco Tea, Beenie Man,Bounty "Book Book"Killer, Mykal Rose et al.Essential, vital, for all MarcusGarveyites/Pan Afrikanists and lovers of positivelyuplifting music. So Back Wey Yuh Vultures, Gimme Natty/ Afrikan Kulture!!! Bounty Killer:"Fed Up"(Taxi,JA.7").BountyKiller tells it like it is in his own inimitable style,denouncingthe racial downpressors of Afrikans and the rapaciouscapitalist exploiters of the poor. It's laudable to see on therecord that the lyrics were written by Killer's mother,Ms Ivy Williams.The Sly and Ro -bbie rhythm is as tough as ever.Capleton:"Bad Mind A Go Kill Dem"(Taxi, JA.7"). Capleton ridesthe same rhythm as "Fed Up" and the theme is the denunciationof envious and bad minded coots. Lyrically tough and musicallyrough like the "Fed Up" this one just ain't no bluff!Phillip Fraser:"Jam In The Street"(Roots Tradition, JA.7") .Fraser's latest finds him in good form re this John Holt classic.A talented artiste who along with Sugar Minott (the pioneer)and others like Barry Brown, Little John etc who created theterm and styling "Dancehall Reggae" in the late seventies ,Fraser has persevered despite a serious lack of deserved radioplay in JA.With continued good works like this and "It's Magic".Hear this, Fraser the Musical Razor will soon gain therecognition he deserves.Jack Radics:"When You Understand"(Xrated Record Int. JA 7").Spiritually uplifting lyrics encouraging the good not to strayfrom the path of righteousness despite the superficial materialsuccess of the wicked etc. Hard core rhythm is from the Soul classic,"Is It Because I Am Black" which producer Lloyd Charmersand singer Ken Boothe made into a Reggae classic in the seventies.Well done Jack and producer Barry O'Hare.Jah Mali:Victory"(Xrated Record Int.,JA. 7").Jah Mali is anotherpromising positive roots singer in the tradition of fellow Clarendonian, Everton Blender. He sings optimistically ofeventual personal and Afrikan victory over all evils throughthe aid of the CREATOR, JAH. The rhythm / music is thatof another Clarendonian, Ernest Wilson's solo debut StudioOne classic,"Undying Love" circa mid-sixties. Mikey Spice's"Born Again" for Bobby Digital uses the same music/rhythmincidentally. Ruddy Thomas:"Your Love"(Ruddy T Records,JA.7").Self-penned love song from the velvet voice of RuddyThomas who displays his mastery of his romantic Reggaeforte.Cool, laid back safari rhythm which is be guiling tough.Clean production from Thomas the singer-songwriter cumstudio engineer and record producer for his own Ruddy T label.Al Campbell :"Sad Mood"(Taxi,JA.7") Campbell the dulcet voicedmakes a welcome return via the Sam Cooke classic.Slyand Robbie are tough as usual,rhythmically.Israel Vibration:"Rudeboy Shufflin"(Sonic Sounds, JA.7")Authentic roots Reggae,singing about the originalRaggamuffins, the Rudeboys or Speng or Rebels and theirlove for music and their favourite sounds like Arrows,King Tubbys, Sir George, Emperor Faith et al.The trialsand tribulations of the grassroots Afrikan youths of JA.from the seventies era is also documented as well astheir unconquerable Afrikan consciousness..Everton Blender: "Why We Have To War" (Fattis, JA.7")Positive song telling the war mongers to desist fromwar. Rhythm is good and Blender is the most promisingnew roots artiste for 1995 whilst Mikey Spice is thebest new artiste for 1995 overall.the End
