Sunday, August 26, 2007

Trojan, Over the Hill



















The Birth of Trojan (2002)

Dedicate My Song to You - the Jamaicans
Starry Night - Tommy McCook & The Supersonics

Rocksteady Rarities (2005)
The Good You Can - Charlie Organaire & the Carib Beats
Coming On the Scene - Johnny & the Attractions

2007 marks the 40th anniversary of one of reggae's most important labels, Trojan Records, but it was 5 years ago when Trojan released this compilation. The Birth of Trojan collects the first 11 singles (with their b-sides) recorded at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle in 1967. The first selection is "Dedicate My Song to You" by the Jamaicans, a short-lived group that is mostly known for their rocksteady classic, "Ba Ba Boom." "Dedicate" was actually written by Curtis Mayfield and recorded by the Impressions a couple years prior- Mayfield's falsetto, sparse guitar work, and socially conscious lyrics would eventually became a huge influence on Jamaican artists. Also posted from the comp is Tommy McCook's "Starry Night", a beautiful version of a tune I think was originally performed by Glen Miller & His Orchestra called “The Story of a Starry Night” that further shows the American influence on Jamaican music of the time.


While I'm on the subject, Trojan's Rocksteady Rarities Box Set is also an essential purchase. Usually "rarities" collections can contain a bunch of tracks that were left off of albums for good reason, but in the case of the singles-driven rocksteady market, almost all 50 of the tracks on the 3 CDs are good if not amazing. Most have never been re-issued and will appeal to the rocksteady beginner and expert. Check out "The Good You Can" by Charlie Organaire & the Carib Beats, and “Coming On the Scene" by Johnny & the Attractions- both very obscure artists, but both are absolute killers from '67.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Revolutionary Sounds


Agrovators Meets The Revolutioners At Channel 1 Studios (1977)
The Revolutionaries - The Conqueror
The Aggrovators - Special Brew

Revolutionary Sounds (1976)
Sudden Attack


On this day in 1777, militiamen from New Hampshire and Massachusetts fought and defeated British forces at the Battle of Bennington (thanks "On this Day in History" widget...). To honor this important date of the American Revolution we offer some Revolutionary sounds from Channel One; Agrovators Meets The Revolutioners At Channel One Studios, recorded 200 years after the Battle, and Revolutionary Sounds from the year before, complete with album art featuring Che Guevara... Ok, so this may be completely absurd and irrelevant to that historical fact, but whatever, listen to some classic instrumentals that will make you happy you're not getting shot at right now.

Alternate dub versions of a few tracks from these albums were collected on crucial sets on the Pressure Sounds label- "Maxfield Avenue Breakdown," an amzing collection of Channel One tracks from '74-'79 released in 2000, and the recently released “Drum Sound - More Gems From The Channel One Dub Room 1974-1980,” possibly the best compilation of the year. Buy them immediately from your local indie store.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

We Need More Soul


Soul Syndicate - Harvest Uptown, Famine Downtown (1977)

Wicked A Go Feel It
Mariwana

The Soul Syndicate is mostly recognized as a backing band that featured the cream of the crop of Jamaica's top players with the obligatory nickname (George "Fully" Fulwood, Carlton "Santa" Davis, Earl "Chinna" Smith, etc.). But as proven with their debut released in 1977, they worked just as well on their own. Haverst Uptown, Famine Downtown features a beautiful mix of roots reggae and jazzy funk with some serious messages as well as lighter numbers that make the album perfectly balanced and compelling. Check out Wicked Go A Feel It, a killer tune straight to Babylon's head, and the funky pot anthem, Mariwana. The album also features a cover of Junior Byles "Fade Away" that is surely on par with the original. The album was reissued on CD with a bunch of bonus tracks.