Black Slate

Black Slate

Black Slate are a British reggae band, formed in 1974. They toured around London and backed Jamaican musicians such as Dennis Brown, Delroy Wilson, and Ken Boothe when they played in the UK. They toured the UK in their own right for the first time in 1978, and released four albums between 1979 and 1985.

History
Black Slate was formed in 1974, including musicians from the England, Jamaica, and Anguilla. They backed several Jamaican singers, including Delroy Wilson and Ken Boothe on their UK appearances, and had their first reggae-chart hit themselves in 1976, with the anti-mugging song "Sticks Man", also lined up with Disco Reggae Band under Disco Reggae Band & Black Slate. The record hit the Dutch and Flemish charts as well, after being an underground hit in Antwerp discothèques. They toured the UK for the first time in 1978, and formed their own TCD label, having a minor hit with "Mind Your Motion". They also backed Dennis Brown when he played live in the UK, and in 1980 their Rastafarian rallying call, "Amigo", was picked up by Ensign Records, and broke into the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 9. A dub album Ogima (Amigo spelled backwards), was released in 1981. The follow-up, "Boom Boom" was also a hit, though less successful. An album, Sirens in the City, followed on Ensign the following year. The band released two further albums in 1982 and 1985. After a ten-year hiatus they released a new EP, World Citizen, on 15 June 2013, with a UK and European Tour to follow. In November 2014, the band embarked on their first US tour, with dates across California and Texas. The lineup featured original founding members Anthony Brightly, Chris Hanson, Desmond Mahoney and vocalist Jesse Brade. Their 2014 album Now and Then was released on TCD Records and in 2016 they followed up with Peaceful Demonstration, also on TCD.

Later years
Anthony Brightly aka Anthony "Pure Silk" Brightly got involved in production. In an interview with Reggae Vibes, published on 11 February 2018, he said that he had produced over 500 records in the last 30 years. He also released a single that he produced, "One Girl Too Late", a Van McCoy composition originally recorded by Brenda & the Tabulations in 1973. Released in 1992, this song was credited to Pure Silk feat. Winsome.

Discography (10)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Moodie In Dub Vol 1 Black Slate & The Soul Syndicate Moodie In Dub Vol 1 LP Moodie Music 1978 1978
Amigo Black Slate Amigo 6359041 LP Virgin 1980 1980
Black Slate Black Slate Black Slate AL 8301 LP Alligator 1980 1980
Rasta Festival Black Slate Rasta Festival AL 8302 LP Alligator 1981 1981
Sirens In The City Black Slate Sirens In The City AE 260 201885 LP Virgin 1981 1981
Six Plus One Black Slate Six Plus One TRY IT 1 LP Top Ranking 1982 1982
Six Plus One Dub Black Slate Six Plus One Dub TRY IT 2 LP Top Ranking 1982 1982
Black Slate Black Slate Black Slate FEDL 100 LP Sierra 1985 1985
Ogima Black Slate Ogima
Dub Slate
CD Hit And Run 198X
Amigo Black Slate Amigo
The Best Of
ENCD 21971 CD Ensign 1980-81 1998

Credits & Appearances (10)

Production
Arranger 1
Amigo
Wise Owl Music • 1980
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Amigo Black Slate Amigo 6359041 LP Wise Owl Music 1980 1980
Producer 5
Amigo
Wise Owl Music • 1980
Black Slate
Alligator • 1980
Comp. Amigo
Ensign • 1980-81
Rasta Festival
Alligator • 1981
Six Plus One
Top Ranking • 1982
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Amigo Black Slate Amigo 6359041 LP Wise Owl Music 1980 1980
Black Slate Black Slate Black Slate AL 8301 LP Alligator 1980 1980
Amigo Black Slate Amigo ENCD 21971 CD Ensign 1980-81 1998
Rasta Festival Black Slate Rasta Festival AL 8302 LP Alligator 1981 1981
Six Plus One Black Slate Six Plus One TRY IT 1 LP Top Ranking 1982 1982
Musicians
Backing Band 2
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Moodie In Dub Vol 1 Black Slate & The Soul Syndicate Moodie In Dub Vol 1 LP Moodie Music 1978 1978
Moodie In Dub Vol 4 Moodie Moodie In Dub Vol 4 MMCD 104 CD Moodie Music 1978 2004
Bass 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Atra 10 Tracks Various Artists Atra 10 Tracks ATRALP 1010 LP Atra 197X 1988
Drums 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Atra 10 Tracks Various Artists Atra 10 Tracks ATRALP 1010 LP Atra 197X 1988
10 albums
10 credits
9 labels
1978 - 2004