30 Years Ago This Week (2)

[Rob Strictly-Rockers]

According to Black Echoes

Tapper Zukie was declared Black Echoes number one Reggae Superstar of the Year. On boxing day he headed a bill at the Empire Ballroom, Leicester Square, which included The Cimmarons, Nicky Thomas, Aswad and Sweet Sensation. His latest release ‘Natty Still Waiting’ c/w ‘Ballistic Dread’ is due to go on sale the next week.
Aswad pulled out of the last four dates of their Uk tour with Eddie and the Hot Rods due to unenthusiastic audience response. Island records decided that the band should tour on their own and scheduled 8 new dates.
The Morwells made their first UK appearance on Christmas Eve at the Georgian Club, East Croydon supported by Matumbi. Also playing were Sir Coxson Down Beat and Morpheus Hi-Fi sounds.
There was a full page feature on The Blackstones, a Kingstonian vocal trio formed 11 months previously and consisting of Leon Lieffer (ex Soul Rebels), Neville Henry and Byron Otis. They had been through various producers and seemed to get ripped off by most.
Released on Third World was a Jah Stitch album’No Gun Can’t Dead’ backed by The Agrovators and The Revolutionaries. The album featured twelve versions of various Johnny Clarke, Cornell Campbell, Horace Andy and Derrick Morgan tunes and was voiced subsequent to Stitch’s near assassination when gunmen entered Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong record shop and shot the toaster in the head last April.
Also released on Birmingham’s Black Wax label was the Prince Jazzbo album ‘Natty Passing Tru’.

Singles released:
Natty Sings A Hits Songs/Dubs Songs - Dillinger
Move Up Starsky – The Mexicano/When A Man Loves A Woman – Harry Hippy
You Don’t Need Me – Toby Nelson
Out in the Rain – Dennis Brown
London/What Love Is – Nicky Thomas
I Like To Sing – Philip Levy
If You Love Me Smile – 15 16 17
Natty Dread Christmas/The Rise & Fall of the South Adrican Regime – The Iron Phoenix
Gully College/Jamal – U Brown
Long Time/Fun Abundant Version – Mighty Diamonds
Man In Me/Man Size Rocker - Matumbi

UK Reggae Top 20
1 Soldier And Police War – Jah Lion
2 Movin On – Tradition
3 Ballistic Affair – Leroy Smart
4 Jah Bring I Joy – Bobby Melody
5 Move Up Starsky - Mexicano
6 Dreamland – Bunny Wailer
7 Bionic Dread – Dillinger
8 Three Babylon – Aswad
9 MPLA – Tapper Zukie
10 Police and Thieves – Junior Murvin
11 Extra classic – Gregory Isaacs
12 Black A Kill Black – Gregory Isaacs
13 Time To Leave Daddy – Ruddy Thomas
14 Pick Up The Rockers – Tapper Zukie
15 Zion Call – Prince Far I
16 Party Time – Dennis Brown (did they mean the Heptones?)
17 Sunny Soil – Martel Robinson
18 Telephone Line – Tony J/Alton Ellis
19 Sideshow – Barry Biggs
20 Everybody Needs Love – Lloyd Parkes

UK LPs
1 MPLA – Tapper Zukie
2 Blackheart Man – Bunny Wailer
3 Far And Distant – Willie Lindo
4 Hit The Road Jack – Big Youth
5 Aswad – Aswad
6 Rastaman Vibrations – Bob Marley
7 Stalowatt – Cornel Campbell
8 Satta I - Lizzard
9 This Is Reggae Music (Volume 3) – Various Artists
10 2000 Volts Of Holt – John Holt

Popular pre-release in Birmingham included:
Great Stones – Prince Allah
False teaching – Junior Murvin
Judas De White Belly Rat – Lee Perry
East Of The Nile – Augustus Pablo
Africa We want To Go – The mighty Maytones
A Wah Dat – Junior Dread
Things and Time (Discomix) – Wailing Soul
Pay Them – Enforcers
Lets get Started – Tetrack
Slow Down – Bob Andy

[Matthew]

London.

Pre-release: December 1976

1. Kingston 11 - Royal Rasses (God Sent)
2. Philistines On The Land - Junior Murvin
(Upsetter)
3. East Man Skank - Dillinger (Well Charge)
4. Can You Feel It - Junior Byles (Thing)
5. Let's Get Started - Tetrack (Rockers)
6. Ragmanpaiza - Dillinger (Well Charge)
7. His Majesty Is Coming - In Crowd Band (Evolution)
8. Unitone Skank - Dr Alimantado (Ital)
9. Free Black People - Burning Spear (Total Sounds)
10. Special Request - Dennis Alcapone (Jackpot)


Released: December 1976
1. Jah Bring I Joy - Bobby Melody (Trojan)
2. Police And Thieves - Junior Murvin (Island)
3. Telephone Line - Tony J/Alton Ellis (Stonehouse)
4. Crazy Baldhead - Johnny Clarke (Virgin)
5. MPLA - Tapper Zukie (Klik)
6. Black A Kill Black - Gregory Isaacs (Morpheus)
7. Sweet Feelings - Abbysinnians (Nationwide)
8. Ten Against One - Tapper Zukie (Klik)
9. Samba Pati - Willie Lindo (Klik)
10. Rasta Business - Gregory Isaacs (Olympic)