1974-1980 reviews on current reggae releases...

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: APRIL 1976:

FROM JA TO UK - A BRITISH REGGAE ROUND-UP:
An in-depth survey by Carl Gayle:

We all know by now that British reggae is not Jamaican reggae. British reggae is made by singers and musicians who have lost real contact with the social, economic, political, and cultural influences and inspiration that provide their Jamaican based counterparts with the meat of the material with which they make their music. British artists have to do without Jamaica. All they have are the sounds from back home and the West Indian community here, one engulfed, possessed, repressed, and depressed by the much larger British community. One subjected to it. When a singer here makes a record the Jamaican experience meets the British experience and the result is a new type of reggae, one which too often aspires in form and construction to the requirements of Radio One.

There`s an awareness of reggae music now that there has never been before. Interest is growing fast. It is noticeable now that people who, two years ago, would not have bat an eyelid have suddenly nurtured quite esoteric tastes. But their taste is for Kingston, Jamaica, not London, England. Reggae`s recognition has come via artists in JA not UK.

Why, even those singers who made pop chart hits between 1970 and `73 will be hard pressed to find a credible argument in support of their own artistry, for their records will be compared, unfairly, to sounds made in Jamaica today> And we must remember that even at the height of their successes, they were denied artistic respectability.

In the last two years especially they`ve found the dice heavily loaded against them. First, Pama Records (which was as much a champion of reggae, at the peak of its activities, as Trojan ever was) was greatly reduced, and then Trojan almost completely collapsed. The Harlesden and Neasden connections all but fell on their faces and dozens of artists were left in limbo. Second, the heavy traffic between London and Kingston has reduced Britain`s reggae singers to frustrated pedestrians. They`re treated with indifference or else ignored altogether.

The accent is on Jamaica, and singers and musicians here pull out all the stops in an effort to get close to the JA sound.But whatever they produce will always be months behind Jamaica no matter how good they are. And of course there`s little artistry and no originality at all in duplication. What British reggae needs now is for one of its artists to make a chart hit, not just with the kind of sound that you would call "rootsy", but one which is also distinctly British. Something like Louisa Mark`s "Caught You In A Lie" than T.T. Ross` "Last Date". Something like Mike Dorane`s "The Ghetto", something big and bold to break down the big barrier that stands directly in the way of respect and success for British-made reggae. Something that will remind the reggae, I mean pop, companies that things are happening here too. Something to persuade the wheelers and dealers to take a cab to Dalston, the Bush, or Brixton, instead of a plane to Kingston. Yes there`s talent here too and it`s about time we started paying attention to it.

Ten years ago there was a mere handful of Jamaicans actually making JA styled music in Britain, only two or three JA music labels. Nowadays it`s a very difficult task to keep track of who is who and what is new. But that`s our business anyway. . . .The names here represent the bulk of British based reggae artists. If your name has been omitted please forgive my clouded memory, or else write angry letters of complaint to the editor. Either will be appreciated. . .
Carl Gayle -
Black Music April 1976:

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: APRIL 1976:

FROM JA TO UK - A BRITISH REGGAE ROUND-UP:
An in-depth survey by Carl Gayle: -

THE ACES: A vocal duo.
Line-up: Barry Howard and Carl.
Present Record Company: EMI...
Latest Release: "She`s A Gypsy".
Background: Barry and Carl were original members of Desmond Dekker`s vocal backing group, the Four Aces. Backed Dekker first on the hit tune "Get UP Adinah" in 1965, and thereafter on old favs like "You`ve Got Your Troubles", "Unity", "007","Israelites", "Sabotage", "It Mek", "Mother Long Tongue", and "Intensified Festival".
The Four Aces were reduced to two around 1966. They toured England with Dekker when "007" was a hit in 1967. They have sung on the majority of Dekker`s British recordings.
Outlook: Unless they change the overtly contrived commercial approach to record making they`re destined to remain in the dour backwoods of obscurity.
Carl Gayle -
Black Music April 1976:

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: APRIL 1976:

FROM JA TO UK - A BRITSH REGGAE ROUND-UP:
An in-depth survey by Carl Gayle:-

SINDY BROWN:
Record Company: Third World...
Latest Release: "If You Should Lose Me" (Paradise).
Background: Has only made two discs so far, "Earth Angel", and "If You Should Lose Me" in 1974 and `75 respectively.
Prospects: A very good singer, but not one in a hurry for success.
Carl Gayle -
Black Music April 1976:

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: APRIL 1976:

FROM JA TO UK - A BRITISH REGGAE ROUND-UP:
An in-depth survey by Carl Gayle:-

TEDDY BROWN:
Record Company: Trojan...
Latest Release: "Midnight Train To georgia".
Background: Sang in a Seventh Day Adventist church choir in Jamaica. Self-taught guitarist who did some singing on stage after dropping out of school at seventeen, and made three 45s, "The Hill", "Jenny V", and "Pretty Little Baby" for Federal`s Starline label before coming to Britain in 1962. In 1963 he recorded a film theme titled "Blind Corner" under the pseudonym Johnny Christian. Worked hard on stage until around 1971 when he joined Pin Point Productions and recorded "What Greater Love", "Rose Garden" and "Walk The World Away". In 1973 a version of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" was a hit in America and Europe for Ted singing with Blue Haze on the A&M label. "Liitle Girl" was a flop the same year. Before the hit, "Midnight Train To Georgia", there`d been a song called "I`m Lonely No More", and one called "Code Of Love".
Prospects: A little lucky with "Midnight Train" even if it wasn`t a bad effort. I suspect that his heart isn`t really with reggae.
Carl Gayle-
Black Music April 1976:

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: APRIL 1976:

FROM JA TO UK - A BRITISH REGGAE ROUND-UP:
An in-depth survey by Carl Gayle:-

SWEET LITTLE BUNTY:
Background: A middle-aged vocalist well known on the London pub circuit. She recorded a disc with Mike Dorane in `75 a rather infectious version of Leiber/Stoller`s "I (Who Have Nothing)" released on Junior Lincoln`s Ackee label.
Outlook: Needs a new record and original material.
Carl Gayle-
Black Music April 1976:

peace

[kalcidis]

Steppin Razor; Loving what you do. Someone should really compile these and release them as a book (with Carls authorisation of course).

[stepping razor]

Thanks. I still have a few gaps in issues and would be grateful if anyone else has copies of Black Music Mag to help and add to the archive.

Black Music that I have:

1973:
Dec - first issue.

1974:...1975:....1976:
Jan........Feb.......Jan.
April......March....March.
May.......May.......April.
June......June......May.
July.......July........June.
Aug.......Aug.......July.
Sep.......Sep.......Aug.
Nov.......Jan..........Sep.
Dec....................Oct.
..........................Nov.
..........................Feb

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: APRIL 1976:

FROM JA TO UK - A BRITISH REGGAE ROUND-UP:
An in-depth survey by Carl Gayle:-

BILL AND PETE CAMPBELL:
Recording Label: BB...
Latest Releases: "Stand By Me" (Paradise), "Make Me Yours" by Bill Campbell (BB), "One Scotch One Bourbon One Beer" by Pete Campbell (BB).
Background: Bill is twenty-five; Pete a year younger. Both brothers were born and raised in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, where they sang in church choirs. At age 15, Bill recorded a tune called "Come On Girl" for producer Duke Reid. They came to Britain in the sixties and went to the People`s College of Further Education in Nottingham for three years. They started singing together in a six-piece band called Mighty Sparrow while still at college. After one gig in London they moved down to the capital. Their first disc was "You`re Mine" for Trojan in 1971. They later (1973) recorded "So Glad You`re Mine" for Count Shelly, as well as Ben E. King`s "Stand By Me" as a duo. Bill has sung things like "I`ll Be Missing You" and "Here I Am" solo, while his brother has done "The Love You Try To Hide" for Shelly`s labels. They formed the BB label themselves last year.
Prospects: Pete is a good vocalist but they lack capital. They ought to sing together more often.
Carl Gayle-
Black Music April 1976:

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: APRIL 1976:

FROM JA TO UK - A BRITISH REGGAE ROUND-UP:
An in-depth survey by Carl Gayle:-

THE CHOSEN FEW:
Line-Up; Noel Brown (age 25), Franklyn Spence (age 28), Busty Brown (age 30), Errol Brown (age 25), vocal group.
Background: Came together through the efforts of producer Derrick Harriott in 1971. Deejay Scotty was in the original line-up. With Harriott they made soul-styled reggae like the Delfonics` "I`m Sorry", "Ebony Eyes", "Shaft", "Everybody Plays The Fool", "You`re A Big Girl Now", "Do Your Thing" and others. Were based in Toronto, Canada, for two years. they recorded the album "Night And Day" in Miami with producer King Sporty and backing from KC And The Sunshine Band in 1973. It has not yet been released in Britain. All their British releases are on Trojan. They`ve been based in Britain for about a year. One LP titled "Hit After Hit"....
Prospects: Their act is highly polished for the stage but there have been no new releases in a long time. An exquisite vocal group who can spring back to prominence at any time.
Carl Gayle-
Black Music April 1976:

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: APRIL 1976:

FROM JA TO UK - A BRITISH REGGAE ROUND-UP:
An in-depth survey by Carl Gayle:-

THE CIMARONS:
Line-Up: Franklyn Dunn (bass), Carl Levy (keyboards), Locksley Gichie (guitar), Maurice Ellis (drums), Winston Reed (lead vocals).
Record Company: Vulcan...
Latest Releases: "Tradition" and "Money Money" (as Bandit).
Background: Named after the Cimaroons, an African tribe, slave shipped to Jamaica, which escaped to the hills. Formed in 1967, the era of rock steady. Winston Reed, formerly of the Express band, joined the others in 1973-74. All are self-taught musicians with a tremendous amount of stage and studio session work. Have toured West Africa, Japan and just recently, Jamaica. Backed several Jamaican acts on British tours. First record was "Oh Mammy Blue" for Trojan. A version of Jimmy Cliff`s "Struggling Man" was next, followed by "Check Out Yourself", then their first LP, "In Time" and a single from it, "Over The Rainbow". Subsequent 45s were "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "Rock Your Baby" and "Talikng Blues", a big commercial success in Jamaica on the Talent label.
Prospects: Of all the British acts Cimarons are the ones most likely to make a satisfactory breakthrough. An LP recorded in Jamaica is expected in the summer.
Carl Gayle-
Black Music April 1976:

peace