1974-1980 reviews on current reggae releases...

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: AUGUST 1975:
[cover=1614,1872][cover=4899,1872]
Niney And The Observer All Stars: `Dubbing With The Observer` (Attack 1017)

Rebel Dance / Casanova Dub / Silver Bullet / Rasta Locks / Dubbing With The Observer / Si Niney`s Rock / Jam Down / Parade Dub / Youth Man / Mister D. Brown Shank / Rema Dub: -

* * * *

Rhythm master Niney scores again with this baker`s dozen of dub. A set that displays his knack for rhythmic invention and a perfect example of the now music of ghetto Jamaica with no strings attached. He takes the basic rhythms to some of his best, biggest selling hits, and adds the knid of new and dynamic rhythmic variations that only the talented young Observer could have arranged and produced. The Soul Syndicate are at their pulsating, hypnotising best, and the masterful King Tubby, who mixed the album in his innovative style, never over distorts the sounds. A good blend of echo and rhythm, stressing the guitar, and the cymbals in parts, giving the sound its extra dimension. Old favourites like "Cassandra", "Silver Words", "No More Will I Roam", "Westbound Train", "Conqueror" (all originally sung by Dennis Brown for Niney) as well as "Rasta No Born Ya" appear under different titles in their multi-dimensional dub disguise. All are transformed significantly, less subtle of course but much more devastating as sound system tunes. There are no weak tracks, not a trace. The tremendous "Sir Niney`s Rock", one of the new rhythms, is a new direction in JA again. A percussive sound with rolling bongos. A herd of elephants, yet very musical.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG: AUGUST 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: AUGUST 1975:
[cover=2856,191][cover=4787,191]
Keith Hudson `Entering The Dragon` (Magnet 007)

Entering The Dragon / Man From Shooters Hill / Will You Come Out Tonight / No Way Now That You`re Leaving / Rage Of Love / Too Possessive And You Know It Baby /
Dub City / War War / Like You Going To A Fair / You`re still A Girl / It Was When Friends Started To Talk About You / I Don`t Know You / Oh No Not My Baby / Words So True: -

* * *

Early Hudson is somewhat mediocre. Indeed, on the evidence of the material here alone I would not have guessed that the same artist could have made the excellent "Flesh Of My Skin". Hudson is always short of material. He uses the "dub" to four songs as tracks in their own right. And the title song "Entering The Dragon", is a dee-jay number, not performed by Hudson himself but by Big Youth imitator given to using the word f---, backed by a very strong Hudson rhythm. The other really boss rhythm is the instrumental number "Man From Shooters Hill", a powerful stop-go thing with interjections on synthesiser that colour it and drive you wild. Another intriguing thing is the other outright instrumental "War War" which turned up on Hudson`s most recent LP "Torch Of Freedom" with vocals and a new title. "Like I`m Dying". Hudson is a rhythm master, no two ways about it. You either detest his music because of his voice--which by all accounts is sometimes awful--or you can over-look it because of the other interesting things like his titles, his bass player (Family Man?), his taste for the scarey and unusual, and of course his use of synthesiser and piano backed by solid killer rhythms. Hudson`s a great arranger and producer when he puts his mind to it. Listen to "No Way Now That You`re Leaving" and "Like You`re Going To A Fair" and their dub (instrumental) counterparts. But then of course you do have to put up with his poor singing too.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG AUGUST 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: AUGUST 1975:
[cover=1996,2357][cover=4392,2357]
Various Artists: `DIP Presents The Upsetter" (DIP 5026)

Enter The Dragon - The Upsetters / I Don`t Mind - Sam Carty / Cane River Rock - The Upsetters / I Man Free - King Burnett / Jamaican Theme - The Upsetters / Time - The Gladiators / Jump It - Leo Graham / Life Is A Flower - Sam Carty / Have Some Fun - The Gaylads / Nature Man - The Gaylads / Dub A Pum Pum - The Silvertones / Fu Kung Man - Linval Spencer:-

* * *

Produced by Lee Perry, all the numbers are purportedly also written by him. It`s another good and varied LP with good songs and above average artists, though there is no Junior Byles amoung them. Lately Scratch has been working with far more artists than is usual for him and he himself sings or talks under the guise of the Upsetters. He sings quite well in "Time", by the way, a "message" song of course with a strong rhythm. In "Enter The Dragon" Perry comes on as a deejay over a confusion of weird sounding, off beat noises that echo in and out of the steady mid tempo rhythm. "Cane River Rock" is even more confusing, sound effect-wise. Sounds of cars starting and racing off, engines roaring, brakes screeching, over the rhythm of the song "Tighten Up" which Perry originally made in 1968. And the deejay doing his thing on top of all that. The musicianship is never less than adequate and the arrangements are always interesting even though none of these tracks were really big sellers as singles.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG AUGUST 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: AUGUST 1975:
[cover=4618,625][cover=6121,625]
The Upsetters: `Kung Fu Meets The Dragon` (DIP 6002)

Theme From Hong Kong / Heart Of The Dragon / Hold Them Kung Fu / Flames Of The Dragon / Scorching Iron / Skango / Fungaa / Black Belt / Iron Fist / Kung Fu Man:-

* * *

Produced by Lee Perry, otherwise known as the Upsetter or Scratch, at his Black Art studio. An album of instrumental sounds that draw their theme from the martial arts of the far east, a theme which is exceedingly popular in Jamaica since about 80% of the movies are kung fu orientated. Inspired by the sounds that the actors make as they go through their fight routines to the wild cheers and antics of the cinema audiences, Lee has conured up some unusual and arresting rhythms that the film-makers would be wise to invest in, if only they knew. Scratch has always had an unusual style. He goes in for the eerie sound, the discordant rhythm, or the serene mood or tone. He uses sound effects better than any other producer, has made them his trademark.
Here he concentrates on sound itself. Rhythms are subdued, toned down by the use of piano instead of guitar. Synthesisers and other effects are used to add melody and percussion in Perry`s attempt to make the music sound like the action. "Heart Of The Dragon", "Flames Of The Dragon", "Skango" and "Iron Fist" are the pieces that capture the mood of kung fu best. Interesting album.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG AUGUST 1975

peace

[Litelet]

I have to agree with your perception of Hudsons' voice and riddims... Hadnt formulated it, but definitely agree.

Write on, Mr Music, write on!

[stepping razor]

Not my reviews its Carl Gayle`s reviews.
Give thanks.

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC AUGUST 1975:

UK REGGAE CHARTS AUG 1975:

REGGAE SINGLES:
1. Caught You In A Lie - Louisa Mark (Safari 1105).
2. Natty No Jester - Big Youth (Action).
3. Miss Wire Waist - Carl Malcolm (Black Wax 7).
4. Worried Over You - Honey Boy (Penguin 4).
5. Tears On My Pillow - Johnny Nash (CBS 3220).
6. Sinners Where You Gonna Hide - Justin Hindes & The Dominoes (Pama 4001).
7. I`m Your Puppet - Jimmy London (Jama 005).
8. In A Game - Honey Boy (Penguin 5).
9. Talking Blues - The maroons (Horse 80).
10. Single Girl - T. T. Ross (DIP 5079).
11. Welding - I. Roy (Love 004).
12. Fussing And Fighting - Owen gret (Jamatal 3).
13. What Can I Do - Locks Lee (Kiss 10).
14. Soldering - The Starlites (Horse 88).
15. Words Are Impossible - Cynthia (Trojan 7958).
16. Train To Zion - Errol Dunkley (Third World 010).
17. Jestering - Shorty & The President (Nationwide 001),
18. Looking Back - Gregory Isaacs (Cactus 60).
19. Just Be Jolly - I. Roy (Attack 8105).
20. No Jestering - Carl Malcolm (Horse 74).
21. Nine Pounds Steel - The Pioneers Horse 75).
22. Country Living - The Diamonds (Black Wax 05).
23. The World Is A Stage - Ronnie Davis (Nationwide 04).
24. The Way I Feel - Sam & Les (DIP 5077).
25. Wherever There Is Moonlight - Keith Poppins (Eagle 09).
26. What Good Am I - Jimmy London (Jama 01).
27. Oh Baby Come Back - Ginger Williams (BB 001).
28. I`m Your Man - Errol Dunkley (Third World 011).
29. I Man A Grasshopper - Pablo Merseys (CCC 01).
30. So Much Love - Traffic Shadow (DIP 5078).

REGGAE ALBUMS:
1. King Tubby Meets The Upsetter - At The Grass Roots Of Dub (Fay Music 304).
2. Dubbing With The Observer - Niney & The Observers (Attack 1017).
3. Reggae Hit The Town - Various Artists (Pama 1001).
4. Sit Right Down And Cry - Errol Dunkley (Third World 101).
5. Ital Dub - Augustus Pablo (Trojan 115).
6. Just Dennis - Dennis Brown (Trojan 107).
7. Reggae Confusion - Various Artists (Third World 02).
8. Nyahibinghi - Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus (Trojan 113).
9. Enter Into His Gates With Praise - Johnny Clarke (Attack 1015).
10. Torch Of Freedom - Keith Hudson (Mamba 02).
11. Kung Fu Meets The Dragon - The Upsetters (DIP 6002).
12. The Midas Touch - Byron Lee & The Dragonaires (Dragon 5006).
13. Natty Dread - Bob Marley & The Wailers (Island 9281).
14. Dynamic - Hopeton Lewis - (Dynamic Sounds 3342).
15. Blame It On The Sun - The Inner Circle (Trojan 114).
16. Thriller - Augustus Pablo (Nationwide 3).
17. Dub Basket - Rupie Edwards (Cactus 107).
18. DIP Presents The Upsetter - Various Artists/Lee Perry (DIP 5026).
19. Live At The Turntable - Various Artists (Trojan 110).
20. In Person - Gregory Isaacs (Trojan 102).

Reggae charts complied with assistance from:-
Intone Records, London SE15; Keith Thornton`s Black Wax, Birmingham B19;
Joe`s Record Shack, Granville Arcade, London SW9; R And B Records, London N16.

BLACK MUSIC MAG AUGUST 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: JUNE 1975:
[cover=1025,1182][cover=8387,1182]
The Chosen Few `Everybody Plays The Fool` (Trojan 106)

I Love The Way You Love / Second That Emotion / Make Way For The Young Folks /
Hide And Seek / Reggae Stuff / My Thing / Everybody Plays The Fool / Tears Of A Clown / Hang On Sloopy / Queen Majesty / La La At The End / I Love The Way You Love, Part 2:-

* * *

The Few have a good stage reputation. They`re popular and in demand even though their recorded output in Britain has been nil since splitting with producer Derrick Harriott. An LP recorded with King Sporty in Miami is due for release next by Trojan followed by one currently being made with Tony Ashfield who also manages and produces John Holt. The material here comes from their early days and was complied and produced (except for "Everybody Plays The Fool", a Derrick Harriott production) by Tony Robinson a.k.a. Prince Tony. The Few have always been reggae fans who nonetheless preferred to sound like their American soul brothers. Their recordings (including these) are mostly reggae versions of soul songs, and they work well because the lead singer sounds quite a bit like the original singer in each case and the harmonies are handled skilfully. Musically, though, their talent isn`t adequately showcased here.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG JUNE 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: JUNE 1975:
[cover=2278,2632]
Dennis Brown `Just Dennis` (Trojan 107)

Show Us The Way / Cassandra / Run Too Tuff / Westbound Train / Africa / Love Jah /
No More Will I Roam / Some Like It Hot / Conqueror / Only A Smile / Silver Words / Yagga Yagga (You`ll Suffer):-

* * * *

"Cassandra" is a demon number and it`s a shame that the recording of it here is so poor. The volume begins to fluctuate half way and it almost disappears at one point. The same trouble afflicts "Run Too Tuff". And Dennis did not compose "Only A Smile" and "Silver Words" as the label states. Stll, apart from al that. . .under producer Niney Dennis has become a gutsier vocalists. The earthy, no nonsense music supporting him has been setting the pace in Jamaica since early last year. Niney`s rhythms conjure up the hard realities of Kingston`s ghetto life. Rhythms the youth love : heavy on bass and drum and punchy as a fist. He is the Obsever. Dennis writes good songs, continues to sing better than most, and is a boss entertainer. This is unpretentious reggae music concentrated on rhythmic impact, which is how they like it in JA. No allowances are made for "dressed up" reggae fans who I`m sure will find the LP too straightforward and uncompromising. Some like it hot.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG JUNE 1975

peace

[Inyaki]

Really enjoying this postings...keep them coming!