1974-1980 reviews on current reggae releases...

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: JULY 1975:
[cover=1021,1177][cover=6106,1177]
Augustus Pablo `Ital Dub` (Trojan TRLS 115)

The Big Rip Off / Road Block / Curly Dub / Well Red / Gun Trade / Shake Up /
Hillside Airstrip / Barbwire Disaster / Mr Big / Eli`s Move / House Raid / Shake Down:-

* * *

Grass roots music to make you shudder--if you`re one who can appreciate it. It`s about energy, the energy of a suppressed rasta/ganja/youth culture. Out of the heat and frustration of Jamaica`s concrete jungle comes this gut music of the younger generation, which some call reggae. But the very word "reggae" has lost its meaning. The people who used to buy reggae don`t anymore because the music they liked has almost vanished and they cannot adapt to today`s sounds. No melody, they say, the lyrics are bad. The musicianship is crazy and untogether, too blatant, no polish. Their arguments are naive and misplaced. Up from the heart of the heat of Kingston sprang a man called King Tubby and he wiped the board with his style of engineering and deejaying. After Tubby, reggae could find no place to live. The name is just a fly in the ointment now, a highly publicised misnomer. The youth don`t need it. People abroad who believe that JA music is represented by Johnny Nash and Jimmy Cliff, they need it. Produced by Tommy Cowan and Warwick Lyn. Recorded at Dynamic, Harry J, and Tubby`s studios. An album of free, unpretentious JA music. Try "Shake Up" or "Shake Down", "Barbwire Disaster" or "Eli`s Move". Dub music, they call this in Jamaica, rockers dub. There`s hardly any singing. Take it or leave it.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG JULY 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: JULY 1975:
[cover=1464,1696]
The Inner Circle `Blame It On The Sun` (Trojan TRLS 114)

Natty Dread / Can You Handle It / I Shot The Sheriff / When Will I See You Again /
Road Block / Irey Feeling / Forward Jah Jah Children / Judgement / Burial /
Blame It On The Sun / Your Kiss Is Sweet / Curley Locks:-

* *

The group`s last album "Rock The Boat" had more warmth. The absence of steel guitar on this album accounts for this loss of feel. The material here, largely numbers made popular by other Jamaican artists, is a little more ethnic than last time, though it`s a shame they`ve relied so heavily on well-worn Wailers` songs like "Natty Dread", "Road Block" and "I Shot The Sheriff" which have been covered by so many other Jamaican artists. Perhaps Peter Tosh`s "Burial" sounds the best track because it is less obvious. Both Marley and Tosh shed light on the state of the society they live in but Tosh`s approach is the most personal. He concentrates on the relationship between people. I only wish the Inner Circle would choose more numbers as probing as "Burial" to cover.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG JULT 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: JULY 1975:
[cover=3730,3941][cover=8478,3941]
Various Artists `Live At The Turntable` (Trojan TRLS 110)

Cassandra - Dennis Brown / Rock With Me - Dennis Brown / Give A Helping Hand - Dennis Brown / Everything I Own - Alexander Portious / Love Overdue - Alexander Portious / I`m A Happy Man - Delroy Wilson / It`s A Shame - Delroy Wilson / Have Some Mercy - Delroy Wilson / Keep On Running - Delroy Wilson / Sattamassagan - Big Youth / Dread In A Babylon - Big Youth:-

* *

This, probably the first LP ever to be recorded live in Jamaica doesn`t work out to be good entertainment. Only Dennis Brown is on top form and only "Cassandra" manages to convey the excitement of the occasion fully. Delroy Wilson is disappointing: "It`s A Shame"--potentially his best number--here comes across half-cocked. He receives little audience response, hard as he tries. And his pedestrian style of singing seems to be on the wane now. Even more infuriating is the poor recording of the two Big Youth tracks which eliminates audience response almost totally: don`t tell me there wasn`t any! Alexander Portious a.k.a. "Bottle Head", does wonders with a comb to the strains of two very popular tunes but his appearance ia a little bizarre on an album like this. Where was Gregory Isaacs? Another annoying feature of the LP is the MC Marie Garth (a deejay at RJR) whose starchy voice seems totally out of context, seeing that the occasion was meant to be for the "roots."
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG JULY 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC JULY 1975:

UK REGGAE CHARTS JULY 1975:

REGGAE SINGLES:
1. Natty No Jester - Big Youth (Action ).
2. I`m Your Puppet - Jimmy London (Jama ).
3. Words Are Impossible - Cynthia (Trojan 7958).
4. No Jestering - Carl Malcolm (Horse 74).
5. Tears On My Pillow - Juhnny Nash (CBS 3220).
6. Welding - I. Roy (Well Charge ).
7. Mummy Hot Daddy Cold - Big Youth (Attack8104).
8. Soldering - The Starlites (Horse 88).
9. Sinners Where You Gonna Hide - Justin Hindes & The Dominoes (Pama 4001).
10. Worried Over You - Honey Boy (Penguin 4).
11. Caught You In A Lie - Louisa Mark (Safari 1105).
12. On The Beach - Owen Gray (Horse 87).
13.Jestering - Shorty And The President (Nationwide 001).
14. Rock With Me Baby - Johnny Clarke (Attack 8100).
15. Don`t You Cut Off Your Dreadlocks - Linval Thompson (Attack 8101).
16. Tender Lips--The Way I Feel - Sam And Les (DIP 5077).
17. House Of Dreadlocks - Big Youth (Attack 8096).
18. Talkin` Blues - The Maroons (Horse 80).
19. What Good Am I -Jimmy London (Jama 1).
20. Magnet Scorcher - Jah Woosh (Faith 014).
21. Hurts So Good - Susan Cadogan (Magnet ).
22. Nine Pounds Steel - Jackie George And Sydney (Horse 75).
23. Peaceful Rasta - Levi Williams (Locks 01).
24. Happy Birthday - Johnny Jonas (Torpedo 43).
25. My Guy - Joy White (Jama 4).
26. Beautiful Garden - Winston Curtis (Penguin 02).
27. Just Like A Woman - Pat Kelly (Pama 4002).
28. Natty Rock - Bobby Kalphat (Tropical 049).
29. Don`t Burn Your Bridges - Tracy King (Dansak 103).
30. At The End Of The Rainbow - Johnny Clarke (Horse 76).

REGGAE ALBUMS:
1. King Tubby Meets The Upsetter - At The Grass Roots Of Dub 9 Fay Music 304).
2. Ital Dub - Augustus Pablo (Trojan 115).
3. 20 Tighten Ups - Various Artists (Trojan 111).
4. Sit And Cry - Errol Dunkley (Third World 101).
5. Dubbing With The Observer - Niney (Attack 1017).
6. Live At The Turntable - Various Artists (Trojan 110).
7. Reggae Hit The Town - Various Artists (Pama 101).
8. Natty Dread - Bob Marley And The Wailers (Island 9281).
9. DIP Presents The Upsetter - Lee Perry (DIP 5026).
10. Just Dennis - Dennis Brown (Trojan 107).
11. Nyahbinghi - Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus (Trojan 113).
12. The Midas Touch - Byron Lee & The Dragonaires (Dragon 5006).
13. Club Reggae - Various Artists (Trojan 97).
14. 1000 Volts Of Holt - John Holt (Trojan 74).
15. DIP Golden Hits - Various Artists (DIP 5027).
16. Enter Into His Gates With Praise - Johnny Clarke (Attack 1015).
17. Reggae Confusion - Various Artists (Third World 02).
18. Dub Basket - Rupie Edwards (Cactus 107).
19. Kung Fu Meets The Dragon - The Upsetter (DIP 6002).
20. Blame It On THe Sun - The Inner Circle (Trojan 114).

Charts complied with assistance from the following record shops:
Joe`s Record Shack, Granville Arcade, London SW9; Don Christie, Birmingham B19; Intone Records, London SE16; Black Wax, Birmingham B19; Record Corner, Balham, London.

BLACK MUSIC MAG JULY 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: SEPTEMBER 1975:
[cover=6263,2445][cover=2074,2445]
Augustus Pablo `Thriller` (Nationwide NWLP 003)

Pablo Nuh Jester / Fat Girl Jean / Marcus Garvey / Rocky Road / Skibo Rock /
Thriller / Pablo In Red / Pablo Style / Last Of The Jestering / Striker:-

* * * *

Four star music featuring the youth they call Pablo. Augustus and his melodica, blowing from within the confined area of his introverted soul. Or Pablo on piano, tinkling away to his heart`s content like he`s just discovered how much he likes the instrument. "Pablo Nuh Jester", a version of Big Youth`s "Natty No Jester", itself a version of Carl Malcolm`s "No Jestering". Version upon version. In this sense Pablo`s not too original. Then there`s Burning Spear`s "Marcus Garvey" and "Foggy Road"(twice, once on melodica the other on piano). Pablo is fortunate, too, to have had such good musicians behind him consistently. And that miraculous engineer King Tubby chose to use Augustus to emphasise his "new" style of JA sounds. A mixture of distortion and echo punctuating phrases and emphasising instruments here and there. Almost making Pablo and his melodica sound like they belong in another world. When you work the bass and treble up and down alternately (there`s a skill to it) you`ll get the desired effect. This album is a thriller, the only error being "Pablo Style" a vapid version of "Everything I Own". Good Stuff.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG SEPTEMBER 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: SEPTEMBER 1975:
[cover=6381,4522]
Various Artists `Reggae Hit The Town` (Pama PMLP 1001)

Sinners Where You Gonna Hide - Justin Hinds / Can`t You Understand - Larry Marshall /
Darling Is You - Bill Gentles / If It`s Love You Need - Justin Hinds / Sing About Love - Pat Kelly / You Lie - Larry Marshall / Car Pound - Bill Gentles / Just Like A Woman - Pat Kelly / Never Stop Loving You - Derrick Morgan / Beat Them Jah Jah - The Twinkle Brothers / Education Rock - Junior Byles / Come What May - Fermena:-

* * *

As Trojan collapses, Pama rises again. Pama disappeared at the end of 1973, after being Trojan`s greatest rival in the Jamaican music scene in Britain. During that time they earned themselves a heavy reputation for the way they treated their artists, Jamaican producers, and anyone`s records they could get their hands on. They`re back again with the same old methods. The best two tracks here, both by Justin Hinds, were allegedly already secured by another label before Pama stepped in and issued them on both sides of a 45. This is a good LP on the whole, let down only on a couple of occasions by Derrick Morgan sounding a little out of time, and by Junior Byles singing an old number a little out of tune. The music varies in intensity and style of delivery which makes for quite an interesting album.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG SEPTEMBER 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: SEPTEMBER 1975:

SINGLES REVIEW:-
by Carl Gayle:-

RUDIE MOWATT: Love You Baby / Backside (Island WIP 6239).
Really strong rhythm track, in fact it`s the pungent dub side with its crunching bass line which scores over Rudie`s laid back vocal version. Fine roots reggae.

JUNIOR BYLES: Fade Away / Dub (Eagle 0011).
Byles very near his best. His singing as usual is probing and hypnotic--sounds a lot like Ken Boothe or his imitator, Barry Spence. The backing music is comfortable, but not as good as it might have been under Byles usual producer, Lee Perry.

KEN BOOTHE: Let Go / Instrumental (Trojan 7966).
A good song written by the marvellous Pluto Shervington and produced for Ken as usual by Lloyd Charmers. Not as catchy as Ken`s last three singles because the rhythm is unadventurous and not very danceable.

LORNA BENNETT: Breakfast In Bed / Skank In Bed (Island WIP 6237).
Lorna is a beautiful singer. This re-release deserves to make the pop charts this time for this is one of the most senitive reggae versions of a soul hit (in this case by Baby Washington).

BIG DREAD: Dread Man Music / Dread Man Special (B & C Sound 001).
A Big Youth imitator with enough nerve to version Youth`s classic "House Of Dreadlocks". A good sound despite the over-use of echo. B side is an updating of "Sir Collins Special" of 1967. Irresistible and very soothing.

JOHN BROWN: Let Him Try / Version (Fat Man 04).
A version of Alton Ellis` great rock steady song, sounding a little offkey at times. It`s too short and Brown is no Ellis, but it will sell.

MAX ROMEO: Wet Dream / She`s But A Little Girl (Ocean 003).
Made in 1968: sounds just as good now and might be a chart hit once again. Classic rude reggae.

ARTHUR LOUIS: Knocking On Heaven`s Door / Plum (Plum 001).
Nice British reggae, even though it does not capture an authentic reggae feel. Perhaps they weren`t trying for that though. Synthesiser, guitar playing, and background singing give it some of the sad mood that Dylan so poignantly created in his original, and it`s said that there are some heavy names on the record, including Eric Clapton.

Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG SEPTEMBER 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: SEPTEMBER 1975:

SINGLES REVIEW:-
by Carl Gayle:-

G.G. ALL STARS: Learning / In The Ghetto (DIP 5086).
Deejay version of "Welding" which was a version of "Soldering". It`s quite good nevertheless especially when the background vocals come in. Nice dance rhythm.

JIMMY LONDON: Am I That Easy To Forget / 100 Years Of Dub (Black Wax 04).
London is such a good singer but sometimes his songs are just too sentimental, old fashioned, easy to forget. A pleasant record, that`s all.

HONEY BOY: Darling Come Back Home / We A Come Dread (B & C Sound 002).
A step back for Keith Williams, the singer with the honey coated voice. Made in England with the group Black Slade. It lacks inspiration on all sides. Disappointing.

HERBERT REE: Goosie / Jump Up (DIP 5088).
Sung in the traditional folk style of Jamaica, with a reggae beat. It`s a rude song: "I saw Mr. Goosie between Miss Goosie legs". Not very interesting however.

SHELTON WALKS: No Money No Friend / Money Dub (Bullet 550).
Shares the same musical backing as "Goosie" and is even less interesting.

JACKIE ROBINSON: Say You / Instrumental (Horse 90).
Jackie sounding excellent on this old Temptations number. Produced by him and he does his own vocal backing. Perfunctory rhythm but it`s a good effort.

HENLEY BENTON: Jockey Voodoo / oodoov (Black Wax 6).
Dull rhythm, uninteresting subject. The song has too many words, too litlle melody. A poor record.

Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG SEPTEMBER 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC SEPTEMBER 1975:

UK REGGAE CHARTS SEPTEMBER 1975:

REGGAE SINGLES:
1. Tonight Is The Night - Claudette Miller (Ocean 005).
2. Country Living - The Diamonds (Black Wax 05).
3. Tea Pot - I. Roy (Nationwide 05).
4. Miss Wire Waist - Carl Malcolm (Black Wax 7).
5. Caught You In A Lie - Louisa Mark (Safari 1105).
6. Every Nigger Is A Winner - Prince Jazzbo (Live And Love 01).
7. Learning - Shorty And GG All Stars (DIP 5086).
8. Dread Man Music - Big Dread (B & C Sound 001).
9. Single Girl - T.T. Ross (DIP 5079).
10. Where Do I Turn - Barbara Jones (DIP 5026).
11. Fussing And Fighting - Owen Gray (Jamatal 03).
12. Worried Over You - Honey Boy (Penguin 04).
13. Can`t You Understand - Larry Marshall ( ).
14. Fade Away - Junior Byles (Eagle 001).
15. Step Forward - Leroy Stuart (Live And Love 02).
16. Tears On My Pillow - Johnny Nash (CBS 3220).
17. Lonely People - Owen Gray (Live And Love 03).
18. I Man A Grasshopper - Pablo Moses (Tropical 01).
19. Black Man - Leroy Smart (Lox 02).
20. Move Up Blackman - Tyrone Taylor (Torpedo 48).
21. Whenever There Is Moonlight - Keith Poppins (Eagle 09).
22. Take Me Make Me - T.T. Ross (DIP 5080).
23. In A Game - Honey Boy (Penguin 05).
24. Believe In What You See - Veronica Adams (Lox 05).
25. Prophecy Must Fulfill - Justin Hinds & The Dominoes (Mango 1004).
26. Sinners Where You Gonna Hide - Justin Hinds (Pama 4001).
27. Your Tender Lips - Sam And Les ( ).
28. Jah Jah Redder Than Red - Linval Thompson (Faith 18).
29. Welding - I. Roy (Love 004).
30. Natty No Jester - Big Youth (Action ).

REGGAE ALBUMS:
1. King Tunny Meets The Upsetter - At The Grass Roots Of Dub (Fay Music 304).
2. Natty Dread - Bob Marley And The Wailers (Island 9281).
3. Sit Right Down And Cry - Errol Dunkley (Third World 101).
4. Ital Dub - Augustus Pablo (Trojan 115).
5. Reggae Hit The Town - Various Artists (Pama 1001).
6. Torch Of Freedom - Keith Hudson (Mamba 002).
7. Just Dennis - Dennis Brown (Trojan 107).
8. Thriller - Augustus Pablo (Nationwide 003).
9. Nyahbinghi - Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus (Trojan 113).
10. 20 Tighten Ups - Various Artists (Trojan 111).
11. Enter Into His Gates With Praise - Johnny Clarke (Attack 1015).
12. Dubbing With The Observer - Niney & The Observers (Attack 1017).
13. Flesh Of My Skin - Keith Hudson (Mamba 1).
14. In Person - Gregory Isaacs (Trojan 102).
15. The Dynamic Hopeton Lewis - Hopeton Lewis (Trojan ).
16. Dub Basket - Rupie Edwards (Cactus 107).
17. Dread In Session - Clement Bushay (Summertime 10).
18. Kung Fu Meets The Dragon - The Upsetters (DIP 6002).
19. Burnin - The Wailers (Island 9256).
20. Reggae Confusion - Various Artists (Third World 02).

Reggae charts compiled 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 SEPTEMBER 1975

peace

[stepping razor]

BLACK MUSIC: MAY 1975:
[cover=5471,2461][cover=5466,2461]
Freddie McKay `Lonely Man` (Dragon DRLS 5005)

Lonely Man / I`m Not Your Love / Where Can I Find True Love / I`m A Free Man /
Peace In The Garden / If I Should Dream My Life Over / Losing Your Love /
Black Beauty / If You Must Go / 100 Pounds Of Clay:-

* * * *

Quite often it`s the odd affectation in a singer`s voice rather than the quailty of the voices itself, which endears him to you. Freddie pursues the ethnic style of singing with which he was born and has developed an individual way of phrasing and pronounciation, which is in contrast to many of his contemporaries who prefer to cover up their flaws by trying to sound like their favourite American singers. Freddie writes good songs too, some are beautiful, all are sad, and one of the best, "Where Can I Find Love Again" is an original composition in an r and b style of the late fifties, somewhat like Shirley and Lee used to do . . .slow, aching and sentimental. The music throughout is rich and well arranged: Dynamic`s studio musicians know how to play earthy reggae which persuades you to think of soul music. "Dream My Life Over" sounds fresh even though it was such a popular single (sounds like clavinet and organ have been added). There are no weak tracks. The music invites you to listen and then it holds your attention. Freddie has fulfilled his potential as a very good singer/songwriter with a hypnotic, individual style.
Carl Gayle:-
BLACK MUSIC MAG MAY 1975

peace