Gregory Isaacs & Roots Radics

[seanmd]

oops didn't realise there was a 2nd page.

[Inyaki]

I don't think Junjo had much to do with the musical production (and even less with mixing) more like an executive production.
In my experience, 90% of the what we hear on records is the musicians and the engineers. That's another story...
( some exceptions of course: Lee Perry, Augustus Pablo,Sly & Robbie, etc... they are real producers)

[Dave K]

Hi Inyaki

Not often, but was sometimes referred to as "one drop". It's more like you said earlier....the names of the era come well after it's finished, and rarely by the musicans themselves. It's usually marketers and librarians that need these labels, most people just need ears. The categorizations usually come later once the smoke has cleared.

So many of the songs were really "slowed down" rock-steady type arrangements, with an accentuated third beat to the measure, and bass and riddim guitar doubling up to the bassline. Bunny Lee mentions this in the "Deep Roots" TV series, in the context of how the music of the time was sort of recycled from the past, and not a new development.

My love for Santa's innovation doesn't mean I don't rate Style. Personally I feel that Ranking Joe and Jah Screw were the producers that got the best out of The Radics. "Under Me Sensi" is IMO the most representative song of the 80's. While "Sleng Teng" is often cited as THE SONG, Wayne Smith was actually riffing on "Sensi" lyrically, and musically. While the lyrical references are obvious, listen to the Sleng Teng bassline when it hits the major 7th, the same kind of pattern when Barrington is singing "burn mi ganga pipe".....the bassline mimics Barrington's phrasing. In other words I don't think we would have had "Sleng Teng" if we didn't have "Sensi". Some other song would have been the one that ushered in the new sounding era....the technology was there, it was just a matter of time.

Style's crashes in "Sensi" are a thing to behold, it's as if the heavens are opening up.

I've really been enjoying the "Dangerous Dub" CD that Greensleeves recently put out, it's truly killer Radics all the way (even if it wasn't Tubby's who mixed it :^)

[vtov]

true it may not be down to the producer, but there was something special that made the Volcano sessions some of the Radics hardest sounding work.

[Dave K]

While we are on The Radics:

While the Junjo stuff is probably amongst the best-known and widely circulated Radics material out there, there are some real gems that were overlooked at the time of release:

Brent Dowe - What Love Can Do
http://www.roots-archives.com/release/4703

The first track, "Don't Lose Your Soul" is an absolute head-turner. (I have no idea why we have it in Roots Archive labelled as "Dance Hall"....who decides these things? It's not dancehall in the least).

Earl Cunningham - John Tom
http://www.roots-archives.com/release/1387

Heavy heavy stuff, no bluff. Both of these are worth seeking out if you like The Roots Radics, and just plain good music.

[flashman]

Interesting calling Syle's - Radics style "one drop"....cause to me is the opposite(well, some people started a few years ago to call "one drop" to ANYTHING that is not Dancehall!!

I agree. To me, wherever it came from, if you're going to call something "one drop" it has to be referring to something you can hear. "One drop" is ONE drop. The kick and snare drop together. The Radic's style is closer to what you might call "two drop" because the kick and snare alternate 'drops'(usually)
It always bugs me when people use terminology that doesn't make sense, so this new trend of calling anything that isn't dancehall "one drop" is kind of annoying. Think about what the words you use mean!

[Dave K]

Inyaki wrote :

Interesting calling Syle's - Radics style "one drop"....cause to me is the opposite(well, some people started a few years ago to call "one drop" to ANYTHING that is not Dancehall!!



I agree. To me, wherever it came from, if you're going to call something "one drop" it has to be referring to something you can hear. "One drop" is ONE drop. The kick and snare drop together. The Radic's style is closer to what you might call "two drop" because the kick and snare alternate 'drops'(usually)
It always bugs me when people use terminology that doesn't make sense, so this new trend of calling anything that isn't dancehall "one drop" is kind of annoying. Think about what the words you use mean!

Flashman

There must be some official department of reggae terminology labellers that you can take this up with!

Hard to articulate musical sounds, tempos and patterns in type. It would be great if one day Roots Archive could handle interactive group audio sessions, and Inyake and others who play instruments could actually demonstrate, because you'll learn more about music from a musician than anyone else.

[jb welda]

thanks for the info folks, i checked the back of my copy of lonely lover (one of my fave ruler lps ever) and the credits are very minimal i think they just say "thanks" to roots radics (gregory isaac outfit) and credit sly and robbie with drums and bass. kind of strange. but like i said and like most agree, sounds to me more like radics on most tracks than sly and robbie.

and back to style vs santa, the thing i always loved about styles "style" as it were is that he kinda swings as a drummer while santa kinda plods. ive probably seen style up close for a hundred or more hours (backing a whole line of artists from briggy to bunny wailers and including his dub syndicate outfit) but have to admit to not seeing santa davis nearly as much so maybe he was just tired the times i saw him in person but he didnt seem nearly as lively nor as disciplined as style scott. i wouldnt doubt that "style" came from copying other drummers style, but to me he more than improved on sly dunbars methods though i still think sly dunbar is near king for longevity and creativity if nothing else.

still, radics was and remains my band esp when bingi bunny was still around and one of the best guitarists ever, dwight pinkney, was in there...and style and flabba holt holding down the riddim section of course.

one love
jah bill

[flashman]

There must be some official department of reggae terminology labellers that you can take this up with!

Hard to articulate musical sounds, tempos and patterns in type. It would be great if one day Roots Archive could handle interactive group audio sessions, and Inyake and others who play instruments could actually demonstrate, because you'll learn more about music from a musician than anyone else.

OK, I know I'm being a bit pedantic. But I do play drums, so maybe that is why I'm sensitive to it, or why it seems like it should be obvious. Also, funnily enough, since you mentioned it earlier, it just so happens that I am a librarian, so maybe that explains something as well!

[Dave K]

Dave K wrote :

There must be some official department of reggae terminology labellers that you can take this up with!

Hard to articulate musical sounds, tempos and patterns in type. It would be great if one day Roots Archive could handle interactive group audio sessions, and Inyake and others who play instruments could actually demonstrate, because you'll learn more about music from a musician than anyone else.

OK, I know I'm being a bit pedantic. But I do play drums, so maybe that is why I'm sensitive to it, or why it seems like it should be obvious. Also, funnily enough, since you mentioned it earlier, it just so happens that I am a librarian, so maybe that explains something as well!

Nice. Then as a drummer, I would be interested in your perspective into who you find in Jamaican music that is particularly unique or innovative. I enjoy Inyaki's posts because he approaches the music from the perspective of a musician. Is there one particular drummer that you find yourself listening to more than others for inspiration?