Wackies in JA?

[NinoNorrland]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know to what extent the Wackies label was (is?) known in Jamaica? I always figured it was more of a US/UK/EU thing but a picture in Beth Lessers "Dancehall..." caught my eye today. It's the picture with Toulouse in front of L & M Record Store. In the background there's a couple of label logos, including Wackies. Seems strange that they'd put it up there next to Black Roots etc. if it wasn't atleast somewhat known/popular at the time.

[Bellyman]

Don't know if the label was popular in JA, but certainly there's strong link to Sugar Minott. For some time he hold the distribution for Wackies via his Youth Promotion organisation.

[ED]

On several later wackies issues LP, singles (post 1985) you can read the address of Sugar Minott´s youth promotion on the label. They were distributed there( I can´t say anything about sales volumes, I guess not very good, it sold pretty bad basically everywere..

like this one±
http://www.popsike.com/Itopia-Sunshine- ... 06487.html


Appearantly L.M recording was also a`Jamaican distribution point based on this label...

http://www.popsike.com/Coozie-Mellers-E ... 30096.html

T

[davek]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know to what extent the Wackies label was (is?) known in Jamaica? I always figured it was more of a US/UK/EU thing but a picture in Beth Lessers "Dancehall..." caught my eye today. It's the picture with Toulouse in front of L & M Record Store. In the background there's a couple of label logos, including Wackies. Seems strange that they'd put it up there next to Black Roots etc. if it wasn't atleast somewhat known/popular at the time.

It would have been more about Sugar's association with the label than about it's popularity, as Wackie's releases were not well known in Jamaica. I can't think of any tunes ever charting, or being played regularly in dances.

Bullwackies releases have always been more popular with European and North American collectors than they ever were with Jamaican selectors.

[NinoNorrland]

That sounds like a reasonable explanation!

Jamaica - you missed out.