Roots Archives Forum

when roots radics came out a band which was their first album ? first dub album ? and who or what band did they back up for ?

as far as i know the radics were made up of former members of the morwells, and were first used as session musicians by Don mais for his roots tradition label.dont know what their first dub LP was but they can be found playing on records from barrington levy, gregory isaacs, bunny wailer, don carlos,and many more, between them and the revolutionaries they were the top players late 70s and 80's.

Both Flabba Holt and Bingi Bunny were active as part of the Morwells set-up. The Radics were centred around Flabba (bass), Bingy (guitar) and Style Scott (drums). Other members for example were Steely Johnson (keys), Chinna Smith (guitar), Sowell Bailey (l-guitar), Sticky & Skully (perc), Santa Davis (drums), Dwight Pinkney (l-guitar) & Fish Clarke (drums).
The first backings as Roots Radics indeed could be the Don Mais sessions. The Junjo Lawes sessions (together with Scientist) made them wellknown in the late 70's (Barrington Levy's Englishman album - http://www.roots-archives.com/release/3058) and early 80's. Maybe Big Showdown (by Scientist & Prince Jammy - http://www.roots-archives.com/release/1650) is their first dub album.
Producers like Junjo, Linval Thompson, Jah Thomas and Roy Cousins used the Radics for their backings.

To give you vibes to listen to some wicked Roots Radics backings, check http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/159.

Nowadays Roots Radics are still active as a backing band, with Flabba Holt as their leader.

Hi arize rootsman

My understanding was that the Roots Radics band were formed from the band The Morwells which I believed was more or less headed by Bingy Bunny.

In the latter part of the 70`s he came together with Flabba Holt, Chinna Smith, Santa Davis to record with Prince Far I as the Arabs.

The Arabs were the first incarnation of the Roots Radics round about 1978.

These players then became known as the Roots Radics around 1979 but with the addition of Style Scott, Noel Bailey and Dwight Pickney.

As Ital Kemar said they begain to record with Barrington Levy etc around this time and for producers Linval Thompson and Henry Junjo Lawes.

They became to early 1980`s Dancehall reggae what the Revolutionaries were to late 70`s Roots.

Unfortunately, the digital era came along and killed the artistry of spontaneity of the music and rendered many of these superlative musicians redunant.

Dave

Arabs as Roots Radics' first incarnation: Arabs 78 style also included Mr. Dunbar, Leroy Wallace, Bobby Kalphat, Crucial Tony and more. All of them no original Roots Radics 'members'.

Hi Hans,

I posted thread from memory. I knew Sly Dunbar, Fish Clarke, Crucial Tony etc were part of the Arabs.

But I am sure I read somewhere that this was the first time that the nucleus of the band which became The Roots Radics actually recorded together.

Dave

Correct me if I'm wrong here but the radics began recording at channel one which i feel santa was the first official DRUMMER
Please read Santa's site

http://www.santadavis.com/

According to the sleeve notes on one album I have (can't remember which) they are quote "Gregory Isaacs' outfit", but Bunny Wailer's "Rock and Groove" album has pictures of them on the back giving the impression they're his band...

The random of musicians in the Roots Radics make it hard to say when finally got the original line up.
I can make more than 5 line ups.

Lion

Jesco77

Its the roots radics live at channel one sleeve that has that "Gregory Isaacs Outfit"