Roots Archives Forum

I have seen mentioned here on RA that Abraham Records might not be completely up to snuff and I was just wondering if (1) this is true, and (2) what exactly are they doing (up to).

Chris

I have been told many times that it is all pure piracy. But the man himself claims to have paid for everything he is using saying he bought it off Brad's widow.

Abraham are totally bogus. They regularly plunder the Clocktower catalog, releasing the same stuff under different titles. They also pirated a Blood & Fire album (one of the King Tubby collections). I would completely avoid anything on this label.

I remember reading about Abraham being bogus and of poor quality on a previous thread. Whilst visiting friends in Belgium recently, I noticed loads of Abraham CD's in a local record shop. Although tempted, I resisted buying. I'd rather seek out the Wackies/Clocktower versions.

That's sort of my feeling too. Unfortunately, I have actually bought some CDs on the label before I had heard about them, and actually feel pretty guilty about it and don't really want to continue to support shady dealings if possible.

Regards,
Chris

Don't feel too guilty. I've been reading an old Errol Scorcher interview and they ask him which JA producers are honest. He replied "none of them". Which is why so many JA artists ended up self-producing hoping that was a way to actually get paid for work done.

Maybe is time we download all Abraham's catalog into mp3 to do some damage control:D

leggo rocker wrote:Don't feel too guilty. I've been reading an old Errol Scorcher interview and they ask him which JA producers are honest. He replied "none of them". Which is why so many JA artists ended up self-producing hoping that was a way to actually get paid for work done.

Hey Leggo, Did you get the back issues of Reggae Quarterly from Beth Lesser? I remember reading something similar from one of her interviews, it may have been Scorcher, although this seems like a common theme from the artists in a lot of the interviews.

Chris

Yes Chris. I bought all the back issues available and don't regret that purchase one bit. Really good reading and valuable reggae history lessons all of them.

Not quite so pleased with the 'King' Jammy book which deals mainly in the digital era. But then I've never been comfortable with his adoption of the 'King' moniker.

Leggo,
I haven't gotten to the Jammy book, I've been savoring the magazines, just allowing myself a little at a time, because when they're done they're done....

Regards,
Chris