Roots Archives Forum

Thanks to all who replied to my posting yesterday 7 march, but I've checked both Linton Kwesi Johnson albums and the song is not there.

I actually have about about 3 minutes of the song, dodgy quality, taped off a Dread Broadcasting Corporation (pirate reggae station operating from Ladbroke Grove in the early 80's)show: I'll re-type as much of the lyric as I have;

The youth Dem in a Brixton say they win a good fight.
The youth dem in a Brixton say they win a good fight.
Say them fling gas bomb left and right,
Them fling gas bomb left and right.

The fight it was a racial fight sah.
The fight it was a racial fight sah.
Because it did involve the black and the white sah.

So let me chat it in a parable, bum bum bum skiddly skiddly dum.

Mi not a stop a fight till mi black nation free.
not gonna stop a fight till me black nation free.
Cause the babylon is pain and misery.

Please, if anyone can help with this, I'd be really grateful!

Singing or toasting?

But he's talking about the Brixton riots so it must have been recorded after July 1981

In answer to the two people who came back on my query, it sounds like a DJ is singing over what someone else has told me is a 'Joe Fraser' rhythm (I've not heard of Joe Fraser).

And yes, sorry, it is post-1981. If anyone thinks they might be able to help, I can send them a copy of the song on a cd. Thanks again.

No, I think Joe Frazer is the name of THE rhythm.

Thanks to Guido for taking the trouble to help out... I have just found out that the rhythm of the song I am trying to identify is the same as that used on Prince Far I's 'The Conquest', from the album 'Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 1'.

I feel it's only a matter of time (with help from you guys!) before I finally nail this one... all contributions gratefully received... cheers.

I am glad of having being of help but I am afraid this is how far I can go; as far as I am concerned he could be anybody.

Yeah, this has been a hard one but.....finally....the riddim comes from 'Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 3(!)' and the original that you were looking for is called 'Brixton Trial and Crosses' by Prince Hammer. It was a 7" released on the Josia Label and produced by Prince Hammer using the riddim he got from Prince Far I. The song comments the Brixton riots from 1981, during which Berris Simpson (birth name of Prince Hammer) stayed in England touring with Prince Far I and the Singers & Players/Dub Syndicate possee.
Prince Hammer used the riddim once again to record singer Rod Taylor with a song called 'Words of Parables' which has a very nice dub counterpart to the one from Prince Far I's album called 'Sadam Dub.
All titles can be found on a very good CD from France called 'Prince Hammer - Rastafari Bible 1976-1982' on Patate records.
Selah.

amazing, are you a kind of reggae detective ? You could be paid by rich reggae amateurs..

thank you )
if you love and live the music as long as I've been doing, these things just happen.....and it's great fun.
Greetings.