Roots Archives Forum

I just heard the track of the Roots Radics "A Friend In Need" (awsome horns in it).I'm wondering what artist sing with this riddim.I got a song by the title Know Myself but don't know who sing.I beleive can be Hugh Mundell or JR. Reid but in their productions i don't find the track.Any artist & title with this track would be good.Thanks for any reply


Keep Irie

It's a wicked rhythm. I always thought it sounded like a rub-a-dub cross between the Dirty Harry rhythm and Quiet Place. Unfortunately I know not who does the vocal on it :/

Its Jnr Reid - Know Myself, this came on a Greensleeves 12" in 1981, i believe it came on a Rockers 7" earlier where its credited to Little Jnr Ried and was amongst his first recordings.

The rhythm was produced by Augustus Pablo in 1975 and was used as an instrumental called Far East, aka Safari Tower Rock, aka2 Eastman Sound, its based upon the Dennis Walks - Drifter rhythm.

Trojans credit to the Roots Radics is typically erroneous.

Right Stoneman; i was thinking that a song call "Drifter" by Cornell Campbell have the same riddim but without the horns and from the top of my head "Rock and Comming" from Johnny Osbourne use the same riddim.I imagine the Drifter song is the same as Dennis Walks.Is there more versions in this riddim or even dj toast??It would be great.The old one (riddim) sound best with the horn selection in it.

Joakim you should look for the Jr. Reid version.He sound very young and is an extended cut with the instrumental at the end.

Keep on the vibs

There's also "Beautiful Rainbow", great tune from Leroy Smart's "Dread Hot In Africa" album. With horns!

Neville Brown - A Friend Indeed / Scientist Presents ... LP
Augustus Pablo - Eastman Sound / Rockers 12

jr reid know myself sounds more like drifter to mi, not far east.

beside dat "from the day i know myself" is lyrics from drifter 100% him just change it up a little

I had already stated that Pablo`s Far East is a version of Drifter which of course has nothing to do with the popular rubadub / dancehall rhythm with the same name, which in itself is a version of Rolando Alphonso`s Jah Shakey for Studio One but seemed more popularly known after Barry Browns later version. Dont get confused by later ways of defining rhythms, it was`nt so much a thing to do back in the day.

The "drifter" riddim and the "friend in need" riddim have the same bassline but the horns play a diferent melody.Can anybody provide more info for example who is the backing band in "Know Myself" because i don't find it in the RA or if there are more versions??