musicology #535

Jamaica #15

(Sound Dimension - Baby Face)

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As far as the music of Jamaica is concerned for themusicologist there is only one studio that stands above all others..Coxsone Dodd's legendary Studio 1. Almost every singer, instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger has at one time passed through the Brentford Road gates. Far too many to list or even mention so I won't even try, suffice to say that if you pick a name he will have a connection. Coxsone was a visionary...and as such allowed others far more suited to the creative process to express themselves. He opened the doors for Jamaican music to carve itself a unique sound that finally arrived during the period now in question...(late 60's early 70's), known globally as Reggae. To wax a tune at Studio 1 meant that, as an artist, you had made it to the top. Not financially but artistically. No matter how much the sound was crafted by others, (and it most certainly was), it was Coxsone who drove it. His greatest skill was in his ability to see the wider picture and create a platform to realise it. Ideas are the lifeblood of innovation but on their own they are no more than talk....when you check it no one person did more than Coxsone to establish Jamaican music as a global force and the music stands as witness to such a claim.

So with that in mind hold this wicked instrumental cut from the previously mentioned Studio 1 house band..Sound Dimension. One listen, (for those who don't know it), should be enough to realise why Studio 1 is the Don Sound. 1969 Release, (in the UK), on the English Bamboo label. BIG Tune.

musicology #522

Jamaica #2

(Jackie Opel – You’re Too Bad)

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Various Cats have laid claim to ‘inventing’ the Ska but as far as I can hear it seems to have been more of an evolution. In an attempt to provide a little insight for those who are not clued up on the historicity of Jamaican musicology before Ska there was what’s known as ‘Shuffle’ which to be brutal was more of a home grown version of American Jump/Rhythm & Blues so popular in the dance. Early Operators such as Tom The Great Sebastian and Count Nick were followed by hungrier Cats such as Duke Reid, Coxsone Dodd and Prince Buster who needed a constant source of new material to ‘mash up the dance’ and ‘Kill’ opposing Sound Systems. The competition was ferocious and it was this more than anything that fed the emerging scene for home grown talent. Combine such a need for a constant supply of fresh cuts, (Concurrent with the decline of Rhythm and Blues and looming Independence from colonial rule), with Jamaica’s strong sense of ‘national’ pride and identity and the stage was set for ‘Ska’

Coxsone led the way by setting up the legendary Studio 1 recording studio in 1963 and the icing on the cake was a collective of the hottest musicologists on the island coming together in 1964 as the Skatalites. As previously mentioned on themusicologist Jackie Mittoo was Coxsone’s musical director and as such is as responsible as anyone for defining Ska.

Today’s cut is a prime slice of the Skatalites pie from 1964? featuring the majestic Jackie Opel on vocals and the combined talents of any number of Tommy McCook, Roland Alphonso, Lloyd Brevett, Lloyd Knibb, Lester Sterling, Don Drummond, Jah Jerry, Jackie Mittoo, Johnny Moore and Percival Dillon…in a word..BOSS

musicology #333

DownbeatTheRuler #13

(The Wailers - Do It Right)

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Final cut of the Coxsone Tribute. Have to finish up with this 1965 piece of rip roaring Ska sung by the Wailers. Featuring not only Jamaica’s premier band the Skatalites but also no less than Sir Coxsone Dodd himself on ‘Beer Bottle Percussion’ Duties !! Just like to add that many a deserved artist didn’t get a spot on the Downbeat Tribute most notably The Heptones, Jackie Mittoo, Dennis Brown, Sugar Minott, Ken Parker, Cornell Campbell, The Clarendonians..(too long a list to name them all). Some of them have already featured on themusicologist and I imagine that all will eventually..

In addition, the Second in the Tribute Tee series is to communicate my appreciation, (in more ways than one), for the man who made it all possible. Clement Seymour ‘Sir Coxsone/Downbeat The Ruler’ Dodd whose musical legacy is, for themusicologist, second to none.

musicology #329

DownbeatTheRuler #9

(Ken Boothe - Just A Little Bit Of You)

Short but sweet today as I’m out early morning back late afternoon and then out playing football in the evening. Today’s slice of the Downbeat pie is one of my absolute favourites from what, for themusicologist is Studio 1’s Golden age. Delivered by a Cat who has already featured on this theme but, in true musicology style, the axiom “as in music so in life” comes through loud and clear on this one…so this one it had to be.

I’m gambling that it’s Leroy Sibbles on Bass? with full Sound Dimension crew locked tightly in the groove….

Listen Tune..

musicology #291

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #2

(The Heptones - One Love)

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Today’s cut is from the mighty Heptones, (Leroy Sibbles, Barry Llewelyn and Earl Morgan). One of the top ranking Jamaican vocal groups throughout the sixties and seventies. Not only that but Leroy Sibbles, (as mentioned previously on themusicologist), was an important part of Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One production team as Bass player, Musical director and all round musicologist during it’s ‘Golden Age’ until his departure for Canada in 1973. With Jackie Mittoo and Leroy gone Studio 1 began to lose it’s edge until younger Cats like Sugar Minott took up the baton a few years later. This, (1971?), piece is a slice from them glorious, Golden days off the album Freedom Line

musicology #222

tribute to alton #2

(Alton Ellis - Pearls)

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round two of the Alton Ellis tribute....another fine piece from his days at Studio1.

musicology #153

duets2 #2

(Beres Hammond & Marcia Griffiths - Live On) 

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I had planned on throwing this one down yesterday but for some unknown reason my internet connection was playing tricks and locked me out of the 'information highway' so i'm taking this opportunity to fling it now in case it happens again.

day two of the duets selection is one of the tunes that drew me back to the sweet sounds of Jamaica in 1993 after a year spent in the musical wilderness waiting to be inspired after 5 years listening, playing and DJ'ing 'house' which by then had made the transition from under to overground and was being used to to sell cat food, yoghurt, etc ...

the male vocal comes from the pipes of the mighty Beres Hammond whose career stretches back to the early 70's but for themusicologist it was throughout the 90's that he established himself as one of Reggae's greats. one of those rare artists who rarely seem to put a foot wrong, (Bobby Bland is another who springs to mind), this cat could charm the birds out of the trees with his blend of harmony, sincerity and effortless timing.

the female vocal is courtesy of the queen of Jamaican music .. Marcia Griffiths. whose career stretches way back into the sixties, first as solo singer, (1964), then in tandem with Bob Andy, (musicology #37), then as member of Bob Marley & the Wailers backing group the I-Threes.

this piece, (which I never tire of hearing), produced by Donovan Germain for his trend setting Penthouse label is a slice of the 'College Rock' rhythm from 1992/3, a 'digital' reworking of Jackie Mittoo's late 60's Studio1 cut 'Freak Out'...

beautiful song sung expertly by two of Jamaica's premier vocalists....one especially for all the couples out there who understand what it takes to hold on when the road is rough and rocky.

"live on...."

musicology #112

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #35

(Wailers - Rude Boy)

penultimate slice of musicology on the six/six/six and one from Jamaica’s most famous vocal group, The Wailers.

Not sure whether this had a UK release at the time? the one we are hearing is taken from the Coxsone Import 45. But with a title like ‘Rude Boy’ it wouldn’t have got much promotion on these English shores. As we all know the Wailers went on, (certainley Marley anyway), to become a household name. Jackie Mittoo on the other hand didn’t receive anywhere near the recognition that he deserved for all the musicology he brought to each and every Studio1 session from 1963 up to his emigration to Canada in 1969? which is, unfortunately, an all too common story when it comes to the cats who played the instruments.

Arranger, Piano player session leader and all round musicologist it would have been Jackie, (as much as any single artist), that drove the music towards the Spaghetti Western influenced, Gun Man Style that was to become more popular as the times got tougher and the rudies got ruder in Kingston, Jamaica.

for themusicologist Jamaican music is still the ‘voice of the people’….how long will it last? only time will tell but from 1962 to today it has always reflected and communicated the thoughts and feelings of the ‘man on the street’ .. and this one is no exception.

to listen...
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