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)

LISTEN

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)

LISTEN

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

musicology #144

SpectrumOfLove #4

(The Heptones - Meaning Of Life)

LISTEN

I was sitting in the 'haddock & bloater' last night on my way backfrom singing the 'bourgeois blues' thinking about the SpectrumOfLove and lo and behold this one appeared, floated soothingly like the warm summer breeze over my troubling mind and externalised what was/is in my heart and mind. So taking it as a sign i'm laying it on you..

sung by 'article' Jamaican Vocal Group The Heptones, (Barry Llewelyn, Leroy Sibbles and Earl Morgan), who have featured heavily in themusicologists musical Journey from first being exposed to them as a youngblood via the 1976 album 'Night Food'...

for themusicologist they are Jamaica's foremost vocal group whose harmonics are as good as it gets.

Not sure who's singing lead but it doesn't sound like Leroy Sibbles so my guess is that it's Barry Llewelyn? what I do know is that it's a 1973 production by Alvin Ranglin released on the UK DownTown label.

to be honest it could have been any number of tunes from this group such is the quality of their output.

what a tune..

"I wanna know..what's the meaning of life,

without a love of my own, without a love to call my own,

if this is life...then I dont want no part of life,

without a love of my own, without a love to call my own,

instead of loving me,..girl you've only hurt me all the while,

if its a love I already had..if it's a love already lost,

this is life..then I don't want no part of life,

without a love of my own, without a love to call my own,

ye-yeh I wanna know what is the meaning of life,

without a love of my own, without a love to call my own,

ooh darling I wannna know, why you do me you do me like you do,

you only hurt me all the while, you only tears me up inside".

musicology #113

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #36

(New Establishment - People Skanking)

final cut from Jackie and the last of the six/six/six. it was a toss up between this and a tune called Wall Street, (which is one of my personal favourites), but I went with this one because, for me, it sums up perfectly how music can give you the strength, (and courage), to keep on 'stepping' in the right direction. One of those 'call to arms' tunes that not only communicates but also delivers...another diamond from the Studio1 showroom that does exactly what the title suggests.

just leaves me to thank you all for listening and the six artists; Sam Cooke / Stevie Marriott / Alton Ellis / Curtis Mayfield / Paul Weller and Jackie Mittoo for providing the ammunition over the past six weeks to 'lick shot'

LISTEN TUNE........

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musicology #111

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #34

(Karl Bryan & The Afrokats - Money Generator)

no post yesterday...got caught up in too much 'he say she say' which took the wind out of themusicologists sails so couldn't find the enthusiasm and motivation to invest the time, emotion and energy required for posting so thought it best to let yesterday go.

anyway enough of that...just wanted to let youse know where themusicologist is 'at' and why I left you 'swinging' yesterday. Todays cut finds Jackie Mittoo keeping not only keeping time with his organ playing but also supervising, arranging and maybe even writing the music for this session.

for themusicologist this period of Studio1 musicology is beyond compare...the Golden Age where everyone involved at Brentford Road was at the top of their 'game'.

One of the reasons Studio1 became such a mecca for the islands musicologists is that Coxsone would let the cats smoke the collie at the Studio, (something that no other recording studio allowed at the time), helping create the vibes that allowed such innovative and emotional music to flow.

We all know that many a musician has leaned on the 'green crutch' throughout history and Jamaica is no exception...no doubt it enhances creativity, supresses hunger and 'packs up your troubles in the old kit bag' while under the influence and Coxsone who didn't encourage it, but was smart enough to know it's positive qualities, turned a blind eye.

love this haunting, melancholic, emotion charged slice of musicology and for me the title nails it it two words.

musicology #110

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #33

(Cout Ossie & The Cyclones - Meditation)

words can't do this one justice so I'll leave it up to Count Ossie, Jackie Mitto and Leroy Sibbles to converse with you.

http://themusicologist.wordpress.com.

musicology #109

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #32

(Bob Andy - Feeling Soul)

Donat Roy Mittoo was born in Kingston, (on March 3rd 1948), and grew up around music as language.

a child prodigy it was Clement Seymour Dodd, (Studio1 Boss), who presented him with the opportunity as a teenager (16 !!), to not only supervise the sessions at his newly formed Brentford Road Studio but also be a founder member of the legendary Skatalites…..

as that sinks in hold this next cut..it’s a Bob Andy classic from around 1969 I would imagine but it’s got Jackie all over it, (organist, arranger, musicologist), the only other backing musician I can be sure of identifying would be Leroy Sibbles playing bass..

http://themusicologist.wordpress.com