musicology #543

Jamaica #23

(Dennis Brown - No More Will I Roam)

LISTEN

Looking back over the past week on themusicologist I couldn't help but notice my absence..in truth the weather was too nice and I had much street walking, hustling, networking, planning and dreaming to do and themusicologist had to take a back seat but the weather is still scorching so I'll have to come up with a new plan for this week...ahh got it...more music less scribbles, (it's the scribbling that takes ALL my time)

So with that in mind....forward up with the sweet sounds of JA.

Ranking piece from the 'Crown Prince' Dennis Emmanuel Brown produced by Winston 'Niney the Observer' Holness for his Obsever label in 1974.

Listen Tune..

musicology #507

CoversWeek2 #4

(Cornell Campbell – Ten To One)

LISTEN

Slipping back into the sweet sounds of Jamaica for today’s cut with a piece by one of the islands great artists the MAJESTIC and pioneering Cornell Campbell . A Cat who begun his recording career at the tender age of 11 in the mid 1950’s for Coxsone, moved on to record with King Edwards in the mid 60’s, harmonised within ‘The Sensations’ for Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle, returned triumphantly to Studio 1 with ‘The Eternals’ and then begun a long solo career that continues HALF A CENTURY later to this day.

Here heard cutting his teeth on a Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions soul classic. As far as I’m concerned an absolute marrow trembler from start to finish and yet another musical diamond mined from the Studio1 archives. One listen should leave us in no doubt as to the influence both Curtis Mayfield and Coxsone Dodd had on Jamaican musicology….LISTEN TUNE.

musicology #467

2LegendsClash II #3

(Billie Holiday – Pennies From Heaven)

LISTEN

Apologies for yesterday’s absence. Truth is I am feeling low and was unable to find whatever it is in me that makes themusicologist happen. For a few reasons life is on me like a concrete suit at the moment and even though I tried most of the day to post a cut both the words and the music eluded me so today I’m just going to lay a slice down, try not to get too wrapped up in the language of my solitude and let the two legends speak. But before Billie steps up for today’s piece of musicology hold this quote from nightclub owner Barney Josephson who was quoted to have said about her

”She never had a really big voice-it was small…..like a bell that rang and went a mile..”

Recorded for Brunswick in New York on November 1936 featuring Teddy Wilson & Orchestra; (Jonah Jones, Benny Goodman, Ben Webster, Allan Reuss, John Kirby and Cozy Cole)

musicology #253

sleighbellsring #1

(The Maytals - Christmas Feeling)

LISTEN

Day one of the Christmas selection. I'm just going to lay them down without much 'commentary'. First up is a slice from Jamaica..proof, if needed, that it doesn't require snow, reindeer or Jack Frost nipping at yer nose to generate the Christmas spirit. Early sixties cut from the Legendary Maytals.

musicology #184

soulsearching #6

(Sugar Minott - The More We Are Together)

LISTEN

the final cut of the soulsearching has found it’s way on to themusicologist’s, (endless), playlist at just the right time after five days spent alone. the synchronicity of music NEVER ceases to amaze me and I’m hoping that as time passes and runs I can look back on this tune as the one that inspired a new start.

majestic, top ranking piece of Jamaican musicology from the legendary Lincoln ‘Sugar’ Minott one of the island’s most inspirational singers, songwriters and producers as well as a man of great integrity and belief.

LISTEN TUNE ….

a look in a yourself jah man,
a look in a yourself yout’ man,
a look in a yourself jah man,
oh well, woohhh well,

the more we are together, the happier we shall be,
the more we are together, that’s the only way, we can be free,
thats the only way, for you and for me,

the more we love one another, the more we’ll see jah light,
the more we love our brothers thats the only way, for you and for me,
that’s the only way, ohh we can be free,

so look inna yourself yout’ man,
look inna yourself jah man,
the time you take linger,
pull trigger with your finger,
and shoot down your brother,
just fight ‘gainst your sister,
that no right unto jah, jah,
oh oh no, ohh no,

the more we are together, the happier we shall be,
the more we are together, that’s the only way,
oh, oh, we can be free,
thats the only way, oh for you and for me,

truth and right you cannot fight,
and if you keep doing wrong you no give me respect,

whether you a top rank, or you have ’nuff money in the bank,
jah no partial oh no, jah no partial oh no,

said the more we are together, the happier we shall be,
the more we love one another, that’s the only way, for you and for me,
thats the only way, ohhh we can be free,

a truth and right we a deal with now,
truth and right we a deal with now,

the more, we are, together

musicology #132

instrumentalsweek #5

(Rupie Edwards All Stars - Your New Love)

LISTEN

penultimate cut on the players selection and it's another pearl from Jamaica. a Winston Wright organ led version of one of themusicologists favourite pieces of early Reggae, singer Dobby Dobson's top ranking song 'Your New Love'

although a singer of some fine songs Rupie Edwards was and is better known for his skills as a producer, having worked with such luminaries as Johnny Clarke, The Heptones, Gregory Issacs, the great Joe Higgs and foundation DJ's U Roy and I Roy, (to name a few), and his contribution to the development of 'Dub' is sometimes overlooked. before the 'version' became the standard B-Side to every Jamaican 45, Rupie Edwards was experimenting with the instrumental and this one is an example of his capabilities.

(Probable Session Line Up)

Saxophone - Tommy McCook
Trombone - Vin Gordon
Drums - Carlton 'Santa' Davis
Guitar - Hux Brown
Piano - Gladstone 'Gladdy' Anderson
Bass - Clifton 'Jackie' Jackson
Organ - Winston Wright

musicology #130

instrumentalsweek #3

(Roland Alphonso - Jazz Ska)

LISTEN

this prime slice of Jamaican musicology comes from the King Edwards stable and features many of the best proponents of the Ska style. Baba Brooks, Arkland 'Drumbago' Parks, Lester Sterling and tenor sax king, Roland Alphonso.

Recorded and released on the King Edwards label in 1965 at the height of the genres popularity, (it would only be a year before Rock Steady became the 'in thing'), this is Ska at it's finest.

musicology #120

jamboree #7

(Derrick Harriott - No Man Is An Island)

tasty slice of the Jamboree pie from Mr 'One Stop'. Vocalist, producer and 'Reggae' pioneer whose contribution to the development of Jamaican musicology from the earliest days, (with the Jiving Juniors 1958-62), right through the Ska and Rocksteady periods and into the sound we know and love today deserves honouring.

LISTEN

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 #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..

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musicology #108

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #31

(Jackie Mittoo - Juice Box)

many a great singer, song writer and instrumentalist has sprung from Jamaica’s well of musicologists but Jackie Mittoo’s contribution to developing the music known now as ‘Reggae’, (a one size fits all label that doesn’t have much meaning), demands and deserves a tribute selection in his honour.

this first cut from the album ‘Keep On Dancing’ was recorded and released in 1969 and features the man in his role as ‘Organist’, (one of the instruments that he went on to perfect..ranking with the best of ‘em), wicked piece of Jamaican Funk for your Monday musical pleasure.