Natural Mystique...and more!

Hello People,

I just got my hand on some great tunes, reggae wise and other, so I'm in the mood for sharing.
Also, today is a special day for me as it is the 60 anniversary of the man who is half responsible to bringing me into this world : Joyeux anniversaire papa!
So I will rejoice by sending some vibes to the world.

Let's start with some british reggae.

The tune featured here is quite a rare one, and I've been hunting for it for some time now, so I'm very happy to be able to bring it to you tonight!

It's on the Dune label on which I have not many info...
Here is what a Discog contributor have to say about it : Rare Birmingham record label releasing 7' vinyl of West Midlands Reggae & Punk bands during the late 70's early 80's.
Record label using a camel image with DUNE lettering overhead as its trade mark ,
Recorded & mixed by Bob Lamb who l believe was UB40 producer so maybe the band or management where behind the label in some one ????

The label states that this was produced in 1982, when many great roots stuff came out of GB.

The A side is the killer one (b-side is nice too though) with massive rolling bass and cool stepper drumming (some cool percussion too I believe). The vocalists are not the best you will find but you cannot doubt their sincerity!

The two videos I found on youtube cut after a while, very annoying, so here is the tune in his entire glory, enjoy by clicking on the blue link below labels!

Share Natural Mystique - Generals 7'.zip - 17 MB

Now let's head up to Haiti, via Canada...with The/Les Boogaloo's

This is a rarity, private Canadian press, the only copy referenced on Popsike went out in 2008 for big money.

This came out in the 70's according to some website referencing haitian music.

According to the liner notes (I recommend the reading for those of you who understand French, I love this text, such a great introduction) this was recorded live at the Club Chez Tonton in Montreal, which explains the rough sound...

Still the vibe is pure madness, especially on the tune featured tonight, titled "Toto tete cale".

For me this a stormer of caribbean music, from the likes of the best tunes from Soundway infamous Tumbele compilation (see the Vikings post on this blog).

The design on the sleeve is also great.

It was a "blind" purchase for me (no way to hear an extract of the record) but a very good surprise indeed!

Share Les Boogaloo's - Toto tete cale.mp3 - 8 MB

As promised in the beginning of the post, it's time for a little extra : the second "dubplate" I got my hand on!

It's a great dubwise version of a great song from one of the really best in reggae history : Winston Rodney AKA Burning Spear.

The tune featured here is titled Red, Gold and Green and is a classic in Spear's repertoire.

But, hey...here the tune get the dubplate treatment and comes with that ethereal treatment that suits the song so well.

So enjoy both sides and get musically high, mystical tune indeed!

No picture here as it is a totally "blank" 10'

Share Burning Spear - Rainbow dubplate.zip - 17 MB

I refill my glass of that delicious 16 years old, single cask Rum from Bellevue distilery in Guadeloupe, and let's continue....

Next stop, Cabo Verde, which is one of my favourite musical destinations these times.

Actually, since I got my hand on that crazy mix from Dutch DJ titled Febri di Funana :

https://soundcloud.com/music-with-soul/febri-di-funan-cabo-verde

I love that jumping, super rapid basslines, those vintage keyboards, lovely horns and singing.

When I knew that national drink is Gin+tonic in pint glasses, I felt in love with Cabo Verde without even being there.

The tune is from one of the biggest names from the island, don Abel Lima.

The man first got famous in his own country with his band the Les Sofa. The discography at Discogs and elsewhere is partial as I have seen at leat three records from his Les Sofa period sold recently (for mad prices) and only one is listed.

Here is a link to what seems to be is first (and very nice recording) :

http://freedomspear.blogspot.fr/2012/11/abel-lima-e-les-sofas-cantam-nos-bida.html

After that he went solo in France and the tune featured here comes from this period.

Funky bass, cavaquinho or some kind of little island guitar, nice singing : total tropical winner!

Share Abel Lima - Nos Castigo.mp3 - 11 MB

More reggae to come, this is a rare and strange little 7' from the great Winston McAnuff, the "electric dread".

The record is mid 80's production, not his best period in my opinion but the song as a kind of late night recording feeling that I like. Funny thing is that it seems Winston didn't knew untill recently that the song was actually pressed!

I particularly like the heavy dub mix on the version side, with plenty syndrum and vocoder!

Share Winston McAnuff - Burning Fire 7'.zip - 17 MB

Back to Mama Africa with something smooth, some palmwine music from back in the days and from Sierra Leone.

Taken from the brilliant Mississippi records/Domino sound collaboration compilation here is an extract from The sounds of S.E. Rogie titled "She caught me red hot".

This may sound vintage but it's so good, perfect for chilling in the sun with a gentle girl...

And if you like it as much as I do, go and get your copy here :

http://honestjons.com/shop/artist/S.E._Rogie/release/The_Sounds_Of_S.E._Rogie_Volume_1

Share S.E.Rogie - She caught me red hot.mp3 - 7 MB

Ok, time to go to bed, one last tune and that's it.

Reggae, of course, roots, for sure, classic and laidback, here is the 12' version of Delroy Washington's "Give all the praises to Jah", on Virgin label, way before it also became an airway company!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fu1xz51hjqdtzb4/Delroy%20Washington%20-%20Give%20all%20the%20praise%20to%20Jah.mp3?dl=0

Feel the vibe!

Peace to the world,

Ben

Super Heavy Rockers label 12'

Hello People,

Just a quick post today so I can share with you this brand new 12' in the vault.
As the one of you familiar with classic roots era should know, Rockers is the name of one of Augustus Pablo's labels ("Hot Stuff" and "Message" are two others).

Born Horace Swaby, Pablo was known for the introduction of the melodica into reggae music and a specific kind of melody lines known as "Far East sound" (in reference of one of his first single titled East of the river Nile).

As a producer, Pablo was serious about the lyrics, producing a serious number of great conscious tunes from many artists he helped to reveal like Jacob Miller (before the Inner Circle era), Hugh Mundell and more already known artists as Horace Andy.

This 12' is a perfect example of the mystic spirit in his production output. The slow super-heavy bassline, the sharp as an edge mix (certainly from King tubby) makes it a killer indeed.

Here you have the Disco12' in his entire glory (the song, the dub and, on the B side a melodica cut from Pablo himself).

Enjoy!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sje96rrgxuxgnfa/Paul%20Blackman%20-%20Earth%20Wind%20and%20Fire%2012%27.zip?dl=0

Some new stuff in the vault...

Hi people,

Long time me no post some...

So here you have a sweet little 7' I just got in.
It's on the US Jamaker Rekords label, and it's a tune I knew nothing about 'till now.
Usually, I am not very much into these mid 80's stuff, but this one have something special to my ears, nice keyboard work, conscious lyrics and almost extended mix on a 7' side...like it a lot.
Not much more on Discogs (they mention a 12' version of teh tune...).
B side is not so good so I won't post it, sounds more...bad 80's!

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/a9j044zl11d7ga8/Namo_Jama_-_Now_is_the_time.mp3

Another obscure roots stuff, this somehow self-produced 7' from Jamaica, on the Jah Lamy imprint.

The only music from these two gentlemen is titled The light is shining on me, on the same label, and a copy is on sale here, for big money... : http://www.lionvibes.co.uk/product.php?sku=46442

But honestly I prefer the tune I got my hand on by chance.

Cool groovy organ, it'lile a good roots love tune but the feeling here is inspired by Jah, roots stuff fe sure!

Here you will get the B side as well, nice intrumental version, not heavily mixed but still enjoyable.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/t0w96xtczm6so89/Jah_Lamy_&_Jah_Vini_-_Oh_what_a_feeling_7'.zip

Well, that's all for tonight people, see you soon,

Peace,

Ben

Rare Roots niceness

Hello people,

It seems that my friend's Geoff event was a success, cool ting happening in Belgium! https://www.facebook.com/events/1465726063698306/

To celebrate, let's have a pure roots reggae post!

And to begin with heavy stuff, here is one of my all time favourites 12', coming from Canada.
It is a fabulous extended re-lick of the classic "Rejoice Jah Jah children" by The Silvertones. The original was a Lee Perry production appearing on the Silver Bullets LP. A very nice dub of it was also released titled African dub on the Black eagle label (and both can be found in UK presses on Trojan).

The lyrics are all about unity, roots way, peaceful way, like that...

Here the tune is given the Summer Records treatment (which does not include a nice label design as you may see...) which consists of a constant militant drumming, nice bass and guitar lines and beautiful harmonies. Icing on the cake, it comes extended with a surreal voiced gimmick to introduce the dub (listen carefully at 3:57). If anyone has some idea what the man is telling I will appreciate a comment!

Share The Silvertones - Let us give Jah praise 12'.mp3 - 18 MB

If you want to play it at home on your deck, the very recommendable Iroko repress label from France reissued it some time ago. You may find a copy here :http://www.iroko-records.com/product/bb-03/

 The B side which is a quite enjoyable Johnny Osbourne tune which I will upload later (I have in mind a Johnny Osbourne special post, keep tuned!).

Let's continue the journey with what appears to be a badly underrated record, you don't come across very often. It is a nice 7' by Sylvan White on the Corner Stone label ("Church of music"...) for Delroy Mackoy. 

Nice Lyrics again, plain and simple as roots music is.

Not much more to say about the man, seems he was a seller in a record shop who used to sing all the time and eventually did some nice singles here and there... 

Share Sylvan White - African's unite 7'.zip - 14 MB

Another hidden gem is this one, coming from the US this time (JA diaspora was often there and did great stuff "a foreign").

This is a quite rare 7' on the MR label (which stands for More Relation, the name of the band). It's almost instrumental and very "cloudy", I perfectly imagine the laidback, flying high mood in the room when they recorded it...you cannot clearly say which side is the dub side.

and again the message is to rejoice for Jah Jah, roots stuff, even if there is not much lyrics...

The band More Relation did an LP which is very nice but also very hard to find (an so very expensive when you do). Thanks Greg (Graal Records) for introducing me to this one. 

Seems that there is quite a dead stock somewhere of these productions (the LP plus a bunch of nice 7') on the MR label and the people who own it prefer to sell it the expensive way instead of going for a reissue deal. Don't know it it's true but if yes and you read this, be sure reissuing these won't change anything to the value of the originals (I can personally testify about this on many other rare tunes, the fact that you may buy it for 5 bucks won't change the fact that mad heads will pay 100 or more for the original stuff...).

Share More Relation - It's the truth 7'.zip - 14 MB

OK, let's be even more exclusive...

You lucky people, I will share the first ever dubplate I got my hand on!

As you may know if you got this far following my likkle blog, dubplates are these obscures plates that sound systems use as weapons to mash up the dance (which means turn the crowd mad and jumping!).

I say "obscure" on purpose as these pieces of wax (acetate in this case) usually wear no label... 

This is why I won't illustrate this record, there is not much info on the record itself, except the title of the tunes.

So on the first side, we have two tracks (a vocal cut and a dub) from what is supposed to be the Mighty Travelers. It seems that the tune is number 4 on the unofficial Jah Shaka's best dubplates list according to this : http://home.swipnet.se/kalcidis/BSL/index.htm

Actually, the one and only Digikiller label reissued a clean version of it (see here : http://www.dkr.bigcartel.com/product/unknown-artist-majesterians-rocks-and-mountains-version-10-channel-1) and they think it's more likely the Majesterians band who sing that tune.

Still Rock and mountains is clearly a Sly and Robbie production and here you have an heavier mix, which is the whole purpose of a dubplate.

On the other side you'll find two nice dub cuts of Roma Stewart "Today" song, which you usually find on a S&G UK label, using the Sowell Radics "Caution" riddim, all of these are highly recommendable tunes.

But again, and even if you'll have to pardon the "used dubplate" sound quality ,these mixes are HEEEEAAAAAAVVVVVVYYYYYY and cut for the steppers dance, UK styleee.

Enjoy,

Share Rocks and Mountains dubplate.zip - 30 MB

OK, last one and I go to sleep.

Another UK S&G label tune, pure niceness from the Sowell Radics, reissued as a 7' by Archive records.

The man Noel Bailey (aka Noel Tempo or Sowell Radics...) is a bassist yunno? and top producer, so check this pure niceness 12', killer all the way!

Share Sowell Radics - Wheel'o Matilda 12'.mp3 - 13 MB

If you like it like I do, you may grab yourself a 7' copy here :

http://honestjons.com/shop/artist/Sowell_Radics/release/Wheel_OMatilda

Well, that's all folks, I'll be back soon with more vibes for your delicate ears.

Peace,

Ben

Batsumi

Hello people,

2014 has been a tough vintage for Notting Hill Carnival. Monday afternoon it was raining cats and dogs so most of the sounds didn't play.
Still, I made new friends, discovered Up and out on the floor record shop (thanks Geoff!) and found a decent amount of good records.

Of course reggae was the main focus and I will shortly make a post with the nice 7' originals I came to dig, but today's post is dedicated to mama Africa!

Matsumi label had the good idea to reissue one of the holy grails (look at popsike and you'll know what I mean...) of south african jazz-folk : the first LP from the band called Batsumi.

Share Batsumi.zip - 92 MB

"Batsumi" means a group of hunting man says the back-cover. Here the group is hunting for music, spirituality, innovation and so on...

I kinda love those long transe afro jazz tunes so I want to share the whole LP with you.

And if you're lucky enough, you may find your own copy at one of the nelow links (while they last, it's a limited number reissue...) :

http://honestjons.com/shop/artist/Batsumi/release/Batsumi

or 

http://www.superflyrecords.com/item/2/117165-99000181-1201-1-0/117128468/batsumi-same.html

Love to all of you, more to come soon!

Ben

Music galore 2

Hello everyone,

Everyone is asleep at home, I have some fresh strawberries and blackberries straight from the garden and some drops of a delicious Port Mourant from 1997 alongside myself, seems like I'm ready to drop another "Music galore" post!

So, to start smoothly, first tune will be an old favourite jazz theme, bluesy till the last note. It's taken from Dave Brubeck's "Jazz impressions from Japan" LP and it's simply titled Fujiyama.
Not "tropical"at all but such a beautiful piece of music!

open the following link in your browser :

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1760f4885l9sfxu/Dave%20Brubeck%20quartet%20-%20Fujiyama.mp3

Let's now step into the tropical business with a very confidential LP extract from the Virgin Islands. The name of the band is Mal and the Imaginations, on the 88 music label. I found no information anywhere so here is the artwork which I am fond of and a side of the lyrics insert. The song gives a definition of terrorism which I quite like and blame all form of organised violence, from any side you look at it. Mid eighties calypso for summer!

Share Mal and the Imaginations - Terrorism.mp3 - 12 MB

More Caribbean islands vibes : a supacool cadence-lypso from Dominica island (not Dominican Republic). Let's introduce the Midnight Groovers of Dominica with this nice 12' titled "Africa". I do love this type of keyboard driven tune.

For more example of their skills, please refer to the excellent Sofrito Discotheque series, volume 2 :

http://www.sofrito.co.uk/releases/sofrito-international-soundclash-preview.html

Share Midnight groovers of Dominica - Africa 12'.mp3 - 10 MB

or 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hi0e8mb2q8o3dbw/Midnight%20groovers%20of%20Dominica%20-%20Africa%2012.mp3?dl=0

Let's continue our trip tonight with what you know is to be my main interest, some cool reggae vibes!

Here is the disco 12' majestic version of "Mr Boss Man" from roots man Linval Thompson, n the Strong like Samson beautiful label. Pure roots business, and you get the BIG BIG version by Barnabous DJ and dubwise alongside :

Nice Company sleeve for this one!

Share Linval Thompson - Mr Boss man 12'.zip - 24 MB

Back to the roots of Africa, here is a tune taken from the first band (I think) of now famous Salif Keita : Les ambassadeurs du motel de Bamako. The song is an original composition of Salif Keita and is titled Mali Denou. This ame on the Sonafric label in 1977. Beautiful voice, superb horn harmonies, that special something of african melodies, 10 minutes and a half of enlightenment for your soul, sooooo good!

Salif Keita is easy to spot!

Share Les ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako - Mali Denou.mp3 - 24 MB

Panama has been the home of nice and original music back in the late 60's, early 70's. Here is one good example of that with that nice 7' on the Tamayo label. Accordion driven cumbia by Claudina Vargas, titled "Lisy Gisela". If you like this one, you may search for the 3 volumes of Panama series on the always excellent Soundway label :

(http://www.soundwayrecords.com/release/va---panama-3/panama-3-calypso-panameo-guajira-jazz--cumbia-tpica-on-the-isthmus-1960-75-sndw018)

Share Claudina Varas - Lisy Gisela.mp3 - 6 MB

Hum, last picture was hazy, the Rum is starting to affect my abilities...

By the way, here is a picture of my drink for this post, very enjoyable one if you can spot it :

I'll continue the journey anyway, this time with some soul jazz. The guitar of O'Donel Levy delivers a nice and speedy interpretation of Al Green's classic "Let's stay together". This is from 1972 on the Groove Merchant imprint, the album is titled Breeding of mind and, well, it breeds mine...

Share O'Donel Levy - Let's stay together.mp3 - 7 MB

OK, it's getting late so I'm gonna drop one more and go make sweet dreams.

To match the hour I found a reggae favourite called "Midnight Rock". It's a song by early 80's singer General Plough and the album (which has the same title as the featured tune) came out on the mythical Clappers records label. Although Clappers aimed to promote "roots and culture" music, this one song is more like a lovers reggae vibe...still I man love it!

Share General Plough - Midnight Rock.mp3 - 9 MB

Well, that's all for tonight folks, hope you dig the features as much as I do. As I already said, feel free to comment, share, ask for more of this and that, and please respect the music and people who play it : go buy records!

Love,

Ben 

Junior West - Splash it out

Hello people,

I am still alive on the web and so here is a rare one for this summer to be played loud!
This is sound system material, with an harder than rock dub on B side.
This 7' comes on the Production label (on which you will also find the very enjoyable Junior Brown- Crying in your grave).

The title is misspelled, of course it is "splash it out".
The topic of the tune is to pay credit to all the sound system stars, both singers, deejays and producers, of the era (early eighties), that allow the singer to have  hell of a party every day of the week. You will ear him mention the names of Yellowman, Brigadier Jerry, Jack Ruby, Stereophonics, Lone ranger, Massive dread, Toyan, Ringo...

Conclusion : "that music got soul, yes I've got to move my feet, yes I have to hold that girl"

B-side...well, it's one of the hardest dubs ever in my opinion, sooooooo heavy stuff!

It's a pity the sound is not brilliant, but it's the better copy I could get in a 3 years search...
Any reissue label willing to do serious work : make this one available in a good shape to all reggae fans.
If I have courage and it's still not done, I may do it myself someday (if you know the artsist or producer,  please share some info).

As always, click on the blue link under the labels to get to mediafire and then hit the "download" button.

Peace to y'all, more to follow soon!

Share Junior West - Splash it out 7'.zip - 15 MB

Nice militant tune with Rasan I

Hello everyone,

I am aware posts here are quite elusive, but a wise man once said "better few but nice..." or something like that. Hope you will agree and continue to have a look from time to time.

Tonight feature is a very good and not much known tune by Rasan I and the freedom fighters, on the Jamaica sound label (Valdene productions), titled Arise he daughters.

I got this one from Graal Records, with a nice company sleeve, thanks again Greg!

I like the drumming in this one and the kind of feminist touch of the lyrics. The dub is also very good, it wouldn't feel ashamed in a hard core roots dance in London's end of the 70's. Turn the volume UUUUUPPPP!

As always, feel free to follow the download link by clicking on the blue text under the photos.

Have a nice listening time,

Peace,

Ben

Share Rasan I and the Freedom Fighters, Feat Jah Scott - Arise he daughters 12'.zip - 21 MB 

Alone tonight : music galore!

Hi ya'all,
My woman is out, kids are at sleep, I'm all yours.

Tonight, let's change the format : I will try to post many different things that I like, from different eras and places, with just few words, and let you enjoy.

First comes, from the magnificent "El triangulo des flamenco" project (Winter & Winter label), the opening tune of the first CD which is simply titled Marxa. I love the percussion / violin combination (violin is not so usual in Flamenco as far as I know, but I know few...).
Hear this and run buy you a copy of this great disc!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qtos42ad1zn3v40/Raul%20Cantinazo%20%26%20Antonio%20Montiel%20-%20Marxa.mp3
(try open the link above in your browser, maybe this time it'll work...)

Next tune is one of my all time favourites of Brasilian music, taken from "Os Afro Sambas" LP, from Vinicius de Moraes and Baden Powell (and many top notch personnel). My copy is on the Barclay imprint and the song featured here is Canto de Iemanja. The tune is dedicated to the goddess of the seas and has beautiful harmonies by Quarteto en cy.

Share Vinicius de Moraes

Ok, let' move to our third feature which is a childish memory to me, as my dad used to listen to this LP on K7. And this proves I already had an ear for both jazz and reggae! It is the opening tune from Don Cherry's "Home boy" LP from 1985 and it's titled Butterfly friend. It is one of those cool cool tunes that warms your heart in a few seconds, nice and easy, even with that 80's sound that I usually disregard. Enjoy!

Share Don Cherry - Butterfly friend.mp3 - 9 MB

updated link...

Let's move on!

Next tune is for hip hop heads and is one little known tune by the legendary Cypress Hill, as a B side of the Lick a shot 12' and titled Scooby Doo. It features a simple but efficient beat made of a crazy double bass loop, finger snapping and "I don't know what the fuck is that brass" classic DJ Muggs productions sound the back. Killer tune and mad rap, pure west coast shit!

Share Cypress Hil - Scoby Doo.mp3 - 8 MB

OK, so next comes some reggae niceness as I think you understood this is my primary musical love...

The tune of the day is a classic from little known but much valued Reggae George (the author of the mythical fig root tune!). It is titled Three wicked men and the version here is teh canadian 12' on the S&W Soul King Records, which I got in a nice company sleeve. The tune is great and concious late 70s/early 80's sound (the JA print 7' on 56 Hope Road label seems to be from 1981...).

Share Reggae George - Three wicked men 12'.mp3 - 15 MB

Eh, wait, Three wicked men? Here is another one, from the late and great Sugar Minott called Three wise men, ah, ah, I can't resist to post it too (and one other day I'll post the Earth & Stone Three wise men, which is also great...). And it's the 7' version so you get the dub side as a bonus, early eighties killer deep roots, with nice label design with some kind of what would be a baby ganja plant...

Share Sugar Minott - Three wise men 7'.zip - 15 MB

Let's go latin for a while, but "con sabrosura"...here comes the Chicha moment with this nice tune from Humberto Caycho A. y Los Destellos titled Por las Mananas (in the morning). Love the 60's sound of the guitar in this Peruvian form of Cumbia, this is made to crowd the dancefloor! The 33 rpm 7' came as a bonus with the excellent El Sonido de Tupac Amaru comp, with nice fluo design. This was made in collaboration with the recommendable Masstropicas blog (masstropicas.blogspot.com).

Share Humberto Caycho A.

Last tune and I'll say good night, we'll finish with Guinean music from the 70's.

This one gives me goose bumps any time, so much feelings, so much sentiment, only African musics delivers like this! he tune is from "22 Novembre" Band and is titled Kouma. It is taken from the excellent Guinee 70, The Discotheque years, which digs deep in the Editions Syliphone Conakry label catalog. The whole comp is diamond in the rough beauty, but this one tune I can't get enough : there is hope, joy, faith, love, all at the same time : beautiful music indeed.

Share _22 Novembre_ band - Kouma.mp3 - 11 MB

Well that's all for today folks, I hope you'll make a nice trip in musicland with all this, as I did putting it together. as always, feel free to comment if you like, if you want more of this or that, etc.

Love music always,

Peace,

ben