Some version excursion

Hello there, how are you people?
Wish you all the best for this new year, may nothing but peace, love and happiness come your way in 2017, and may the same apply to the earth!

So, a good way to start the year is to go on a little version excursion.
As you probably know if you have love for reggae music, a tune or a riddim may be used several times by different artists.
A same producer could make more money on a riddim by making many artists or groups vocalising it. And then producers used to copy the others best tunes my having their in-house band recording it. The very best riddims or tunes may be found in many versions and dubs and would be re-recorded even long time after they first appear (somehow like jazz "standards").
Have a look at Blood and Fire compilation "Tree os Satta"and you'll have a good illustration of what I'm talking about.

So tonight feature is a small example of that with a riddim I like very much from reggae golden era.
It's one of early Dennis Brown output (the crowned prince was only sixteen at that time).
Here is a link to the lyrics : http://www.jah-lyrics.com/song/dennis-brown-foot-of-the-mountain
I love that laid back groove, the flute and guitar ornaments, wicked stuff!

Share Dennis Brown - At the foot of the mountain - Downtown 7.zip - 14 MB

 http://www.mediafire.com/file/15y1ekl5lypo7tp/Dennis_Brown_-_At_the_foot_of_the_mountain_-_Downtown_7.zip

And here is another tune on same riddim, the DJ lick by scotty over Tony Aiken "Holy father, one year later in 1974. Great toasting and some little birds added to the mix.

Share Scotty - Holy father from the roots - Tobin 7.zip - 13 MB

http://www.mediafire.com/file/2p0jrejl0jujd66/Scotty_-_Holy_father_from_the_roots_-_Tobin_7.zip 

I know there are many more versions of that same riddim but do not own them so if you're blessed with one, just let me know!

Hope you like this, peace to one and all,

Ben 

Upbeat calypso time!

Hello people,

Let's switch of pace for this time and fly out to Trinidad, home of wonderful calypso music.

First feature tonight is this elusive 12" from the band Itation on MG Records. Two very different sides that you'll find following the link below the labels. For me it's all about side B, the super 70's upbeat calypso. The tune is a stormer, no intro you're thrown directly into pure tropical madness. The riddim section is tight, the bassist kills it and the singer adds the special touch "calypso music is tempo, reggae music is feeling, cadence music is rythm'n". Social lyrics also, quite pessimist "we're all born in thisland; progressively you feel this country getting nowhere..."
Funny fact this side was recorded in Trinidad and the other in Martinique and the postal code mentioned is in St Lucia (Virgin Islands) on one side and St Croik (sic.) on the other side.
Won't say much about the other side. By the title one could have hope for a nice reggae tune but it is in fact some kind of mento type piece wih some steel drum in the mix. Not a bad one, sung in creole, but not my dope...
 

Share Itation - Calypso fever - MG records 12.zip - 24 MB

http://www.mediafire.com/file/7n8jnl2h1a5z8h8/Itation_-_Calypso_fever_-_MG_records_12.zip

Second feature is from way more known Lord Shorty, prolific and legendary Calypso artist.

First side is a disco flavoured song about the new vibration in that music, titled Endless vibrations as the LP from which it is extracted.

But once again it's all about B-side (which I was too stupid to notice untill I sold it...). Lucily enough I numerize alost everything I sell so you'll can enjoy it also. So this B-side is a more roots calypso piece with nice piano and hand drums rythm'n. I do love the chorus parts and the conclusion : drum spirit is from Africa! Some low key parts give it a bluesy feeling that contrasts with the rather speedy beat.

This side, as well as the Calypso side from Itation make me move my head in time and wish for a roots dancefloor somewhere on a tropical beach to dance all night. As winter is settling, t's good to have these vibes to warm up a bit!

Share Lord Shorty - Endless vibrations - Island series 7.zip - 21 MB

http://www.mediafire.com/file/g0ytqpfm99k01tm/Lord_Shorty_-_Endless_vibrations_-_Island_series_7.zip

I do hope you'll enjoy this, feel free to comment or say hi, peace to one and all in these troubled times!

Ben 

Gi me little love

Hello you all,

This one is such a killer I cannot resist to post it quickly here to spread the word!
Geoffrey Chung (I suspect as the label states J. Chung...) and Judy Mowatt production on Judy's own label. This has an obvious link to twelve tribes as George Beaufort other releases came on the Orthodox label and Judy Mowatt was member of the 12T if I remember well.
I do not have a precise date of issue, sounds like very early eighties.
The tune features a massive rolling bass line that does not obviouly match the lovers lyrics but makes it pretty catchy. The song, as the title reveals, is lovers orientated and goes like this (please correct me if I'm wrong):

Gi me likkle love let me cheer up my spirit
Gi me likkle love because i'm so willing
Gi me likkle love let me cheer up my spirit
Gi me likkle love because you're so thrilling

You know a man need love for sure
So come on darling open your heart door
Let true love enter there in
And like two (little) dove we both will sing

Gi me likkle love let me cheer up my spirit
Gi me likkle love because i'm so willing
Gi me likkle love let me cheer up my spirit
Gi me likkle love because you're so thrilling

In these times when frustration abound
Man sees his hope going to the ground
He needs inspiration that only love can bring
The breast of joy, the peace what a feeling

Gi me likkle love let me cheer up my spirit
Gi me likkle love because i'm so willing
Gi me likkle love let me cheer up my spirit
Gi me likkle love because you're so thrilling

{bridge} Any time in the morning, get in the evening, even the night
all you gotta do oh me lady, oh me joy, oh yeah oh yeah

And here comes a little Eek a mouse inspired "bidibidibang" and beautiful women harmonies, Bim, it killed you!
Dub is nice also with some nice organ kicking in and some dub echo, plus some nice guitar solo in the middle, beautiful stuff indeed.
You'll find both sides by cutting/pasting the link below the labels in your browser, happy you!
Give me little love people and let me have some comments, more to follow soon.
Peace to one and all, let harmony flow like rain!

Share Georges Beaufort - Gi mi little love - Ashandan 7_.zip - 16 MB

http://www.mediafire.com/file/99ddt5by17maao5/Georges_Beaufort_-_Gi_mi_little_love_-_Ashandan_7_.zip

Some latin scorcher LP, boogaloo baby!

Hello people,

As promised here comes a quick update.
Winter is coming to the northern hemisphere so I'm letting go a bit of the Rhum and welcome single malt scotch whisky again.
I've poured myself a nice dram of 12 years old single cask Bruichladich, bottled at cask strenght and, to match the fire of that nectar (59.8%vol!), here comes a nice and rare "wanted" LP from the Boogaloo era in Nueva York.
I wont go through extensive remarks about the tunes or the artist (I kinda like the introduction you'll find on back cover, hoping you can read it.
Enough to saythat this LP is almost known for the stomper boogaloo piece (I'll be a)Happy man which is a dancefloor filler for sure.
My preference goes to the more salsa driven Rumba con guaguanco on B-side, which has a bluesy feeling I like (with the call and response sung parts).
The Pussycat tune is...well, it's a pussycat tune, ah, ah! Plenty double meaning lyrics that keeps it from plain slackness. Humour below the waist!

Hope you'll dig this, follow the bleu link below the labels to DL the whole LP.

Peace to earth and more vibes to come soon,
Ben

Share The latin blues band feat. Luis Aviles - Take a trip pussycat.zip - 87 MB

http://www.mediafire.com/file/k9sxep6k36jdkt4/The_latin_blues_band_feat._Luis_Aviles_-_Take_a_trip_pussycat.zip

Back in function!

Hello people,

I experienced a laptop failure so have been unable to post here for a while.
It seems that things are all right now, even if I had to change the softwares used to digitalize my records. For that reason, I do not know how to cut the tunes and so you may find some crakling empy noise before and after the music, sorry for that...

So today features are two of the latest records to land in the boxes, 7 inches that you don't see every day (my FB friends had a glimpse at those two though).

First is a digi tune from the 90's I suppose. Not something I use to listen to ordinary but I got stuck to the riddim and the energy of the song.
According to discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/1472317-Michael-Black-4), there are quite a few outputs from that singer from the late 70's untill nowadays, but none had crossed my radar untill this one.
I kinda like the straight forward lyrics "Babylon a burn, wicked man a burn!"
Here you will find both sides of that 7" with the energetic version, please play it with bass and volume turned up!

Share Michael Black - Jah Jah - Rockers Master Production 7.zip - 17 MB

http://www.mediafire.com/file/z35spmacjrwe0bn/Michael_Black_-_Jah_Jah_-_Rockers_Master_Production_7.zip

Second tune featured tonight is the total opposite mood, prototype of meditative vibes!

The label is a beauty and had been the home of all the outputs of that singer it seems : Breathren of art ( https://www.discogs.com/artist/3014578-Nedley-Seymour).

The tune is made of kinda nyabinghy drumming, organ, some bass and elusive guitar.

Topped by Nedley seymour vocals, chanting Babylon down : 

" Say the sun shines the day I say

While the moon shines at night

And the rain gather itself on the hills

That's where my (natures?) are

And I see everything that is going on

I see Babylon you must go down

I say no matter what they may try hard

'Say Babylon you must go down

As deep as the bottomless pit may be

I say Babylon you must go down

For you trouble Jah Jah children..."

B-side is featured here but it's a more common track. It seems that a version exists on some blank issues of the tune and even as B-side on some rare copies...

Share Nedley - Babylon must go down - Breathren of art 7.zip - 13 MB

 http://www.mediafire.com/file/ardkk8dcpafxvia/Nedley_-_Babylon_must_go_down_-_Breathren_of_art_7.zip

OK, this will be all for tonight but make sure to check again soon as I have plenty tunes to post to make things right after that long absence!

Peace to one and all,

Ben 

The truth...

Hello Earth people,

A short post tonight to let you know that I'm still there.

"Big tings a gwan" and I will selecting on the 10th of september outside of my nearby zone.
My friend Geoff invited me for the GALM! event and I am so damn proud to join the team for what will most certainly be a wonderfull evening full of vibes. And thrilled to get to play some nice tunes on a proper set...
 

Link to the FB page of the event :  https://www.facebook.com/events/1034761749947988/

So, to celebrate here is a nice and rare 7" recently added to the box.
The singer, Sidney "Mankind" Francis had a handfull releases under his full name or under the alias Mankind during the late eighties and nineties, and even after 2000 (he's still pretty active according to his FB page : https://www.facebook.com/Sydney-Mankind-146463285519981/).
Some of these have been reissued by Digikiller reissue label, such as the great Country life / These three girls 12".

The tune featured tonight is from the very early period of this artist (1983) and is titled The Truth.
It's a typical "one drop" riddim, slow pace tune inviting the listener to "keep the faith...and don't let the devil man lead you astray...it takes our love to do it to drive the devil man away".
"We must sit and reason more of Jah instead of fussing everyday..." rasta wisdom!

I love how the vocal melody evolves and melts with the nice electric guitar soloing.
What seems to be a quite simple tune reveals itself more and more after many listenings.
The version, credited to Food, Clothes and Shelter is not heavily mixed but is quite enjoyable, with that nice bass line which I suspect changes from minor to major (I am not a music expert...) to provide that peculiar evolution in the tune.
At firt I was not convinced but now I am listening to it sine a few weeks and still delighted I got a nice copy!

As always follow the link below the labels to access DL of both sides. If you like it please also pay a visit to the man's web page and pay him respect!

Share Sydney Mankind - The truth - Musical Ambassador 7.zip - 17 MB

http://www.mediafire.com/download/9r19m07oz2l2j9b/Sydney_Mankind_-_The_truth_-_Musical_Ambassador_7.zip

Peace to each and every one in these violent and troubled times,

Love is the key now and always,

Ben

Killer double sider 12"

Hello people,

I just returned from a crazy saturday session in Meaux, the Forward the roots event hosted by the great Theo Delpiroux. Mad, mad vibes with Jeremie Younes (Killers without fillers), Jaman (Roots from one tree) and a tune fe tune round by no other than Noah Adowa Hi Fi and Jacopo Rootikalist. All these fine gentlemen literally mashed up the massive by throwing mad tunes after mad tunes after mad tunes...

This kinda dance just made me remember how good and how pleasant it is to listen to great reggae music on a fine sound surrounded by smiling faces enjoying the ride. So big up once again to all those involved, hope to see you soon!

Well, to humbly add a few vibes here is one of the latest 12" discomix to join my boxes. Quite a rare piece and one that is blessed by two superb sides.

This one came on a British label and features the great vocalist Rudolph Francis on both sides. 

First side is a fine rockers, over great riddim, with conscious lyrics that melts into extended version with fine guitar ornaments, a winner all the way.

But B-Side takes advantage of a superb stepper riddim and even better lyrics in my opinion, with the singer paying tribute to all the ghetto pickney that grew up without parents : "Motherless children have a hard time, ooh can't you see, motherless children have a hard time, that's why we are running wild", sufferer style!

This side blends into a DJ version remembering each and everyone what we owe to our parents : "me say me have fe love fe me mutha and me fatha...they teach me fe live and they teach me fe love". The DJ had more chance than the singer!

Really I don't get tired of this one and hope you dig it too.

Follow the link below the labels and enjoy,

Peace

Ben

 

 

Share Rudolph Francis - Time to realise - KIM label 12.zip - 28 MB

http://www.mediafire.com/download/3yug5xmw59uyzbb/Rudolph_Francis_-_Time_to_realise_-_KIM_label_12.zip