Some island stuff and a huge digi/rub a dub...

Hello you all,

Long time no post so you'll have three different vibes tonight.

First, as promised somewhere a time ago, here comes a tune I've been searching to ID for long.

It's what the title is, a funky calypso!

I loved this tune in a mix Frankie Francis from the Sofrito's crew did some years ago and could never find what it was... Untill recently, this LP was listed amongst other marvelous music by a big seller and the "soundclip" was this very tune. I love it when this happens so here it is to your musical pleasure (funny thing : the band accompanying band is called Frankie Francis & his Orchestra, is it where the alias comes from...) :

Share Hot, Cool, Spice - Funky Calypso.mp3 - 6 MB

or

 http://www.mediafire.com/file/cfpcfwet62oakg5/Hot%2C_Cool%2C_Spice_-_Funky_Calypso.mp3

Second tune featured tonight was also part of that great listing. This one I did not know at all but this LP is great, full of different caribean vibes, from calypso to reggae and more, with a brass flavour.
The band originated from the island of Antigua and began their carrier in 1964. They even won the Brassorama Champion title in 1975 says the back cover.
Obviously, I'll go for the reggae tune but the whole LP deserves attention. It is a nostalgic piece titled "Tighter", sung by the guitar player of the band and it goes like this :
"We must look for one another
And stop this fighting between brothers, brother
That is what Jah Jah wants for all of us
If you look in the book that is what he say
And time is getting tighter and tighter me tell you...tighter
We must be loving and trusting each other for ever"

Share Saints brothers of Antigua - Tighter.mp3 - 9 MB

 or 

http://www.mediafire.com/file/pn5sbwc106seltu/Saints_brothers_of_Antigua_-_Tighter.mp3

Last but not least tune for tonight takes us to the 80's or even later. Do not know about the date of issue of this but it has this typical late 80's sound...very different vibe but I can't wait to share it with you.

Tune is from Moses E. Henriques, which is pretty unknown to me. It seems he did a tune for Wackie's in 1982 according to discogs (https://www.discogs.com/Moses-Itopia-Band-When-The-Vampire-Come-To-Your-Neighborhood/release/4733134).

This 12" comes on the Mokin original label and if you have a proper sound system to drop it, the riddim is masive. Straight forward lyrics, the singer claims that he's "ready, willing and able to put bread on the table" and support the family.

Rare and enjoyable piece of digi/rub a dub in my book.

Share Moses E. Henriques and The Revealers - Ready willing and able - Mokin original 12_.mp3 - 9 MB

http://www.mediafire.com/file/mq8c6db94tr8uu8/Moses_E._Henriques_and_The_Revealers_-_Ready_willing_and_able_-_Mokin_original_12_.mp3

That's all for tonight but stay tuned as more is coming, hopefully soon!

Peace to one and all!

Ben

In these times

Hello people,

Quite some time since last post, sorry to be so elusive...
A quick one tonight while digitalizing some of the latest additions to the vaults.
This one is re-take of extra classic "summertime" theme from the great George Gershwin.
Errol Walker did a first re-lick of it with Lee Perry, that you can find here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkMRXQygxTI
A repress of this tune has been done on 7" recently, that I do not know if it's legit or bootleg business.
On the 7" cut, the lyrics are quite the same as on original song and the tune benefits from Perry dubbing expertise.

Well, here is the later 12" cut on Solid Gold, second 12" release on that label, as B side to All my love to give.
I did not know much about Errol Walker but it appears is lead vocalist to the band The In Crowd, who did the massive hit "Mango Walk" that you will find on the superb Darker than blue comp' (PK label for the vinyl release and Blood and Fire for the CD).

The year of release of the 12" is unknown to me but it sounds like 1979 or 1980 release with that typical drumming that reminds of Sly Dumbar, super tight on the snare drum; repetitive and hypnotic bassline, just balanced by some organ. Just add the smooth as sugar voice (made deeper by constant echo effect) and that timeless theme and you get a hell of tune.

This is to be played loud when summertime comes, but while waiting the nice days to come, it warms my heart nice!

Share Errol Walker - In these times - Solid Gold 12_.mp3 - 12 MB

or
http://www.mediafire.com/file/mlz6y3silz8c5bi/Errol_Walker_-_In_these_times_-_Solid_Gold_12_.mp3

I hope you like this as much as I do, just click on the blue link to download the tune in nice quality.

Feel free to comment or leave a hello while listening,

More soon,

Peace!

Best ever roots instrumental!!!!! (at least for me...)

Hello Ladies and Gents, 

Today's feature is nothing less than what I consider the best ever instrumental roots reggae tune of all times. Obviously this is a subjective opinion and if you want to champion this, you are very welcome to submit your own favourite!

I've been hunting this for a long time and am very happy to finally be able to share this with you all.

So, not much information about the band The Righteous Foundation. According to Discogs, some of the tunes are credited to Hopeton Thaxter, Maurice Roberts, Randall Thaxter.

More or less, these are non other than original members of the much more known Gaylads band!

Another interesting link is that they also are credited as composers of the other deep roots favourite tune "Wolf in sheep clothing" by...The Upright Foundation (on the Wisdom label, featured on the excellent Wanted compilation on Makasound).

Many interesting links here!

Production duties are done by Delroy Hinds who vocalised, wrote or arranged some nice Burning Spear and Horace Andy tunes.

What to say about the tune itself? 

It's a stormer steppers piece with a prominent trombone (anyone who knows who plays it?) and very nice horns section arrangements. The melody reminds me of some of the best Rico pieces form the man from Wareika period. The trombone solo form 1:34 to 2:02 is a masterpiece, the little "birds" sounds and other percussive additions, all here is rich and well done!

Icing on the cake, the B-side is blessed by a very delicate, still heavy dub mix of the tune. By stripping the piece to the bone it gives the drumming/guitar more presence and, as a steppers piece, it guarantees every massive to go mad dancing!

So here it is, just click on blue link below the labels to access this beautiful tune! 

Peace to one and all and to the world!

 

 

Share The Righteous Foundation - The second comming - Cosmic label 7.zip - 16 MB

http://www.mediafire.com/file/xuwvoi4xu9dqaju/The_Righteous_Foundation_-_The_second_comming_-_Cosmic_label_7.zip

PS : I received two comments by on person today (a first in this blog's history!). So this post goes livicated to David, whoever and wherever you are.

Gully bank...

Hello people,

In these times when the US and many European countries are trying to close their borders and bring new boundaries to culture, people and thinking it is time to share more and more!

And what I can share is some music :-)

So here is a new 7" ina me boxes, from early 80's (1982 to be precise).

Roots music from that era tends to be more crude than the golden 70's (less horns, more organ, heavier mixes, and eventually crude in the lyrics also).

This one is heavy in the mix and serious in the lyrics.

Devon Russell (half of the Lloyd and Devon combo) sings about these tuff times when violence was rising in the island : "you gotta be a tuff hombre to stay in town, you gotta be a tuff tuff hombre to move 'round and r'ound, You gotta be real cool if you want to keep your crown" and then warning the bad boys "ranking a burried 'pon gully bank in these times". Literally "the high end killers ("ranking") will end up in the sewer..."

The riddim is tuff also and will most certainly make you move your feet, fe sure!

So here are both sides for you to enjoy and heat a bit this winter.

Peace to you all,

Ben

Share Devon Russell - Gully Bank - High Music 7_.zip - 14 MB

Rub a dub fever

Hello y'all!
Just a quick one this evening.

I received a LP today, not one you see so much in the Fatman Ridim Section series.
It's titled Dub in South Africa and its a Dub/DJ combination style LP with Brigadier Hulk as DJ (absolute unknown to me, any info welcome).
It's not the whole LP that's good and the toasting is quite basic stuff (even if he does not stop to rest!) but the opening title of B-Side "African Rub a dub" is so heavy when played loud that I listened to it all afternoon and so I must share it with you!

That bass (somehow it reminds me od natural mystic...) and the elusive horns section in the back, plus tipically echoed keyboard drives me mad (and I am usually not fond of these rud a dub riddims).
I kinda fantasize of playing this on a proper sound system to feel the ground tremble on a nice open air venue under summer sun, hummm!

So here is the ugly but funny cover and the label design, and the link to the tune itself below.
Hope you like it, as I said and as the cover suggets, this is heavy weapon so play it LOUD with bass boosted and get the "Rub a dub fever"!
NB : I have to re-record it 5 times, don't know why Audacity kept cutting parts of the tune as if it was skipping (the record is as new...) so I had to listen to it many times and...it's getting better every time :-)

Share Fatman Ridim Section meets Brigadier Hulk - African rub a dub.mp3 - 10 MB

Hey nice, it seems my browser is generating direct links again (so you don't have to cut/paste this time but simply click on the link above, nice and easy!

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