Hello,
Long time I wanna do this one post and cultivate the idea of it.
It always surprised me that on reggae records sales listings, roots sung by women was refered to as "female roots" while tuns performed by male singers is just called..."roots". Maybe something related to mysoginy or phalocracy in general and in reggae music also... Women are refered to as "queen" or "empress" in this culture but as in many other places few of them reached recognition while many of them managed the family business, and still do.
Well, the purpose of this post is obviously not to be a feminist call but rather to highlight some of my favourite roots tune performed by women artists. So without further labba labba, here is the first tune and to open this series let's use a stone cold killer...
Don't mash up creation, by Sharon Little is a huge roots tune that guarantees the crowd to shout PUUUUUUULLLLLLUP! Slow riddim, tight horns and percussion, plus concious lyrics, total classic and most wanted... Rinsed by Jah Shaka, a relick of this tune came out a few years ago on his own label that it's more available but with lesser raw mix. Here is the original in all its glory, with version included.
Hard to follow this one but let's try this...
This is a next cut to Gregory Isaacs Rock on tune on the same Observer label but the ladie's cut is as good or even better. Tune called On a saturday night by the artist Christine. The dub of this is tremendous, so much bass it saturated my digital capture.
Next tune is a masterpiece from Judy Mowatt, Black Woman, followed by a "dub poetry" piece on the same riddim by Joy Tulloch (is is an alias for Judy, the voice sounds quite the same...). A live rendering of this tune can be seen on the excellent Heartland reggae movie about one love peace concert, such a feeling. Purest skank, nice guitar ornaments, great horns and flute and above all the voice of that great lady (part of Bob Marley's harmonie's group the I-Threes for thos who don't know). Beautiful music indeed...
The DJ piece is about black women's pride compared to the image of a black rose. For those who understand, pay attention to the lyrics!
Next feature is a tune from the woman trio known as Roots and titled Evil that you do. This is the original JA pressing on the Don One label. From a repress it seems the vocal band is backed by the Wailers but really I do not know much about that one except that I like it a lot...and I need a better copy. As you'll see sound and label condition are not that good but still...enjoy this great piece of reggae music.
Next one is also a super classic, wanted piece by Yvonne Sterling, called Oh Jah on the very nice S&S Records label. Rasta lyrics, groovy bassline, again great guitar and percussion work. Singer calling for Jah mercy, heavy roots at its best (plus the dub as bonus...).
"Show us some mercy Jah Jah and protect those that follow your footsteps..."
Next tune is the most suitable for the dance as it is a very nice "steper" tune, meaning militant drumming and round and stomping bass. It is also a classic, by Beverley Williams on the Shaka label, tune called Sufferation. The organ, the drum and the bass are here laying a speedy riddim. The vocalist talent is not my favourite but does the job. The real treasure from my point of view lies on the b-side as the version is a MURDEROUS dub piece. Ting called Jam Tone dub, killaaaaaaa!
Another singer who did some great and respected pieces such as Prophecy or Destiny, here is a bit less known tune by sister Faybiene (or Fabienne, or Fabian...) Miranda on the Jaguar imprint. This tune is from the same year as me, 1979, andis titled Fire. The very recognizable voice of Faybiene on a mellow riddim with some (for the occasion) well used synth plus nice guitar ornaments. Very deep stuff. No dub on this piece and B-side suits not my taste so it won't be featured here.
Nice lyrics also if someone has the courage to write them down (are you there Sir James?).
Ok a little last one before I go to bed, without label picture as it is taken from a LP. This one is my very favourite one song (in my collection at least....) in reggae by a woman vocalist and it's the superb song Peace and Unity by the Sonya Spence. Taken from her first LP In the dark, on the High Note label (interesting it is a woman also that ran this label, the great Mrs Sonia Pottinger). This song is great for this time we're living and goes like this :
"Tell me why can't we stop the killing,
Why can't we stop the fighting and live and live in unity
Everyday we're fighting, taking our brother's life
It's time for peace Yeah it's time for peace.
Look at the beautiful world the father has given us to live in
and all we do s make war, yeah war.
You know it's time we start to live as human beings...."
Top notch riddim, great lyrics, BIM!
(If you like it as I do, you may grab a copy on 7" format as Frech reissue label Onlyroots, see here : https://www.discogs.com/Sonya-Spence-Peace-Unity/release/4353936)
Ok, it's time for me to rest a bit.
Hope you enjoyed the ride, don't hesitate to spread the word about this likkle page, Peace to one and all and more to follow soon!
