I scribbled away the other day and look what I've just cooked up below for you all to read (by the way you are the 10,000,000000000th reader and you win precisely nothing, god even RYANAIR wouldn't be that stingy!) What to write about? well Reggae I think is a good enough topic to examine. Anyway all of this preamble is starting to get like BRIAN LENIHAN (Senior) warming up for C.J. HAUGHEY so I'll let your eyes wander. No not in that direction. Read on:
Listening to the legendary John Peel (RIP) from the mid eighties helped cement my interest in Reggae music. Many people love to name check top Reggae stars such as BOB MARLEY or LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY, but I prefer to listen to a wider range. In around 1988 I happened to be in Dublin Airport when I chanced upon an audio tape that was lying on the counter in the airport's branch of Bank of Ireland. No one was near it so I kept it ('You want locking up' ,I hear you say). I asked my father if I could play it on the car stereo when we were leaving the airport and what I heard has stayed with me throughout my life.
On side one was a concert of the ROLLING STONES from the early 1970's but on side two was a live recording of what was scrawled on the tape: 'REGGAE SUNSPLASH'. Afterwards I learnt that the artist featured was STEEL PULSE. Listening to 'Hansworth Revolution' for the first time was an absolutely wonderful experience and it continues to thrill me. These are the stuff of memories. From that moment on I was wrapped in the bind of Reggae music.
Coinciding with acquiring the tape was my discovery of a Reggae programme on a local radio station (Horizon Radio) which broadcast to South Co.Dublin and North Wicklow (now East Coast FM) and it was immensely pleasurable to hear. Of course I was unable to either see or buy any records at that age. The few independent record shops in Dublin didn't stock much Reggae and I never had much cash either. So that limited me from actually owning any Reggae records and it meant that what was played 'on air' held extra importance for me. An early favorite of mine was CULTURE, a band fronted by a man called Joseph Hill (RIP). I can remember taping one of the programmes on Horizon and listening continuously to 'Who Are The Terrorists? Who Are The Heroes?' by MACCA B which was a commentary on the racist state of South Africa in the 1980's. I have always been politically aware, so my love of that sort of music has endured over the years.
Listening to radio introduced me to other Reggae artists such as GREGORY ISAAC, LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY, BLACK UHURU, DESMOND DEKKER, BURNING SPEAR, LUCIANO, DENNIS BROWN....(Can't think of anymore but the list could continue. It's actually wrist strain at the keyboard!). By the mid 1990's Reggae started to have a significant presence in reputable record shops in Dublin on both vinyl and a new format, CD. I can recall a time when HMV were clearing out their vinyl, to make way for CD's and bargains were a plenty! I bought LP's by ERROLL DUNKLEY, GREGORY ISAAC and also FRANKIE PAUL. They were a nice addition to my collection.
CHARLY, PRESSURE SOUNDS, BLOOD AND FIRE, ATTACK, JET STAR, TROJAN, GREENSLEEVES were just some of the labels catering for Reggae lovers everywhere and they soon became easier and easier to access in Ireland. Reggae fans no longer had problems grooving and grinding to heavy bass sounds and with the opening of Tower Records, in the 1990's, Reggae had become established as a mainstream musical interest and everything it entailed (the smoking ban has also had an affect but that's another story).
Around the late 1990's I was 'working' in a record shop in central Dublin when I met a guy who set up a specialised Reggae shop in the capital and the excitement was palpable, it was unique. The business he started is still, I believe, in existence and I have bought, over the years, many Dub releases that were for sale there. He used to stock the latest re-issues and each week I would try and make a bee-line to his shop to satisfy my craving for Reggae. AUGUSTUS PABLO, KING TUBBY, THE ABYSSINIANS, MAX ROMEO, KEITH HUDSON and PRINCE FAR I would be some of my purchases and it was an education listening to these artists as well as many others mainly to be found on compilations.
The aforementioned PRINCE FAR I would, probably, have to be one of my favorites. His style was almost, if you can imagine, of a preacher. You never had a clue what the hell he was on about, but he sounded FANTASTIC. All I can say is he must have been smoking industrial amounts of weed. ALTHEA and DONNA, JOHNNY CLARKE and LINTON KWESI JOHNSON were on the Virgin/Frontline label and they were also part of a re-issue programme (on CD). I snapped up these recordings on mid-price when they became available. Trojan Records have also been responsible for putting out great Reggae music since the 1970's and they were re-activated in the late 1990's opening up Reggae's sweet tones to countless new ears.
Nowadays there are no longer any difficulties for people getting hold of Reggae here in Ireland and I am now the owner of hundreds of Reggae CD's. I no longer buy as many as I used to but have never lost the thrill of listening to them. The 1970's would have to be the 'Golden Age' of Reggae and the more modern artists such as BUJU BANTON, SIZZLA, SEAN PAUL, SHABBA RANKS have less of an impact on my listening habits. Recently I got a mix compilation by a guy called DJ SPOOKY (on Trojan, a double CD). Well it was a joy to hear. I am a firm believer that Reggae sounds particularly good when the weather is fine - it is such a good feeling. It must be the most al fresco of all musical genres and I took the CD outside with the stereo one sunny morning and it felt wonderful. Almost as good as coffee!
Along with certain Jazz artists (DEXTER GORDON, WES MONTGOMERY, HORACE SILVER, JACKIE McLEAN, JIMMY SMITH, 'BROTHER' JACK McDUFF), I find Dub Reggae a very relaxing form of music. KING TUBBY is, for me, on of the foremost exponents of that sound and, listened to late at night, has an almost tranquilising effect (obviously spliffs come in here,if that's what floats your boat). However LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY is probably the most notorious practitioner of the Dub sound. He is legendary in Reggae for his production techniques and also his eccentricity. However, having listened to SOME of his many recordings (a new CD comes out nearly every day) and also having seen him live I feel his is rather over-rated. He now lives in Switzerland and I wouldn't say he'll ever have to beg for a living. Sure, he will always have his place in the history of Reggae but these days his reputation precedes him.
As a footnote to this blog I have decided to mention a few releases that I believe will be a good introduction to anyone interested in exploring Reggae a bit more:
- Most critics agree that 'Arkology' , a 3CD set of LEE PERRY's work is one of his best set of recordings and it should be sought out.
- Another fine piece is an album called 'Heart of The Congo's' by THE CONGO's and it is available on the wonderful BLOOD AND FIRE label based in Manchester, UK.
- BUNNY WAILER's 'Black Heart Man' is also worth a purchase.
- Trojan Records carry an enormous amount in their catalogue and their website is always worth a look: http://www.trojanrecords.com/
- For those of you with an interest in social commentary CULTURE or LINTON KWESI JOHNSON would be two artists with their hearts in the right place and in my opinion rarely disappoint. Sadly Joseph Hill (CULTURE) died a couple of years back, but LKJ is still with us and regularly gigs. One of his most famous recordings is 'Stand Down Margaret' his riposte to the former British Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher.
- TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS continue to thrill fans and 'Monkey Man' is a party favorite. A wonderful feel good sound.
- As far as I am concerned PRINCE FAR I is beyond criticism. I would say anything of his recordings should be listened to - a legend in musical history.
- Finally everyone should check out the many releases of KING TUBBY who is widely regarded (alongside LEE PERRY) as being essential listening for all fans of Dub. Heavy!
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