I'll be spinning some vintage Jamaican vinyl, as DJ Franco Nero, along with my co-hort Diamond Age this coming Tues, July 27th at the Doublewide at the eastern end of Deep Ellum right here in Dallas, TX.
I've been putting together a pretty decent selection of tracks. My specialty is early '80s Dancehall but we're gonna be covering the history of reggae from SKA to early digital and all points in-between. I'm planning on throwing in a special tribute to the late Sugar Minott somewhere in the mix. So come out next week from 9 to whenever. It's free. Have a Red Stripe or Heineken and get down to some golden sounds. If we get a decent enough response, we're planning on doing it again somewhere in town.
It's ironic that my last post was about Lincoln "Sugar" Minott. The veteran Jamaican singer-songwriter-producer and DJ passed away this past Saturday July 10 at the age of 54. No real details have emerged concerning the cause of his death although speculation centers around his recent bout with heart problems that prevented him from performing at recent shows. Sugar's death has brought out many heartfelt tributes from his friends and fans. He was a tireless promoter of Jamaican music and JA youths -- indeed his sound was called Youthman Promotion. His greatest legacy, however, will be the many many LPs he released including his first, 1977's Live Loving on Studio One. He was one of the first if not the first reggae singer to perform lyrics over established Studio One rhythms, a move which changed the direction of reggae forever. Echoes of his distinctive vocal style can be heard in many artists who followed in his footsteps including Barrington Levy and Triston Palmer.
I can't believe it's already July... Insane. Yeah, it's freakin' hot here in Big D. I've been getting a serious office tan the past couple of months, so its not as big a deal to me as it could be. I've also been taking a serious detour into Jamaican music the past few months (in case you didn't notice from the last several posts). Still on a serious kick. I'm digging deep. Way deep. I've pushed past my regular diet of rocksteady and early dub and waded in neckdeep into dancehall territory. I've been appreciating artists I never heard about a year ago. Like Winston Hussey, Rod Taylor. Susan Cadogan. Sugar Minott is almost a household name to reggae fans, but I never listened much to him until recently. Now he's one of my favorites. His 10" dubplate, Dance Hall Showcase Vol II is one of my favorite releases. It's a no frills slab o' full-on Wackie's dub madness with some compelling vocals from Mr. Minott sprinkled on top. Serious business. Nice German repress too, if you can find it.
There is a ton of unsung talent in Jamaican music history. And tons of artists who intially hit big and never really fully realized their commercial potential in the international music community. I wouldn't call the high-tenored Triston Palma (or Tristan Palmer as he is sometimes known) a "one-hit wonder." The guy's too good for that label. His biggest and most well-known chune being the incredible Jah Thomas-penned and produced "Entertainment" which became an anthem for the contemporary dancehall set in JA back in '81. The record still sounds awesome. Despite it's specific lyrical content, it has aged very well. It's actually timeless. Its hypnotic two note riff sharing space with a soulful vocal and the occasional stab of melodic brass here and there just to keep it all interesting. Classic. Triston also recorded an amazing album with the Roots Radics (also produced by Thomas) around the same time titled, quite appropriately, TRISTON PALMA SHOW CASE ON A ROOTS RADICS DRUM AND BASS SPECIAL REQUEST TO THE MUSIC LOVER (whew). It's fantastic. I particularly like the track "Sandra." Lots of tight dub courtesy of the Radics' bassist Flabba Holt.
I'm a huge fan of Jamaican deejay duo Michigan and Smiley and I'm proud to say that Papa Michigan (aka Baddingo aka Anthony Fairclough) has recently dropped a first class new solo album called Love Iz.
M&S were the foundation rub-a-dub team (and first duo) coming up around '78, '79 when Papa Michie and the Original General were still in their youthman years. They rode rough on a clutch of souped-up Studio One rhythms overseen by the man himself, Coxsone Dodd. If you haven't heard Rub-a-Dub Style (Studio One) you should probably stop what you're doing and get it. Copies seem to be as rare as hen's teeth these days but I recommend starting on Ebay. Highly recommended -- as are M&S other LPs, particularly the rootsy Downpression and Step By Step, both with instrumental backing by the Roots Radics at the peak of their powers.
Sonicly, Love Iz is about as far away from Rub-a-Dub Style as one can get. Michigan has adopted a more rapid and edgier vocal style in the past several years and his music has been updated and sounds rock solid. The opener, "Yutes of Today," just as on Rub-a-Dub, however, reaches back into the past for its rhythmic base, in this case the classic "Declaration of Rights" riddim. There are also departures into a more, mainstream R&B sound on several numbers, particularly "Work it Up" and "Husla." Michigan, who produced the bulk of the album, displays an excellent delivery and flow and a surprisingly strong singing voice here. The legendary deejay has given us a fresh set of killer tunes that maintain his trademark social conscience, positive outlook and spirituality -- but he's also not afraid to "Light Up" and let loose which is what makes Papa Michigan so much fun to listen to. You can tell you're listening to a guy who's making music and having a blast doing it. Look out for guest appearances by Al Campbell, Luciano, Tarrus Riley and Hopeton Lindoamong others. Oh yeah, it's also got the anthemic "Barack Obama" on it. If I were President, I'd make it the new "Hail to the Chief." Pick it up at ebreggae.com or download at Amazon.com.
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