musicology #456

TheManWithTheBag #6

(Nitty Gritty – We 3 Kings)

Moving out of the 50’s Doo Wop into a majestic slice of mid 80’s Christmas dancehall Reggae from Santa’s ‘JamDown’ bag courtesy of Glen Augustus Holness a.k.a ‘Nitty Gritty’ one of my favourite DJ’s. Born in Kingston in 1957 His life was cut short at the tender age of 34 outside Super Power record shop in New York. Much speculation as to the who and why and as I wasn’t there I’m not going to add to it. Suffice it to say that yet another talented artist was cut down in his prime by gunshot.

musicology #449

3 Is TheMagicNumber #2

(Beres Hammond – Always Be There)

Small piece frazzled today..didn’t have a late one, (home by 1:30am), but people kept offering to buy me drinks once they found out it was my birthday and I know I could have refused or had water but I didn’t….got to change my poison from vodka as it doesn’t do me any favours the day after. In fact I very rarely drink alcohol, (only when I’m out on the tiles), so it should be easy for me to swerve it. Good night though spent with two true spars. the kind of friends that you would stand with under any circumstances no matter what the odds. I love them both dearly and always enjoy their company and spending the remainder of my birthday with them was a bonus on top of a fantastic day.

today’s cut is courtesy of another Jamaican musicologist and vocalist of the highest order who has already featured on themusicologist and will have his own week on here soon..Hugh Beresford Hammond with the type of cut the man is famous across Jamaica for delivering with all the sincerity and tenderness that could be poured into a song..from memory the 45 is on the Star Trail label which is responsible for many, many fine cuts of 90’s reggae. I’m shooting from the hip but, again from memory, I believe the year to be 1996/7

musicology #435

Fragments #1

(Beres Hammond – Giving Thanks)

New theme starts this week the title of which is owed to the small book that I have just read and been inspired by, (this theme could run for a while).The author is Jean Baudrillard and what I plan to do is highlight one ‘fragment’ every day and lay it down here. First up;

” History reproducing itself becomes farce. Farce reproducing itself becomes history”

backed up by a random slice of musicology that is not necessarily connected to the quote but has also ’spoken’ to me recently….

On the subject of inspiration I would like to take this opportunity to pay a special tribute  to a true friend, (and they don’t grow on trees), whose company I had the PLEASURE of sharing on Friday night and well into Saturday morning who has been a constant source through these troubled times…and I hope will continue to be forever..you bring the sun out..thank you.

The cut is from the magnificent Hugh Beresford Hammond..Jamaican musicologist of the first degree..whose career stretches back into the 70’s and is yet another Jamaican singer and songwriter who deserves far more international exposure than he has received especially when there is so much po(o)p out there these days..anyway, rather than launch into a tirade about the state of the music industry I’ll just let Beres ’speak’

musicology #432

butterfly mind #2

(Anthony Malvo – Simmer Down)

part two of the butterfly..

majestic piece of 90’s steppers from ‘Red Rose’. have an even better cut !! on this rhythm but I’ll keep that one in reserve until the right time come.

listen tune..

musicology #431

butterfly mind #1

(Delroy Wilson – Keep On Trying)

Over the last few days/weeks/months..maybe even years !! I have been doing a LOT of, (maybe too much?), thinking and subsequently find myself a bit lost as I wander through a maze of internal dialogue that seems to do nothing but ask questions.

The butterfly mind has that capacity, mesmerising to observe as it flutters from one place to another but a hard road to travel and extremely distracting. I don’t know whether ‘the road’ leads anywhere particular as, for me, it tends to be the journey more than the destination but responsibility both for self and others, (children), is a great leveller and something I take VERY seriously so it feels like I’ll have to turn my gaze from the butterfly and focus instead on building “a heaven on the earth”

as for themusicologist, I have spent too much energy searching for cuts that expressed my deepest feelings which has bottlenecked the flow of music. so from now my intention is to set the music free from the bondage of too much meaning and just try to lay down one slice a day that I feel like sharing. It will continue to be the soundtrack to my life but with a little more freedom.

first up…one from Delro’ (Wilson), Jamaican musicologist and sweet soul singer whose career stretches way back to the early sixties when he cut his recording teeth in 1963 at the tender age of 15, hooking up to Sir Coxsone, Downbeat the Ruler Dodd’s Studio 1. big 10 inch from the 1970’s on one of Coxsone’s many labels, (music lab).

musicology #365

Ideology&Philosophy #6

(Luciano – Know Yourself)

Following on from yesterday’s introduction to the ‘Enlightenment’ with a four minute critique of one of it’s most revered figures, Immanuel Kant whose contribution to the ideology of ‘Reason’ is as important as Plato’s was to ‘Dialogue’. The key word today is Metaphysics…

The musical wisdom is one from themusicologist’s top ten. Wicked slice of late 20th Century ’steppers’ from the prophet Luciano on the Chant Out Label.

“The greatest knowledge is the knowledge of god and self, It surpasses material wealth,
Seek ye first wisdom ’cause that’s your health and strength,
It will preserve your soul until the end,
Consider yourself oh important my child..be positive and live upright,
Before you think about taking one’s life…think twice..”

musicology #0331

DownbeatTheRuler #11

(Lone Ranger – Dance ‘A Fi Cork)

A rare treat for all ‘Downbeat’ Lovers…Lone Ranger in the dance waxing lyrical on the Larry Marshall Killer ‘Throw Me Corn’.

‘Late Night Blues’ connoisseurs selection  recorded live in the dance sometime in 1983?

Taken from the Studio 1 LP ‘Battle Of The DJ’s’

musicology #297

JamaicanVocalGroupAction #8

(The Meditations – Stranger In Love)

Moving into a wicked slice of late 70’s ‘Lovers’ from the Wambesi Stable. Produced by Roy Cousins.

musicology #195

teachings of billionaire YenTzu #5

(Beres Hammond – Focusing Time)

Guiding The Horse, (Governing Your Willpower)

The horse reared in fright as the shrouded man walked unexpectedly onto the path and startled it.

‘Ho there,’ gried the carriage driver, struggling to regain control of his animal. ‘What devil does such a thing! What do you think you are doing suddenly appearing like that?’

‘In peace, I am no devil, moreover, if there were a demon it is within your hand, creating a reign of terror upon unsuspecting travellers,’ answered the man.

‘You are either a sage or a simpleton, speaking as you do,’ said the carraige driver. ‘The former I’ll wager, for any fool can see that this powerful horse has been finely trained and is well harnessed,’

‘Of what good is the strength of a horse and the control of a harness, if the direction of the will guiding the driver’s hand is elsewhere?’ said the sage. ‘It is clear that you are on this road against your will.’

‘What nonsense do you speak of?’ retorted the carraige driver, wondering how the sage had hit upon the truth with his last remark. ‘Explain yourself, or you’ll feel the lash of more than my tongue!’

‘The fine carraige in which you sit can be likened to the body; the powerful horse to your feelings and desires; you, as driver, are like the mind; and your will is the master of them all. Will is the development of a wish, the command that turns a wish into an action. It is clear that you have no wish to travel wherever you now go, because your will was not ready for the unexpected. The unexpected is the test of true constancy, Man’s self-governing key. You did not wish this trip, so, your will lacked the tenacity, steadfastness, stability and fortitude that a road such as this demands. A resolute will has power, control and direction working together. When man lacks this unity, his lack of will is plain for all to see, no matter how he may disguise it.’

‘In truth I have no desire to make this trip,’ said the carraige driver. ‘But the will of my master is such that I have no choice, though in my heart I know misfortune will come of the business I am ordered to do.’

‘It is indeed far easier to train a wild beast than educate one’s own will to perform, because of Man’s uncertainty as to what he really wants,’ replied the sage. ‘That is why Man continues to yield the power of his own will to the will of others and calls it destiny.’

musicology #167

malevocals2 #5

(Amblique – Yesterday)

big night tonight…a friend’s 40th birthday bash and ‘yer man’, (themusicologist), is selecting the sounds.

the menu consists mainly of Soul, Funk and Boogie, (70’s and 80’s), but I’ve also put together a ‘Dancehall’ set and a ‘Dubstep’ selection to satisfy all tastes…should be a top night…almost all the ‘cats’ are making an appearance.

this cut, a cover of The Beatles song ‘Yesterday’, is by one of my favourite ‘digital’ singers over the last 15 years who began his career as a youth under the tutelage of Derrick ‘One Stop’ Harriott’ in 1970 as Ramone The Mexican but it wasn’t really until 1994 when he teamed up with Sly & Robbie that his career began to take off, which just goes to show the importance of sticking to your guns. since then he has continued to ‘tear up’ the dance with his recordings and performances.

this one is taken from a 45, (a vinyl single to all those digital heads), and it’s a Clive Hunt production on the Kickin’ label from around 1996, (if memory serves me right), as is often the case there is very little information on the label, not even an ‘engineer’ credit…no surprise really as I doubt the song was licensed from whoever holds the rights.

musicology #153

duets2 #2

(Beres Hammond & Marcia Griffiths – Live On)

I had planned on throwing this one down yesterday but for some unknown reason my internet connection was playing tricks and locked me out of the ‘information highway’
so i’m taking this opportunity to fling it now in case it happens again.

day two of the duets selection is one of the tunes that drew me back to the sweet sounds of Jamaica in 1993 after a year spent in the musical wilderness waiting to be inspired after 5 years listening, playing and DJ’ing ‘house’ which by then had made the transition from under to overground and was being used to to sell cat food, yoghurt, etc …

the male vocal comes from the pipes of the mighty Beres Hammond whose career stretches back to the early 70’s but for themusicologist it was throughout the 90’s that he established himself as one of Reggae’s greats. one of those rare artists who rarely seem to put a foot wrong, (Bobby Bland is another who springs to mind), this cat could charm the birds out of the trees with his blend of harmony, sincerity and effortless timing.

the female vocal is courtesy of the queen of Jamaican music .. Marcia Griffiths. whose career stretches way back into the sixties, first as solo singer, (1964), then in tandem with Bob Andy, (musicology #37), then as member of Bob Marley & the Wailers backing group the I-Threes.

this piece, (which I never tire of hearing), produced by Donovan Germain for his trend setting Penthouse label is a slice of the ‘College Rock’ rhythm from 1992/3, a ‘digital’ reworking of Jackie Mittoo’s late 60’s Studio1 cut ‘Freak Out’…

beautiful song sung expertly by two of Jamaica’s premier vocalists….one especially for all the couples out there who understand what it takes to hold on when the road is rough and rocky.

“live on….”

musicology #151

ladiesweek2 #5

(Tanya Stephens – Friends)

first of two cuts today and the penultimate on the ladiesweek2 selection.
having thrown down four from the distant past it’s time to bring it up to date a piece.

this one was bought by themusicologist from dubvendor, (Ladbroke Grove), where I spent MANY happy and fruitful hours, (and ££’s), buying up armfuls of top ranking 45’s. If I was given the choice to have treble my money back in return for said wax the answer would be:

“not for all the tea in China”

not only the music but the memories are priceless and money doesnt buy ‘em.
Released on the ‘Hyped’ label in 1996, produced and arranged by ‘Callo’ Collins and sung by Tanya Stephens, (one a few on the Rhythm), for themusicologist this is the choicest of them.

special request to ‘Redman’ and ‘Face’..musicologists of the first degree

“everybody wants to be close to you,
cause you’re a star,
you can’t see this little person,
from up there where you are,

and it hurts to know,
that there’s nothing I can do,
but sit around and wait,
for reality to catch up with you,

for when the glory days are over,
and the spotlight turns away,
and nobody wants to know you,
cause you belong to yesterday,

it’s all about the friends who were there from the start,
should never part you are my friend,
not about the ones who are coming around,
now that thing’s a gwan, that makes me vex,

all about the friends who were there from the start,
should never part you are my friend,
not about the ones who are coming around,
now that thing’s a ‘gwan, that makes me vex….vex,

everyone wants a piece of you,
cause you’ve got fame,
you’re so caught up in the light,
you don’t even hear me calling your name,
and it’s sad to see that you could be so naive,
that everything you see you’d be willing to believe,

but when the glory days are over and the curtain starts to fall,
and nobody wants to hear you, let me be the one you call,
cause it’s all about the friends who were there from the start,
should never part, you are my friend,
not about the ones who are coming around,
now that thing’s a ‘gwan, that makes me vex…vex,

cause when you’re feeling alone thinking you’re on your own ill be waiting,
and when the shadows fall and your backs to the wall I’m still waiting,

you are my friend, my friend, you’re my friend, you are my friend,

everybody’s got a thing for you cause your in style,
your so ????????????????????????
that you get fooled by every smile,
and its sad to see that you could really be so weak,
that you think every friend is genuine and every friend is fit to keep,

but when the glory days are over and the curtain start to fall,
and nobody wants to hear you, let me be the one you call,
cause it’s all about the friends who were there from the start,
should never part, you are my friend,
not about the ones who are coming around,
now that thing’s a gwan, that makes me vex…vex

musicology #51

(One Drop Of Rain – Wayne Wonder)

Another day another dollar, (or not as the case may be)

fulfilling a request from a dear friend for this one so without delay JP, this one’s especially for you

pucker slice of 1996 dancehall, (produced by the Shocking Vibes crew), from one of my favourite singers. A cat who has been dropping musical bombs for nigh on 20 years and delivers almost, (nobodys perfect), everytime he takes the mic .. Mr Charles, y’ large.

musicology #49

(Once I Was Lonely – Gregory Issacs)

still spinning .. rollin and tumblin. hold this top piece of ‘lovers’ from the
‘cool ruler’ who had this to say..

” I think that the power of music is in love songs because every day people fall in love, Gregory Issacs doesn’t fall in love, Gregory Issacs stands in love”

lyrics, don Gregory, lyrics ..

mid 90’s Winston Riley production for his own Techniques label.

musicology #27

day 7 .. Ladiesweek.

(Timi – It’s Over)

its been tough staying on top of the theme but, musicologically, worth the effort.

last one from the ladies and yep..it’s from the 90’s.

moving out of the soul into one of themusicologists other musical passions .. the sweet sounds of Jamaica. This one, produced by Beres, and mixed by ‘Bulby’ is from 1998.