musicology #323

DownbeatTheRuler #3

(Alton & Hortense Ellis – Easy Squeeze)

Out all day yesterday working the tees so apologies for not dropping a next ‘Downbeat bomb’ through your speakers. Hopefully today’s slice of the Coxsone pie will make up for it.

A classic piece of Brentford Road Rock Steady that has trembled my marrow for many years. Could have thrown it down a few times on previous themes but for reason unbeknown to ‘mesang’ didn’t until today.

One of the most emotive, hard hitting, Rough & Tough cuts of the Rock Steady period in my humble opinion…lyrics, vocals, music all combining in soul searching harmony to communicate a message concerning  the quest for that most elusive of feelings, True Love.

Recorded and first released in 1966? for Dodd by the Godfather Of Rocksteady Alton Ellis alongside his younger Sister Hortense, both of whom are sadly no longer with us. What is however (and will be for as long as music like this is being loved and played), are their ‘works’ many of which sit comfortably at the very top of the musicology tree.

Hortense was Jamaica’s ‘first female vocalist’ cutting her teeth as early as 1959 on such legendary talent shows as Vere John’s Opportunity hour, (where many a ‘Jam Down’ legend begun their careers), but it wasn’t until a few years later in 1961 under the tutelage of Downbeat that she begun a recording career. For sure having Alton as a brother helped but anyone who has heard her sing would agree that merit was the foundation stone apoun which she built a career that stretched right up to her untimely death in 2000 AD. Recording for many of the greatest Jamaican producers such as Duke Reid, Bunny Lee, Harry Mudie and Gussie Clarke, (to name a few)

As regulars may be aware Alton has featured more than any other Jamaican artist on themusicologist over the preceeding two years so I won’t wax lyrical on the man and his music today other than to reiterate that it was he and the previous Artist, (Bob Andy), who first opened my ears and heart to Downbeat The Ruler’s output and for that I am eternally grateful..

So in Tribute to the memories of Alton, Hortense and Clement Seymour ‘Sir Coxsone / Downbeat The Ruler’ Dodd hold this…..

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