musicology #417
04 Aug 2009 2 Comments
in instrumental, Jamaica, Ska, Studio1 Tags: coxsone dodd, Don Drummond, Ivan Jahu Yap, jamaican music, Johnnie Dizzy Moore, Justin Yap, Marcus Garvey, ska mp3, studio 1, The Skatalites mp3, themusicologist, Top Deck mp3
AfterTheStorm #2
(Skatalites – The Reburial)
Stepping up the pace with this majestic piece of Jamaican musicology, (a tribute to Marcus Garvey), from the vaults. Recorded at Coxsone’s Brentford Road powerhouse, Studio 1 for Justin Yap and released on his top ranking Top Deck label.
musicology #382
21 May 2009 2 Comments
in duets, Jamaica, Mod, Ska Tags: 1962, Beverleys production, Derrick and Patsy mp3, Derrick Morgan mp3, Early Ska mp3, Housewifes Choice mp3, Island 45, jamaican music, Johnny Spencer, Mod music, Patsy Todd, themusicologist
Modernist #10
(Derrick & Patsy – Housewife’s Choice)
Sticking with the Jamaican selection with a next piece that was spun back in the day. The quote below from a cat named Ian Hebditch confirms conversations about them days that I have had with a good friend of mine’s Dad, (hold this one Don), who is Jamaican, born in 1947 and was there on the London scene at the time in question.
“There was a great degree of respect between the Mods and the West Indian Community. I personally found that. Within the Mod movement I don’t recollect any element of racism at all and by racism I mean anti-black feeling”.
Many a reason for this but one I would like to add is that in my experience Jamaicans have much of the mod/ernist attitude. Confident, Proud, Defiant, Dynamic are all attributes I have come across in my friends and their familys over the years and often have I witnessed this being interpreted as them having ‘a chip on their shoulder’ a misinterpretation that lingers on to this day.
Today’s cut is a 1962 slice from early Ska proponent Derrick Morgan in combination with a female singer by the name of Patsy Todd and I’ll leave it to Johnny Spencer to give you the details of the cut, a picture of the label and an informative piece of writing on it here on his magnificent project
musicology #328
10 Mar 2009 1 Comment
in Jamaica, Reggae, Studio1 Tags: coxsone dodd, Downbeat The Ruler, Dread At The Controls, Horace Andy mp3, jamaican music, Justin Hinds, Mikey Dread, reggae mp3, Skylarking, studio 1 mp3, themusicologist
DownbeatTheRuler #8
(Horace Andy – Found Somebody Of My Own)
Today on the Downbeat Tribute it’s the turn of Horace Hinds, (cousin of Justin) A.K.A Horace Andy renamed by Sir Coxsone in time for his seminal 1970 set ‘Skylarking’, (one of the first Studio 1 LP’s that themusicologist had the pleasure of owning). Introduced by the inimitable ‘Dread At The Controls’…Mikey Dread from a radio program showcasing Studio 1. Could have been one from any number of Horace’s recordings but didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to pay a second tribute on themusicologist to Mikey Dread who is no longer with us. Not only that but it’s one that is lesser known although, for me, just as good as many of his classics. Taken from one of the mighty Dread’s Rockers In The Morning sets.
Mikey and Horace…come in and let the people know what you’re talking about.
musicology #327
09 Mar 2009 3 Comments
in themusicologist Tags: Bobby Aitken, Charlie Organaire mp3, coxsone dodd, duke reid, Jackie Mitoo, jamaican music, Jerry Haynes, king edwards, Lloyd Brevett, Lloyd Knibb, Prince Buster, Rude Boy Charlie mp3, ska mp3, studio 1 mp3, The Caribbeats, themusicologist
DownbeatTheRuler #7
(Charlie Organaire – Rude Boy Charlie)
Day 7 of the Downbeat selection is a roasting piece of Ska featuring Harmonica player, producer and original member of Bobby Aitken’s Rocksteady pioneers The Caribbeats, Charles Cameron. Anytime you hear a harmonica played on a slice of Jamaican music, (especially Ska and Rocksteady), more than likely it’s the ‘Organaire’ blowing on sessions for the likes of Coxsone, (of course), Prince Buster, Duke Reid and King Edwards as well as many others.
This cut is also likely to feature the musical talents of Lloyd Brevett on Bass, Lloyd Knibb on Drums, Jah Jerry Haynes, on Guitar and Jackie Mittoo on piano the musical backbone apoun which the Studio 1 sound and success was built.
musicology #322
03 Mar 2009 5 Comments
in Jamaica, Reggae, Studio1, themusicologist Tags: 1966, Berry Gordy, Bob Andy mp3, Bob Andy's Song Book, coxsone dodd, Downbeat The Ruler, Early Reggae mp3, Going Home mp3, jamaican music, Prince Buster, sam cooke, studio 1 mp3, The Heptones, The Paragons, the wailers
DownbeatTheRuler #2
(Bob Andy – I’m Going Home)
Sir Coxson was a music lover and man on the street but also a businessman and a successful one at that which, in my experience is often not appreciated by those who have been left behind to hustle and scratch for survival on the tough streets of places like Kingston, London, New York etc. The truth is that many would rather see you stumble and fall than lift yourself out of the mean streets especially when, as far as they are concerned, (and maybe rightly so), you have made it off the sweat of their brow. This seems to have been the case with Coxsone as the years rolled on but it’s not easy to keep such an enterprise going, (as many record label owners would attest to), when everyone wants a slice of the pie. Coxsone not only put Studio 1 together but also kept it going right up until his death.
Possibly inspired by Cats like Sam Cooke whose SAR label was, (along with Berry Gordy’s Tamla Motown), a pioneer in the record business, Dodd couldn’t afford to ‘take any prisoners’ so paid the Artist, Arranger, Producer and Musician per side, (or as employee), rather than cut them in on the Action. After all it was he who was taking all the risk so why share the rewards? Any business person would agree with his appraisal of the situation but the Artist wouldn’t. To further highlight the point the singer of today’s cut is quoted to say;
“Clement Dodd is a good mentor and he really provided the facilities for a group of youngsters who would never have had anywhere to go in those days, but he could have done more for them. I would say Jamaican music suffers from a Coxsone syndrome.”
I can see why. It was they who created the ‘product’ for Dodd to capitalise on so why should they not be ‘cut in’? Dodd may say that “if you want a piece of the pie you also have to take some of the risk” which hardly any of the Artists were in a position to do. Cats like Prince Buster, (a businessman and Artist), saw the light and parted company with Dodd as soon as possible to make a name, (and hopefully some ‘corn’), for himself but of the many hundreds in Jamaican music history VERY few have much to show, financially, for their achievements.
What they do have though is a place in musical history that will last long after they have been laid to rest and an army of fans that continue to spread their name. Personally I would rather be the Artist than the businessman.
Anyway enough chat and on with the Downbeat show….
This 1966 !! cut, (his first solo piece), is courtesy of former Paragons founding member and songwriter supreme Keith Anderson, (Bob Andy), apparently backed up by The Wailers but to my ears it sounds more like The Heptones? anyway whoever is harmonising it’s Bob Andy’s wailing lead that cuts through and is one of my personal favourites…featured on one of the greatest Studio 1 LP’s Bob Andy’s Songbook.
Bob Andy….Live on…
musicology #292
21 Jan 2009 Leave a Comment
in Jamaica, Reggae, vocal group, World Tags: Derrick Harriott production, Early Reggae mp3, jamaican music, Jamaican Vocal Group mp3, music blog, Singer Man mp3, Skinhead music, Suedehead, The Kingstonians mp3, themusicologist
JamaicanVocalGroupAction #3
(Kingstonians – Singer Man)
Going back to what I wrote on day one of the theme about the sweet sounds of Jamaica being inspirational and lifting my sometimes troubled Soul. This cut produced by one of my favourite producers and foundation Jamaican musicologists Derrick ‘One Stop’ Harriott ranks high for themusicologist. Quality piece of late Sixties Reggae that many a young suedehead of all colours and flavours has and does skank to.
musicology #290
19 Jan 2009 5 Comments
in Jamaica, Rock Steady, themusicologist, World Tags: 1968, Doctor Bird mp3, Early Reggae mp3, jamaican music, Johnny and the Attractions mp3, rock steady mp3, Sonia Pottinger, The Heptones, the wailers, themusicologist, Young Wings Can Fly mp3
JamaicanVocalGroupAction #1
(Johnny & The Attractions – Young Wings Can Fly)
New theme on themusicologist featuring some of the cream of the Island’s musicologists. The music of Jamaica has been a feature of my musical education from my earliest days thanks, especially to two of my uncles, Dell and ‘Johnny One Stop’. Like many a youngblood growing up on the streets of London through the Seventies and Eighties Jamaican music loomed large. Starting in the early Seventies with groups like the Wailers and the Heptones, (both will be featured), and evolving backwards with the inner sanctum of Rocksteady and Roots as the Seventies moved into the Eighties Reggae has always been close to my heart. I learnt a lot about life through the sounds of the Groups, Artists and Producers whose music touched my soul with their authentic cries of ‘the struggle’ for survival and freedom.
Many’s the time I have turned to and found solace in the sounds of Jamaica, from Independence Ska all the way through to ‘Computerised’. So this week is a tribute to a small selection of the Cats who have shaped my life with their ‘weeping and a wailing’
First up is one from the second half of the sixties, released in the UK on Doctor Bird during 1968. Produced by Sonia Pottingers Gayfeet team delivered in a Rock Steady style by a group called Johnny & The Attractions….doesn’t get much better than this as far as I’m concerned.
musicology #132
19 Apr 2008 Leave a Comment
in Jamaica, Reggae Tags: 1969, Carlton Davis, Clifton ' Jackie' Jackson, dobby dobson, Gladstone ' Gladdy' Anderson, gregory issacs, Hux Brown, I Roy, Jamaica, jamaican music, Joe Higgs, johnny clarke, reggae mp3, Rupie Edwards mp3, The Heptones, themusicologist, tommy mccook, U Roy, Vin Gordon, Winston Wright
instrumentalsweek #5
(Rupie Edwards All Stars – Your New Love)
penultimate cut on the players selection and it’s another pearl from Jamaica. a Winston Wright organ led version of one of themusicologists favourite pieces of early Reggae, singer Dobby Dobson’s top ranking song ‘Your New Love’
although a singer of some fine songs Rupie Edwards was and is better known for his skills as a producer, having worked with such luminaries as Johnny Clarke, The Heptones, Gregory Issacs, the great Joe Higgs and foundation DJ’s U Roy and I Roy, (to name a few), and his contribution to the development of ‘Dub’ is sometimes overlooked. before the ‘version’ became the standard B-Side to every Jamaican 45, Rupie Edwards was experimenting with the instrumental and this one is an example of his capabilities.
(Probable Session Line Up)
Saxophone – Tommy McCook
Trombone – Vin Gordon
Drums – Carlton ‘Santa’ Davis
Guitar – Hux Brown
Piano – Gladstone ‘Gladdy’ Anderson
Bass – Clifton ‘Jackie’ Jackson
Organ – Winston Wright
musicology #113
09 Mar 2008 3 Comments
in Jamaica, Reggae, Studio1, themusicologist Tags: coxsone dood, jackie mittoo mp3, jamaican music, leroy sibbles, pablove black, people skanking, reggae mp3, studio 1 mp3, the new establishment, themusicologist
sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #36
(New Establishment – People Skanking)
final cut from Jackie and the last of the six/six/six. it was a toss up between this and a tune called Wall Street, (which is one of my personal favourites), but I went with this one because, for me, it sums up perfectly how music can give you the strength, (and courage), to keep on ‘stepping’ in the right direction. One of those ‘call to arms’ tunes that not only communicates but also delivers…another diamond from the Studio1 showroom that does exactly what the title suggests.
just leaves me to thank you all for listening and the six artists;
Sam Cooke / Stevie Marriott / Alton Ellis / Curtis Mayfield / Paul Weller and Jackie Mittoo for providing the ammunition over the past six weeks to ‘lick shot’
musicology #54
13 Nov 2007 Leave a Comment
in Jamaica, Reggae, themusicologist Tags: curtis mayfield, jamaican music, Love, Pat Kelly mp3, phil pratt, reggae mp3, Sun Shot 45, themusicologist
coversweek .. day2 (Soulful Love – Pat Kelly)
moving into the sweet sounds of Jamaica with this ‘Father Curtis’ penned tune. Originally sung by the Impressions in 1970, (if memory serves me right?) this piece produced by the man known as Phil Pratt. Sung by the majestic Pat Kelly, released in Jamaica on the SunShot Label.
for themusicologist it has all the attributes .. lyrics, vocals and production combining to deliver pure harmony….
listen tune..
musicology #27
07 Oct 2007 Leave a Comment
in dancehall, Jamaica Tags: beres hammond, Colin Bulby York, dancehall mp3, female vocals, harmony house 45, jamaican music, ladiesweek, Reggae, streamingaudio, themusicologist
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.



musicology #401
14 Jul 2009 1 Comment
by themusicologist in Jamaica, Rock Steady, Social Commentary Tags: jamaican music, Prince Buster mp3, Reggae, rock steady mp3, The Specials, themusicologist, Too Hot mp3
Sound&Fury #5
(Prince Buster – Too Hot)
Original cut of the song made ‘public’ by the Specials. The Prince has already featured on themusicologist so no need for me to wax lyrical about his life. Suffice to say that the Cat is a legend of Jamaican musicology.
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