musicology #587

Flow #6

(Bunny Clarke – Move Out Of My Way)

So…following on from the inspirational Terry Callier it has to be a BIG tune and for themusicologist they don’t come much bigger than today’s cut. ESSENTIAL ‘steppers’ selection from the depths of Lee Perry’s Black Ark…Sonic bomb featuring the majestic William ‘Bunny Rugs’ Clark on the M.I.C who was brought into the Ark by Glen Adams in 1974. A couple of years before he became lead singer of the equally majestic Third World.

“MOOOOVE out of my waaaaaaaaay…..”

musicology #534

Jamaica #14

(Pat Kelly – Dark End Of The Street)

Reggae…who were it’s early protaganists? First, as was always the case in Jamaica, there were the producers. Arguably the most influential were Lee Perry, Bunny Lee and Coxsone Dodd. Then came the musicians; Brothers Aston ‘Family Man’ and Carlton ‘Carly’ Barrett, Glen Adams, Lloyd Charmers, Alva Lewis and Ronny Bop recording both for Bunny Lee, (as The Bunny Lee All Stars), and Lee Perry, (as The Upsetters).

The Studio 1 sound was created by the Sound Dimension, (Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Sibbles, Cedric “Im’ Brooks, Vin Gordon, Ernest Ranglin and Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace). Of course there were other producers and musicians who are responsible for delivering seminal work but the above mentioned stand out consistently.

So…enough chat and on with the music..Todays cut is a Lee Perry production featuring the vocals of one of my favourite singers of the period Pat Kelly backed by the afore mentioned Upsetters.

musicology #481

PoliceAndThieves #6

(Junior Murvin – Police&Thieves)

Last day of this theme but before the final cut I would like to elucidate on the my thoughts and inspiration for laying it down. various parts of London, (and many other parts of the world), in the late 70’s and throughout the 80’s were a battleground as the old world began to give way to the new and the front line soldiers were the police. Stop and search was a BIG problem that only served to alienate ‘us’ from ‘them’. In my experience community policing gave way to bullying and now we live in a society where for many the Police are the oppressors.

Of course the argument could, (and does as far as some are concerned), run that fire needs to be fought with fire but on the other hand the Tao maintains that the ‘way’ to deal with ‘yang’ (fire) is with ‘Yin’ (water) and I have to state wholeheartedly that I agree..my recent experience has highlighted that fire burns whilst water soothes..anyone who has been in such a situation must know of what I speak?. I’m not blaming those individuals who join ‘the force’ as ‘a wo/man has to do what a wo/man has to do’ in order to survive. My belief is that the responsibility lies squarely on the shoulders of those who crack the whip….

Could only be this one to finish up..Junior Murvin’s international 1976 ‘hit’ … Supremely produced and mixed by Lee Perry.

musicology #232

communication #10

(The Classics – Civilisation)

New day dawning? maybe. Let’s hope so.

First I would just like to congratulate the new American president on his victorious campaign to be elected. No doubt that it has significence. What that significence is though is not so easy to articulate. I don’t know a single policy of his but his acceptance speech was on in my house this morning, my 10 year old son has been made aware of Obama, (political ideology at work), at school. People were on the streets of London last night talking about it being a historical day…Why? because we are deep into globalisation and it is being enforced by the media as well as the politrickians.

Don’t get me wrong I am more than up for change but change of what exactly? I hear the word often. It has been Obama’s key word in the same way that I hear education over emphasised by the ‘Labour’ government here in England but, I don’t see it happening. We all know that words, (especially English ones), have many meanings, (perfect for politrickians), but without action signify nothing.

With that in mind today’s cut of the communication pie is a plea from themusicologist to those who run things. Quality Lee Perry production, attributed to The Classics, (Denzil Dennis and Milton Hamilton), recorded sometime in the late 60’s/early 70’s.

Finally I would just like to add a non globalised mention for English cultural icon Guy Fawkes whose day it is today. Unfortunately this tradition has, (over recent years), been supplanted by the American tradition of Halloween which for themusicologist has absolutely no cultural significence whatsoever.

Penny for the Guy anyone?