Sanctuary Records Group - Trojan
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Arise Rootsman – Jamaican Roots – 1965 - 1983
Released
on 18 August 2003.
"Compiled and annotated by
leading Reggae journalist, Michael De Koningh, this 2 CD set follows in the
wake of the highly acclaimed 'Place Called Africa' set of last year, by
tracing the development of Roots from its very beginnings. Featuring Ska,
Rocksteady, Reggae and Dancehall sides from a period spanning almost three
decades, Arise Rootsman not only provides a fascinating musical history
lesson, but also brings together some of the finest recordings from the
Trojan archives" Roots is a term that realy took
hold in the mid 70's but this fascinating CD traces 'roots' back into the
60's and the days rocksteady and ska. Some of the styles and the artists in
some respects are those that ordinarily would not be first to spring to mind,
like Greyhound, Nora Dean, maybe even Ken Boothe though some are like the
Ethiopians with Train to Glory yo the familiar 'Train to Skaville' rhythm.
Nora Dean without the Barbwire and distinctive vocal in a soul style version
of Bobby Powell's Peace Begins within. How much was heartfelt and how
much was a plea to embryonic (possibly only local) success, notoriety and
fame is difficult to tell, but it is clear that there was and is an
underlying consciousness. At times it became overt and the fashioned the lifestyles
of certain artists and generally is now engrained in popular Jamaican
culture, possibly more so than on other islands. Some great vocal songs in the
early days, Bob Andy, Little Roy particularly and of course the wonderful
Alton Ellis with the superb Black Man's Pride. Roots though to me was
encapsulated by the vocal harmony groupe and these abound, even in the late
60's and early 70's – the likes of the Wailing Souls (Harbour Shark),
Heptones (Hypocrite) and the Maytones (Baylon a fall), Carlton & the
Shoes and a new one to me, a great track indeed Hard Time by Rocking Horse. As we get into the 70's the
styles changed and the toasters of the day became pre- eminent I Roy (two
great tunes Black Man Time and Red Gold and Green) and Big Youth, Denis Alcapone
but also some instrumental dubs also had roots themes, plus of course the
wizardry of lee Perry with a take on the ChiLites on Justice to the people. Stunning track with haunting
dub version out of Lee Perry is his Silvertones Rejoice Jah Jah Children and
Rejoicing Skank. Cd2 picks up where CD 1 left of with more harmony and the
Heptones and upfront DJ work of I Roy. With guys like this there is a host of
material to choose from but Suffering So is a worthy choice but you kinda
think of what you might have included – Cool Rasta maybe. Gregory probably in his heyday
was the Lovers king but his lazy groove was equally suited to roots. Bobby
Melody's Jah Bring I Joy is also quality. Another interesting and less well
know vocal harmony group was Tapper Zukie's Knowledge, showcasing here a song
called Sentry. One of the kings of roots music was Ras Michael and his Sons
of Negus, roots to the fullest, with a lazy haunting question Where is your
Goldmine. We close in the early 80's with
a harder sound, as dancehall approached, typified by Leroy Smart |
2-CD
SET |
DISC 1: |
After A Storm -
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - |
Train To Glory - The
Ethiopians - |
Weep - Bob Andy - |
Peace Begins Within -
Nora Dean - |
Hard Fighter - Little
Roy - |
Babylon A Fall -
Maytones - |
Black Man's Pride -
Alton Ellis - |
Harbour Shark -
Wailing Souls - |
The Pressure Is
Coming On - Greyhound - |
Satan Side - Keith
Hudson - |
Hard Time - Rocking
Horse - |
Changing Times -
Roman Stewart & Dave Barker - |
Riot - Soul Syndicate
- |
Tubby's Control -
Tommy McCook & Rad Wilson - |
Hypocrite - Heptones
- |
Rebel Train - DJAGO -
|
Throw Away Your Gun -
Busty Brown - |
Black Man Time - I
Roy - |
Better Days - Carlton
And His Shoes - |
Black, Gold, And
Green - Ken Boothe - |
Red, Gold And Green -
I Roy - |
2 Wedden Skank - Glen
Brown - |
The Killer - Big
Youth - |
Justice To The People
- |
DISC 2: |
Rasta Dub - Dennis
Alcapone - |
Rejoice Jah Jah
Children - Silvertones - |
Rejoicing Skank -
Silvertones - |
Can You Keep A Secret
- Big Youth & Keith Hudson - |
Suffering So -
Heptones - |
Tip From The Prince -
I Roy - |
Bad Da - Gregory
Isaacs - |
Eli's Move - Augustus
Pablo - |
Jah Bring I Joy -
Bobby Melody - |
Jah Jah Bless I -
Lizzard - |
Mother And Father -
Michael Robinson - |
The Slave Trade - One
Love - |
Sentry - Knowledge - |
Give Them Thanks And
Praise - Jimmy Riley - |
Strange Things -
Sugar Minott - |
Where Is Your
Goldmine - Ras Michael & Sons Of Negus - |
We Must Unite -
Viceroys - |
Too Much Pressure -
Leroy Smart - |
Dreadlocks - Antony
Johnson - |
Satta Dread - Wayne
Jarrett - |
.
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