Sanctuary Records Group - Trojan
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High Explosion – DJ Sounds from 1970to 1976
Released on 22 April 2003.
"Compiled by Jim Tracey, this 2-CD collection highlights the development of toasting on disc through the recordings of the pioneering stylists of the sixties and seventies. Included are performances by men now regarded as the founding fathers of the DJ sound, with many of the recordings included considered instrumental in shaping the sound of toasting - their influence still clearly audible in the music of today's Dancehall and R&B."
Wow what an album, took me right back. This is my era of reggae really, when I was grown up and and about doing clubs an t'ing, rather than being a youthful ska boy. Whilst I have always preferred the vocal cuts and particular the vocal harmony groups when the toasters cut loose on these wonderful rhythms in a dancehall – magnificent. These were the icons, not quite the originators, though Sir Lord Comic is represented, from which everything grew – the great U Roy, I Roy, Big Youth, Dennis Alcapone, Dillinger and so on they are all here.
Too many tracks to mention but kicking of with seminalRule the nation by U Roy (reggae's first DJ superstar) and followed by Dennis Alcapones DJ choice on the Baby Love rhythm – what a start.
Concentrating on the big names with multiple tracks on show, U Roy is represented with the slower Way Down South, classic Duke Reid rocksteady 'Wear you to the ball', Drive her home (with Hopeton Lewis), the choppy Treasure Isle skank, Festival Wise over Eric Donaldson's strained vocal and Behold with echoes of Junior Walker's Way Back Home.
I Roy kicks off with the organ led and rhyming Whisky Chest. I Roy, although thought by some to be a U Roy imitater, was typically sparser on the rhthm track making the vocal seem all the more prominent. Hi Jacking, the deep African descendant, almost singing vocal is portrayed on a more upbeat Red nuts and gin, Hot Bob (with the Jumpers) and Peace complete his selection.
Dennis Alcapone aside from DJ Choice cut at Treasure Isle, It must come for Bunny Lee, Africa Stand for Lee Perry showed great consistency no matter which of the heavy weight producers he was working for. On some the screams went a bit wild like 'This is butter', much better on the mellower 'Number one Station', 'Shades of Hudson'completing Dennis' list,
Big Youth cut an awesome figure and developed his own sound amply shown on the massive Cool Breeze on Derrick Harriott's Stop that train, Screaming Target from the album of the same name. The very excellent s90 skank is one of those motorcycle tunes that were prevalent at the time. Solomon a Grundy which also feature on the Screamin Target album.
Aside from these heavy weights there is still plenty of worthy material.
Lizzy's version of Come back and stay is catchy and humorous. Scotty too had a distinctive style and he is representd on Draw your brakes, Popularised on the Harder they come soundtrack, a kind of take on the old Prince Buster in a DJ style with Salvation Train, Children children, Clean Race and Unbelievable Sounds.
Dillinger is represented on one Lee Perry track, his better times were to come a bit later. Charlie Ace was known as a record deal but he also put down a couple of version and a couple are on show.
Shorty the President cut the porpular President Mash up the Resident with Rupie Edwards in a DJ style that was more understated than some of his peers. Nonetheless they would mash the dancehall, as in another motor bike track Yamaha Skank. The staccato sound of Dave Barker appears on a version of the Philly classic Only the Strong Survive.
Jah Berry is also worthy of mention, which was aside from the Rasta Africa and consciousness at the time, with a piece of DJ slackness – whole lotta suga down deh. A cracking cut is Winston Scotland and My little filly, retaining gorgeous harmonies behind him. As is Prince Jazzbo who makes better of a skank rhthm on Mr Harry Skank.
As we moved from th early to mid 70's towards 1975 and 1976 the sounds get slower, spacier and dubbier, none more so than Jah Woosh (Riding Melody). But with an eye to the past heritage the 1970 cut of Jack of My trade by Sir Lord Comic. King Iwahis superb on Perry's Give me Power
Last but not least is left for one of my favourites. Absolutely unique, the late and great Prince Far I – individual , gruff, laid back tones. Unfortunately this cut is not one of his best but a taster for what he did – more please.
If this is your style this is a great album, certainly took me back to some sounds that I hadn't heard for a very long time.
2-CD SET |
DISC 1: |
Rule The Nation - U Roy |
DJ Choice - Dennis Alcapone |
Whisky Chest - I Roy |
Come Back And Stay Version – Lizzy |
Draw Your Brakes – Scotty |
Cool Breeze - Big Youth |
Headquarters – Dillinger |
Way Down South - U Roy |
Hi Jacking - I Roy |
Screaming Target |
Buchanan/White) - Big Youth |
It Must Come - Dennis Alcapone |
Deliver Us - Blake Boy |
Creation Version - Charlie Ace |
Salvation Train – Scotty |
A Place Called Africa - Winston Prince |
Africa Stand - Dennis Alcapone |
African Descendent - I Roy |
President Mash Up The Resident - Shorty The President |
High Explosion - Lloyd Young |
Only The Strong Survive - Dave Barker |
Wear You To The Ball - U Roy |
Red Nuts And Gin - I Roy |
Daughter Whole Lotta Sugar Down Deh! - Jah Berry |
This Is Butter - Dennis Alcapone |
Drive Her Home - U Roy And Hopeton Lewis |
DISC 2: |
Hot Bomb - I Roy & The Jumpers |
Number One Station - Dennis Alcapone |
Treasure Isle Skank - U Roy |
Ontarius Version - Charlie Ace |
My Little Filly - Winston Scotland |
Glitter Not Gold - Big Joe |
Love Is A Treasure – Lizzie |
Children Children – Scotty |
S 90 Skank - Big Youth |
It’s Alright - Jah Woosh |
Skin Him Alive - Dino Perkins |
Shades Of Hudson - Dennis Alcapone |
Riding Melody - Jah Woosh |
Festival Wise - U Roy |
Yamaha Skank - Shorty The President |
For Our Desire - King Sporty |
Jack Of My Trade - Sir Lord Comic |
Clean Race - Scotty |
Solomon A Gunday - Big Youth |
Mr Harry Skank - Prince Jazzbo |
Deck Of Cards - Prince Far I |
Give Me Power - Version Two - King Iwah |
Behold - U Roy |
Peace - I Roy |
Unbelievable Sound – Scotty |
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