Next edition of the British reggae selection mixes I’m currently working on. Real pleasure going back through the records. To be honest I’ve been totally loving digging out the tunes. The best thing about setting myself a task for a music selection is finding my love of music again. Mountain high piles of records, dusting off the vinyl and reminiscing on old times, past loves and forgotten tunes. Getting that feeling of “oh my god” that tune is so amazing and “why oh why have I not listened to it for such a long time”. The old classic vinyl junkies dilemma of always looking for that perfect beat, new tune, new sound, new to you music which unfortunately means you’re always buying new records and not spending enough time listening to what you have. So yes these projects are wonderful moments for me to listen to old classics which I do so very much love. Hope you enjoy this one and any other mixes you might find on my music blog. Part 3 soon come!
Raw British Roots Reggae Part Two by Mad Mongos Radio Soul on Mixcloud
Pauline Of Brown Sugar – Me And My Dread
This has to be one of my favourites, a pure dread cut, raw, pure and immense. Backed by the incredible talented musicians Dambala and produced by Gus Anyia. Pauline Catlin has a beautiful voice which sits so well with this deep tune. On the Dread Lion label, also released on a Isis Music 7″ single which I haven’t seen before. Check out the Revelation Side dub. Wow music indeed.
Lion Youth – Three Million On The Dole
On the excellent Virgo Stomach label Lion Youth sings about the unemployment problem in Thatcher’s Britain. Tough times. He did quite a few lovers tunes but this one and the almighty Rat A Cut Bottle are stellar tunes. I believe both have been repressed and are very recommended if you wish to search them out.
Jah Warriors – Can’t Take No More
The only record I own my them I think but what a super tune it is. On the Bushman label. Don’t know much about them to be honest but read they were from Ipswich. I need to get my hands on their LP called Poor Man’s Story. The cuts on youtube called Can’t Cook and Licquor are great.
Junior Brown ft Ranking Ruebin – Jah Find Babylon Guilty
Another cut from Junior Brown, see part one for his sublime Warriors tune with the Almighty Jah Shaka. This one is on the Tempus Record label from 1980. I love that label. He’s had a whole heap of 12’s and 7’s out but those are the only one I have. Let me know of any other of his works I need to check. Thanks.
Aswad – Finger Dub Style Dub
Good old Aswad strike again. This is an all firing dub. Pressing all the right buttons. Played it out on numerous occasions and that end which keeps stopping and starting is a dj’s nightmare hehe, Available on a single but you really need this 12 for the extended dub. Produced by Mikey Campbell. Warrior Charge has to be coming to a next edition soon hey, be rude not too!
The Government ft Trevor Laird – In Brixton
The eagle eyed out there will no this is sang by none other than Beefy aka Trevor Laird from the classic reggae film Babylon. I’m going to do a separate post about this lp and the connection soon so please pop back to have a read. I love this tune, a real punk reggae rocker to bounce up and down too. On the Cavalis label with a mad drawing of Trevor with a what exactly I’m not too sure, flamethrower?. The lp is called Mama Dragon and music from a play. Never seen it, have you?
Talisman – Lick And Run
There debut album from 1984 called Takin The Strain on Embryo Records. Great label artwork by the way. One of my favourite cuts from the lp is I’m Sorry, a very bizarre and quirky tune but rather brilliant in my ears. Very different. There’s some nice touches of experiment in the musical style.
Martin Campbell – War And Plunder
Massive fan of Martin Campbell ever since I picked up the album The Dream Is Over when it got released “See The Youths In Their Jackets And Ties” love those lyric. It also had that killer tune
Wicked Rule. Went on to pick up the sublime singles Richman and Got To Pray. On the Jah Works label. Still a love his work which has stayed constant with conscience lyric and sound. His 2005 lp on Log On called Take A Look is on the deck religiously. War And Plunder is from an album called Historical Tracks – The Foundation and features unreleased tunes from 1978-1981. I also like Bad Propaganda from that record.
Creation Rebel – Creation Rebel
Almighty roots band with a high class back catologue of releases. From Dub From Creation, Starship Africa and Close Encounters Of The Third World to name a few. All mixed down by Adrian Sherwood for his Hit and Run or Ou-U Sound or off shoot labels. The track I picked for this mix is from their Lows and Highs LP from 1982 on Cherry Red Records. Superb article on Creation Rebel and On-U Sound
Tradition – Herbs Tree Dub
Here comes a brilliant little raw funky tune from Tradition. I love this band. They always hit the right notes from sweet lover smouching, to deep roots to heavy freaked out dub. A cracking band which I will do a seperate post for one day soon. Herbs Tree Dub is from the RCA Venture label record Tell Your Friends About Dub. Mainly a version recording of Alternative Roots but this cut sits and stands out in its differing style. Check dem.
Mad Professor – Bengali Skank
One of the pure masters of the controls with a fantastic imagination for creating different style riddims and sounds. You always know the sound when you see his label Ariwa. The Dub Me Crazy series is legendary for sure. This tune Bengali Skank is from the 1983 The African Connection aka Dub Me Crazy 4
The Detonators – I Don’t Believe It
Coming out of Tottenham producer John Collins was busy making records for his Local label on a 4 track home studio. He is noticed by one Jerry Dammers from The Special and is asked to produce the sound for the classic Ghost Town. Read about the story and the recording process on John Collins own site. This tune is from an album he did under The Detonators from the 1979 cut lp Gangster. Top recording. Working Dub and Robber Dub superb.
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Another superb cover by artist Tony McDermott
The back cover of the Talisman album Takin The Strain on Embryo Records.
Coming soon for part three, Tribesman, Capital Letters, another Dennis Bovell produced goodie this time from a punk band, A single from The Detonators and Steel Pulse plus that deep than dread tune from Misty In Roots and you know Dennis Bovell solo dub is gonna pop up somewhere right?
Much Love … Mike
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Big love………. Mike
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