March 2015 – Mad Mongos Music

I Am The Gorgon – Bunny Striker Lee Documentary

I Am The Gorgon – Bunny “Striker” Lee and The Roots Of Reggae.

Really ecstatic about getting this DVD documentary through the post today. It’s gonna be hard but I’m going to try and hold out for viewing till the weekend so I can chill with a few beers.
No rushing, sit back and play a few tunes. Read the enclosed booklet. Can’t wait. The guy is a legend.

It’s an wicked little package too. You get the 85 Minute feature with 30 mins of bonus footage. A 22 track CD of the Soundtrack and a 32 page page booklet to go along with it. Sounds like a bargain to me.

I AM THE GORGON tells the larger than life tale of legendary record producer Bunny “Striker” Lee, charting his rise from car mechanic and record plugger to reggae’s most successful producer in the 1970s. His journey involves politics, arguments, gangs and guns, as Jamaican music moves from Ska to Rocksteady, from Dub to Dancehall, from the backstreets of Kingston to the concert halls of the world.

Directed by musician and filmmaker Diggory Kenrick and narrated by legendary deejay Dennis Alcapone, this acclaimed documentary features an amazing roll call of Jamaican artists, including John Holt, Horace Andy, Johnny Clarke, Cornell Campbell, Ken Booth, Linvale Thompson, Derrick Morgan, Max Romeo, Errol Dunkley, Stranger Cole, BB Seaton, Roy Shirley, Jimmy Riley, Winston Francis, The Blackstones, The Twinkle Brothers, Tappa Zukie, U Roy, Dennis Alcapone, Dillinger, Trinity, Dr Alimantado, Jah Stitch, Prince Jazzbo, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Aston Family Man Barrett, Earl Chinna Smith, Carlton Santa Davis, Lee Scratch Perry, King Jammy, Scientist, Niney The Observer and many more

The most insane line up ever!

Check the Trailer. How many stars? Oh my!

Here’s what’s on the OST

Bunny “Striker” Lee All Stars – “Revenge Of The Flying Cymbals”
Delroy Wilson – “Cool Operator”
Cornell Campbell – “The Gorgon”
Dennis Alcapone – “Ripe Cherry”
The Uniques – “The Beatitude”
Ken Boothe – “You’re No Good”
Horace Andy – “Money Money”
Johnny Clarke – “Move Out Of Babylon Rastaman”
The Upsetters & The Aggrovators – “Labrish”
Max Romeo – “Two Faced People”
D Tony Lee – “It’s Reggae Time”
Stranger Cole & Tommy McCook – “Last Flight To Reggae City”
Tappa Zukie – “Jah Is I Guiding Star”
U Roy – “Joyful Locks”
Derrick Morgan – “The Great Musical Battle”
John Holt – “The Clock”
I Roy – “Straight To Jazzbo’s Head”
Prince Jazzbo – “Straight To I Roy’s Head”
Jah Stitch – “The Killer”
Linval Thompson – “Cool Down Your Temper”
Don Carlos – “Laser Beam”
King Tubby & The Aggrovators – “Jamaican Roots Dub”

The soundtrack features one of my all time favorites, the mighty Ken Booth – You’re No Good. What a tune that is.

And if you haven’t seen it or just wanna watch the magic moment again. Here is the one and only Bunny Lee freaking out with Prince Jammy at the controls.
Bunny arrives at 2.11 seconds

Check the official website www.iamthegorgon.com

I picked it up from Juno Records for £13.50.

So looking forward to watching.

Happy vibes
Mike Mongos

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Ebony Rockers – Prison Gates

I picked up this little gem of a 12″ from Ebony Rockers on Sabre Records called Prison Gates yesterday from the wonderful and long running Boiler Room Record Shop on the Old Town High Street stretch of Poole near The Quay.

Really I should know about this guys being that I’m busy doing the Raw British Reggae series I’m compiling and the fact that they are almost a local band to me, being from Southampton, and only up the road from me in Bournemouth. But I admit to not crossing paths with the band. This was their debut single which has the tune Down By The River on the B-side. Then they recorded a second 12″ and maybe last recording called Steppin Out on EMI Records, which is also great and has gone on my wants list.
Prison Gates doesn’t have a youtube clip, if I get time I will try and upload it. Here’s Steppin Out

Just a photo copied black and white stuck on printed picture on the cover which was probably sold at one of their gigs back in 1979. The great thing that I liked is that its been signed by all the members and inside there’s a few promotional stickers left too.

Nice little fact that goes along with the band is that bassist George David , guy sitting on the right I believe, is the father of the pop star Craig “Kes” David. How proper bo is that!

Craig David Kes

You can read a great article on the band and the Craig connection on the BBC Hampshire website here.
The History Of Ebony Rockers In Southampton

Really happy as it’s a nice addition to my Raw British Roots Series and it’s sure to be on part 7 in a few months time. Part 6 is in the bag just need to write up the tracklist, info etc.

Here are vols 1-5

Raw British Roots Reggae Vol 5

Raw British Roots Reggae Vol 4

Raw British Roots Reggae Vol 3

Raw British Roots Reggae Vol 2

Raw British Roots Reggae Vol 1

Part 6 coming very soon, keep them peeled.

Happy vibes
Mike Mongos

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Roots And Dub Single Pressure Volume Three

Coming out the jungle like a roaring lion is part 3 of the Roots and Dub Single Pressure collection. These are a selection of my 45s with the vocal then the flip side dub version coming straight after. There’s some heavy heavy tunes on this little mix.

Here’s just a few highlights to look out for.

Starting off the proceedings is the one and only Junior Delgado. Difficult not to love this deep rhythmic tune. Lets hope this hard working fisherman got his just rewards in the end. Check the flip side which goes under the name Raga Muffing – Brawta and is the super talented saxophonist Dean Fraser. He goes to town with his horn and it is tremendous.

Leroy Sibbles – Whip Babylon is a powerful fast paced rant smashing down Babylon with a masterful dub version screaming out for the volume to be turned to max. Used to love dropping this bad boy back in my DJ days. Had me skanking like a mad man behind the decks. It’s been released on a few different labels, I have the Joseph one which I so adore the artwork.

Kentrus – It’s A Fi Bun. Whats not to like about the bubbling, firing, bombastic flowing jump up and down piece of brilliance. Brings a big smile to face every each time I stick this on my deck. Love it.

There’s the righteous Chant Jah Victory from Errol Alphonso out of the Vivian Jackson (Yabby You) camp. Sublime recording. Raw in every sense of the word.

Also be sure to check the Delroy Williams tune called Fox Holes, oh my days that is a wonderful tune on Sir Augustus Pablo‘s Message label. So good. You’re in for a treat if you’ve not heard it before for sure.

Plus this has the most bizarre name Munchi And The Corner Crew. Check it out though as it’s a mad dub seven which tricks you with a different style tune at the beginning before going dub wise. It’s got clicking bottles like “Warriors Come Out To Play” stylee. Love the Aries label. From the Bullwackies “Wackies” label under the watchful eye of Lloyd Barnes.

Junior Delgado – Row Fisherman – Deb Music
Leroy Sibbles – Whip Babylon – Joseph
Kentrus – It A Fi Bun – Studio one
Errol Alphonso – Chant Jah Victory – Prophet
David Isaacs – Think You Are Smart – Roots Rock
Earth and Stone – In Time To Come – Well charge
Delroy Williams – Fox Holes – Message
Gregory Isaacs – Love Light – Morpheus
Munchi And The Corner Crew – A Dis Ya A Dub – Aires
Dillinger – Melting Pot – Techniques
Don Carlos – Plantation – Wambesi
Dennis Brown – If I Follow My Heart – Studio One

DOWNLOAD STREAM MEDIAFIRE HERE

If you missed the first two episodes, you can catch up here.
Roots and Dub Single Pressure One
Roots and Dub Single Pressure Two

Looking at Ricky Grant World War 3 to feature on part 4 some time in the future.

Hope you enjoy the sounds.

Happy vibes
Mike Mongos

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Phyllis Hyman – Living Inside Your Love

I first heard this sublime tune, from a true soul goddess, back in around 1988 on a Pirate Radio Show. Think the show was Strong Island Radio with Marc Mac from 4Hero. Whoever it was! all I know my life wouldn’t be the same again. That beauty was Phyllis Hyman and the track “Living Inside My Life“. That unforgiving rhythm and the brooding strings in the background, those horn stabs not to mention the vocal of a hundred angels contained in one body. Gorgeous scats, killer groove hitting, the all the right notes, dropping down then straight back up again. Phyllis Hyman, what a remarkable woman. Wish I could of seen her live. Yep a true soul goddess.
Stunning, beautiful and without doubt The Goddess Of Love.

From her 1978 LP called Somewhere In My Lifetime on Arista Records the amazing Living Inside Your Love

Happy vibes
Mike Mongos

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Roots and Dub Single Pressure Volume 2

There’s some almighty seven inch wax on part two. No more so than the rocking beast opener of Errol Campbell’s Wolves tune on the short lived Shebazz label. Plus the flip side Follow Follow is invincible. Loved playing that bad boy out. Always smashed the speakers. On a side note, I’ve only just found out it was called Wolves, as the center hole had taken the title clear off and I could just see the B-side “Follow Follow”. Learn something new everyday hey!

There’s the always tough Enforcer with Pay Them to check too. Well Charge is one cool and first-rate label.

Sit back chill and unwind to the beautiful Judah Eskender Tafari with Sound Dimension and the tune Always Trying.

Plus be sure to read the article at the bottom of the page about the Babylon Trap Them tune.

Part one is also still available here. Roots and Dub Single Pressure Vol 1

Tracklist

Errol Campbell – Wolves – Shebazz
Patrick Andy – Every Tongue Will Tell – Prophet
Abbyssinians – Love Comes And Goes – Clinch
Enforcers – Pay Them – Well Charge
Linford Newgend – Black Princess – K and B
Gaylads – Little Candles – Wambesi
Judah Eskender Tafari – Always Trying – Studio One
Knowledge – Fire Burn – Wambesi
Clint Eastwood – Check 38 – Live and Love
Yabby You – Jah Vengeance – Prophet
Freddie Mckay – Tear Drops – Channel Seven
~~Dennis Brown~~ The Blackstones – Babylon Trap Them – Derrick *

* Check the story on the Babylon Trap Them tune. My Derrick 7″ is credited to the only and only Dennis Brown ,well in a cheeky way. Credited to D Brown then arranged by Dennis does start to deceive you there, but this is only where the story begins. I had uploaded the mix quite sometime back to the now pretty much defunct Brownswood forum. One of the members, the lovely Snoopy, commented it wasn’t Dennis Brown and it was filed off under his name to get a few more sells. I couldn’t recall the whole story so I emailed Snoops for more details and he sent through an article cutting he had wrote on the whole affair in Black Echos back in February 1977.

It was in fact sung by Bryon Otis one of the members in the vocal trio The Blackstones. Have a read of the article below.

Listening to the tune now and at the time I had heard about the mix up you can tell it’s not Dennis Brown but until then it really hadn’t crossed my mind. I know I should of as Dennis’s voice is so very unique. Putting it down to the recording levels maybe? One good thing is Byron Otis and The Blackstones are getting the credit for that almighty brilliant tune. The dub is a pure killer. So great to get to the bottom of this story. One reason I love doing mixes is getting to know my music better and finding out cool stories along the way is such a delight.

A big thank you to Snoopy for the info and the scan of the article. Cheers bro. It really is much appreciated.
Be sure to check his blog over at Celebrate Good Times. A real knowledgeable timepiece of musical facts, stories and info on soul, reggae and dance music.

Happy vibes
Mike Mongos

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What Happened, Miss Simone?

Very much looking forward to this ace looking documentary on the life of Nina Simone otherwise known as the High Priestess of Soul. I admit to not knowing that much about her career and can’t wait to learn her story.

Director Liz Garbus, who made the fascinating Bobby Fischer Against the World, shines a light on the graceful stars life and legacy.
Shown at the recent Sundance film festival it has been picked up by Netflix, so should hopefully be appearing soon to stream.

Here’s a short clip.