Dub / Reggae: An Idiot's Guide

the vocals sound so much deeper/more gruff on that itunes disc. they sound a lot older (if it's even the same group?)

Haha yeah a cursory google suggests that something like 32 years separates the two LPs.

always interesting to hear of an album that (a) may be worthwhile and (b) has been almost totally lost in the passage of time. makes me think there's still a treasure-trove of lost gems from the roots-reggae/dub heyday, and a continuing place for reissue labels like pressure sound (not the fly-by-night, sketchy labels that seem to dominate the market for reggae/dub reissues nowadays). also reminds me of how great a loss it was to have the blood & fire label cease operations a few years ago. has it been five years or more? time flies.

anyone dig garvey's ghost, the dub version of marcus garvey, almost as much as the album proper? i've been listening to it a little bit, and it's pretty mind-blowing at the moment.

I've never been able to fall for Burning Spear so Garveys Ghost is my fav BS album. Don't love his voice do the dubs are the best way in for me. His scene in Rockers was all-time classic though.

i soo need to get marveys ghost.

because its always available, i have never felt the urge ..

have to say for an easy sunday morning, the jackie mitto set is really hitting the spot.

apparently, the cd issue was licensed from jackie, so legit.

still, its clearly a vinyl rip.

i soo need to get marveys ghost.

because its always available, i have never felt the urge ..

― mark e, Sunday, February 23, 2014

funny you say this. for the past few years, especially since a label reissued marcus garvey and garvey's ghost as a double-set, it's been easy to get either or both. but not very long ago, at least in my experience, it was almost impossible to get your hands on either album. neither itunes, emusic, 7digital, nor any of the other big digital music stores carried it. i felt like i had stumbled on buried-treasure when it finally turned up on emusic (at least i think it was emusic).

Beyond that, a personal semi-obscuro favorite of mine is Junior Byles' retrospective _Curlylocks_, on Heartbeat.

― Douglas Wolk, Tuesday, October 30, 2001

there's also a trojan records' disc, from 1996, called beat down babylon. at least some common tracks, with a common purpose (a career retrospective). anyone know which is better? fwiw, the trojan disc is a couple of dollars more, but that's not the issue.

re marcus garvey :

but i have seen the 2 albums on one cd island edition in hmv every single time i have been there for years.

just assumed it was part of the never deleted catalogue

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marcus-Garvey-Garveys-Ghost-Burning/dp/B00002635E/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1393167677&sr=1-1&keywords=burning+spear

ahh .. cd vs digital download ..

will probably order it after a glass of wine later on now that i am in the mood to hear !

really, marcus garvey is one of the best albums ever recorded. holy trinity of reggae albums is marcus garvey; heart of the congos; and the harder they come OST? maybe instead of holy trinity -- in honor of all the ruckus lebron james' answer caused about a week ago -- we can go with the mt. rushmore of reggae albums. that way you'd get one more selection.

I have the Trojan Byles collections. There is only a small overlap so I don't think there is any harm in getting both.

since we're on the subject, the AMG review of the marcus garvey/garvey's ghost reissue says that the band was very upset with the way the album was mixed for an international audience, and this problem continued on the reissue set. the AMG review said the way to experience this album, and it's "haunting atmospheres," is via the original album, from a jamaican label called "fox." i found what purports to be a soulseek download of the original album.

anyone know if soulseek is a dangerous source from which to download something? i've never used it before, and i'm worried about viruses and related problems. i've bought this album maybe three times, in various formats, but always the "international mix," i guess.

despite not having heard MG i always knew of it being on the true greats ..
it will be mine within a few days:-)
this thread has totally got me back on the reggae tip.
been struggling re a soundtrack for a while, so this thread revival has been well timed.
how damn good is 'screaming target' by big youth.
the trojan reissue has sooo much more on it ..
sanctuary + trojan vs universal + trojan ... hmmm
the remastering, the packaging, and the extras currently seems to indicate that sanctuary wins.
not picked up any of the universal compilations that sit in the racks, as i fear a lot of duplication with my sanctuary sets.
(also, the default packaging of the universal sets is very boring)

xpost : damn !
i always thought the island version to be to genuine article.
guess they did to this what they did to a lot of trojan material for the euro pop market.
and no, have never used soulseek. sorry

damn.

santuary comps hitting the 'wtf' level :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gazs-Rockin-Blues-Club-Classics/dp/B0009HL1AC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1393176978&sr=8-2&keywords=gaz+rocking+blues

Seen the screaming target reissue everywhere lately. Havent been able to afford it yet tho

I've used Soulseek many times without issue. I doubt the difference in the mixes makes too much difference in this case though.

what struck me is the idea that the mix for int'l audiences sped-up the tempos, and emphasized the arguably brighter, sunnier elements of the music (e.g., the horns).

However supposedly the old Jamaican dubs of the various classic Spear albums are way way better than the Heartbeat dubs from the 90s.

Yeah but if you've heard the Spear albums before and after you won't find yourself listening to Marcus Garvey and thinking OMG TOTAL MERSH SELL OUT. It's maybe slightly brighter but not hugely so.

that's probably right. still, the band and producer apparently went berserk because of the alterations.

what struck me is the idea that the mix for int'l audiences sped-up the tempos, and emphasized the arguably brighter, sunnier elements of the music (e.g., the horns).

surely the most famous example of this (other than marly of course !) has to be john holts, 1000 volts of holt.

thankfully, sanctuary released a reissue that had both versions on, and a ton of extras as well.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/1000-Volts-Holt-John/dp/B00006JJ3P/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1393183389&sr=1-3&keywords=john+holt+1000+volts

and yes, the difference = a lighter mood with radio friendly string sections and horns

of course, both are still wonderful.

Erin MacLeod ‏@touchofallright Feb 18 -- VP relaunching Blood and Fire. Interesting. Is Steve Barrow on twitter?

______________________________________________

Erik Magni ‏@Reggaemani Feb 17 -- Thanks to Steve Barrow and @VPRecords the mighty Blood & Fire Records rises again this spring. This is stated by Barrow on Linkedin.

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

bet its digital only.

not sure why, unless VP is a digital-only service, but even that would be okay. blood & fire's magic wasn't only in remastering music in high-fidelity formats, but cherry-picking the best albums to reissue and songs to include on compilations. to me, this is highly welcome news, if it's true and if it all comes about (big "ifs").

Seen the screaming target reissue everywhere lately. Havent been able to afford it yet tho

ouch ! just checked.

these reissues are kinda the FAX of the reggae world ..

i am old school .. give me a shiny silver disc for a well compiled reissue any day.

(and yes, in the world of reggae i realise this makes me a heretic - but so be it .. )

understood, but beggars can't be choosers when it comes to something like this (i.e., i'd rather have a digital-only blood & fire label than none at all). steve barrow is, indeed, on linkedin, and his resume does suggest a blood & fire resurrection:

A&R Consultant
Blood & Fire
February 2014 – Present (1 month)Care of VP Records, NY & London

you are correct of course, i am being an arse.

steve barrow is man of deep knowledge and love of the genre.

its great to see him having a new outlet for reissues that he believes to be worthy of love.

fingers x'd it goes to plan

(i assume mick h is no longer funding the party !?)

not a digital-only revival.

Queens, New York-based reggae independent VP Records has relaunched UK reggae label Blood and Fire, known primarily for its quality reissues of Jamaican recordings from the 1970s and ’80s, many of which were overlooked upon their initial release.

Founded in Manchester, England in 1993 by Elliot Rashman, Andy Dodd, Bob Harding (management of the multi-platinum 1980s soul-pop group Simply Red), Mick Hucknall (Simply Red’s lead singer) and authoritative reggae collector Steve Barrow, the label’s A&R and co-author of “The Rough Guide to Reggae” (which has reportedly sold nearly 50,000 copies), Blood and Fire sought to highlight the reggae narrative beyond the genre’s crossover stars through promotion of beautifully packaged reissues that include extensive booklets detailing the featured artists’ career trajectories, annotated song listings, rare photographs and vivid graphics.

Blood and Fire commenced its release schedule in 1994 with “If Deejay Was Your Trade – The Dreads at King Tubby’s 1974-1977”, which compiled tracks produced by Bunny “Striker” Lee, featuring popular toasters of the mid-’70s including Dr. Alimantado, Dillinger and Tappa Zukie. The label reaped accolades for their re-release of ethereal vocal duo the Congos’ “Heart of the Congos,” produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry, introduced a new generation of fans to the pioneering Rastafarian deejay Big Youth with the three CD set “Natty Universal Dread 1973-1979” and restored the availability of iconic singer Horace Andy’s “In The Light/In The Light Dub” more than 10 years after those titles were out of print.

Blood and Fire also released two one-riddim albums: “Tree of Satta” (2003) utilizing the majestic “Satta Massagana” rhythm as featured on the hit song by vocal trio the Abyssians and “Fisherman Style: (2006) adapted from The Congos’ timeless “Fisherman” rhythm, both releases offering new material from a cross generational representation of singers and deejays.

The steep decline in CD sales, the bankruptcies of the label’s distributors in the US and France, and “a catastrophic decision by my co-director in Manchester to stop trading,” as Barrow declared in a 2013 interview on the Midnight Raver blog, forced Blood and Fire out of business in 2007. Thus, their relaunching through VP, with Barrow overseeing the mastering, packaging and compiling of a dozen Blood and Fire titles in various formats, with additional content and updated packaging, is welcome news to music fans.

The initial VP/Blood and Fire collaboration will be a (vinyl only) limited edition 12″ of Gregory Isaacs’ 1978 single “Mr. Know It All,” scheduled for release on Record Store Day (Apr. 19). In a company press release sent out on Feb. 18, VP Records CEO Chris Chin stated: “Blood and Fire presented reggae with premium quality and care as well as revived the careers of many unsung producers and performers. We respect and admire the Blood and Fire brand and are delighted to be working together.”

hopefully barrow (and maybe the original blood & fire team) gets complete control over the venture. my vague memory says that VP is an okay, but hardly-sublime, reissue label.

Thus, their relaunching through VP, with Barrow overseeing the mastering, packaging and compiling of a dozen Blood and Fire titles in various formats, with additional content and updated packaging, is welcome news to music fans.

a dozen new blood & fire titles forthcoming!

have to say that reads really well.

game on !

as even pressure sounds are all about limited press 7" that i cant be arsed with ..

well, now i'm not really sure if these are new blood & fire title, or just expanded versions of the existing titles, which fell out-of-circulation when the label shuttered seven years ago. either way, welcome news.

speaking of the love of the congos ..

this is not half bad you know :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dub-Feast-Congos/dp/B007633B8W/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1393186553&sr=1-5&keywords=the+congos

of course it does not come anywhere near the perfection of 'heart of .. ', but still, its a lovely sounding dub set..

hoping this means new blood & fire titles forthcoming:

He will be handling original B&F catalogue reissues with additional titles new to Blood and Fire.

"hopefully barrow (and maybe the original blood & fire team) gets complete control over the venture. my vague memory says that VP is an okay, but hardly-sublime, reissue label."

VP is a very mediocre reissue label, but they have the rights to a huge amount of great music (esp. since they also own Greensleeves).

you know, i have delved into the greensleeves groove.

is it not all 80s digital dancehall (something i have never really enjoyed) ?

i.e. tell me i am wrong and kick this narrow viewpoint into touch ..

i think greensleeves is pretty largely digital-dancehall, yeah. i don't like that genre, either.

VP is a very mediocre reissue label, but they have the rights to a huge amount of great music (esp. since they also own Greensleeves).

― One bad call from barely losing to (Alex in SF), Sunday, February 23, 2014

yeah. is VP basically hands-off with/gives ample financial support to greensleeves, or does VP severely downgrade what would otherwise be the quality of greensleeves releases?

sorry ..

i have = i have not

"is it not all 80s digital dancehall (something i have never really enjoyed) ?"

There is some late seventies roots/deejay stuff that's incredible (BEST DRESSED CHICKEN IN TOWN is on Greensleeves!) but definitely they're peaking in the early 80s.

"yeah. is VP basically hands-off with/gives ample financial support to greensleeves, or does VP severely downgrade what would otherwise be the quality of greensleeves releases?"

To be honest I've not noticed much of a difference.

BEST DRESSED CHICKEN IN TOWN is on Greensleeves!

― One bad call from barely losing to (Alex in SF), Sunday, February 23, 2014

people whose opinions i trust on the subject (like yours) seem to love this record. i've never heard whatever gets people so excited about it. why so much love for this album?

I'm not a digi dancehall fan either, but there's lots of great stuff on Greensleeves from 1980-82, Roots Radics/Junjo era.

like this here awesome comp
http://www.dubvendor.co.uk/ekmps/shops/dubvendor/images/various-artist-the-biggest-dancehall-anthems-1979-82-greensleeves-2xcd-8970-p.jpg

"people whose opinions i trust on the subject (like yours) seem to love this record. i've never heard whatever gets people so excited about it. why so much love for this album?"

Prime Perry/Tubby productions of amazing songs with great and often hilarious singjaying/deejaying. I'm not sure what's not to love.

Alex OTM; also fwiw I think '88-91 and thereabouts is an undervalued period of Jamaican music and Greensleeves was in its pomp then.

But you don't wanna hear me go on about that. "Original Rockers" was on Greensleeves and stands up to just about anything else ever IMO.

There's a good Wackies compilation of digital dancehall / early 80s stuff called Basic Replay.

I've been making a bunch of money buying and selling Blood & Fire CDs and LPs. Bit torn on the news. Shops don't realize that catalog is collectible so it's easy to buy low and sell high right now.

Here's the Basic Replay comp: http://www.discogs.com/Various-Basic-Replay/release/1154566

re marcus garvey :

but i have seen the 2 albums on one cd island edition in hmv every single time i have been there for years.

just assumed it was part of the never deleted catalogue

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marcus-Garvey-Garveys-Ghost-Burning/dp/B00002635E/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1393167677&sr=1-1&keywords=burning+spear

― mark e, Sunday, February 23, 2014 3:01 PM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I think it was OOP for a while but I have a pretty old cd version of it I picked up in the mid 90s so it seems to have reappeared a few times too.