Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Sites | Writers | Advertise | My Orble | Login

Reggae - A daily blog

Reggae - May 2006

Aussie Upcoming Ska and Reggae gigs

May 31st 2006 11:37
The Lyrical Madmen
The Lyrical Madmen
As I prepare my next Jamaican legend bio and tribute I’m just dropping in some Aussie ska and reggae gig news.

As I said last week, Sydney reggae/ska/pop surfers The Lyrical Madmen are breaking up, but before they do, they are playing one last gig at Sydney Uni’s Manning Bar on Thursday 8th June. No doubt there will be a good crowd there and it will be good to see them for one last time.


Queensland ska band Wiseacre, who have long been in obscurity it seems, are finally in Sydney to support The Casino Rumblers on their album launch. That gig is this Friday at the Annandale Hotel.

For Melbourne ska fans, The Ska Vendors are playing two shows in the upcoming weeks (in Melbourne). For one of the gigs, they will be supporting Sydney punk band The Casino Rumblers too.

Saturday June 10
The Ska Vendors
Corner Hotel
with The Casino Rumblers and The Ranch Allstars
Doors 8.30pm
Tix $10

Saturday 17 June
The Ska Vendors
Williamstown RSL
Doors 8pm
Tix $5
(members and kids are free!)
45
Vote
Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: News
   


Trojan Records May New Releases

May 30th 2006 06:49
To break up the bio and tribute series of blogs I am doing, I thought I’d inform what came out on Trojan Records in May, as I also did for April.

Reggae With the Hippy Boys
The Hippy Boys – Reggae With the Hippy Boys
This a reissue of the 1969 release on the High Note subsidiary label. The ten tracks from the original LP are on this CD, with 15 bonus tracks. The bonus tracks include tracks from both the Hippy Boys and the Upsetters. If you like skinhead reggae, ie upbeat organ driven instrumental reggae, then this is probably for you. Check out the style the Aggrolites drew inspiration from.


Various Artists – Trojan Motor City Reggae Box Set
Trojan are well known for their 3 CD packages and here is another one. This one is made up of Jamaicans covering Motown classics. Just at a quick glance there are some decent tracks here including Delroy Wilson doing It’s The Same Old Song, Pat Kelly rendition of I Wish It Would Rain and Eric Donaldson doing The Way You Do The Things You Do. Trojan has gone on the Jamaican covering soul slant before, but I’m pleased to see some less obvious songs on this album.

Various Artisits – Work Your Soul 2
I told you Trojan had gone down the soul path before and here is yet another one. This one is only a single CD, but has some good tunes. I mentioned yesterday Owen Gray does a smashing version of Can I Get a Witness and that is on here. A number of the songs are unknown to me and this is always good because it means new discoveries.

Trojan Records Website
43
Vote
Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: News
   


Owen Gray

May 29th 2006 11:32
Owen Gray is performing in LA alongside Alton Ellis, Derrick Morgan, Pat Kelly and Dennis Alcapone on June 11th.

I was fortunate enough to see Owen Gray perform in Melbourne in November 2004. Though a decent age he performed with great gusto and showmanship. Before that moment I hadn’t come across Gray very often – he was really overshadowed by other Jamaican artists. Seeing him perform with the Melbourne Ska Orchestra, a 27 piece band of Melbourne ska identities, created a new interest for the artist, particularly in me. I quickly discovered he was someone with a wealth of experience to match his performance skills. He obviously had a deep passion for the music and this had lasted over 45 years in the business. Though he probably doesn’t have the string of hits like artists such as Jimmy Cliff or Desmond Dekker, his appeal lies in his passion and humility.

Owen Gray
Owen Gray with the Melbourne Ska Orchestra


Owen Gray was born in 1939 and grew up in Trenchtown, Jamaica. He attended the Alpha Boys School alongside many other great music names and began performing from a young age as well as trying his hand at drama while at University. He has the claim of being the first to record a dubplate and was the inspiration for many other musicians. Having heard Gray on the radio (and knowing him as was the nature in Kingston at the time) many others wanted what he had. In 1960 he recorded Please Don’t Let Me Go with the Caribs, who contained Ernest Ranglin’ and also some Australians living in Jamaica. On the Beach, a song recorded shortly after is another of his most well known tracks. He was very much the first recording star in Jamaica releasing the popular American R&B style. His songs were also gaining popularity with the Jamaican community in the UK and he relocated there in 1962.

Owen Gray tried his hand at a variety of genres – soul just as much as the Jamaican ones. Soul was very popular in the UK and he quite happily mixed it in as he moved in ska, rocksteady and reggae genres. His rendition of Can I Get a Witness is a cracker. To this day he performs a large variety of styles and is open to the progression of Jamaican music (The Age, 2004).

Owen Gray worked with some of the biggest names and recorded for some of the most well known labels in Jamaican music history. Coxsone Dodd and Studio One, Chris Blackwell and Island Records, Melodisc, Camel (Pama) and Trojan all released Gray’s music at different times. Some of his other most popular tracks include Jezebel, Darling Patricia and Bongo Natty amongst others.

Like many Jamaican musicians, his career went up and down and he moved between the UK, USA and Jamaica. Right now there is resurgence in popularity for the Jamaican greats and he is performing across the world to very receptive crowds.

Photo Copyright Glen Smyth

References

Reggaetrain.com
Kate Welsman for The Age
Answers.com
52
Vote
Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Artists
   


Desmond Dekker Passes Away

May 26th 2006 09:07
Yesterday I said I was going to write about each of the artists playing the gig on June 10th in LA, USA. Something came up that I couldn’t overlook, so I will move on to them next week.

Desmond Dekker
It is with great disappointment to hear that Desmond Dekker has passed away. Dekker was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres on July 16, 1941 and died Thursday morning at 4 am May 25th in London of a heart attack. He was 64.

Dekker made an impact on the Jamaican music scene with his song Honour Your Mother and Father for Leslie Kong on the excellent Beverley’s label. It was a cracking upbeat ska number that set his path as a Jamaican musical icon. This was 1963, right in the thick of Jamaica’s indigenous music beginnings. He followed this song up with a number of others including the well known King of Ska (backed by The Cherry Pies) and Get Up Edina (backed by The Four Aces). The Aces would be his vocal group for his next stint of recordings, made up of Wilson James and brothers Clive, Carl, Barry and Patrick Howard (not necessarily all at the same time). In 1967 they recorded the rocksteady number 007, which went to #14 on the UK charts. This was followed by winning the 1968 Jamaican Festival Song Competition with the song Music Like Dirt, better known as Intensified. The year after in 1969, on the back of the UK skinheads’ love of reggae music and Dekker’s touring in the UK, their song Israelites went to #1 on the UK charts. It was also Dekker’s only US charting song, reaching the top ten.

Dekker was spending a lot of time touring the UK and by the time he recorded the Jimmy Cliff penned You Can Get It If You Really Want in 1970, he had relocated there. Leslie Kong’s death in 1971 was said to be a big set back for Dekker. He had had 20 number one hits in Jamaica by this time, but his career started to slide. A re-release of Israelites made the UK charts in 1975, but the mid to late seventies saw Dekker struggle. With the prominence of the 2-tone movement in the UK in the late seventies to early eighties, Dekker capitalised with albums Black and Dekker and Compass point on the Stiff label, which also released the likes of Madness and Ian Dury. Like 2-tone, it was short lived and Dekker had to file for bankruptcy in 1984. He was down but not out though. In 1993 he recorded an album with some former members of The Specials titled King of Kings. From that point on he performed consistently throughout the USA, UK and Europe right up until his recent death.

From what I have been told Dekker was very much a showman, with a unique sense of dress (like many Jamaicans) and a string of hits that would impress any audience. Personally, he was very much my gateway into Jamaican music. I would credit him with being the artist that made me look to the sixties for ska and reggae. Israelites, Intensified, 007 and Unity were and continue to be songs that can send shivers down my spine. He had a belting voice that was as high as anyone’s. I can’t remember the specific song, but I remember someone once commenting they thought a woman was singing.

It is a sad passing and made sadder still by the fact it is not an uncommon occurrence amongst Jamaican music royalty. The founders of ska are at an age where death is a definite reality and Dekker’s death comes shortly after Laurel Aitken’s, Phyllis Dillon, Coxsone Dodd and C Clancy Eccles to name just a few.

References

Desmond Dekker Official Site
Jamaica Observer
Jamaica Gleaner News
Grover Records
Radio Jamaica
70
Vote
Comments (3)Comments (3) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Artists
   


Legends of Reggae gig

May 25th 2006 13:02
I think a gig like the one below sells itself. It has five of the greatest names in reggae of all time. I would love to go to this gig, but alas it is in LA. I did see Owen Gray backed by a 30 piece band in Melbourne a while back, but all five of these legends is a unique experience. I don't get too jealous anymore because I have realised missing certain things is part of life and I'll get my chance. I have already gotten some of them. Anyway, for the next 5 blogs I'm going to talk about the artists playing in this gig, building up a database of Jamaican legends. I wish I could go to this gig, but not to worry. Go if you are in the USA. Yes the USA - I have travelled far for one Jamaican legend, you should for 5.

Hollywood Ska Reggae
60
Vote
Comments (2)Comments (2) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: News
   


The Harder They Come

May 24th 2006 12:43
It was mentioned in a comment and I watched it again the other day, so The Harder They Come gets a look-in today on the reggae blog. Is the film The Harder They Come something reggae fans should cherish or is it a film cherished only because it is a reggae film?

The Harder They Come
I like it. I like it to see Jimmy Cliff recreating the recording of the title track The Harder They Come. I also like it for the rest of the sound track, despite the pop flavour of You Can Get It If You Really Want. Sweet and Dandy is one of my favourite Toots songs and Johnny Too Bad, by The Slickers is another great tune and is basically The Pioneers playing under a different name.
[ Click here to read more ]
53
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (2)Comments (2) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Reviews
   


Reggae and Ska on Myspace May

May 23rd 2006 11:52
Although I’m not a huge fan of Myspace due to its highly unstable nature, bands have taken to it like fish to water. Reggae and ska bands seem to have taken the attitude they can’t afford not to get on board the Myspace train because of the way it attracts attention to the band they can’t get through their own websites. Mp3 hosting sweetens the deal and they can get an idea how many people are listening to their music. Here are a few bands worth checking out on Myspace.

Intensified
[ Click here to read more ]
61
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (1)Comments (1) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Artists
   


Lyrical Madmen break up

May 22nd 2006 11:29
Sydney band The Lyrical Madmen have decided to call it a day. Playing a blend of ska, reggae and pop, they were on the scene for around six years and played to a huge range of audiences. They were often seen on ska gig lineups in the city, but hailing from the Northern Beaches of Sydney, tended to play a majority of their shows on the northern side of the bridge.

These boys were by no means your typical ska fans. They weren’t skinheads or rudeboys, but rather surfers and their music really reflected this with a laid back style. Reggae and hip hop started to come into their sound more as time went on, but they always had a definite sound and style throughout their time.
[ Click here to read more ]
48
Vote
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Artists
   


Reggae Guest House Thailand

May 19th 2006 05:12
I haven’t been to Thailand for years, but if I was to go back I would consider staying that the Reggae Guest House at Had Mae Rampeung Beach, between Rayong and Ko Samet which is 2-3 hrs from Bangkok (depending on your driver I suppose!)

From what I can draw you are going to pay at most 12 bucks a night to stay in some pretty nice looking rooms right on the beach. They’ve even got a reggaefied pub.
[ Click here to read more ]
41
Vote
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Articles
   


Aggrolites New Album

May 18th 2006 09:22
Aggrolites S/T
I don’t buy that many CDs – my smallish income goes largely towards records and I’m slowly getting a good collection together. One CD I couldn’t afford not to purchase was The Aggrolites self-titled CD. Released on May 9th and with doubts about my chances of getting hold of it in Sydney, I pre-ordered it online. Was I excited when it arrived in the post? Was I ever.

I know I talk about the Aggrolites a lot, but there isn’t another contemporary band that excites me as they do. The new album is fantastic – all 19 tracks of it and I suggest if you only buy one reggae CD this year you buy this one.
[ Click here to read more ]
60
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (2)Comments (2) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Reviews
   


white man reggae

May 17th 2006 07:43
Reggae sounds and looks best black. I really think there is quite a large support for this notion and it extends to the image reggae should have and where it began. Of course it isn’t debatable that Jamaican started reggae music. There were Chinese Jamaicans involved in the industries and white musicians (including Australians) in bands during the formulation of Jamaican ska music, but the for me it is a music for indigenous Jamaicans.

The Jamaicans responsible for the development of ska, rocksteady and reggae were tough – ex-bouncers, boxers, policeman were choosing music as a career. They were cool – you just have to look at Jackie Mittoo at his prime or any Jamaican rudeboy of the day to see they looked extremely smart in three button slim fitting suits. Even though Bob Marley’s image doesn’t appeal to me, I can’t deny him a very cool tag. Jamaican voices are strong and soulful and the wealth of talent is amazing
[ Click here to read more ]
53
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (3)Comments (3) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Articles
   


Reggae Perfection

May 16th 2006 09:30
As far as my taste in music goes, I have been cast as a close minded elitist by many a friend and acquaintance. I will admit that I was once open to many a new band doing anything with passion and gusto had me interested. When I first got into ska and punk music, I was particularly enthusiastic about any group that was heading in that direction. As I got older, my tastes shifted towards early Jamaican music predominantly. I still enjoy other bands in different genres, but I would say 75% of what I listen to is a band either from pre 1972 or a band playing in the style from that era. Most people I know experience a shift in music taste regularly and people have suggested mine will too. This used to happen to me, but I haven’t seen much of change for the last three years. I have perhaps enjoyed more mod, soul and Irish folk music, but still the Jamaican music has stood the test of time.

Why is this and why do many people have the same thing happen to them when it comes to reggae music? I know people like me exist all over Australia and all over the world. We aren’t the majority by any means, but there are plenty of us about. A genre where bands work off what is quite a simple core would tire with many, but there are others where it will never get stale, never start to bore.
[ Click here to read more ]
55
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (5)Comments (5) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Articles
   


45 RPM May Sydney Review

May 15th 2006 22:14
I had a relatively quiet weekend apart from 45 RPM on the Friday night. The place was humming again with an atmosphere unmatched by any similar club night in Sydney. The mix of reggae and other sixties inspired sounds had the dance floor full all night.

Dimitris is a Greek restaurant on the bottom floor with a top floor playing host to 45 RPM once a month. It has a long bar, dance floor and huge chill out room with booths and couches. Friday night all areas were choccas with a mix of mods, skins rudeboys, rudegirls, rockabillies and plenty of people there for the music not fitting into a subculture.
[ Click here to read more ]
40
Vote
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Reviews
   


Safe Travel - The Rare Side of Rock Steady

May 12th 2006 02:56
With Phil Pratt & Friends 1966-68

The most recent rocksteady release from label Pressure Sounds, Safe Travel, is a real gem. Though not exactly a new release anymore – it was released in 2005, it is so good I couldn’t help but write something about it.
[ Click here to read more ]
57
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (2)Comments (2) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Reviews
   


Moon Ska Europe

May 11th 2006 11:39
Thought I might continue taking a look at a few reggae and ska record labels, particularly ones I think are releasing some good stuff. I mentioned Trojan Records – Kings of the reissue, but of course there are others.

For a mix of genres, Moon Ska Europe seems to offer a good range of releases. They put out records by bands playing new slants on ska and reggae while satisfying traditionalists. The name Moon Ska has a long history, first starting in New York City. Though they went under, Moon Ska Europe continues to make an impact. So much so they are changing their name to Moon Ska World. This is to reflect moving towards bands like Dub City Rockers and Chris Murray.
[ Click here to read more ]
46
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (1)Comments (1) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Articles
   


Firehouse Reggae Sound System Sydney

May 10th 2006 12:46
I don’t want to favour certain gigs or club nights in my blog because good reggae nights should be attended and supported, so because two nights ago I plugged 45 RPM at Dimitri’s on Friday night, I though I’d talk about Fire House Sound System tonight, which is to be held on Saturday night at the Marquee in Camperdown.


[ Click here to read more ]
41
Vote
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: News
   


Toots and the Maytals - Nothing is Better

May 9th 2006 10:54
Toots and the Maytals are definitely up there when it comes to all-time reggae stars. Their music, more than many perhaps any other artist, is a favourite with all lovers of reggae, but also music fans in general.

When played I can’t think of any other reggae songs that receive a better reception on the dance floor. They had hit after hit, perhaps not in the music charts sense of the word, but definitely as far as having a dedicated fan base to their music. Their songs are continually covered knowing their popularity – even an Australian band Kingtide covered their song Broadway Jungle calling it No Dog War. The Specials also did Pressure Drop and hundred of bands have thrown their songs into their set lists.
[ Click here to read more ]
56
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (1)Comments (1) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Artists
   


45 RPM club night

May 8th 2006 11:31
Though not a reggae night in the strict sense of the word, 45 RPM includes Jamaican and international ska, reggae and rocksteady in its showcase of music. It is quickly becoming one of the top club nights in Sydney for its great DJ lineup, venue choice and emphasis on dressing to impress.

The main inspiration comes from the sixties with the mod, skinhead and rudeboy influence quite clear. As well as Jamaican music, you’ll be able dance the night away to black American soul, sixties R&B, revival mod and English 2-tone ska. If you want to take a break from dancing, Dimitris offers booths and side rooms to get acquainted to others.
[ Click here to read more ]
65
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (4)Comments (4) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: News
   


Reggae History

May 5th 2006 05:27
Some people like to read about how reggae developed, or how a scene was at a certain point in time. Google may be your first option for searching for these resources, but of course there are problems with finding the best information. Here are a few resources that document the reggae and ska past.

Dance Hall
Pre-sixties club in Jamaica
Global Village Idiot
[ Click here to read more ]
49
Vote
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: History
   


Madness movie - Take It or Leave It

May 4th 2006 10:15
I’m going to continue on a Madness tangent today having gotten my frustration about imitators out of my system.

On a quick note, did you know that Madness were the most successful UK band of the eighties, having the most songs in the UK charts? Also, they have appeared on Top of the Pops more times than all but a handful of artists.
[ Click here to read more ]
44
Vote
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Reviews
   


Is it Madness or just craziness?

May 3rd 2006 13:01
Right across the music world you get bands reforming or returning for another tour, trying new material on old and new fans who just want to hear the classics. You get one member reforming a band with the old name, playing the old songs, but presenting an act with little resemblance to the band that saw success. Then you throw tribute bands and cover bands into the mix.

In reggae it is no different. One major example is the current Wailers. The bloke up front’s job is to attempt to mimic Bob Marley joined by only one or two original members in the band. The Skatalites just played here and although the band was awesome, many of the original members have either passed on or were not part of the line-up that came to Australia.
[ Click here to read more ]
47
Vote
Read MoreRead More Comments (1)Comments (1) Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Articles
   


Steel Pulse

May 2nd 2006 08:52
Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse are probably my favourite roots reggae band. The reason for this is that a good number of their songs are upbeat danceable numbers as opposed to the laid back style of most roots reggae bands.

Steel Pulse started in 1975 in Birmingham, England with David Hinds, Basil Gabbidon and Ronnie McQueen. Rastafarian in faith, the band were from a very early age conscience in their outlook. Even in 2006, Jamaica is 80 per cent Christian and so Rastafarianism in 1975 was not necessarily embraced by the Jamaican population in Birmingham at the time and the bands conscience Rastafarian music was likewise not embraced by the community.
[ Click here to read more ]
45
Vote
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Artists
   


The Aggrolites

May 1st 2006 05:16
They are perhaps the most popular band playing a contemporary slant on the old Jamaican sound in the world today. At the very least, they have a cult following that extends across the world. With them just about to release their next album through Hellcat, the sub label of Epitaph records, one imagines that their following will only continue to increase.

Live Aggrolites
Their debut album was released on both vinyl LP and CD on San Francisco based Axe Records and when I got it I was blown away. I quickly played it to anyone who would listen and even in Australia there grew a legion of fans. This album had a driving reggae sound that was obviously inspired by a pre 1972 Jamaican sound and it also had a quality that made it perfect for the dancefloor with an emphasis on catchy songs.
[ Click here to read more ]
42
Vote
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
[ Link ]
Posted By: Glen - Category: Artists
   


More Posts
August 2007
1 Posts
July 2007
8 Posts
June 2007
14 Posts
Older Posts
283 Posts dating from April 2006
Email Subscription
Receive e-mail notifications of new posts on this blog:
[ View Blog Summary ] [ Create A New Post ]
Moderated by Glen