The Flea Market Funk blog did a post back in May about The Music Specialists. I thought it was a fun read so [...]]]> It’s been a bit of time since I did an update and well it’s time to get back in the saddle. Here’s a little link to a cool blog and some video selections!

The Flea Market Funk blog did a post back in May about The Music Specialists. I thought it was a fun read so go there now and check it out.

Here’s the flip: “Flip”

As the story states: his involvement in the 1972 recording session was somewhat impromptu. “I came down here with, Millie [...]]]> There was an interesting piece in the Jamaica Observer about the classic Count Prince Miller cut “Mule Train”. This was a hit back in the day and still gets a spin sporadically in the clubs today.

As the story states: his involvement in the 1972 recording session was somewhat impromptu. “I came down here with, Millie Small, Charles Hyatt and Jackie Edwards to do a show…and Jackie was recording for Bunny Lee at Federal. I was leaving the following day and Jackie said, ‘come with us down the studio nuh Prince’. When I went down there I saw Familyman….Aston (Barrett), Chamers and a couple of others guys from the Wailers. And they were so glad to see me and right away dem sey ‘gi mi a piece a di Mule Train man a long time we nuh hear dat yu nuh Prince,’ and they start to play Mule Train. And I just go behind the mike and Blurr!!!!…..and sing Mule Train and leave the studio,” recalled Count Prince Miller.

As happens pretty regular enough, especially in the early Jamaican music scene, it was a cover given a reggae twist. In this case of an older cowboy hit having been recorded by the likes of Frankie Laine, Bing Crosby, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Vaughn Monroe.

FOR THE COLLECTORS: Produced by Jackie Edwards, it was originally released in the UK on Trojan Records (TR-7824) in 1971. I also have it on a Jamaican Jaguar pressing (J-05) from around the same time. It’s interesting to note that as the label shows it’s a Walt Disney Publishing tune. Trojan Records and Walt Disney – now there’s a combo!

www.discogs.com

Here is the Count himself discussing a new remix that came out.

READ MORE: www.jamaicaobserver.com

Derrick Morgan also recorded his own version on the mule train riddim changing it slightly to “Reggae Train” which he has performed to this day. You can find a pretty good pressing of this version on a Striker Lee re-issue.

And just for a little fun here is Bing Crosby’s version for your listening pleasure.

Dynamic Pressure is one of [...]]]> In the interest of highlighting modern acts that were little known outside of certain circles, that issued only a few tracks or 1 “45″ but were outstanding to see live and ahead of the curve, we kick off a new feature to help spread the word about these “Lost Gems”.

Dynamic Pressure is one of those bands. They were a little known CA act that released just one 45 and a few compilation sides. They made a lasting impression on many people I suspect though. Ask Brian “Boom Boom” Dixon of the Aggrolites what Dynamic Pressure means to him and he’ll probably say “one of the best bands ever” or something to that effect.

They were surely ahead of the curve since they could probably be referred to as the band to first play that “dirty” or skinhead style reggae sound in California that begat the Rhythm Doctors (who will probably get a mention here soon too) and The Aggrolites.

Read more of this post at our sister blog, www.musicaloccupation.com where we’re posting some topics about more modern bands.

I have both the Guerrilla Priest/ Love Is Better Now 12″ with Lee “Scratch” Perry and the Max’s Kansas City 45 in my collection. Both are well worth searching out for collectors and DJ’s [...]]]> Following up on our last post about NYC’s The Terrorists I wanted to give a little more information on the vinyl releases.

I have both the Guerrilla Priest/ Love Is Better Now 12″ with Lee “Scratch” Perry and the Max’s Kansas City 45 in my collection. Both are well worth searching out for collectors and DJ’s a like. I finally found a scan of the 12″ cover to include with this post.

The 12″ features Lee in typical lyrical mysticism and dubby conquerer mode on Guerrilla Priest injecting trademark dubbed out shouts and hollers while Love Is Better Now has a more straight ahead looping rootsy reggae vibe by way of NYC/ UK vocal stylings which ends in an extended dub workout.

Give the tracks from the 12″ a listen by clicking the players below.

Guerrilla Priest

Love Is Better Now

Cheers!

This has been out for more than a few years now but I think it’s a lost gem well worth revisiting again and again. It’s a critical piece of punky ska & reggae history especially here in the U.S. as it pre-dates the actual 2 Tone explosion from the UK. It also managed to bring [...]]]>

This has been out for more than a few years now but I think it’s a lost gem well worth revisiting again and again. It’s a critical piece of punky ska & reggae history especially here in the U.S. as it pre-dates the actual 2 Tone explosion from the UK. It also managed to bring together U.S. musicians and JA reggae founders to make new thoughtful music when this is a completely new experience.

It’s also funny that our buddy Marco has been thinking the same thing and actually beat me to the posting! Check out his blog here for more on this interesting piece of the puzzle.

The following text was pulled from the ROIR website who released the compilation “Forces 1977-1982″. All photos pulled from the bands myspace page.

Two years before the UK Two Tone movement (Specials, Madness, Selector, Beat) announced a raw punky ska “new popular movement” in the UK, months before The Offs captured San Francisco with their dubby punk, the number one band playing reggae, ska, dub and punk on the East Coast, particularly New York City, were The Terrorists.

They were regularly gigging in N.Y.C. at Max’s Kansas City, CBGBs, Irving Plaza, Mudd Club, Hurrah, Tramps, the 80’s. Their unique punky, reggae, dub, ska were in great demand.

Started in October 1977 by drummer Dro, bassist Gary Schiess (a/k/a DB), singer and guitarist Ray De Angel and keyboardist Frank Covello with early replacement singer John Collins and guitarist Mark “Dino Supreme” Levi, the band became truly solid and extremely bookable.

Their commitment to reggae and their ability to consistently crowd the dance floor kept them busy week after week.

These guys were hot; they brought in business and before long they played with Roland Alphonso and Lee “Scratch” Perry, who adopted them as his collaborators. They were punk, ska, dub, reggae freaks, just as the 1977 “Exodus” Marley punky reggae movement and Two Tone Earthquake captured the UK press and a new scene was born.

A US cult audience (readers of the NME, Sounds and Melody Maker from the UK) propelled the Terrorists to enthusiastic cult audience adoration – but these guys were totally committed to reggae and its incarnations. They knew their stuff and became professors and teachers to a whole new generation of New Wave scenesters who started to dominate the US underground market.

Because of the involvement of Lee “Scratch” Perry, who traveled with and fronted the Terrorists over 20 years ago, and the many tracks with Roland Alphonso of the Skatalites, also from 20 years ago, this is an important slice of reggae, ska, punk, dub from Manhattan in the late 70’s. This is an historic document with material that is absolutely marvelous and unique. It puts a totally new perspective on reggae in Manhattan evenings during that period just before Marley was breaking through internationally with “Exodus” and brought reggae to a new tidal wave.

Tracks:
1. Hail The Day; Fade Away; Love Is Better (produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry)
2. Guerrilla Priest with Lee “Scratch” Perry, Vocals; Four Corners with Roland Alphonso, Tenor Saxophone; Christine Keiler with Roland Alphonso
3. What Am I Living For with Roland Alphonso
4. Ska-Bostello with Roland Alphonso, (TS) & Soprano Saxophone
5. Treat Her Right with Roland Alphonso
6. Bridge View with Roland Alphonso
7. Anittoo
8. Forces
9. Drainidge
10. I Want Justice
11. Happy Man
12. My Best Girl
13. Bitch Slapped
14. It’s Impossible
15. Happy Go Lucky Girl
16. Copasetic

More info on “Forces 1977-1982″ at the ROIR Website.

There’s another cool review here.

You can hit up Ray, founding member, singer & guitarist of the band on his myspace page as well. Check out even more killer photos of the band and flyers.

The Untouchables were on the forefront of [...]]]> A long and in depth interview with Kevin Long of Los Angeles Mod/Ska band The Untouchables came up on my Goggle Alert today. I love how that little piece of technology works! Well I figured I’d give it a shout out here since it’s a pretty good article.

The Untouchables were on the forefront of U.S. Ska in the early 80’s. Along with Fishbone, The Toasters and The Terrorists (from NYC – while not big by any means a personal favorite of mine) they founded the way for U.S. Ska to flourish. I still have my “Free Yourself” picture disc in the shape of a 44 magnum displayed proudly in my house. Watch out people – I’ve got a gun!

They were signed to Stiff Records (If it aint stiff it aint worth a FUCK!) at one point with Madness and released more then a few mod/ska/scooter rally favorites over the years including “I Spy For The F.B.I.”, “Tropical Bird”, “The General” and “Free Yourself”.

You may also remember the band from their appearance in the cult classic flick “Repo Man” where you can see the whole gang hit the streets on their Vespa scooters (wish I still had mine!). Where have the scooter boys gone?

The band with lone remaining member Jerry Miller still manages to play out and about these days. There is even talk about putting something more concrete together as well.

Here is the exclusive interview with Kevin Long of Los Angeles Mod/Ska band The Untouchables:

“The influence of 2-Tone outside of the UK remains one of its most enduring legacies. In fact, the speed with which the sounds born and made in Coventry, Birmingham and London made their way across the Atlantic Ocean to the U.S. is astounding.

In the matter of just a few short months in early 1980, like minded groups of people in New York, Chicago, LA as well as places as far afield as Portland, Oregon and Arizona heard these records and were moved to start their own bands. These new bands used the 2-Tone sound, look and ethic to kick-start a purely American version of ska which featured a combination of 60’s mod, R&B, power pop, rock and reggae.”

Read More Here: http://marcoonthebass.blogspot.com. It’s well worth the time and a very interesting read if you are at all into early 80’s mod, ska and scooters!

Read More at Wikipedia.

Check out their myspace page HERE.

Here’s the video for the already mentioned gun shaped picture disc.

Don Somebody RCA Victor 31Z-1901 / 1971 / Argentina Doble Barril (Double Barrel) b/w Eva

The listing says this: “Original, 1st and only pressing released in 1971 on RCA Victor, [...]]]> Recently there was a discussion on the message boards about 60’s U.S. Ska that was very interesting. Check that out HERE. Well today I found this record on EBAY:

Don Somebody
RCA Victor 31Z-1901 / 1971 / Argentina
Doble Barril (Double Barrel) b/w Eva

The listing says this:
“Original, 1st and only pressing released in 1971 on RCA Victor, Argentina. As usual in this region, the record spins at 33-rpm, and the titles are in Spanish. It’s hard to believe, but almost at the same time Dave and Ansell Collins cut Double Barrel on the Kingston, Jamaica-based Techniques Records label, thousands of miles away in South America, this obscure local artist did cover that monster classic, and it results in this tremendous, raw and tasty Latin-ized version.

The flipside features an instrumental track, entitled Eva. Probably conceived as a studio-only project, and based on the usual and inherent anonymity, he ironically called himself Don Somebody. As far as is known, he released only one single, which is virtually impossible to find.”

Take a listen to the sound sample. It’s interesting to say the least. Any other rare international cover versions of your favorite reggae songs out there? Drop me a line.