Deeper Knowledge out of Brooklyn, NY has been issuing some brutal 7″ vinyl singles. Check fi these:
Devon Russell “Famine Time”
Jewels “Slave Trade”
Jewels “Love & Inity”
Category Archives: 7″ Vinyl
Dennis Brown “Songs My Mother Used To Sing” (Aquarius)
It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite Dennis Brown tune, but this one might be it. This mix especially. Dennis sings this wonderful tune over a classic Herman Lin Choy-produced riddim from Aquarius. Later versions of the tune were more slickly produced, with the amplified vocal laid over the Lin Choy riddim. Sounds great still, but the original vibe is lost. Listen to how Brown’s vocal just blends with the riddim, never overpowering it. Perfect meld of vocal and riddim here as if the vocal were just another instrument in the mix.
The highlight of the tune is the lyric though. My favorite from Brown:
“I remember one rainy day on March,
My poor ma, she sent me out to get some starch,
I was the only one that she could depend on,
So I had to shop and cook and clean all day long,
Without a father, only the one that’s deep within”
Cornell Campbell & the Eternals “You’re No Good” (Bunny Lee, 1973)
Here we have a blazing roots track from Cornell Campbell and the Eternals.
“You’re No Good” is a 7″ vinyl single produced by Bunny Lee, which was released on 7″ vinyl in 1973. Campbell’s voice is amazing and the tune is “stronger than Sampson!”
Also included for you here is an article about Campbell direct from the Black Echoes collection of MIDNIGHT RAVER BLOG’S own Glen Lockley. The article was published in Black Echoes on February 14, 1976. Where else can you find vintage Cornell Campbell articles from the pages of Black Echoes? (Hint: it’s a rhetorical question). Give thanks!
Max Romeo & Prince Buster All Stars “Word, Sound, and Power” (Prince Buster)
Here is a Max Romeo cut from 1969/70 called “Word, Sound, & Power” w/ Version from my own 7″ vinyl collection. Lee Perry production. Max Romeo’s distinctive vocal over the original “River Jordan” riddim, played by the Prince Buster All-Stars. Take note of the sax on this track. Sounds absolutely ridiculous. Version is real nice.
“Jordan River’s gonna roll”…
Larry Mac, Jahmai, Ani, + Ridim live; Bay Area Reggae Musicians Special, May 19th 1980 Midnight Dread #20 -complete show-
Nor Cal legends Ridim play three live tracks from The Catalyst & Keystone Berkeley in MD #20 Parts 1 & 2. Two of Ridim’s principals, yardies Larry MacDonald & Jahmai, speak along with Virgin Islander Ani on the history of roots reggae & Jamaican musicians living in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s. Another 33 years ahead Midnight Dread goes deep & comes up with full coffers. The week’s Reggae Calendar includes a double bill of Toots & Third World live at The Old Waldorf in San Francisco & Zellerbach Auditorium across the bay on the campus at UC Berkeley. Discs, Wheels & Sports is moving their reggae wares to a new location near Lake Merritt. M Al’s reggae sound studio is open for biz nearby downtown Oakland. Listen to the ripples of reggaemylitis’ invasion into the bay music scene. Amazing advance vinyl pressings from Black Uhuru & Pablo Moses round out this well-charged radio program.
Larry McDonald plays three key Ridim tracks from an upcoming limited edition vinyl release and goes into great detail on the musicians. Mac also talks at length about the just closed Broadway musical REGGAE, Michael Butler’s followup to HAIR starring Phillip Michael Thomas with music by Max Romeo & Ras Karbi who also appears in the ambitious stage play. Michael Kamen, producer of The Wall by Pink Floyd who went on to produce Jah Malla’s first album for Atlantic around this time, was Music Director for REGGAE. Key times for reggae & culture. Sans the wonderful live Ridim “Wadasowa (Love)” selection from end of Part One, here’s the entire Larry Mac interview:
“The medal on my neck was won in the 1970 Festival competition. I came to US in 73. It was in the Daily Gleaner so my guess is that they own the copyright. Their morgue would have quite a bit of stuff on me.”-Larry McDonald:
Dreadcasting & streaming liquid musical jewels with daily 21st Century Midnight Dread programs at 12am including deja views often heard in Wendt’s Best of All Worlds slot when noon is high. Become conscious with the indigenous sounds of Native Son Rising curated by Doug everyday at 6am (all Pacific Times). Explore more Midnight Dreadness here.
