Me and U . . .

Finally got to meet Daddy U Roy: "The Teacher", "The Originator", etc!

The most popular of the founding fathers of the Jamaican DJ scene (said to be the inspiration/catalyst for Rap) and still on great form, despite his 65 years.

He played a great upbeat set of most of his classics from the last 30+ years.

Last saw him in '73-ish at Hammersmith Palais when he was really at his peak and he totally stormed the place.

U Roy held Number 1, 2 and 3 for twelve consecutive weeks (!) in the Jamaican charts back in 1970 a feat that has never, nor is likely to be matched, anywhere in the world.

ANYONE OUT THERE . . ?

This blog lies inside an ether-proof bubble I reckon!
But if you fall upon it by luck or mistake, take a read and leave a comment. It is virtually in its infancy and as such is a little unrefined, but will grow with input - I hope!

This blog is passionate about early Jamaican music, not necessarily from a collector's point of view but for those who enjoy the music.

NEED PROVOCATION . . ? OK . . !

1: "Return of Django" is the definitive reggae tune. Fact.

2: Don Drummond is revered as an exceptional musician and a key figure in laying the foundation of Jamaican music. Could his reported near-pathological hatred of whites been altered had he lived to enjoy the reverence of the hundreds of thousands of white fans that now buy his music?

3: Jackie Mittoo is truly over-rated as the definitive Jamaican keyboard player, compared to Third World's Michael "Ibo" Cooper and veteran Winston Wright - let alone the master, Monty Alexander.
A case of: Not everything that glitters Studio One is gold . . ?

4: Since most of the innovators of early Jamaican music are now dead, who gets the money you pay for your music? Even the ruthless producers who abused and robbed those guys of their rights when they were poor, struggling musicians are mostly gone, so where does it go?

5: Gases given off by large amounts of ageing vinyl are known to penetrate the main brain stem of susceptible individuals and are stored deep in the brain, which in time can result in an inflated ego.

PLAYLIST DILEMMA! . . .

A three-hour set and a narrowed-down playlist of 5 hours . . .

Just how does anybody hone it down? Bearing in mind that this is not a list of my favourite tunes, but a list of "favourites", tried, tested and proven. Plus I always break from the "norm" and try to feature valid requests if I have them and they fit with the music policy of the night. Not a lot of people will do this and I am not sure why. DJ knows best . . ? I hope it is not the case, as the music is everyone's! The DJ is just lucky enough to be a "librarian" - and a library that only stocks the books the librarian enjoys wouldn't be that popular, would it?!

Anyhow, one on the list is Don Drummond's "Bellevue Special" which is currently up for sale on the net listed as an ultra-rare 7", one of only 3 copies known, for £1,750!!!!

Thank God for people like Gaz Mayall who has so unselfishly released it and many others on various compilations from his personal collection over the years. That is what it is all about - perpetuating, enlightening and sharing the music.

It did also prompt a thought about what may unwittingly lie in tin trunks under beds in Jamaica or elsewhere . . . mmm!

'TOONS ON FORM

LAST NIGHT AT THE JOHN HARVEY in Lewes the boys (!) melted themselves and the full-house in to an amalgam of brass, copper and sweat.
The horn section blew their best with some dazzling solos, the evening coming to an abrupt 23:00 end, despite the crowd's baying.
Managed to give out a few flyers for the 23rd, which some people seemed to already know of. NICE!

"Rationalised" the blog . . .

. . . so what went before is no longer. Although all contributions were welcome and have my thanks, a new start was needed and here it is.

BRIGHTER!
MORE DYNAMIC!
OTHER STUFF TOO!

But first, some news . . .

FRIDAY, MARCH 23

The Royal Oak, Station Street, Lewes

60's & 70's JAMAICAN JAZZ

Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae

Tickets from venue or Rik's Disks next door - £4 - only 80 available!

A charity event with profits going to locally supported school projects in Gambia

We really hope this to be sold out and intend to make it a really great night that people will want repeated. I have assembled a really hot potential playlist which exceeds the allocated 3 hours (8 til 11 SHARP!) and deciding what NOT to play will be tough. Apart from the usual suspects I have rounded-up a few tunes that I doubt are played at dances anywhere but fit the evening's title perfectly.

If you want tickets but can't get down there to get them please contact me, I will sort it out.

The Royal Oak is right in the centre of Lewes, close to the traffic lights near the County Court and Town Hall. The gig is upstairs (hopefully you will hear it!), go through the main bar.

The next scheduled gig after this is what is happily becoming a "regular" support for the excellent SKATOONS at The Old Market Arts Centre, Hove a fringe event of the Brighton Festival, on Friday, May 25, and will feature their 20-odd piece big-band "Skakestra" which although a little loose when they performed before, produced some outstandingly good solos, worthy of any stage, so GO!

Upcoming gigs for the SKATOONS are: Tonight - John Harvey Tavern (next to the river), Lewes. March 31 - Prince Albert (right, downhill from the station), Brighton. April 14 - The Brunswick (excellent new venue, very end of Western Road, near seafront), Hove. May 12 - John Harvey Tavern, (still next to the river), Lewes.

But DO check out the 'TOONS website for an insight (quite good that!). Google-it: "Ska Toons" UK.

ME AND THE SET . . .
If you recognise what inspired this pose you are on the same wave-length - if not, who cares?

For the techies: It is all custom built. 1840's for the bass, 10" neo/1" mid/top, SoundTech 4-channel amp, Tascam control and "drawers", sampler, etc, etc, yawn.
Play off CDs . . . Sorry! (Really sick of the Vinyl v CD issue, so please don't start! It really doesn't matter to those who just want a good time, which is my only concern.)
Really try to make music sound the way it should and it does, but in a small way!
Playlist: 60's, 70's and retro Jamaican.
Example: . . . phew! . . . what do you want?
Favourites: Too many to list and too many not heard yet.