“Keith & Tex are the Jamaican rocksteady duo of Keith Rowe and Phillip Texas Dixon, best known for their 1967 hit ‘Stop That Train‘. Keith Rowe (Born Keith Barrington Rowe) grew up in the Washington Gardens area of Saint Andrew Parish, across the road from Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s home and future studio, on the outskirts of Kingston. Phillip Texas Dixon grew up in the Pembroke Hall area and they were introduced by a mutual friend. Starting out as a five man group singing on the corner, they were encouraged to try to get recorded. They soon began auditioning for local producers but were rejected by Prince Buster, Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid, the group having lost confidence broke up leaving two. Keith and Tex were left and auditioned for Derrick Harriott where they eventually found success. … Rowe joined the US Army in 1972, staying in for twenty years, but also found time for music, recording as a solo artist, working with producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, releasing tracks such as ‘Groovy Situation’ and ‘Living My Life’, and recording further singles in the US, including a few on his own KEBAR label. …”
Wikipedia
KEITH ROWE: LIVING HIS LIFE
YouTube: Stop that train – Keith, Tex & Friends, Groovy situation, Living My Life
Archive for Big Youth
Keith Rowe – Stop that train / Groovy situation / Living My Life (1967-77-78)
Posted in Big Youth, Dancehall, Dub, Lee "Scratch" Perry with tags Big Youth, Dancehall, Dub, Lee "Scratch" Perry on December 16, 2017 by 1960s: Days of RageRanking Joe – World in Trouble (2005)
Posted in Big Youth, Black Ark, Channel One, Dancehall, DJ, Michael Rose, Ranking Joe, Twilight Circus, U-Roy with tags Big Youth, Black Ark, Channel One, Dancehall, DJ, Michael Rose, Ranking Joe, Twilight Circus, U-Roy on January 27, 2014 by 1960s: Days of Rage
“DJ Ranking Joe (who has also recorded under the name Little Joe, not to be confused with Little John) is a legend among the cognoscenti of old-school dancehall reggae, although his commercial career and worldwide reputation have always been overshadowed by those of his contemporaries Big Youth and, especially, the great U-Roy, who served as something of a mentor to Ranking Joe during his early career. This excellent new set finds him in the company of session greats from the early days, including trumpeter Bobby Ellis, saxophonist Dean Fraser, and guitarist Chinna Smith; since Ryan Moore (of Twilight Circus Dub Sound System fame) is behind the boards, the rhythms are thick, dark, and heavy — close your eyes and you could be back in the Channel One studio or even the Black Ark during the roots heyday of the late ’70s. And Ranking Joe himself is in top form; he’s effortlessly articulate chatting on tracks like ‘Don’t Follow Babylon’ (a fine combination track featuring singer Michael Rose) and ‘Seek Ye First,’ neither of them breaking any new ground either lyrically or musically, but both demonstrating again that Ranking Joe deserves to be rated with the very best exponents of this venerable style of reggae chatting. Highly recommended.”
allmusic
Twilight Circus Dub Sound System
“Twilight Circus is the dub and reggae project of multi-instrumentalist Ryan Moore, former bassist and drummer of the Legendary Pink Dots. Twilight Circus is becoming increasingly popular and well known for Moore’s work with artists such as Big Youth, Michael Rose of Black Uhuru and Ranking Joe. He originally started off producing dub albums, before recording vocalists for inclusion on his critically acclaimed Foundation Rockers album. In the classic tradition of reggae, Moore releases 10″ vinyl record singles, often in limited edition. …”
Wikipedia
YouTube: World In Trouble [Full Album]
00:0 – 03:46 Seek Ye First 03:48 – 08:09 Poor Man Struggle 08:12 – 12:39 Control Your Temper 12:40 – 16:26 World In Trouble 16:26 – 20:13 Wake The Nation 20:15 – 24:30 Don’t Follow Babylon 24:33 – 28:10 Nowhere To Hide 28:10 – 32:38 Don’t Try To Use Me 32:41 – 36:40 Don’t Try To Use Me Dub 36:42 – 40:31 World In Trouble (Vibronics Skaboom Remix) 40:42 – 45:34Don’t Follow Babylon
Big Youth – Natty Universal Dread, 1973-1979 (2000)
Posted in Big Youth, DJ, Dub, Joe Gibbs with tags Big Youth, DJ, Dub, Joe Gibbs on September 20, 2013 by 1960s: Days of Rage
“It should come as no surprise that the first collection to do full justice to the career of reggae DJ Big Youth was released by the Blood & Fire label, which has already distinguished itself with an exquisite catalog of reissues and collections designed to bring the music of reggae’s classical period (the early to mid-’70s) back into the marketplace. This three-disc box set includes 51 tracks from Big Youth’s most productive period, beginning with the early singles recorded for Joe Gibbs and on his own Negusa Nagast label (which included the charming ‘Hot Cross Bun’ and ‘Hot Stock,’ a collaboration with Gregory Isaacs and Leroy Smart), and ending with the topical “Can’t Take Wah Happen on a West” (written in the wake of the disastrous Westmoreland Flood of 1979) and the blistering ‘Political Confusion,’ which name-checks Margaret Thatcher and Jimmy Carter. This is also the period that found him releasing his bizarre and wonderful cover versions — ‘Hit the Road Jack,’ ‘Proud Mary’ (titled ‘River Boat’ here), and, best of all, ‘Sugar Sugar.’ As always, the digitally restored sound is exquisite, but this set does mark the first time that Blood & Fire has messed up on packaging. It’s beautiful and the booklet is jam-packed with rare photos and extensive liner notes, but the individual disc sleeves are equipped with annoying and self-destructing styrofoam spindles. Don’t let that fact dissuade you from buying this marvelous collection, but be forewarned.”
allmusic
“Natty Universal Dread 1973–1979 is a 3-CD-Box-set by Big Youth, released in 2001.”
Wikipedia
YouTube: Mosiah Garvey (extended), Can’t Take Wah Happen On A West + Dub, Political Confusion, Downtown Kingston Pollution / Give Praises / Hot Cross Bun, Children Children / Mr Buddy, Battle Of The Giants Part 1&2, The Wise Sheep, Jah Jah Love Them (Extended)
Errol Dunkley – Movie Star (1974)
Posted in Big Youth, Dub, Errol Dunkley, Gregory Isaacs with tags Big Youth, Dub, Errol Dunkley, Gregory Isaacs on May 27, 2013 by 1960s: Days of Rage
“In one of those sad twists of fate, today most reggae fans are more familiar with the DJ version of this song, than Errol Dunkley’s impassioned original, thanks to the success of Big Youth’s ‘Every Nigger Is a Star’, which hit big in both Jamaica and the UK. A pity, because Dunkley’s vocal version is absolutely sublime. Not released until 1975, the song was actually cut a few years earlier, back when the singer and Gregory Isaacs were sharing studio time to further the fortune of their newly launched label African Museum. In fact, ‘Movie Star’ was cut at the pair’s first joint session. The smokiest of brass, elegant piano, jangles of lead guitar, bubbly organ, and compulsive rhythm guitar riff, all propelled by the propulsive drums and bass line made this riddim a star, and one which continues to be versioned to this day. But as fabulous as the backing is, it’s the singer that made this song unforgettable, as Dunkley vows his love to his nobody of a girl. Lack of fame or fortune is meaningless to him, and even if her dress sense is equally bereft, he adores her regardless, a sentiment he makes clear with every word he passionately sings. That empowering emotion, the heart-felt, semi-cultural lyrics theme, and the sensational backing all combined into this phenomenal masterpiece. Dunkley released a deluge of stellar singles, this was one of the most crucial.”
allmusic
Prince Jazzbo (1972)
Posted in Big Youth, Bunny Lee, Channel One, Coxsone Dodd, Dancehall, DJ, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Prince Jazzbo, U-Roy with tags Big Youth, Bunny Lee, Channel One, Coxsone Dodd, Dancehall, DJ, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Prince Jazzbo, U-Roy on May 23, 2013 by 1960s: Days of Rage
“… Prince Jazzbo is one of the survivors of reggae music. While he has never been as important as other 70s DJs such as U-Roy or Big Youth, it is Jazzbo who retains a charismatic personal style and a reasonably healthy following through his label, Ujama, for which he produces and occasionally records. Like many others, Jazzbo first recorded for Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One label in the early 70s. Legend has it that Jazzbo had come to Kingston from the countryside and was initially passed over by Dodd, who expected little from the skinny youth. However, Jazzbo eventually pestered his way into the studio and took the microphone.”
allmusic
“Prince Jazzbo (born Linval Roy Carter, 3 September 1951, Clarendon, Jamaica) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay and producer. Prince Jazzbo began recording with Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One label in the early 1970s. He went on to work on his own releases with Bunny Lee, producing as well in collaboration with many artists as a vocalist and producer for labels including his own, Ujama. His best work was probably done in collaboration with legendary producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.”
Wikipedia
YouTube: Prince Jazzbo – Crab Walking, Mr Harry Skank, Ital Corner, Skylarking riddim mix, Crime don’t pay