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Street Knowledge
June 18, 2012
Mocking up some ideas for the next wave of designs..this one is a nod to NWA whose seminal 1989 set ‘Straight Outta Compton’ was kicked off with this line…
Yesterday I was laying down festive cuts like a man possesed on theUrbanmusicologist YouTube channel, (the video arm of the tUmp project), and neglected the bloodsweatandtees although to be honest even though they are connected I didn’t feel that the WHOLE set should be on here as, strictly speaking, they are not related to the tees..
That said, I have included a few on here already so here is the first of the Christmas Day cuts..the rest I will leave on the Channel for you to peruse or not..
Titus Turner – Christmas Morning Blues (tUmp Christmas #21)
December 25, 2011
tUmp Christmas #2
December 21, 2011
Ralph Willis – Christmas Blues
one of theUrbanmusiCologist’s early loves is the blues, (which I have always found to be uplifting rather than downpressing), and so for me it wouldn’t be a musicology Christmas without a generous serving..Round 2 of the tUmp Christmas is courtesy of Alabama born blues man Ralph Willis, (aka Sleepy Joe, Alabama Slim, Washboard Pete)…
tUmp Christmas #1
December 21, 2011
Frank Cosmo – Merry Christmas
a musical tradition in theurBanmusicologist’s home is to select the christmas beats for the month of december. This year I have upped my game for tUmp, (theUrbanmusiCologyproJect), and have moved into videos to accompany them…nothing too involved but nonetheless something new for me.
The first cut is a Christmas Ska tune courtesy of Frank Cosmo and the Beverleys All Stars recorded and released in 1963…
Upsetter tribUte #7 (tUmp #8)
November 13, 2011
the Inspirations – Down In The Park
Part 5 of the Upsetter tribute and even though Lee Perry was already well on his way to mastering the art of picking, creating and crafting hit records funds were tight but in the year of the earth monkey, (1968), the English market began to gather speed due, in part, to the rise of Jamaican musics popularity with the working class youngbloods who became known as Skinheads.
Today’s cut is a scorcher from that year. Voiced by the Inspirations, (Trevor Shaw & Ransford White), and recorded at either Dynamic or the Chin family’s ‘Randys’ studio. (Trevor Shaw went on to reinvent himself as ‘Jimmy London’)
the Video features a group of sharp London blades from the late 60′s known in the first metropolis as ‘the Borough Boys’..
Earl 16 – Freedom tUmp #7
November 8, 2011
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Earl 16 – Freedom
Part 7 of tUmp, (theUrbanMusicologyProJect), and a next video tribute to currently featured bloOdsweatandtees artist Lee Perry and his music.
Today’s cut is courtesy of Downtown dread Earl John Daley aka Earl 16 who combines with the Upsetter on this majestic piece of ‘Black Ark’ magic to deliver a serious piece of late 1970′s ‘sufferers’ Reggae. ESSENTIAL listening as far as I’m concerned….
Rhythm provided by Albert Malawi, Wycliffe, (Steely), Johnson and Dalton Browne.
Upsetter triButetees by the(urBan)musicologist
tUmp #6
November 6, 2011
The Ethiopians – Life Is A Funny Thing
Round three of theUpsetter tribute is a CLASSIC tune from the early days, (1974) of the Black ark featuring vocal group The Ethiopians…
Leonard Dillon first connected with Lee Perry in the mid 60′s at Studio 1 where he was brought to Sir Coxson’s attention by Peter Tosh. At that time Lee Perry was a MAJOR feature at Brentford Road and along with Jackie Mittoo was instrumental in it’s success. It was at this audition that according to Leonard Dillon the ‘Ethiopian’ nickname emerged due to his ‘look of hunger’ when he sung. Coxson recorded him under the name Jack Sparrow but not much happened with the tunes and he went back to scratching out a living until returning to recording with Stephen Taylor and Aston Morris as ‘The Ethiopians’ going on to record hits like ‘Train To Skaville’ and ‘Everything Crash’.
Leonard Dillon Rest In Peace.
Errol Walker – In These Times
round two of theUpsetter audio/video tribute features foundation Jamaican vocalist and bass player Earl/Errol ‘Bagga’ Walker whose credits include being a member, (at the age of 14), of the Graduates with Ken Boothe and later, the Gatherers whose classic ‘Words Of My Mouth’ is one of the truly great pieces of Reggae. This is his adaptation of George Gershwin’s Summertime…
recorded by the Upsetter in 1977 at the peak of the Black Ark’s prowess…which can clearly be heard in the overall quality of the sound as well as Lee Perry’s near perfect mix and blend of all the components..Pure harmony.
tUmp #5
November 5, 2011
tuMp #4
November 2, 2011
the Silvertones – Bring It On Home To Me
For the next couple of weeks bloOdsweatandteeS and the(urban)musicologist are focusing on Lee Perry, The Upsetter, Chicken Scratch, Little Lee. A man whose impact on Jamaica’s, (and the world’s), soundtrack is, (almost), as big as Coxsone Dodd’s.
No surprise that the Upsetter began his career beside Dodd and even less of a surprise that they parted due to, (as far as Lee Perry is concerned), Downbeat’s failure to reward his creative endeavours….a common Jamaican tale which I am not in a position to pass judgement on, (and nor would I no matter what I knew)
Anyway, the(urBan)musicologist ain’t about hearsay and rumour….STRICTLY music and Lee Perry and Coxsone Dodd helped shape Jamaican music into what we know and love.
Studio 1 carried the swing throughout the 1960′s and early 1970′s but Lee Perry emerged with the ‘Soul Rebel’ sound in the late 60′s and wrestled the (recording) Crown from Sir Coxsone between 1972-1977..Channel 1 was there as where a whole host of producers during the period but, (as with Coxsone Dodd), Lee Perry changed the game.
It was Lee Perry who insisted that Bob Marley reform the Wailers rather than go it alone after returning from abroad in 1968 and history went on to be made. It was Lee Perry whose ‘Black Ark’ RULED from late 1973 until 1978 recording a HEAP of classic, KILLER material with many of the great Jamaican musicologists and whenever we reflect on Jamaican musical history Lee Perry’s name is right up there with the Champions.
Today’s cut is courtesy of The Silvertones Gilmore Grant, Keith Coley and Delroy Denton who first recorded for Duke Reid in 1965? with the magnificent Ska tune ‘True Confession’, (buried somewhere on themusicologist !!) following up with some quality Rock Steady and early Reggae for various producers, (including Lee Perry).
Before I drown in a sea of monologue and information please allow me to cut this short..
According to David Katz’s excellent book ‘People Funny Boy’ the rhythms for this piece were recorded at the, (almost completed), Black Ark and the vocals at King Tubby’s Studio at the dawning of 1973? and the musicians consisted of Hux Brown, Ansel Collins, Ranchie McLean and Anthony ‘Benbow’ Creary…
Finally I just want to add that I rate this tune and the Silvertones HIGHLY…oh yeah….It’s a cover of Sam Cooke’s ‘Bring It On Home To Me’
to view the Upsetter triBute tee follow the link below
theUpsetter triBute tee
Downbeat Special
October 28, 2011
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just added a new Downbeat The Ruler tee to the range.
Anybody that knows themusicologist will probably already be aware that for me Studio 1 is/was and always will be Jamaica’s number 1 studio.
The TOP RANKING singers and instrumentalists that passed through the hallowed Brentford Road gates are too numerous to list but here’s a SMALL selection
Dennis Brown
Ken Boothe
Jackie Mittoo
The Heptones
The Wailers
Lee Perry
Alton Ellis
The Skatalites
Horace Andy
Sugar Minott
Burning Spear
The Abysinnians
Slim Smith
John Holt
Jackie Opel
Stranger Cole
Joe Higgs
Carlton Manning
Leonard Dillon
The Gaylads
The Clarendonians…..
NO other Studio can boast of such a list of Jamaica’s greatest artists and thats not to talk of the Rhythms that are the backbone of Jamaica’s music industry..
Sir Clement Seymour Coxsone Downbeat The Ruler Dodd made this happen. Without him Reggae would be a different musical landscape and these tees are designed and produced in tribute to the man his legacy and achievements..
STRICTLY small print runs on ALL the tees so please don’t be offended if they sell out before you reach out…
