GUSSIE'S 12' RULER!

Sticks and stones may break yer bones but these words are kickin’ my ass up and down the keyboard. I juss can't get to the point. This should be an easy one too…I remember hearing most of these hits when they had that new hit smell. What does a new hit smell like? It kinda smells like Napalm in the morning. You know…incendiary. That Shabba tune was making big waves on regular radio. Even the music channels on the idiot box were showing the Mr. Loverman video in heavy rotation. So here goes before I over bake this post…

Augustus Gussie Clarke cut his teeth in the music biz cutting dub plates but he soon moved on to sit in the big chair. That of a music producer, and this big chair obviously sat well with him because he is held responsible for unleashing two monsters of the age, I-Roy’s Gussie Presenting I-Roy and Big Youth’s Screaming Target. Both made massive impact on the DeeJay scene. Both pressed by England’s Trojan Records. After a few earlier false starts for everybody involved, these true debuts proved the doubters wrong. That feat of sonic engineering came near the beginning of the Seventies, but as the decade disappeared year after year into becoming the 1980’s, Gussie’s rep kinda took a step back.


Big Youth's 1972 Screaming Target changed forever how my ears heard music. Oh course this happened to me in the early 80's. Hey I was 9 years old in 1972.


My wife's favorite chanter of verse and rhymes. I don't wanna scare any of my readers but at somepoint I used to wear a similar suit. Wonder how I didn't get gunned down! That was that New Jack Swing era of the 90's.

Then the “Me Decade” changed everything. The 1980’s started with brand new sounds. Brand new digital technology and most of all, the Casio Drum machine; it shook the world of riddim up. The island would never be the same. Deejays popped up everywhere. Everybody a DeeJay now and they are all spouting off the same rhetoric over the same preset beat. Natural selection weeded out the imitators quick enough. Left standing were a cast of young upstart producers and a whole new generation of fast talkers. They easily filled the big chairs. And they filled the charts with hit after hit. They all had fresh faces to promote. The emerging Dancehall style was becoming the new musical language spoken. Business JA style would still be as lawless as ever. Some things never change, but this sudden shift in musical taste must have caused some gray dreads to the Roots Rockers.



Gussie was now a seasoned professional, which meant he no longer had street level player cred. Gussie should have gotten trampled under that mad rush of talent and technology but no, he was completely reinvigorated. Gussie was old news no more.
Gussie helped a lot of the roots era singers’ transition over to the digital dancehall side. The Eighties were now in full swing. He made sure that the Dennis Browns and the Gregory Isaacs were not the last decade’s chart leftovers. With an updated re-cut of The Mighty Diamonds tune “Bodyguard” Gussie reintroduced the harmony trio to whole new generation. And without causing any disrespect to their original take. Never a stranger to new talent, Gussie is responsible for two of the international breakout Shabba Ranks best full-length releases, Mr. Maximum and Rapping with the Ladies. Both records were big world wide sellers for Greensleeves and both can found on their Reggae Legends series 4 CD box set. Later on that very welcomed into my home set.



This 12’ Ruler is dancing with your lady Dancehall. I say that due to the good balance of the playful male too female duets. This Gussie comp is still perfectly suited for a festive Friday night though. Ironically Mr. Gregory Isaacs, the King of Lover’s Rock, his included tunes are more of social politics and not of affairs of the heart. No overtly offensive slack tunes either.



I stumbled across this VP Records release long after I bought the Greensleeves disc. It's VP's version of the above record but with a few tunes switching places. Most notably for me is lead off tune by The Mighty Diamonds! I never get sick of hearing "Pass the Kutchie". That is a big big smile tune.

RANDOM NONSENSE

A question to those individuals who might stop by my humble little blog-is Jetstar Records defunct? For that matter, the amazing Reggae boutique label Blood and Fire outta Merry Ole England hasn't pushed anything new on us in quite some time. The lights still on in their website but it is awfully quit inside. That would be a shame, cause those guys put out only best chronic compared to some of the skunk other labels sell. Blood and Fire were eye to eye with Pressure Sounds and Soul Jazz for hand picked photo packed deluxed remastered grooves from yesteryear. Super rare 45's would reappear like magic. Intersting... all the labels mentioned are/were Brit powerhouses. Of course England's Greensleeves is sitting safe and cozy within the VP Records empire. Global domination but to this listeners ears-it is a good thing.

Thank you too those four brave souls of discerning taste that publicly admit to following my big mouth blog. Hey you are laughing with me...right? And not at me?



It has been a couple years since I have become a used CD dealer on Amazon. Independantly busted. My dream is to segue that endeavor over into a new and used online Reggae CD shop. I do not call that conducting business-that 9 ta 5 would be a pleasure. Problem is I still have not sold one Reggae CD! I have sold tons of rock-n-roll noise. Second hand stuff I come across at yard sales or basement finds. My biggest seller to date was a double disc greatest hits of Julio Iglesias! Now I've even listed a few brand new Horace Andy and Burning Spear CDs cheaper than wholesale juss ta see wha would happen. Nothing! Damn hippies are illegally downloading instead. Lol. I wholesale thru a few distributers but all the Reggae I buy ends up in my personal collection. My local competition is huge. They will buy a hundred copies of Marley's Legend at a time. Me? Like my blog, my buying power is humble. Hey, I am not greedy, I juss wanna move enough high grade riddims ta support my music habit. Otherwise it's like getting high off my own stash!



Ever notice how many people misspell Reggae?

MORE TRIBUTE

Okay... I sorta rushed my Gregory Isaacs tribute to the presses. When Sugar Minott left behind his earthly possessions, I took too long to respond. I spent more time researching and listening than actually typing. In the mean time some beautiful pages were written in the man's memory, so I decided that my two cents were worth just that; two cents. So I pushed delete. But with the Cool Ruler I relied on the what came quick off the top of my head and did my research after the fact.

Apparently what came off the top my head was wrong. Ernie B's didn't even have a CD copy of Extra Clasic. New or used. Although, they did have a few original copies in vinyl. Amazon listed a few copies of the Trojan CD edition for big bucks. Crazy. I wonder who holds the copyrights now? African Museum? Did Gregory Isaacs even own his African Museum record and publishing company by this point? Extra Classic is the Cool Ruler's best singles from 1975/76. This is way to important to be outta print. Hey suits are ya listening?

While I was loitering around Ernie B's online store, I came across this...



This seems to be a good thing that is catching on. VP Records in conjunction with their Greensleeves divsion gathers together four usually impossible to find records from a particular artist and then box sets 'em. This series of Reggae Legends releases is out to restore lost musical masterpieces from their collective catalogs. The trend so far is releases from the mid 80's to the mid 90's. That lost generation between the classic roots era and now. And at a nice price ta boot! I'll rave about the Cocoa Tea set at a later day. When I do, I will rave up the Shabba Ranks boxset from them as well.



I am not gonna lie to ya, Mr. Isaacs did his fair share of throw away tracks, but his uniquely languid approach could make light weight lyrics turn out heavy vibed. It was his gift.

Tonight my turntable belongs to Mr. Gregory Isaacs

Damn good thing my daily position in life is not that of a blogger. Umm, what has it been? Almost a month? My family would of starved! This morning while I was trying to look interested and upright sitting on those hard wooden benches at the traffic tribunal, my mind was drifting on soft lovers rock riddims. It was two stiff hours before my wife’s name was called. She pleaded guilty to speeding and asked for leniency with her good driving record. I was busy running my blog over in my head. Today would be the day I finish up those “book reports” and 12-inch rulers posts I started. Sadly, not to be…



…A tiny blurb in the BBC News caught my eye; “ Reggae star Isaacs dies aged 59.” What?! Mister Gregory Isaacs passed away after battling lung cancer.



He was correctly nick named Cool Ruler. The Lovers Rock phenomenon is basically his creation. And if you argue against that theory at least I know you will agree that he perfected it.



Don't have any Cool Ruler in your CD selection to spin? This Trojan collection is great place to begin. I believe it is still being issued. I know the Cool Ruler Virgin Lp is long outta print. Extra Classic rolls up to the starting line with the smoking Dread anthem "Mr. Cop." That tune is a Lee Perry production filled with the Black Ark sound. One classic after another till ya reach halfway thru, and "I'm alright (loving pauper)", greets your ears. That tune should send shivers. Trojan fills the last half with the B-side dub versions. All killer cuts. A 5 outta 5.



The heavy roots era is when Isaac’s star shone super nova bright. Not that the 80’s decade gave him a cold shoulder, because he dropped his biggest seller, “Night Nurse” in 1982. This record's relaxed vibe will take you to the warm waters of sunny beaches even if your stuck in the middle of nowhere. So metaphorically get sand between your toes and sip a cup. Soak it in.

Every couple of years the Cool Ruler makes a small comeback. Maybe he drops a new record. For the most part, they're all good. Maybe he even does a greatest hits tour. It was about that time and I figured he would be gracing a festival somewhere close this coming summer.



Speaking of those best of hits discs, it seems like every Reggae record company under Jah's blue sky has pressed a version of their own Gregory's Greatest. Same goes for Dennis Brown. Be wary, there appears to be infinite number of duplication. So buy wise.



Tonight my turntable belongs to Mr. Gregory Isaacs.

DISCO CONTINUED...

Umm, I forgot to add this to the Greensleeves 12 inch Rulers post! Apparenently anything over the count of three and my mind goes blank.



Jah Thomas
Rub a Dub Deejay extraordinaire and producer elite.
And from some pics I spied online; a snappy dressser and snazzy mover!



I have a few of his Deejay records pressed in snap, crackle and pop vinyl. I gotta read the fine print more because I did not know about his split alter ego, that of producer. These extended mixes must of absolutely ruled the dance floor. This collection drops with a shattering Toyan chat over Triston Palma's mighty Entertainment. What a way to begin a record. With yer biggest guns blazing! This collection is a perfect aritfact of Eighties Dancehall. This record never lets up.... a seven minute cut of Triston's Joker Smoker makes sure yer attention span doesn't drift. Toyan chants over a few more in row. This disc ends with the young Billy Boyo tune "Scandal" that slides into a dubbed out finish. This disc is grand scale or as they say; massive. I drove a 250 mile round trip at night and for the way back I put this on loud. Kept me from wandering lanes or coming down with white line fever. A trucker affliction!

MY INHERITANCE!

I grew up watching Sanford and Son. My dad's favorite show.



I never realised that we were the Italian-American version.



The racoon grave yard



I do not go around bragging that I inherited barns full of Cadillacs, because as Jah knows, they do not move under their own free will. I gotta tow 'em or push 'em. Heavy metal is what this pile of scrap iron on wheels is.



Where these cars last sputtered is where they got jacked up and filled as storage units. It is gonna take half a life time to sort through my family's mess. I would rather be posting.



Or making money the easy way.

This is a good problem-to be honest I am not much for worldly possessions, but I have lost my mind with my music obsession. Billions of MP3’s clog my ram, but that’s just code, and I am old fashioned. So there is nothing like a hardcopy CD that you can hold in your hand. It is good solid physical evidence. I get lost in between the stacks of compact discs and the crates of vinyl that tower around me.

Okay, that is not exactly the problem …

…This phenomenon happens to me from time to time; because I have an over whelming musical selection, I cannot decide what to listen to. I sit dumbfounded. Sometimes up to a half hour or so in complete silence like a little kid placed in time out. I might as well press my nose to the wall. (Achis this happen to you? Or did I erase too much brain space?)
I function best with a soundtrack, so my stereo only sleeps when I close my eyes. Chores seem to do themselves happily. Well I keep telling myself that anyway. In fact, a wise old sage handed down this advice… all life’s obligations are best paced to the riddims of Reggae.

OBSCURE BUT NOT LOST IN TIME

There is a core group of artists that remain in heavy rotation. Along with these constants I will go on “new” artists kicks. Last week in-between the Big Youths and I-Roys it was Barry Brown. This week in-between the Lone Rangers and the Shabbas it is Triston Palma.

BARRY BROWN



This label outta Merry Ole England specialises in classic dub. Lord have mercy. I do things backwards...I am the artist but I found myself playing patron.



I found a little buying power in my pocket. Maybe pick out something completely unexpected. Every once in a blue moon the name Barry Brown would surface. Curiosity usually grabbed me but not enough to kill me so I would mosey along. My expectations for this record were humble but it is not a gamble, if it is priced as a give away, so I spent. Turns out quite wisely.
Not only did I recognize most of these songs-I love these songs. Maybe not heard in this form. Usually there is a deejay chanting over these grooves. with a catchy call and response. Or his voice is playing hide and go seek in a heavily revamped King Tubby dub. The best dubs are when the engineer takes the songs schematic and completely rewires the tune. Right?
Barry Brown’s voice can quiver with the vulnerability of Horace Andy. His voice can also calmly sail across ruff rocker riddims like Johnny Clarke. I always assumed the mystery voice belonged to either of those two Rasta gentlemen. I mean maybe because Barry takes his turn voicing their respective hits.
I cannot believe that after 30 years of intense Reggae listening I finally find out about Barry Brown.



A sonically pleasing release from Clocktower. Gotta be wary with a few of their back catalog releases.



TRISTON PALMA

With the older more experienced Horace Andy away and enjoying international attention, the Kingston scene needed a down-home dancehall version to call their own. Not that Triston's style is an exact mirror image of Mr. Andy's. Sure they both have that wobbly warble but where Mr. Andy works the emotion of vulnerability harder, Triston pushes more youth and determination across the themes. No big news stories, only the little day-to-day stuff of hang out with deadbeat friends and hoping to win the young ladies hearts. Wait a minute that sound like the Mr. Andy from a decade previous! Sure… years may have gotten torn off the calendar but the times really don’t change. Triston Palma along with Barrington Levy and Sugar Minott would be this era’s biggest singing stars to big up the dancehall sound. Okay, Sugar was already an industry veteran but this age was his peak. For some reason, the new fans that want to dig into dancehalls past overlook Triston who has never stopped dropping fresh records. Joker Smoker and Entertainment were unstoppable dance floor fillers.



An essential Clocktower release. This company presses only no frills, no extra photos, or even a booklet of explaination. Just great music. Usually.



This CD release may not contain any of his massive cuts but this is no less important. It sorta has a softer groove going on than
the Friday night vibe of Joker Smoker. Spin this one Saturday afternoon.



A typical Greensleeves remastered reissued release. They got some serious goods and this is their way of sharing it.



It should be duly noted that the flesh and blood that laid these riddims down are the Roots Radics. This band would be listed in the credits for so many of the new riddims. No matter who the producer was, who the singer could be, these guys were becoming first choice. Freshest sounds usual come from new blood. Not to say that Sly and Robbie's Taxi Gang were run outta town. Thats one Taxi that'll never run outta gas. By the way, the producer for this session was former DeeJay Jah Thomas. You can always raise your expections. Get this before it disappears!