Finally, a new video! I know it’s been weeks, but I our basement was in disarray. Here’s two songs for one video. It is a blank label record featuring Dave Barker’s interpretation of Otis Redding’s “Mr. Pitiful” though someone has written “Mr. Pitterful” on the label. On the flip is the Upsetters with “Do...
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Author Archive
Calling all Dancers!
“Nimrod” was always one of my favorite Skatalites songs. You will instantly recognize the use of the melody here as the classic lyrics of “True Confession” get redone in 2007 on the Peckings label by Top Cat.
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Making my husband’s drums shake
My husband has started keeping some of his extra snare drums in the basement near my DJ gear. I realized that while recording, the drum heads were shaking to the music, and making their own noise. Since our basement is small, there is really no place to move them without making even more noise,...
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“I’m taking you down memory lane”
In 2007 a crop of new songs were released on the old Desmond Dekker classic 007 (Shantytown). “DJ Roll Call” by Dennis Alcapone is one of the best of the bunch. The opening line sets the mood. I purchased mine from Ernie B’s a few years ago, but you can still find them once...
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Fire!!
You’ll recognize the melody of this song as “War Inna Babylon” but this is the DJ cut to Max Romeo’s song of the same melody, “Fire Fe the Vatican.” “Leggo” by Jah Lloyd is from 1976, produced by Lee Perry at Black Ark, and my copy is on Mango. I put this video as...
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Steals and Deals
“Stepping On” is off a compilation called Riding in Rhythm Musicism from Aquarius Sound Studios. I bought the album in 1996 in a small record shop for $5.99. Like many of us at the time, I was a big ska fan getting more interested in different reggae studios and producers. There wasn’t a myriad...
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Because you can’t own too many versions of Real Rock
This record had paint on it before I got a hold of it. My husband and I took turns cleaning it off until we made it playable. It was worth it because it’s a nice cut to Real Rock with Jah Thomas telling everyone how the girls love him. “The Girl Them Love Me”...
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Two Videos, One Record
My husband gave me new slipmats from Christmas, so here is the inaugural spin. I picked up this beautiful Cornell Campbell 45 recently on ebay. I love everything about it, from Campbell’s sweet voice to the haunting horn line. “Rosabell” on Attack from 1973, produced by Bunny Lee. On the other side is a...
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Holiday Reggae, Part 2
Here is Part 2 of the first side of that Joe Gibbs Reggae Christmas album. The long continuous sing-along goes back to “Joy to the World” and ends with “Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
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