Private Release

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

New Age Steppers - (2012) Love Forever

On-U Sound ‎– 1021

New Age Steppers release their new album, Love Forever, through the label on Monday 27th February 2012. Led by the legendary Ari Up this is the group’s fifth album, their first since Foundation Steppers in 1983 and the last record Ari worked on before sadly passing away in October 2010.
Ari, the New Age Steppers, Adrian Sherwood and On-U Sound have a long shared history. Producer Sherwood and Ari Up first met in 1978. As Sherwood put it, “Ari really stood out in the crowd partly for her appearance but more so for an almost unhinged enthusiasm for the music.”
Sherwood and Ari Up, the lead singer of the formative British all-female punk-group, The Slits, would go on to form a long-lasting friendship and musical partnership. Ari- Up featured as part of the original On-U collective which recorded under the guise of the New Age Steppers. The Steppers recorded 3 other album’s for the label, their eponymous debut in 1980, Action Battlefield in 1981, Foundation Steppers in 1983 and during that time the band also featured the likes of Mark Stewart, Neneh Cherry, Bim Sherman and Keith Levene.

The culmination of 30 years of friendship and love between two of Britain’s brightest and creative cult-talents, the recording of Love Forever began a few years back when Sherwood and Ari met again in the U.K. and started work on the track Conquer.

In 2008 Ari Up was diagnosed with cancer yet her unquenchable passion for music remained un-dimmed and she maintained they would finish the album they had begun.

Sherwood flew to Jamaica where Ari had lived since the early ‘80s where they finished the recording; Sherwood later completing the production the following year.

Love Forever is a track on the very first New Age Steppers album and often, when Ari signed anything; it would read

"Love Forever...Ari".

Noah House Of Dread - (1982) Heart

On-U Sound ‎– 020

How this great album could've been sat on for some 17 years, overlooked and almost forgotten, is amazing to me. Noah, AKA Bonjo I, is a percussionist who has lent his talents to other On-U Sound acts like Creation Rebel and African Head Charge. Around the time the latter was being created, Bonjo I formed the group Noah House of Dread with ubiquitous producer Adrian Sherwood as a showcase for his talents. Building upon the foundation formed by Count Ossie and Ras Michael, Noah House of Dread features African drumming accentuated by bass, guitar, piano, horns, and Sherwood's digital effects. On top of all this, Bonjo I's raw vocals lend an extra edge to this appealing roots set, which is unfortunately the only album from the group thus far (and don't hold your breath for any more). Short but efficient, Heart is an undiscovered work of art.

Noel Ellis - (2006) ST

Light In The Attic ‎– 020

Noel Ellis features six dub-loved, heavy yet ethereal tracks, with contributions from OG reggae maestros Jackie Mittoo, Willi Williams, and Johnny Osbourne. The eponymous classic lost full-length includes the hugely influential “Rocking Universally”, whose rhythmic influence was Willi Williams’ “Armagideon Time” (covered by The Clash). The poignantly autobiographical “Memories” (about Noel’s upbringing in Jamaica) is a highpoint as well. “Stop Your Fighting” was a universal anti-materialism/war plea that we should still heed today, while “Marcus Garvey” was delivered in Noel’s playful style, despite a solemn rallying cry of “Africa it must be free…”

Noel Ellis evoked a transcendent majesty, and the album’s economical performances were a blessing compared to certain overproduced recordings of the era. Tasteful keys, varied percussion, essential echo, conquering dub changeovers, and Noel’s impeccable mic control gave an otherworldly twist to Summer’s remarkable drum and bass sound. It was an end-to-end burner for midnight tokers and cool rulers alike.

Pazy And The Black Hippies - (2012) Wa Ho Ha

Secret Stash Records ‎– 026

While Reggae music had its prominence in 70s Nigeria, it was highlife and Fela Kuti's afrobeat that gave the country its own musical national identity. Originally from Southern Nigeria’s Benin City, Edire “Pazy” Etinagbedia and his band The Black Hippies released their second LP, Wa Ho Ha on EMI Nigeria in 1978 building on a body of work that effectively glides between these styles creating an incredibly unique record that has become a cult classic. Wa Ho Ha features Pazy and his Black Hippies engaged in call and response vocal anthems all backed by incredibly deep rock steady grooves and afrobeat rhythms filled with funky horns and psychedelic guitar accents. Recorded in the legendary EMI Nigeria studios, Wa Ho Ha typifies the 70s Nigerian sound enthusiasts the world over have come to know and love, but puts an inimitable twist on it.

This rare gem has been lovingly remastered and the original art work painstakingly restored. Used copies seldom appear on the market, and when they do, it’s usually in small private circles and you could put yourself through a semester or two of community college for what it costs to obtain a beat-up copy.

VA - (1971) Jest Like Old Times (Genuine Original Recordings Of Radio's Most Famous Funny Men) LP

Radiola ‎– 522

Philip Smart - (2016) Meets The Agrovators At King Tubby's

Jamaican Recordings – 059

Phillip Smart was one of the great engineers to learn his trade as understudy to the

legendary dub master himself Osbourne ‘King Tubby’ Ruddock. Alongside other
luminaires such as Prince Jammy and Scientist, Phillip Smart would step in at the
controls when demand for King Tubby studio dubs grew to such an extent that
each single release was expected to carry a version/dub flipside.

Phillip Smart was born and raised in the Havendale area of Kingston, Jamaica.
He initially worked alongside artist/musician/producer Augustus Pablo who grew
up in the same area. In the early 1970’s at the height of the dub revolution Prince
Phillip Smart as he became known was in the thick of it and engineered many dub
classics that flew out of the door from King Tubby’s studio. It was often re-workings
of producer Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee material that would be versioned for the flipside of
a release and was often the side that was in demand at the various Sound Systems
across Jamaica and exported around the world.

Phillip Smart moved to the United States in the late 1970’s, aroumd 1981 opened his
highly successful studio HC & F, on Long Island, New York. It produced some sizable
Jamaican Dancehall hits for his two record labels TanYah and Eclipse. Tracks like
Dirtsman’s ‘Hot This Year’ and ‘Rikers Island’ and most notably artist Shaggy used
the studio to work up his massive hits ‘Oh Carolina’, ‘Big Up’ and ‘Angel’.

But it’s in the heady days of the early 1970’s and up to 1976 that we concentrate for
this release. When Version was King and Prince Phillip Smart was at the controls
mixing up some fine dubs with Jamaica’s finest musicians The Aggrovators.
Working some of producer Bunny ’Striker’ Lee’s rhythms in fine style…

Studs Terkel With Jim Unrath - (1965) Born To Live: Hiroshima LP

Folkways Records ‎– 5525

David Lewiston - (1975) Tibetan Buddhism - Tantras Of Gyütö: Sangwa Düpa LP

Nonesuch ‎– 72064

Prince Far I - (1977) Under Heavy Manners

Joe Gibbs Record Globe ‎– none

Prince Far I - (1978) Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 1

ROIR Europe ‎– 129

The Thirteenth release on Pressure Sounds is one of the all time great dub albums Cry Tuff Dub Chapter One was produced by Prince Far I aided and abetted by Adrian Sherwood. The album is one of the first collaborations by Sherwood and Far I and also one of their strongest. Far I's rhythms were always powerful and formed the backdrop to some of his most popular deejay hits always using Jamaica's top session musicians. Cry Tuff Dub Chapter One is no exception with Sly Dunbar and Flabba Holt as the rhythmic powerhouse, Crucial Tony on guitar (Tony was later to become one of Creation Rebel) and Doctor Pablo on melodica. It was out of these early Far I records that the foundations for both Creation Rebel and the Dub Syndicate were laid.

Sadly Prince Far I was murdered in Kingston Jamaica in 1983, another victim of Kingston's political violence, allegedly for painting out political slogans painted on the wall outside his home. However the strength and vitality of his music lives on and we are pleased to be able to re-release one of finest dub albums.

Cry Tuff Dub Chapter One is unique amongst Pressure Sounds releases in that it will be presented in it's original sleeve with never before seen pictures of the Prince in the accompanying eight page booklet. With sleeve notes by Harry Hawke this is a top quality Pressure Sounds release.

Prince Far I - (1980) Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 3

Pressure Sounds ‎– 007

Prince Far I - (1998) Health And Strength

Pressure Sounds ‎– 018

During the late seventies stories were circulating amongst reggae producers, record companies and artists about a huge demand for Jamaican music in Africa. Rumours of sales exceeding one hundred thousand albums were common and U Roy's 'Natty Rebel' and 'Madness' by The Maytones were supposed to have sold in huge quantities. In reality few knew the true sales figures. Suddenly however, Virgin Records with one John Lydon in tow turned up in Jamaica and seemed to open the cheque book and be signing anyone that was capable of breathing into a microphone. Island Records expanded their already fairly large 'reggae roster' and companies like Chrysalis entered the arena. Seemingly every major company was signing a reggae act.

On the surface all looked well. Studios in Jamaica were working non-stop. Tape after tape arrived at London based record companies ready to be released. Virtually overnight things went wrong. The Governments of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the Ivory Coast imposed a complete ban on the import of 'luxury items' - this included records.

The record companies in London had signed the artists on deals that allowed them to do what is known as 'drop the artiste' - meaning either accept the next album and pay the agreed amounts of money - or simply not accept the next recording and then to tell the artiste/producer that they would not be releasing any future works.

This resulted in a flood of releases and many recordings being 'shelved' in other words unreleased for financial or political reasons which brings us to 'Health And Strength'.

Dating from 1978/79, the master tape almost from the time of delivery disappeared. Despite requests for the tapes whereabouts - no luck. Prince Far I's widow similarly drew a blank - the tape seemed lost. During a conversation with Pete Stroud aka Dr Pablo in early 1997 I said how tragic it was that a truly classic Prince Far I album was lost forever. Pete was aware that Richard (one of the original Hitrun staff) had made a cassette copy at the time from the original master tape and had it in his drawer at home. What?

We took the cassette to On-U Sound studio and listened in amazement, the quality was better than we could ever have hoped. In transferring the cassette to DAT and SADIE systems virtually nothing more than a little equalization and editing was necessary - 'Health and Strength' was found.

This is a truly classic Far I album, ranking alongside 'Psalms For I' and 'Under Heavy Manners'. 'Frontline Speech' and 'Weatherman Tam' were both Cry Tuff 7" Jamaican singles, 'Brother Joe' features Gregory Isaacs in a witty snipe at producer Joe Gibbs (Far I at one time was the security guard at Joe Gibbs Studio). There are several other cuts that have a Gregory Isaac's connection: 'House Of Jah' being a version of Gregory's 'Handcuff' and 'Health Warning' utilising Gregory's 'Sacrifice' rhythm.

The album features a version of George Calstock's 'The Ungodly' as 'Clean Hands Pure Heart'. We are also treated to Far I singing 'Easy Squeeze' and 'When The King Comes On Earth' where he is joined by Blackskin the Prophet deejaying against Far I's apocalyptic lyrics.

Having thought this album was lost forever I am truly delighted that it has been found for us all to hear and enjoy.

Prince Far I - (2005) Silver and Gold 1973-1979

Blood & Fire ‎– 049

This 19-track compilation focuses on the career of legendary deejay /chanter Prince Far I, aka the Voice of Thunder, and covers the period 1973-1979, featuring hard to find yet artistically brilliant sides drawn mainly - though not all - from Far I's own Cry Tuff label. Included are such gems as the super-rare version of Johnny Too Bad (Johnny Get Worse), and later deejay pieces long sought after by fans - the title track and 354 Skank being just two examples.

Prince Far I & The Arabs - (1998) Dub To Africa

Pressure Sounds ‎– 002

The year of 1979 was perhaps the most busy and fruitful in the tragically curtailed career of the gruff but genial reggae deejay known as Prince Far I. After some fifteen years of dipping in and out of the music field and generally skirting its fringes, he had finally during the past couple of years consolidated a following and now had a total of five albums to his name, including two prestigious releases the previous year on Virgin Records' Front Line label with 'Message From The King' and 'Long Life'. As well of course as the 'Under Heavy Manners' set for Joe Gibbs, which had done brisk business and sealed his reputation. Now he was pursuing new goals with a sense of urgency and had set about investing his earnings in yet more recordings, able now to fulfil an ambition to concentrate on producing his own records and those of other artists too.

He gave prompt notice of this increased activity as early as mid-January of that year with four new titles on his Cry Tuff imprint among the first batch of pre-release consigned to the UK following the Christmas and New Year recess. In addition to his own 'Love by Everyone', there were DJs Jah Thomas with 'Bimbo' and Big Joe with 'Nine Me Nine', plus singer Naggo Morris reassuring that "'ah Will Explain' on the warm 'Mean Girl' rhythm, a Larry & Alvin original from Studio One and a particular favourite of the Prince. He arrived here in person the following month, stating to Black Echoes' Observer columnist a release schedule that included an album from Carol Kalphat, a various artistes 'Cry Tuff DJ Session' featuring contributions from U Black, Jah Thomas, Black Skin the Prophet, Clint Eastwood and Ranking Joe, and a bass and drum excursion entitled 'Crocus Bag Dub', though none of which subsequently ever saw the light of day, at least not in these proposed formats.

What did next emerge in early March via Far I's link up with UK label were three discomix releases featuring: Bim Sherman backed by The Heptones and with Jah Buzz appended for further diversion on 'Love Jah', George Calstock coupled with U Black for 'The Ungodly', backed with a Doctor Pablo instrumental 'Righteous Melody', and a UK release for the aforesaid Naggo Morris 'Jah Will Explain', also backed with a Doctor Pablo track 'Wicked Feel It', embellishing what one reviewer at the time fancifully described as "melodica mix-up marijuana-miracle animations." And later that same month, a further six Cry Tuff pre-release titles that had still been awaiting pressing when the Prince left Jamaica for England now finally arrived here: Jennifer Lara, 'Music By The Score', Black Skin The Prophet, 'Red Blood', Rod Taylor, 'Run, Run', Peter Brogo, 'I A Field Marshall', Prince Far I, 'I And I A The Chosen One' and Brigadier Jam Brown with 'Freedom Fighter'.

At the beginning of April, Hitrun organised a Roots Encounter Tour of the UK, starring Prince Far I together with labelmates Bim Sherman and Prince Hammer and backed by the Creation Rebel Band. The package played a series of dates throughout the month with shows in Liverpool, Bristol, Cheltenham, High Wycombe and London engagements at Dingwalls, 100 Club, Tavistock Hall, Club Noreik, Acklam Hall and others.

During May, Prince Far I's third album for Virgin's Front Line label was released. 'Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Part 2' was the follow up to 'Cry Tuff Dub Encounter', which had been issued on Hitrun the previous year. Concurrent with the Front Line release, the Hitrun set-up now put out an unsleeved, white label limited pressing of eight new bass and drum workouts, this present set 'Dub to Africa. Boosted by his live shows, both albums sold well in the UK and figured on the reggae chart. What distinguished 'Dub To Africa' from 'Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Part 2', however, was that whereas the Front Line set employed the usual set of musicians then recording variously as The Revolutionaries, The Mercenaries, The Professionals and for Prince Far I as Cry Tuff And The Arabs, 'Dub To Africa' drafted in Lincoln Valentine 'Style' Scott (drums) and Noel 'Sowell' Bailey (guitar) alongside the Prince's regular bassist Errol 'Flaba' Holt under the aegis Cry Tuff And The Originals. This was the nucleus of the session group who were to revolutionise reggae music in the early eighties as The Roots Radics, slowing down the militant rockers sound of The Revolutionaries and ushering in the dancehall era backing newcomers such as Barrington Levy as well as established acts like Gregory Isaacs and Bunny Wailer.

The title track 'Dub To Africa' had already seen service as the rhythm for both Peter Brogo's 'I A Field Marshall' and the Prince's own toast of the same 'I And I A The Chosen One', and if fact the dub version of 'I A Field Marshall' had been called 'Dub To Africa' on Cry Tuff single release, though it was actually the flip on 'I And I A The Chosen One', itself originally titled 'David', which was utilised now. For the rest, The Orginials laid pared down reworkings of former Studio One rhythms like 'College Rock': ('Glory To God') and Dawn Penn's 'You Don't Love Me' aka 'No No No' ('Hello Love Brother').

The previous six months' itinerary could hardly continue at the same hectic pace and the remainder of 1979 was relatively quiet for Prince Far I. In July, Hitrun put out bassist Errol Holt's vocal cut to the 'Hello, Love Brother' rhythm, cheekily reinterpreting 'No No No' as 'Yes Yes Yes' coupled with a Rod Taylor effort, 'No One Can Tell I About Jah', and in September the label dusted down Peter Brogo's 'I A Field Marshall' (retitled 'Higher Field Marshall') together with the Prince's version 'I And I A The Chosen One' and coupled with this Prince Far I featuring Brigadier Jam Brown on 'Loved By Everyone' for UK discomix issue, and later the same year surfaced 'Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 3' on the Daddy Kool label and the first of four Prince Far I LPs for Trojan, 'Free From Sin'.

Prince Far I died tragically in September 1983.

Prince Jammy - (1997) Osbourne In Dub

Charly Records ‎– 8307

Prince Jazzbo - (1976) Ital Corner

Abraham ‎– 103

Ras Michael & The Sun of Negus - (1995) Rastafari Dub LP

Reachout International Records ‎– 8251

Ras Michael, one of the foremost exponents of traditional Nyahbinghi drumming and chanting, recorded his Rastafari album in 1972, and a dub version of that album was released simultaneously in a limited edition. Scraps of it have turned up from time to time, some on legitimate releases and some not, but ROIR's cassette reissue in 1989 was the first complete and fully licensed release since the original vinyl first came out. It's too bad the non-dub version isn't included as well, but this LP is still a treasure. Ras Michael and his crew of drummers are joined by reggae demigods Carlton "Santa" Davis (drum set), Robbie Shakespeare (bass), Tommy McCook (flute), Earl "Chinna" Smith (guitar), and others, and the fusion of electric, urban reggae and organic, rural Nyahbinghi drumming is perfect. Particular highlights include the dub versions of "None a Jah Jah Children No Cry" (recommended especially in conjunction with its vocal version) and the very dry and heavy "In Zion."

Roger Robinson - (2015) Dis Side Ah Town LP

Jahtari ‎– 007

One night in 2011 King Midas Sound's Roger Robinson returned to Brixton from touring and inadvertently walked into the centre of the London riots. Through the flames and smoke he felt compelled to tell the stories of the people he saw rioting on the street that night. With disrupt's dub soundtrack highlighting the triumphs and tribulations in the lives of the people of Brixton, the album unfolds like a documentary film, extending from the epicentre of the riots and rippling out from there. Roger showcases all his poetry and singing styles over the sonic tower blocks and underground caverns of disrupt's dub soundscapes, evoking the golden era of dub poetry of the likes of Prince Far I, Big Youth and Linton Kwesi Johnson - a time when dub poetry made you dance in the club but also made you think on the way home. Done with lots of voltage, old school samplers, DIY synths, home made delays, dictaphones and even onboard computer mics this gritty disc will take you straight to Brixton's streets.

Scientist - (1981) Scientific Dub CD

Abraham ‎– 1054

Though Overton Brown earned the nickname Scientist for his knack with cutting-edge technology, he injects an enormous amount of soul into his dub tracks. From the yearning organ line pitted against an onslaught of echoing percussion on "Black a Shade of Dub" to the deliciously deconstructed guitar all over "East of Scientist Corner (II Pieces)," Scientist creates a spacey but groove-heavy zone all his own. And when he lends his otherworldly effects to the Bee Gees' "Words" for "Words of Dub," the effect is downright poignant.