Various Artists - Heavy Stereo Inna Kingston Town Sound System Rockers Vol 2

KINGSTON SOUNDS

£11.70

Genre: Dub Reggae
Format: CD
Catalogue No.: KSCD003
B/C 5036848002161
Release Date: 9th November 2020

The Sound Systems of Kingston, Jamaica, between 1968 and up to the end of the 70's existed in what would be the halcyon days of reggae. If its musical subjects seemed to reflect the mood both politically and socially, then Heavy Stereo as a term could be said to sum up its sound. This period in reggaes history more than any other was about attitude, fight and defiance but also least we forget, fine tunes.

We have culled together songs for this compilation from cuts that rocked the Sound Systems at the beginning of the 1970's decade, up to roots inspired cuts that became the most popular subjects from the mid 70's onwards. Jamaican music always reflected the times it was recorded in.

The earlier period in this decade we find the great voices of Pat Kelly , Jackie Edwards and Ernest Wilson giving their tales of lament through love and loss, which all bear a heaviness of their own. Pat Kelly's 'How Long' and Jackie Edwards 'In the Mood For Love' sitting beside Ernest Wilson's pleeful 'Kiss Me Girl', and the classic Delroy Wilson's mournful 'Rain from the Skies'. Heartfelt stories all told in a positive way... 1973 -1975 saw the subject matter turn to a more roots medium, with such fine examples as Horace Andy's 'Talk about Zion' and Johnny Clarke's 'Slave Driver' telling it as they saw it. In the rasta message of Barry Brown's 'Natty Roots Man' we can hear the vibes felt around this time in Jamaica. Alongside the playful boastfulness found in Johnny Clarke's 'King of the Arena'.

These songs were all Sound System classics throughout this period. Tested at various dances across town and kept as exclusive cuts for the DJ's, before being unleased on vinyl months later, to supply the now built up demand. As it was the way back then and sowed the seeds that DJ's of today use to break their tunes in the clubs, first building up a demand before the release date.

Some of these cuts you may have heard before and some less familiar underground hits I'm sure will bring a smile to your face once played. These tunes all sit and work beside each other, tried and tested on the public, they have proved there worth. Music that did not move the people tended not to stay on the turn tables for long.If you have time and spirit please check out our parallel release to this, Sound System Rockers Vol 1 [KSCD001]. The tracks were selected to accompany this release. All built for Heavy Stereo play and Sound System Rockers one and all ...

Tracklisting
Track 1 TALK ABOUT ZION - HORACE ANDY
Track 2 SLAVE DRIVER - CORNELL CAMPBELL
Track 3 KING OF THE ARENA - JOHNNY CLARKE
Track 4 NO DISAGREEMENT - LEROY SMART
Track 5 NATTY ROOTS MAN - BARRY BROWN
Track 6 MY NUMBER ONE - JOHN HOLT
Track 7 I’M NOT FOR SALE - KEN BOOTHE
Track 8 RAIN FROM THE SKIES - DELROY WILSON
Track 9 TRUTH HURTS - FREDDY McGREGOR
Track 10 MY CONFESSION - CORNELL CAMPBELL
Track 11 WHAT WAS IT - CLARIDONIANS
Track 12 KISS ME GIRL - ERNEST WILSON
Track 13 HOW LONG - PAT KELLY
Track 14 IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE - JACKIE EDWARDS*
Track 15 WISE WORD - HORACE ANDY*
*CD Bonus Tracks