We had reggae last Friday, we've got reggae this Friday. It was done to create the illusion that some basic planning goes on here. It doesn't.
Last week's reggae came all the way from Mandeville, Jamaica, home of Jacob Miller. This week's reggae comes from closer to home, especially for leading Bristolian blogger Khayem of Dubhed fame. So I am going to dedicate today's post to him.
About ten years ago the excellent Bristol Archive Records released three volumes of their 'Bristol Reggae Explosion' compilations, celebrating the vibrant local scene of the late 1970s and 1980s. You can find them all on their Bandcamp site along with many other goodies.
There are lots of cracking tracks to choose from, but the 12" version of Talisman's magnificent 1981 single "Dole Age" really picks itself. Talisman were probably the best known of the Bristol reggae bands of that era and I vaguely recall seeing them back in the early 1980s when they were stalwarts of the college circuit (although my mind may be playing tricks on me).
I have definitely seen Joshua (Jahshwa) Moses perform live, ten years ago at the Bristol Harbour Festival. Much to my surprise I found a clip of that show on YouTube (look down a little and there it is). "Stick It Up" was recorded in 1983 but for whatever reason was not released at the time. Mr Moses sadly left us a few years back.
I had neither seen nor even heard of Restriction prior to buying Volume 1 of the series but their 1984 EP "Action" (from which this track is taken) has become a firm favourite since. One of their members went on to be Smith in Smith & Mighty. So now you know.
"Dole Age (12" Mix)" - Talisman
"Stick It Up" - Joshua Moses
"Four Point Plan" - Restriction
I have already explained the first video. The second one is in many ways inexplicable, but there is a Bristol link.
Thank you, Ernie, I am not worthy.
ReplyDeleteA fine selection there and, likewise, I discovered Restriction through the excellent Bristol Archive Records compilations and apart from the Smith & Mighty info, I don’t know a lot about them either.
I saw a lot of bands at the St. Paul’s Carnival in Bristol over the years so if they performed there, I may well have seen them. Unfortunately, there were no gig tickets to keep, I wasn’t keeping a concert diary and for various reasons my memory of each event is patchy at best!