Saturday, October 31, 2009

Top Dollar

Here's a great jazz selection from South African pianist Dollar Brand (aka Abdullah Ibrahim): two albums, 'Mannenberg' and 'African Herbs'. I hadn't listened to these in years until I was casting around for something I could post today that required next to no preparation. I dug it out and gave it a spin, and I'm damn glad I did.

These are my favourite Dollar Brand albums, and listening to Mannenberg still gives me goosebumps. I just don't have words to say how beautiful these records are. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have, although I must apologise for the truly appalling sound quality.

I think all the tracks are available on various reissues, and you'll get far better sound and far more enjoyment if you go out and get them (this was ripped from a 10 year old tape and is horribly muffled). To give you an idea of what you might be missing, here's part of the album as it sounds on the CD - I think I might treat myself to a copy sometime over Christmas.



There's a good review of the two albums here:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/southafrica/raredollar.htm

There's also a superb write-up of 'Mannenberg' here:
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-172134454/mannenberg-notes-making-icon.html

And here they are:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?bmzozhgjmnm

I recorded these albums off a tape owned by a good friend. She also introduced me to John Martyn and Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, so I owe her proper.

Super Track!

I'm up late chewing miraa with the missus, talking and watching nigerian films - thought I'd put up a couple more tunes to make up for the poor sound quality of the last post.
Here's a really nice vocal from Jackie Brown together with Jah Lloyd's deejay cut:
Here it is

Three good tracks, one just so-so. Enjoy.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A Bag Of Tools


Today's tune is 'Book Master' by Reco-Boaco & the Stepping Stones, and it's an organ version of the Heptones' 1973 classic, 'Book of Rules' with a great bongo cut on the b-side. Both versions were produced by Harry J and released on his Jaywax label.

There's a very good blog entry about the vocal here:
http://justasong2.blogspot.com/2009/04/heptones-book-of-rules.html

And here it is in all its glory:


It had a pretty decent b-side as well:



The lyrics are taken from R. Lee Sharpe's poem, 'A Bag Of Tools', which dates from some time in the 1940s.

Isn't it strange how princes and kings,
and clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
and common people, like you and me,
are builders for eternity?

Each is given a list of rules;
a shapeless mass; a bag of tools.
And each must fashion, ere life is flown,
A stumbling block, or a Stepping-Stone.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/hdmdybjndj0/Book Master.zip
Anyway, enjoy.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Mother Miserable



Sorry I've not been too active with the blog lately - lot going on. Anyway, here's a comp that I put together a few years ago.

01. Hit Song - Roman Stewart
02. Mother Miserable - The Kingstonians
03. Bubbler - Lloyd Parks
04. You'll Never Find - John Holt
05. Official Trombone - Elaine
06. Flatfoot Hustling - Dillinger
07. Little Village - Charlie Organaire
08. Black Up - Count Ossie & Karl Bryan
09. Mother Nature - Delroy Wilson
10. Uhuru - King Tubby
11. I Want To Be With You - The Paragons
12. That Wonderful Sound - Dobby Dobson
13. Foreman A Bawl Fe Cornflakes - Uncredited (Roy Shirley?)
14. Tribalies Version - Uncredited (Santic All-Stars)
15. Something To Remind Me Of You - Owen Gray
16. Pinnock's Paranormal Payback - Dennis Pinnock
17. Warn The Nation - Alric Forbes
18. Version - Alric Forbes
19. Feeling Right - Susan Cadogan
20. Yesterday Version - Jah Woosh

I've tried to put loads of different stuff in there - favourites are probably Alric Forbes' version of 'Warn The Nation' (I prefer it to the Prophets' version) and the track by Jah Woosh (what a mix!).


Hope you enjoy.