dub foundation

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Gemini Sound @ Skateland 1980

Gemini Sound @ Skateland 1980
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I don't know too much about the history here, but I do know that King Yellowman got his start as a DJ for Gemini. And I also know that Gemini ran a dance at a rollerskating rink called Skateland in Jamaica. There was a video documentary done on Yellowman and the history of 1980s dancehall @ Skateland and I found the 2 clips on youtube.

Live in Skateland - A 1980s Dancehall Documentary
Part 1

Live in Skateland - A 1980s Dancehall Documentary
Part 2

Gemini - Live 1983 video

Gemini Sound System - Live 1983 video (mp4)

Download (Join with HJSplit)
Part 1
Part 2

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Jah Love 1986 - Brigadier Jerry, Tiger, Frankie Paul, Sister Carol

Jah Love 1986 - Brigadier Jerry, Tiger, Frankie Paul, Sister Carol
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(from http://jamminjasounds.blogspot.com):
Brigadier Jerry (born Robert Russell) got started DJing, as many with a similar cultural fashion did, on U-Roy's King Stur Gav Hi-Fi. In 1978 he joined the Twelve Tribes of Israel and began spreading the message of Rastafari on the affiliated Jah Love sound system. Around the same time he did some work at Channel One and released a few singles but nothing that really shot him up the charts - he was more concerned with doing live appearances and spreading his gospel on vinyl wasn't his top priority. In 1982 he recorded for producer Delroy Stansbury and the single "Pain" was released on the Jwayanza label and became a massive hit. But as was his work ethic, Briggy didn't immediately follow it up with another hot selling single, he went back to work with a handful of sound systems.

In 1985, "Jamaica Jamaica," the first official Brigadier Jerry LP was released by Jah Love Musik - and it remains one of my personal all time favorites! Afterwards Brigadier Jerry began recording on a more consistent basis - voicing for Techniques and even producer George Phang around 1986. Sadly, for me personally, he never recorded for Junjo Lawes - that would have been wicked!

Brigadier Jerry may not have recorded as prolifically as other DJs of the era but what he did record was always great! His follow up album "On the Road" which he cut for RAS Records is often overlooked but a great set of tunes that seem to get better with age. His work with Tappa Zukie in the early 90's was also top notch and resulted in the album "Hail H.I.M." (even though the rhythms were all electronic)

Briggy is undoubtedly one of the most influential and beloved DJs of the 80's and beyond and his rise to fame mainly through the circulation of sound tapes and bootleg recordings goes to prove that cultural/spiritual/reality lyrics carry you a lot farther than a truck load of vinyl.

Downbeat Sound - New York 1983

Downbeat Sound - New York 1983
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Coxsone Dodd used to play records to the customers in his parents' shop. During a spell in the South of the United States he became familiar with the rhythm and blues music so popular there at the time. In 1954, back in Jamaica, he set up the Downbeat Sound System, being the owner of a amplifier, a turntable, and some U.S. records, which he would import from New Orleans and Miami. With the great success of his sound system, and in a highly competitive environment, Dodd would make trips through the States looking for new tunes to attract the Jamaican public. Dodd opened five different sound systems, each playing every night. To run his sound systems, Dodd appointed people like Lee "Scratch" Perry, who was Dodd's right hand man during his early career, U-Roy and Prince Buster. Downbeat is an integral part of the history and evolution of Ska and Reggae music in Jamaica and beyond.