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DON CARLOS

DAY TO DAY LIVING

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1982 - Greensleeves - studio - discs:1

Don Carlos started his career as original member of Black Uhuru, founded around 1977 by Derrick "Ducky" Simpson, Rudolph "Garth", Errol Nelson and Michael Rose with the late Puma Jones. After the Black Uhuru experience he went solo with the 1979 debut "Time Is The Master" produced by Bunny Lee. This is his third album as a solo artist. It is common way to consider Henry "Junjo" Lawes the father of the new genre of the late 70's: Dancehall. Don Carlos was one of his popular singers that broght cultural issues in the lyrics of the pre-digital early Dancehall. The songs are quite melodic and the approach is a laid back kind of style. Maybe the ten songs are a little bit too monotonous but at the same time are all quite strong, both musically and lyrically speaking. Even if in this set there are not real gems, it is an example of the new territories of the late 70's. The music is perfectly played by The Roots Radics Band with Dean Fraser and Nambo Robinson on horns on a couple of tunes. The album was produced by Lawes and engineered by Scientist and Soldgie. It was recorded and mixed at Channel One. Ten songs deep and slow for an interesting album.

ROOTS & CULTURE

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1982 - 17 North Parade - studio - discs: 1

"Roots & Culture", credited to Culture and Don Carlos, was originally released in 1982 for the label Jah Guidance. During this period Joseph Hill (lead singer of Culture) was working as a solo artist, using the name of his former group. In the mean time Albert "Randolph" Walker and Kenneth Dayes (members of Culture) were also recording as Culture. This is of course a typical Jamaican confused situation. So Walker and Dayes started working on some new rhythms provided by Henry "Junjo" Lawes. Enter Don Carlos (former member of Black Uhuru) who was called by Lawes to meet the two Culture members for a top ranking adventure. The result is the present "Roots & Culture" set. The original set playlist was: "Jah Tabernackle", "Roots Girl", "Calling My Brother", "Rub A Dub Train", "Jah People", "Street Life", "Christine", "Hog & Goat"; "Just A Dread" and "English Woman". This re-release opens with "Tell Me Who Jah". Follows "Roots Girl". The third track is "Dry Up Your Tears". The fourth is "Rub A Dub Train". Follows "Jah Tabernacle". The sixth song is "Street Life". Follows "Say You Will Be My Baby" (aka "Christine" or "Ride On Christine"). The eighth song is "Hog And Goat". Follows "Rub A Dub Queen" (versioning Harry Mudie's "Let Me Tell You Boy" by The Ebont Sisters). The tenth track is "English Woman". Follows "I'm Not Crazy" (a 12" mix bonus track featuring Captain Simbad). The re-release closes with "Mr Sun" (this is a 12" mix bonus produced by Niney The Observer). As double showcase set "Roots & Culture" offers some very good cultured post-Roots music in a unique encounter of two strong voices of the 70's. With some tracks filled by the Culture's sound imprint and the others from Carlos with a Black Uhuru style, this obscure set must me checked for sure. An amazing meeting.