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FEEL GOOD ALL OVER - ANTHOLOGY 1970-1976
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1970-1976 - Trojan - studio
- discs:2Horace "Sleepy" Hinds was born in Kingston in 1951. He started his career with Phil Pratt in 1966 with the debut single "Black Man's Country" and in 1969 (some say 1970) he went to the legendary Coxsone Dodd's Studio One to attend an audition. His debut for Dodd was called "Got To Be Sure". Dodd was impressed by Horace vocal falsetto sklls and decided to change his name to Horace Andy in honour of Bob Andy. Since he was young his big influence was Delroy Wilson and later helped and influenced by Leroy Sibbles and Earl Morgan of the Heptones, and Dennis Brown, Horace developed his unique style. In 1968-1969 Dodd was anticipating the Roots era and for an artist being there ment staying between the strong ones. Andy was there. His first hit came in 1969 with "Skylarking" (here in its 1976 version produced by Edward "Bunny" Lee). The best material cut for Dodd appeared in "Skylarking" (1969). By 1972 Andy had already proved that he was part of the history of the Jamaican music. In that same year he left Studio One to record again for Phil Pratt and later for a long series of producers: Derrick Harriott, Leonard "Santic" Chin, Augustus "Gussie" Clarke, Keith Hudson, Augustus Pablo, Errol Thompson and notably Bunny Lee (see the "You Are My Angel" set from 1973). In 1977 Horace cut "In The Light", a classic set co-produced with Everton Da Silva; followed in 1978 by another strong set, the Tappa Zukie produced "Natty Dread A Weh She Want". I am not afraid to say that this compilation deserves five shining stars, but some sort of agreement between I&I asks for avoiding such judgement for the compilations. At the end we are here considering the original sets as "originals" and putting together some of the best tracks (fortysix, in this case!) is an easy trick. But in this case, well, what a trick! This is a five stars compilation made of excellent material. Last word.
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1975-1980 - Blood and Fire - studio - discs:1"Good Vibes" is a collection of Horace Andy material which presents ten tracks cut between 1975 and 1980. All ten tracks are followed by their Dub version. The collection opens with "Reggae Rythm - Its Gone Internationally". The second track, "Serious Thing - A Serious Version" is a version of a song by John Holt and was recorded for Bunny Lee. Follows the immortal "Skylarking - A Better Version", and old song originally cut for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd. The fourth track is "Youths Of Today - Jah Youths", and was cut for Everton DaSilva with the Dub version from Prince Jammy. The fifth track is called "Dont Let Problems Get You Down - No Problem". This song was originally cut early in the 70's for Leonard Chin and was called "Problems". This version released in 1978 was also cut for DaSilva. The sixth track, "Mr. Bassie Discomix", was produced by DaSilva and is a tribute to the bassist Leroy Sibbles member and co-founder of The Heptones. This tracks was previously cut for "Coxsone" Dodd in the early 70's. The seventh track, called "Pure Ranking Discomix", was also cut for Lee in 1976 and one year later it became the title track of an LP. The version presented here is a 12" mixed by King Tubby and Prince Jammy in 1978. Follows "Good Vibes - Dub Vibes", recorded in 1978. The nineth track is "Control Yourself - Version Under Control", followed by "Ital Vital - Ital Ites Dubwise". Both tracks were cut by the closing of the decade. "Ital Vital" is a version of Freddie McKay's "Rockabye Woman". This a collection that provides the right perspective on what Horace was doing in the second half of the 70's. With two discomixes and eight Dubs of the originals, "Good Vibes" delivers the strong approach of King Tubby and Prince Jammy by the board. Along with the "In The Light" set cut for Everton DaSilva in 1977 (and reissued by Blood And Fire along with its Dub version as "In The Light / In The Light Dub") and the "You Are My Angel" cut for Bunny Lee in 1973, "Good Vibes" is quite essential for the Horace Andy fans.
IN THE LIGHT / IN THE LIGHT DUB
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1977 - Blood and Fire - studio - discs:1
Comments:
In 1977 Horace linked up with Everton DaSilva, a producer based in Queens,
New York. The partnership
gave Horace the chance to craft his own album, using all he had learned
in countless sessions for other
producers. Recorded mostly in Kingston by Sylvan Morris, utilising top sessioneers
like Augustus Pablo,
Leroy Sibbles (from the Heptones) and Horsemouth
Wallace, In The Light stands as Horace's defining vocal statement with
new songs like the title track, and new versions of the earlier hits Fever
and Problems. The latter rides a
recut Mr Bassie rhythm originally done at Studio One in the early seventies.
Pablo recorded his own
melodica version using the same recut for a single called Pablo Meets Mr.
Bassie.
Horace enjoyed a fruitful association with DaSilva - in addition to In The
Light and its companion dub set,
there were fine singles like Youths Of Today and Don't Let Problems Get
You Down, a brace of 12"
including New Broom and a couple of tracks on a showcase album for the label.
Their creative partnership was brutally ended when the producer was shot
dead in New York in 1979.
Prince Jammy was on the verge of forming
his own label when he remixed Horace Andy's vocal album into
hard-edged dub at the studio of dub genius King
Tubby in 1977. Jammy's mix reveals an alternative
reading of the album, explosive and full of dread resonance, achieved via
the use of dub techniques he
pioneered alongside King Tubby during the latter half of the seventies.
The album can be enjoyed as a
companion to Horace's vocal set, yet still constitutes a satisfying musical
experience on its own dubbedup
terms.
IN THE LIGHT Do You Love My Music Producer : Everton Da Silva & Horace Hinds Engineer : Major Little & Sylvan Morris Vocals : Horace Hinds Studios : |
IN THE LIGHT DUB Music Dub Producer : Horace Hinds & Everton Da Silva Engineer : Major Little & Sylvan Morris & Dennis Thompson & Prince Jammy Backing Vocals : Wayne Jarrett & Janice Studios : |
YOU ARE MY ANGEL
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1973 - Trojan - studio
- discs:1
Comments: