Reggae / Dub
274 products
Ultra-positive consciousness from Afro-Caribbean London, circa 1979. Members of the legendary 20th Century Steel Band (one of Grand Master Flash's favourites) sailing Trinidad-wise over gratifyingly intricate African ritual rhythms. Strong vocals compliment reggae, funk, disco and soul influences to form a relentless groove machine.
Steel an' Skin, a unit composed of young nightclub musicians born in Ghana, Nigeria, St. Kitts, Trinidad and the U.K., who once performed with Ginger Johnson's Afrikan Drummers, a highlife band under the tutelage of the late Ginger Johnson and played at Johnson's Iroko Country Club in Hampstead, London. Steel an' Skin began activities giving concerts and workshops in London schools, expanding nationwide to schools, prisons, psychiatric hospitals and summer festivals, including the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival. The group combined an admirably brave, open and unironic mix of musical forms with community outreach, non-cynical and untainted by preachiness or "social work." Good feelings from good hearts.
This EM reissue consists of Steel an' Skin's 1979 debut 12 inch single "Reggae is Here Once Again", featuring "Afro Punk Reggae (Dub)", a fine disco-dub workout, plus some tracks from their 1984 recordings, as well as one unissued track.
Featuring amazing covers of tracks by artists such as Leon Ware, Mtume, Archie Bell, The Gap Band, Lowrell, Prince, Starvue, Bobby Caldwell & The Isley Brothers, there is not a filler in site, essentials all the way.
The project has taken almost 2 years with the help of many musicians, singers and producers from the scene. A special shout out goes to Peter 'Honeyvoice' Hunnigale for going the extra mile and doing many introductions.
Larry was born in Lawrence Park in the garden parish of St. Ann. He attended Keith Primary School and began his singing career in 1960 on the TOP DECK LABEL. Hits flowed from him, such as Too Young To Love and Snake In The Grass, I've Got Another Girl was recorded for Prince Buster. In 1968 the first reggae - hit, now a classic, was done by Larry, We all remember Nanny Goat with the sharp cutting guitar - riffs and the calypso sounding organ chords, Thelma followed and then Mean Girl, All these were on the Coxsone Label. Recently, Larry's hits have been I ADMIRE YOU, Brand New Baby, and Can't You Understand.
I now give you Larry's LP titles I ADMIRE YOU, 12 shots are here to thrill your reggae - infused soul. King Tubby's mixed the tracks, and Federal Records made the stamper, Quality processing from studio disc