Streaming audio from back in the day
I believe this one went out as a casual special on the Jumpin’ Radio stream, it’s an edited version of The Big Broadcast – a longstanding Sunday night show on WFUV. DJ Rich Conaty spins classic jazz and pop tunes of the 1920s and ’30s.
An archive of his most recent shows is here.
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I have former Better Badges designer Derek Harris to thank for this one. He later got involved in making t-shirts for On-U Sound and forwarded me this tape back in 1987. Lee Perry, after 40 days and nights in the wilderness, had finally returned to the fold by hooking up with Adrian Sherwood and recording an album ‘Time Boom X The Devil Dead’. The both of them then duly traveled up North to join Steve Barker on his BBC Radio Lancashire radio program On The Wire (which recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary – Congrats Steve!) to premiere the new tracks. This tape is an edited version of this historic show – originally broadcast March 1 1987.
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Unlike the other Sound System session tapes featured thus far this one is not common. I’ve no idea where it came from. Sturgraph aka King Sturgav was a, if not the, top sound in Jamaica in the early 80’s, and even toured internationally. Listening to this it’s quite possibly from a UK visit, since it features Daddy Colonel and Josey Wales who both became big names in the UK. Another indicator is the content – which appears to come from the early ease’n’seckle portion of a dance – where serious social topics like unemployment are addressed.
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In this, I believe his first, session Joseph takes the opportunity to program the gamut of the current dancehall stars, including Jahmali, Terry Linen, Beres Hammond, King David / Anthony B, Xterminator, Morgan Heritage, Sizzla, Norris Man, Capleton, Buju Banton, Daweh Congo, Glen Washington, Everton Blender, Luciano – the crowning jewel being the just released Bounty Killer / Richie Stephens (& many guests) collab ‘Peace Now‘ – an anthem urging an end to Jamaican political gang rivalry.
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Here’s another of those classic sound system tapes – this time it’s King Jammy’s system playing out at Walkerman Lawn in 1987. MC’s/singers in the area like Major Worries, Frankie Paul, Tulloch T, Little Twitch.
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After a long absence from North America, On-U producer Adrian Sherwood returned in 1997 at the controls for Japanese dubbers Audio Active. San Francisco’s DJ Sep took the opportunity to collar him for a phone interview on her ‘Off the Beaten Path’ radio show. We streamed it out on the Dubzone a couple of years later.
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Kush brought in this sound system tape, a classic of the genre and widely circulated, of Stereophonic playing Skateland. It is credited as a ‘V.Black Production’. Recorded in 1980 in the early days of the slackness boom certain sections – particularly the famous General Echo automobile metaphor – are definitely NSFW. Other MC’s/singers representing are Brigadier Jerry, Sister Nancy, Django, Madoo, and Barry Brown.
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A valued Streamola supporter was writer Judy Hecker. She contributed this tape to the programming – a raw and uncut interview with DJ Superstars Dillinger & Trinity. With whom, incidentally I was well familiar, as both used to hang out in the late 70s at the Jamaica Sounds store in Portobello Road – directly across the street from Better Badges where I worked.
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Here we have Ras Kush feeling the spring vibes on April 22 2000. Knowing that both are old friends of mine he gets things started with a Jah Shaka/Aswad collab, and follows with another favorite Errol Dunkley to kick off a rockers segment. Prince Allah, Carlton Livingstone, Black Slate, all get a touch. Then we’re into a showcase of 80’s speed chat with Pato Banton, Smiley Culture, Shinehead. A couple of Jah Shaka tunes lead into a series of rare vintage vinyls – Johnny Clarke on the Sunshine label out of The Bronx singing a heartfelt plea for escape from urban noxiousness – with a seriously sublime dub version, & Richie McDaniel on 56 Hope Rd. The we are into an Augustus Pablo segment with the Rockers All Stars, Jah Levi (Hugh Mundell), and Mr. Swaby himself. More little known artists follow including Jah Frankie, then an extended Pablo Moses selection. The Mighty Threes ‘runaround’ goes runaround – slipping on the turntable til it’s haul for some truths and rights from Ital International. Another vintage vinyl gem – Cornell Campbell on the Downbeat Label ‘Natty Dread’ plays before the tape runs out on Carlton Livingstone.
Don’t ask me what happened to Part 1, but there is a Part 3 of this session coming.
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As we move into Part 3 of Ras Kush’s Dec 25 200 session the mood turns reflective with the Sounds of Praises from Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus, and Kush is off into an article Rasta selection of rare 7″ : cuts from The Upsetters featuring vocalists like Dennis Alcapone and King Burnett, better known as Wattie from the Congos; Aggravators and Johnny Clarke with a ‘stand-up’ tune I can practically guarantee you never heard before – unless of course you were listening to Streamola back in the day! Carlton Coffie sings about the Musical Revolution – then we are off into the dubwise deep end, with a bunch of heavyweight grooves, finishing up with a roots and culture segment.
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