Di Culture Alltah When Oppression Scatta

Happy birthday to Linton Kwesi Johnson, born 24th August 1952.

Following on my LKJ post a couple of Fridays ago, here's 47 minutes of his words and music to celebrate his 74th birthday.

Dennis Bovell is inevitably by his side, as well as an early collaboration with Misty In Roots, and 21st century team ups with Manu Chao and, perhaps surprisingly, Alan Wilder aka Recoil and Paul Marshall for a Talk Talk tribute album.

Whether poetry in motion or dub in excelsis, Linton Kwesi Johnson has been an important part of my education, and I'll always be grateful for that.

Here's to you, LKJ.

1) Want Fi Goh Rave: Linton Kwesi Johnson (1979)

2) Time Fi Dub: Linton Kwesi Johnson (2002)

3) Bass Culture: Linton Kwesi Johnson (1980)

4) Politik Kills (Dennis Bovell Remix): Manu Chao ft. LKJ aka Linton Kwesi Johnson (2008)

5) Man Free (For Darcus Howe): Poet And The Roots (1978)

6) Poems Of Shape And Motion: Linton Kwesi Johnson (1998)

7) Shocking Dub: Linton Kwesi Johnson (1980)

8) Di Great Insohreckshan: Linton Kwesi Johnson (1984)

9) Inheritance (Cover of Talk Talk): Recoil ft. Paul Marshall & Linton Kwesi Johnson (2012)

1978: It Dread Inna Inglan EP: 5

1979: Forces Of Victory: 1

1980: Bass Culture: 3

1980: LKJ In Dub: 7

1984: Making History: 8

1998: More Time: 6

2002: LKJ In Dub Volume Three: 2

2008: Politik Kills EP: 4

2012: Spirit Of Talk Talk: 9

Di Culture Alltah When Oppression Scatta (47:42) (GD) (M)

Sunday Dubby Sunday

Time to paws and relax with some sunny Sunday sounds from the last half-century.

A mix of familiar and unfamiliar, old and new, borrowed and blue, the common theme is that this top notch dub, perfect for soundtracking a day of doing as little or as much as you like.

Notably fewer complaints from the neighbours when this is booming from the Casa K sound system, too...

1) Rock In Dub: The Roots Radics ft. Gladstone Anderson (1982)

2) Dub Spring: Alien Dread (2017)

3) Secours Dub: Muflon Dub Sound System (2013)

4) Heart Beat Dub: Sly, Robbie & The Revolutionaries (1975)

5) Dub Of Correction: Jonah Dan / Alpha & Omega (2003)

6) Ariwacumbé ShaunVox Dub (Remix By Mad Professor): Frente Cumbiero (2010)

7) Iron Bar Dub (Album Version): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1980)

8) Go On Dub (Adrian Sherwood 'Reset In Dub’ Version): Panda Bear & Sonic Boom (2023)

9) Step It Up in Dub: King Tubby & Friends (1979)

10) Rasta Dub: Horace Andy (1977)

11) Harmoniser Dub: Dennis Bovell (1976)

12) Dub Of CCTV (Wolsey White Dub) (Remix By Gran Tourismo): Hard-Fi (2006)

1975: Hardcore Dub: 4

1977: In The Light Dub: 10

1980: LKJ In Dub: 7

1982: Radical Dub Session: 1

1994: Dub Gone Crazy: The Evolution Of Dub At King Tubby's 1975-1979: 9

2003: Decibel: More Cuts And Dubs 1976-1983: 11

2003: Spirit Of The Ancients: 5

2006: In Operation: CCTVersions: 12

2010: Frente Cumbiero Meets Mad Professor: 6

2013: Rassemblement: 3

2017: Conquering Dub (Expanded Edition): 2

2023: Reset In Dub: 8

Sunday Dubby Sunday (46:39) (GD) (M)

Noh Baddah Try Fi Hide Fram It

Linton Kwesi Johnson performing his poem Inglan Is A Bitch on the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1980.

It was another five years before I was exposed to LKJ's writing, thanks to an inspirational English teacher who saw some glimmers of hope in the rag tag jumble of spotty teens facing her. I can't remember which selection of poems she chose, though it's fair to assume that Inglan Is A Bitch may not have been one of them.

I was nine years old when Inglan Is A Bitch was transmitted on BBC2 and there's no way that either my parents would be watching OGWT or that I would be allowed to stay up that late to watch it with them.

Forty six years later, Inglan Is A Bitch has lost none of it's impact, and this reading of the poem conveys the sheer power of LKJ's words and masterfully paced and restrained performance. 

For Bass Culture, Linton's second album, he teamed up again with Dennis Bovell, Inglan Is A Bitch leading side two. The tempo is up, the rhythm and melody is the musical equivalent of sunshine, a counterpoint to the stark narrative. 

1980 also saw the release of LKJ In Dub, a seminal release and companion to Bass Culture. BItch Dub is track two side two and takes the song on a while different (road)trip.

Waking up to the news that the grifter has returned as MP for Clacton is no surprise. Whilst he'll be crowing about his victory and "letting the people decide", it's against a backdrop of less than 50% voter turn out, none of the major parties participating in the by-election, and Count Binface coming second with nearly 9,500 votes.

Inglan Is A Bitch.

 

Dub To Bring Cooldown After Record Breaking Heatwave

Flippin' hot, isn't it?!

My car ended up in the garage on Monday, so I had the additional joy of using the Great Western Railway service for a large chunk of my commute for most of this week. 

Which also meant spending up to two hours stuck in the train station each evening, watching successive homeward bound trains either being delayed, cancelled or, bizarrely, still showing as "on time" even though their arrival time had long passed and there was no sign of them.

Anyway, what got me to a rather more chilled space - mentally if not physically - was a playlist of reggae and dub music, guaranteed to get me to a better place, even if the effing trains couldn't manage it.

Hence the inspiration for today's selection. Top tunes from John Holt, Horseman and Winston Francis (both ably assisted by Prince Fatty), Big Youth, Derrick Morgan, The Heptones and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

There's also a generous portion of dub, courtesy of The Crystalites and Augustus Pablo, Linton Kwesi Johnson, G.G. Allstars, Horace Andy, King Tubby, Dennis Bovell, Adrian Sherwood and Scientist.

And, if you're interested in this kind of thing, today's post title is a BBC News headline. In dub, naturally.

Not as cool os a shady pool, perhaps and too cool for school, but it's cool enough for this old fool!

1) Which Way You Going Baby (Jamaican Mix): John Holt (1973)

2) Bass & Drum Version: The Crystalites ft. Big Youth & Augustus Pablo (1973)

3) Funny Dub (Version By Linton Kwesi Johnson & Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1979)

4) Mosquito Dub (Remix By Alvin Ranglin): G.G. Allstars (1973)

5) Ghetto (Album Version By Horseman & Prince Fatty): Horseman ft. Winston Reedy (2014)

6) Georgie: Big Youth (1995)

7) The Break: Prince Fatty ft. Winston Francis (2019)

8) Shirley Come Back To Me: Derrick Morgan (1975)

9) Don't Try To Dub: Horace Andy (1973)

10) Sneak Invasion Dub: King Tubby (1976)

11) Cool Rasta: The Heptones (1976)

12) In Tha Mix: Dennis Bovell (2012)

13) His Master's Voice: Lee 'Scratch' Perry (2009)

14) Counter Intelligence Dub: Scientist (1974)

1973: Backslider EP: 4

1973: Dock Of The Bay EP: 2

1973: 1000 Volts Of Holt: 1

1975: Feel So Good: 8

1976: Cool Rasta: 11

1979: Sonny's Lettah! EP: 3

1995: Joe Gibbs Presents: D.J. Originators Vol. 1: Head To Head: 6

2002: Dub / More Bass Culture: 10, 14

2009: Dub Setter: 13

2011: Jackpot Presents Horace Andy In Dub: 9

2012: Mek It Run: 12

2014: Dawn Of The Dread: 5

2019: In The Viper's Shadow: 7

Dub To Bring Cooldown (46:24) (GD) (M)

And because we've all made it to the weekend, here's my Lovers Rock selection from March 2022.

From Fantasy To Reality

My inspirational teacher was Jackie Barrow, who taught English in my last couple of years of secondary school. If I had to pick one thing that opened my mind up to the possibilities of a bigger world beyond our predominantly white working- & middle-class suburban bubble, it would be introducing me to the poetry of Benjamin Zephaniah and Linton Kwesi Johnson. It's fair to say that a fair chunk of the class were unmoved by their poems, but it made a huge impact on me, beginning a lifelong interest in their work. So  when I discovered that both had released albums, setting their poetry to music, of course it was a win-win.

 

Both continue to write, perform, challenge and inspire today. 

Side One

1) Fantasy Poem (Single Version By Mad Professor): Benjamin Zephaniah (1982)

2) Wat About Di Working Claas? (Album Version By Linton Kwesi Johnson & Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1984)

3) I Am A Revolutionary (Album Version By The Sea aka Corin Pennington): Benjamin Zephaniah ft. Logic aka Declan Davids (2017)

4) If I Waz A Tap Natch Poet (Album Version By Linton Kwesi Johnson & Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1998)

5) Rong Radio Station (Album Version By Trevor Morais): Benjamin Zephaniah ft. Dennis Bovell (2005)

Side Two

1) Di Black Petty Booshwah (12" Version By Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1980)

2) Dis Policeman Keeps On Kicking Me To Death (Lord Scarman Dub): Benjamin Zephaniah (1983)

3) Reggae Fi Peach (Album Version By Linton Kwesi Johnson & Black Beard aka Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1980)

4) I Have A Dream (Album Version By Luke Slater): L.B. Dub Corp ft. Benjamin Zephaniah (2013)

5) Reality Poem (Album Version By Linton Kwesi Johnson & Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1979)

 

1979: Forces Of Victory: B5

1980: Bass Culture: B3

1980: De Black Petty Booshwah 12": B1

1982: Dub Ranting EP: A1

1983: Rasta: B2

1984: Making History: A2

1998: More Time: A4 

2005: Naked: A5

2013: Unknown Origin: B4

2017: Revolutionary Minds: A3

Side One (22:09) (KF) (Mega)

Side Two (22:17) (KF) (Mega)

From Conception To The Grave

Today's selection is a nod to the genre-hopping genius that is Dubmaster Dennis Bovell MBE. Lovers Rock, Dub, Post-Punk, Pop, Reggae, Poetry all threaded together by a singular talent.

 

Aside from his legendary work with Janet Kay, The Slits and The Pop Group, Dennis Bovell has been synonymous with Linton Kwesi Johnson's musical career. Another frequent collaborator has been Edwyn Collins, from Orange Juice to Collins solo, and taking in a shared guest spot on Trevor Jackson's Playgroup project along the way. 

 

In the summer, Dennis Bovell released a cover of What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. He has also recently dubbed up The Pop Group's 1979 debut album. Y In Dub is available via Bandcamp and various other outlets on 29th October.
 

1) Surrey With The Fringe On Top (Ska Be Doo Za): Black Beard (1978)

2) You'll Never Know (Dub) (Remix By Dennis Bovell): Edwyn Collins (2007)

3) Reality Poem (Album Version By Linton Kwesi Johnson & Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1979)

4) Feel No Way (Album Version By Dennis Bovell): Janet Kay (1980)

5) Forces Of Oppression (Edit By Dennis Bovell): The Pop Group (1980) 

6) Swanky Modes (Dennis Bovell DubMix): JARV IS... (2021)

7) 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover (Album Version By Trevor Jackson & Mark 'Spike' Stent) (Cover of Paul Simon): Playgroup ft. Shinehead, Dennis Bovell & Edwyn Collins (2001)

8) Make Believe (Let's Pretend) (Special Extended Version By Dennis Bovell): Thompson Twins (1981)

9) Clichéd Dub Slave: Adrian Sherwood ft. Dennis Bovell (2007)

10) Flesh Of My Flesh (Long Version By Dennis Bovell): Orange Juice (1983)

11) Empire Road: Matumbi (1978)

12) Tell Tale Signs (Extended Version By Dennis Bovell): Bananarama (1983)

13) Dub Her In (Version By Dennis Bovell): Steve Mason (2011)

14) Love Und Romance (Album Version By Dennis Bovell): The Slits (1979)

15) Africa (Is Our Land) (12" Mix By Dennis Bovell): Joshua Moses (1978)

16) Silly Dub: Dennis Bovell ft. Janet Kay (1993)

From Conception To The Grave (1:03:41) (GD) (M)

When We Mash Up The Wicked One Plan

Some dub-inflected sounds to soothe your soul...

1) Duppy Conqueror v/5: Bob Marley & The Wailers (1971)

2) Autobiography (Of The Dread Operator): Singers & Players ft. Mikey Dread (1983)

3) Pe-We Special: Lee 'Scratch' Perry & The Upsetters (1973)

4) Insohreckshan Dub: Linton Kwesi Johnson (1984)

5) Cash Machine (Roots Manuva Dub Remix): Hard-Fi (2006)

6) Dub There: Horace Andy (1977)

7) Dubnology: Alien Dread (2004)

When We Mash Up The Wicked One Plan (29:26)

I Dub From Another Planet, Baby

It's Saturday, it's raining, here are some dub drenched sounds to brighten your day.

 

1) Bag A Wire Dub: The Aggrovators + King Tubby & Friends (1976)

2) Fever Dub: Horace Andy (1977)

3) Epic One Drop (Album Version By Adrian Sherwood): Playgroup (1982)

4) Share It Out Dub: Bob Andy & Mad Professor (1989)

5) Good Times Dub: The Roots Radics ft. Gladstone Anderson (1982)

6) Some A Dub: The Congos (1976)

7) Substyle: Dub Syndicate (1983)

8) Dub To My Woman: Sly & Robbie (1997)

9) We Need Love (Wrongtom Inna West London Style): Hard-Fi (2007)

10) Weeping Willow: Black Uhuru / Prince Jammy With Sly & Robbie (1982)

11) Di Black Petty Booshwah (Dub) (Version By Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1980)

12) Cool This Dub: Tapper Zukie (1977)

13) Guiding Dub: Impact All Stars (1973)

14) Dub I Just A Man (Version By Dennis Bovell): Steve Mason (2011)

15) There's Dub: Glen Brown & King Tubby (1979)

16) Slow Country (Strictly Rubbadub): Spacemonkeyz Versus Gorillaz (2002)

 

I Dub From Another Planet, Baby (58:13)
Listen to I Dub From Another Planet, Baby on Mixcloud

Dubhed Excursion To The Outer Limits

There's something about Spring going into Summer that sees my playlist dominated by reggae and dub. I have collected many, many albums and compilations over the decades but I won't begin to pretend that I know what I'm talking about, other than how the sounds and words make me feel. 

 
I've hastily cobbled together a 10-song 'vinyl' sampler of albums I've been listening to this week, for your listening pleasure.

Side One (17:30)

1) Declaration Of Rights: The Abyssinians (1975)

2) Kung Fu Warrior: Lee 'Scratch' Perry & The Upsetters (1975)

3) Reggae Rock: Earl Sixteen (1982)

4) Blood Of My Blood: Keith Hudson (1974)

5) John Burns Skank (Live Good): Burning Spear (1976)

Side Two (16:01)

1) Strictly Dub: Black Beard aka Dennis Bovell (1978)

2) Forces Of Viktry: Linton Kwesi Johnson (1979)

3) Pick The Beam: Yabby You (1977)

4) Aso: Gregory Isaacs (1978)

5) I Shall Be Released: Keith Hudson (1974)

 

Side One (17:30) (GD) (M)

Side Two (16:01) (GD) (M)