Humble Yourself, My Children

As highlighted by Ernie Goggins at the always entertaining 27 Leggies blog on 1st February, Jamaica is currently celebrating Reggae Month. Ernie marked the occasion with music from a personal favourite, on what would have been the legendary Dennis Brown's 65th birthday. In typical fashion, I'd celebrated Dennis Brown here two weeks early.

By way of compensation and further celebration, here's more Dennis, accompanied by several other reggae legends, on a selection of cuts from 1972 to 1977. Most of the songs feature the vocal A-side paired with the version B-side, predominantly featuring The Aggrovators, for an extended rhythm. Is there a better way to roll into the weekend? Possibly, but this is pretty much guaranteed to shake you from a slumber to a slink in less than an hour.

 

1) Can You Feel It (Sufferation Every Day) (12" Version By Niney The Observer): Junior Byles (1977)

2) Skylarking / A Better Version (12" Version By Bunny Lee / King Tubby): Horace Andy ft. The Aggrovators (1976)

3) Declaration Of Rights / Dub Of Rights (12" Version By Bunny Lee) (Cover of The Abyssinians): Johnny Clarke ft. The Aggrovators (1975)

4) Jah Jah Is The Conqueror / Conqueror Dub (12" Version By Bunny Lee): Linval Thompson ft. The Aggrovators (1975)

5) Invasion (Wa Da Da) / Invasion Version (12" Version By Bunny Lee) (Cover of Burning Spear): Jackie Edwards ft. The Aggrovators (1976)

6) Wolf And Leopards (12" Version By Niney The Observer): Dennis Brown (1976)

7) Stir It Up (Album Version By Bob Marley & Chris Blackwell): Bob Marley & The Wailers (1972)

Humble Yourself, My Children (43:12)

Here I Come With Love And Not Hatred

Some Dennis Brown for you, to usher in the weekend. A prolific artist, especially in lovers' rock, he was dubbed "The Crown Prince of Reggae". Dennis Brown released more than 75 albums between 1970 and 1999, with probably an equal number of compilations and posthumous releases. I don't have anywhere near that number, but the sound of Dennis Brown has been with me since I first properly found his music in the early 21st century.

 

Today's selection specifically focuses on Dennis Brown's 1970s material, including numerous collaborations with producer Niney The Observer aka Winston Holness aka George Boswell and Joe Gibbs. The latter wrote and produced early single, Money In My Pocket, which was re-recorded in 1978 and became a #14 hit in the UK the following year.

 

1) Africa (Album Version By Niney The Observer) (1975)

2) I Am The Conqueror (Single Version By Niney The Observer) (1975) 

3) Baby Don't Do It (Single Version By Lloyd Daley) (1971)

4) Man Next Door (Album Version By Dennis Brown) (Cover of The Paragons) (1979)

5) Equal Rights (Single Version By Joe Gibbs) (Cover of traditional song) (1977)

6) Tribulation (Album Version By Niney The Observer) (1974)

7) Whip Them Jah Jah (Album Version By Niney The Observer, Dennis Brown & Castro Brown) ( (1977)

8) Here I Come (Album Version By Niney The Observer, Dennis Brown & Castro Brown) ( (1977)

9) Concentration (Version 1 By Derrick Harriott) (1972) 

10) Money In My Pocket (Pt.1) (Single Version By Joe Gibbs) (1979) 

11) Why Seek More (Single Version By Niney The Observer) (1975)

 

Here I Come With Love And Not Hatred (30:23)