SunDub

Another Sunday dub excursion, with a generous helping of Rob Smith. Mad Professor and Prince Fatty, with a side serving of Adrian Sherwood, Youth and Gaudi.

 

1) Yak Dub: Alien Dread (2004)

2) Dub Mentality (Live @ Festimad Festival, Madrid, 2nd May 1998): Asian Dub Foundation (1998)

3) Free South Africa (Dub) (Remix By Lindel Lewis & Mad Professor): Benjamin Zephaniah (1983)

4) Bad Man (Dub By RSD aka Rob Smith): Horace Andy ft. Million Teeth (2013)

5) Ragga Muffin Style (Dub) (Remix By Rob Smith): Jah Stitch (2015)

6) North, East, West, South (Prince Fatty Dub): The Last Poets (2019)

7) Idi Amin Dub: Mad Professor & Prince Fatty (2015)

8) Afghani Dub (Version By Adrian Sherwood): The Mothmen (1981)

9) Kung Fu Battle Ina Brixton (Dub): Prince Fatty (2012)

10) Hip Dub: Vivian Weathers (1978)

11) Ganjaman (Deep Fried Dub Remix): Youth & Gaudi (2020)

1978: Bad Weather: 10

1981: Wild Paarty Sounds: 8

1989: Rasta (bonus tracks): 3

1998: Black White EP: 2

2012: Kung Fu Battle Ina Brixton EP: 9

2013: Broken Beats: 4

2015: Mad Professor Meets Prince Fatty In The Clone Theory: 7

2015: Mixwork In Dub: 5

2017: Conquering Dub (Expanded Edition): 1

2019: Understand What Dub Is: 6

2020: Astronaut Alchemists Remixes: 11

SunDub (42:57)

Lovers Rock

Inspired by watching Steve McQueen's Lovers Rock (finally!) and loved up following the recent brace of excellent love-themed mixes over at The Vinyl Villain from Jez* and JC himself, today's selection features a groovy kind of love (though thankfully no Phil Collins).

 

Mrs. K & I have made a very belated visit to Steve McQueen's Small Axe series of films, originally premiered on BBC One in late 2020. No excuse for leaving it so long, really, as they are an absolute joy in film-making and storytelling, with an excellent cast. Lovers Rock is the second of five films and both have been essential viewing so far.

Despite a deep love of reggae and dub, I cannot pretend to be an expert in any way, but I'm reasonably confident that the lovers rock label legitimately applies to all of today's featured artists. Some - Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson, Marcia Griffiths, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Horace Andy, Pat Kelly - I have loved for a long, long time. Others have been more recent discoveries, several via Mojo magazine's "How To Buy...Lovers Rock" - Jean Adebambo, Vivian Weathers, Jimmy Lindsay, 15 16 17, Candy McKenzie and Love Joys. All are an aural delight for the ears, with sweet vocals complemented by rocksteady rhythms and joyous basslines.

 

Apologies for pops, crackles and skips on some songs. No apologies for the sheer quality of the tunes.

1) Lovers Rock JA. Style: Freddie McGregor (1981)

2) Breakfast In Bed (Cover of Dusty Springfield): Candy McKenzie (1977)

3) Sweet, Bitter Love (Album Version By Lloyd Charmers): Marcia Griffiths (1974) 

4) Stoned In Love (Cover of 'I'm Stone In Love With You' by The Stylistics): Pat Kelly (1979)

5) Black Pride: Brown Sugar (1977)

6) Money In My Pocket (Pt.1) (Single Version By Joe Gibbs): Dennis Brown (1979)

7) Let Me Rock You Now (12" Version By Lloyd Barnes): Love Joys (1982)

8) Steal Away Girl: Sugar Minott (1980)

9) No, You Don't Know (Album Version): Carroll Thompson (1981)

10) Caught You In A Lie / Pt. 2 Caught Dubbing (12" Version By Sir Coxsone): Louisa Mark (1975)

11) Black Skin Boys: 15 16 17 (1977)

12) The Way You Walk: Vivian Weathers (1978)

13) Something's On My Mind (Album Version By Tad A. Dawkins & Sylvan Morris): Horace Andy (1980)

14) Something Nice: Gregory Isaacs (1975)

15) Look At Me, I'm In Love: Sylvia Tella (1981)

16) Pipe Dreams (Album Version By Desmond Lyken): Jean Adebambo (1983)

17) Love Was Never Meant For Me: Jimmy Lindsay (1979)

18) Silly Games (Album Version By Dennis Bovell): Janet Kay (1982)

 

Lovers Rock (1:07:23)

 

* Jez is also responsible for A History Of Dubious Taste, another of my regular, essential reads when exploring the blogosphere.