Burning Spear Studio One Showcase

Winston Rodney, aka Burning Spear, came from a rural Jamaica parish called Saint Anns Bay.  The same Saint Anns Bay that gave us Marcus Garvey by the way.  A connection that would play heavily into Burning Spear's music.  Burning Spear began his recording career at Studio One Studios.  According to Burning Spear himself he was introduced to Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, the owner of Studio One, by Bob Marley.  Burning Spear had already acquired a local following and his recording sessions were eagerly awaited by the whole Studio One posse.  Burning Spear's first single, "Door Peeper", begins with him speaking, "I and I, the son of the most high, Jah Rasta Fari, whose heart shall correspond and beat in one harmony, sounds from the Burning Spear" and then the drums kick in and the band starts playing.  And far away, in a little apartment in Los Angeles I listened, transfixed to the stereo speakers, some 45 years ago and man-o-man what a moment.

Burning Spear released two albums on the Studio One label.  The self-titled "Burning Spear" and then the album "Rocking Time."  Those first two albums...  I can't tell you how many times I played them.  I always dreamed that there would be a third Burning Spear Studio One album, but that third album never came.  Coxsone did release a few singles not included on the albums, "Zion Higher", "New Civilization" and "This Population" all of which I found after much searching.  Also, Coxsone released a bunch of singles form the albums and I bought as many as I could find just to hear the version sides.  But that third album, that third Burning Spear Studio One album, never happened.

When it came time for me to move to the Philippines, I recorded all my Burning Spear singles and at some point, as the ganja smoke gently rose up over my computer screen a wonderful idea came to me....  

album: Burning Spear Studio One Showcase
label: Little Red

tracks:

01 This Population ( The Burning Spear) 
02 This Population version (The New Establishment) 
03 Get Ready (Burning Spear) 
04 Get Ready Dub (Winston & The Brentford Rockers) 
05 Wala Wala (single version credited to Owen Right) 
06 Creation Rebel (Burning Spear) 
07 Creation (Version) (Winston & The Brentford Rockers) 
08 Door Peeper (Single Version) 
09 Ethiopians live it out (Burning Spear) 
10 Live it out (Burning Spear with Sound Dimension) 
11 Rocking Time (Burning Spear (Coxsone single version)) 
12 Zion Higher (Burning Spear) 
13 Zion (Ver.) (Sound Dimension) 
14 The Avenue Pt2 (Hubert Lee with Sound Dimension)

Showcase

Burning Spear at Studio One

Afterword:  You may have noticed that the single "New Civilization" was not included on this Showcase album.  I did in fact find that record after much searching but folks, the copy I got in the mail was totally trashed.  Filled with pops and skips and I decided to leave it off the album just out of respect.  I suppose I could have lifted the file from a YouTube video but, I didn't.  Maybe that tune will have to wait for the fourth Burning Spear Studio One album.  Or maybe I'll redo it... we'll see.  In the meantime here it is.

Cheers:

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Reggae Singles

I don't recommend doing this but if you ever want to get into early reggae music you need to buy Jamaican 45's.  I don't recommend it though because it is an addiction more habit forming than cocaine and almost as expensive.

But beautiful none the less.

Jamaican Reggae music in the 1960s and 70s was really a singles market. Local music studios like Randy's studio, Black Ark studio, Channel One studio, the legendary Studio One, Joe Gibbs studio and more were all churning out hundreds of songs and pressing them into 45 rpm singles for the local dance halls and for the music listening public.  The idea of the Reggae LP really didn't catch on until Bob Marley made it big in the late 1970's.  Up until then the music came out as singles.  Millions of singles.  You'll live your entire life and you'll never hear all of them.

I got into buying reggae singles sometime in the mid 1980's. At first I used to just buy the occasional disc from Rhino Records but then doc, it became an obsession.  Lol.  Seriously folks.  I went nuts.  I loved buying those pretty little records.  

I bought a lot of singles from eBay for sure.  But the serious jones came when I found out about Reggae lists. Enterprising people would go down to Jamaica and buy up reggae singles and then sell them by mail order in the states.  I used to receive sale lists in the mail.  The sellers knew me.  I used to go through the song titles on the lists like a kid in a toy store.  The lists usually had two sections.  A set price list and a "bid" list.  The bid list had the special records and you were on your own when it came to how much you would offer.  I remember distinctly seeing this record Madness by the Mighty Maytones on a bid list.  It was a dream record for me.  I HAD to have it so I sent in a bid that was astronomical.  The seller sent me back a message saying, "Don't worry dude, you got it lol" or something like that.

• song: Madness
• artist: The Mighty Maytones
• label: Mango

Winro Records was a California record label that was in some way associated with Clemet "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One label.  I always looked for Winro Records because they were usually good Studio One music on clean American vinyl.  For a while I actually had a copy of Burning Spear's album "Rocking Time" on Winro.  Nice record that was.  

This particular song, Dread Oppression by the Melodies, was a song that Hank Holmes used to play on the Reggae Beat radio show  (KCRW Santo Monica College).  The Melodies were one of a thousand obscure Jamaican reggae artist who put out just a few singles.  Early Jamaican music was filled with scores of local artist who put out a few great singles that never made it to LP.  That's why we buy singles my friends.  This is a sweet tune.  I picked this up from a record list as well.

• song: Dread Oppression
• artist: The Melodies
• label: Winro

Bongo Man was another label owned by Coxsone Dodd.  Dodd put out Studio One music on so many different labels.  Here's a list of Studio One record labels listed by Discogs:

Antics Disc, Blue Mountain, Bongo Man, Budget, C and N Records, Collector's Series, S.O. World, Coxson, Coxsone Records, Faze Four, Festival 71, Festival 72, Forward Records, Iron Side, Iron Side Disc, Media Records, Money Disc, Mu-Zik City Records, Music Lab, ND Records, Oldies, Rolando & Powie, Sight 'N' Sound, Sight 'N' Sounds Records, Sight & Sound New York, Studio One, CLD-12", Series 1, Super Natural Disc, Super Six, Supreme Records, Tabernacle Records, and Winro Records.

All record labels put out by Coxsone's Studio One.

Pretty amazing huh?  I bought records from many of those labels.  Bongo Man, Studio One, Money Disc, Coxson, Music Lab, Super Natural Disc and they all sounded like Studio One music.  I don't really know why Dodd put music out on so many different labels but my hunch is it had to with evading royalties.  As much as the world loves Clemet Dodd he was an infamous skinflint. 

But as I have said elsewhere the music put out by Studio One was always so great that we forgive the rough edges.

Clemet "Coxsone" Dodd

This record "Jah Jah Way" by Jackie Bernard was one of my first reggae single purchases.  It's a beautiful song in and out.  I picked it up as a new record at Rhino Records sometime in the early 1980's for $0.99.  When I moved to the Philippines I sold it for a cool $200.00.  Thank you Mr. Dodd.

 

• song: Jah Jah Way
• artist: Jackie Bernard
• label: Bongo Man

Another reason why we buy singles is because Jamaican artist are famous for putting out multiple versions of the same song.

I used to go see the Itals backed by the Freedom fighters play at the Music Machine in Santa Monica during the 1980's.  Those were some great shows.  The Itals singing to the blasting Reggae groove.  The dancehall filled with ganja smoke. I wish I was there now.  

The Itals were a great Jamaican trio fronted by lead singer Keith Porter.  They put out several LP's on Nighthawk records all of which are well worth checking out.  

The Itals didn't receive the attention that other groups received but they were one of my favorite vocal groups.  Their most famous song was "In A Dis Ya Time."  It received a lot of air play on reggae radio shows in LA.  I remember my joy when I saw it listed on a reggae set sale list.

I purchased the record and much to my surprise when it came in the mail the recording turned out to be a totally different version than the version played on the radio.  And better!  I've actually never heard this version played on the radio or anywhere else for that mater.  To my knowledge this version has never appeared on an LP.  Just one of those treats that came out of nowhere.

That's Reggae music my friends.

song: In A Dis Ya Time

artist: The Itals

label:  Hopewell Survivors Production

Now this record...

One Saturday I was listening to Chuck Foster's KPFK radio show "Reggae Central" and Chuck closed his show with a very nice song.  It was the show closing song so about halfway through the song the music faded and the KPFK station break began.  Luckily I was recording the show but since it was the last song there was no information given as to who the artist was or what the song was but I HAD TO HAVE IT.

The more I played the part of the song I captured on tape the more I wanted it.  I even went to visit Chuck Foster at his home one day and while there I asked him what was that song he played that day?  I couldn't remember the exact day so I tried to sing it to him.  "How long will the wicked reign"  I sang to him but I'm not a great singer and he just shook his head.  He was nice and he tried to sing along with me but finally he said "Sorry I can't place it."  Damn.  No luck. 

And that's how it was for a couple of years.  It was a record I HAD TO HAVE but I had no clue what the record was called. Or who the artist was.  Nothing.   And then one day I was saved.

It was beautiful.  Some of the people selling reggae singles will send along with the song lists sample tapes.  Cassette tapes with short segments of the songs so the customers can have an idea of what they were getting.  I might even have a couple of them lying around.  Anyway, one day I received one such tape and there it was.  In amazement I played the sample tape there was the song I had been searching for.  I about dropped a brick.  I couldn't believe my ears.  

The song was "Selassi I" by Roots of the Field pressed on the Roots of the Field label.

I bought it without hesitation.

Talk about obscure.  Discogs lists ONE single by Roots of the Field and only one single on the Roots of the Field label.   And it's a gem.

That's reggae music my friends.

• song: Selassi I
• artist: Roots of the Field
• label: Roots of the Field

PS - downloading trick.  I recently found out that you can download most youtube videos by going to the web address and deleting the "ute" from the web address and entering it.  Like if the youtube web address is something like www . youtube / videoname  change the address to www . yout / videoname and it will take you to the download page... Try it!  Have fun my friends.

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Black Slate feat. Ras Elroy

artist: Black Slate feat. Ras Elroy

song: Seven Hundred Pound Weight b/w Justice and Honour

label: Integrity 12 inch single

This, I want to tell you, is a piece of vinyl that I loved.

Deep affection.

It has everything that I love..  Heavy solid music.  Lyrics that talk to me.  Limited pressing.  Obscure label.  12 inch extended play.  Wicked dub.  Good lord what more do you want?

I picked it up one night in the used reggae bin at Rhino Records in Westwood sometime in the mid 80's.  At the time I had no idea who Ras Elroy or Black Slate were but Rhino had a listening booth and I listented to it and grabbed it.  Aka, I lucked out. 

Folks, will we ever find used records like this again?  Sigh.

Black Slate was (is) a British reggae band.  They never made it as big as say Aswad or Steel Pulse but they did put out some heavy duty reggae.  Seven Hundred Pound Weight heavy.

When I came to the Philippines I gave this record to a friend.  I couldn't sell it.

Seven Hundred Pound

My woman loves it and she smokes it
my woman loves it and she needs it
my woman smokes it cuz it takes her higher
but we just can afford it.

Mister Government, Mister Government
you've taken away from the poor man
who smoke this herb for meditation
to reach to the higher one.

So seven hundred pound
a weight a murder
seven hundred pounds
a weight of sensimilla
seven hundred pounds
a weight of sensimilla.

While we're on the subject.. Marijuana.

As I have said before I am now living in the Philippines.  The other night I was at a Filipino party.  Filipinos love to party.  They get together in the villages and sing Karaoke and pass around shots of whiskey and party until the wee hours.  It's beautiful.  And as I was saying the other night I was at such a party when low and behold a joint got fired up.  Ganja.  Reefer.  Sweet Sensimilla.... 

It came passing by and DAMN IT I had to say no. 

It killed me.

Do you know what they do to foreigners who get caught with narcotics in Asia.  Don't ask.

My friends all said "Ah come on.."  but folks, in the Philippines they list Marijuana, the lambs bread, Jah's gift to the world, right along side heroin and cocaine and if I got caught with any drugs.. as a foreigner.. well forget it.  No more grooVemonzter that's for sure.

So I said no.... and the joint passed on.  Sigh.

For the time being this wonderful music can be found here: Sensimilla

Black Slate

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Otis Redding Volt Singles

Otis Redding

Volt Singles

01 - Come to me............................... (Volt V-7603)
02 - Don't leave me this way................. (Volt V-7602)
03 - Glory of love.............................. (Volt VLT-12625 SP)
04 - I'm coming home.......................... (Volt VLT-12626 SP)
05 - Sweet Lorene.............................. (Volt VLT-13685-MO)
06 - Ole man trouble........................... (Volt VLT-9178)
07 - Respect..................................... (Volt VLT-9108)
08 - That's what my heart needs............. (Volt V-1100)
09 - That's how strong my love is............. (Volt V-124 VLT-8443)
10 - Mary's little lamb.......................... (Volt V-1089)
11 - Sittin' on the dock of the bay............ (Volt 45-157)
12 - I've got dreams to remember............ (Atco 68-C-14485-PL)

One time in the mid 1970s a friend of mine and I were walking down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood late one Saturday night.  Suddenly, as we passed by one of the night clubs, a drunk stumbled out of the club's front door and slammed right into my friend.   After a few moments of confusion my friend and the drunk recovered their footing and stood there looking at each other.  The drunk was Jack Nicolson.

"Do you know what time it is?"  Jack asked my friend.

My friend looked at his watch and told Jack Nicolson the time.

"Thanks."  Jack said and turned and walked away.

My friend and I stood there looking at each other like did that really just happen.

Sunset Boulavard.

Another time a different friend and I were in a liquor store on Sunset buying some beer and causually talking about Bob Dylan.

Suddenly we heard a voice from behind us say, "Ah, he's just a phony."

We turned around to look at the speaker.

It was Jimmy Durante.

"Bob Dylan is a big phony!" Jimmy Durante said and waved his hand down like he was fully fed up with the guy.  Then he turned and walked out the door.

My friend and I looked at each other like did that really just happen?

Later that night the two of us were polishing off a few beers and laughing about how much having Jimmy Durante pop out of nowhere and give his opinion in our conversation was just like a Bob Dylan song.  And it was.

  

Jimmy Durante

Anyway, I've always loved Sunset Boulevard.

Sometime in the mid-1990's I was hanging out on Sunset Boulevard when I ran across a little used record store.  In the 1990's CD's were coming into fashion and everyone was selling their vinyl.  There were little used record shops popping up all over Los Angeles.  I remember it was late in the evening when I stepped into that new record store.  Always a joy.  It was a small shop filled with used LP's and a ton of singles.  Much to my pleasure I found out that they were having a clearance sale.  Everything was being discounted.

A couple hours later I walked out of the place with a big box full of 45 singles.  Those were the days my friends.

Among those singles was a pile of old Otis Redding Volt singles.  Let me tell you, those Otis Redding singles were to become records that I truly loved.  Some of them were pretty scratched up but some of them played beautifully.  That's how it is with used singles.  I can't tell you how many times I sat up at night playing them.  Really lovely music.  I like the old red and black Volt labels too.  

Let's see how long I can leave these files up.

For the time being these files are HERE.

Last time I posted these files I had to take them down pretty quick.  So hurry up damn it lol.

Update:  

OK, OK, I got the message from above... copywrite claim.  I hope you were quick and downloaded these wonderful tunes while they were up.  

In any case, there's always a ton of Otis Redding for sale HERE.

Otis Redding

Hippie for Life

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Scientist in Dub Vol 1

album:  Scientist in Dub Volume 1

artist:  Scientist / Roots Radics

label: Jah Guidance

year: 1981

This, my friends, is a killer album.

Murder in the first degree.

I'm surprised the demons from up in the cloud let me keep it posted.  

I had the original pressing of this record in my record collection once upon a time.  When I sold the bulk of my records back in Miami back in the early 2000's it was one of the records I sold.  I got a very nice bid on it which was nice.  But...

For the most part when I sold my records I was relieved to get rid of them.  Try moving some day with 7000 LPs.  It's a pain.  So I felt no small sense of relief when I sold them off.  But...

One day a friend of mine asked me if I regretted selling any of them and I had to confess the only record that I actually regretted selling was my original copy of Scientist in Dub Volume 1.

"Regrets, I've had a few..." Frank Sinatra

Yes, I regretted selling it.  For years I mourned its loss.  And then one day I was wandering around Amoeba records in Hollywood and I found the repressing.  A brand new reissue copy of the record sealed in plastic.  My pupils dilated.  I picked it up and held it in my hands.  It was like holding the ghost of a long lost friend.  I held it and looked at it and bought it without hesitation.

It had the same cover as the original.

It had the same music as the original.

It was as near a copy of the original as the manufacturers could make but...

I still miss the original.

That's life my friends.

 

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Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues

artist: Blue Cheer 

songs Summertime Blues b/w Out of Focus

label: Philips

Do you all mind if I throw out a music story?

I was raised in Los Angeles, California and went to high school in the San Fernando Valley during the late 1960's. Basically I was your typical proto-hippie valley dude. The band Blue Cheer pretty much summed up the crew I hung out with.  Their recording of "Summertime Blues" was a monster hit in the San Fernando valley. How many joints got rolled on the back of their first album "Vincebus Eruptum" is anyone's guess. 

Blue Cheer

Somehow I graduated from high school and even more surprisingly somehow I went to college.

During my college years I pretended to learn how to play the bass guitar. Hey, turn the amp up loud enough and smoke a lot of weed and your good to go.

Throughout the 1970's I played a string of engagements in assorted garages.

I did manage to wind up in a couple of bands that actually played gigs in various dingy Hollywood dives. The beer was cheap and the flies were free and what the heck, I cherish the memories.

Sometime around 1979 I was playing in a band called "The Symptoms." (I've still got our old demo tape in one of the boxes. Maybe I'll burn a CD of it and really embarrass myself). 

By that time I was in my late twenties and certainly the old man of the group. I think the next oldest was the keyboard player who was maybe twenty-one and kind of my friend but at twenty-seven I was old enough to make our association tenuous at best and when we went to clubs he pretended he didn't know me.

Our lead singer was a cool raven haired Mexican girl named Jaime who actually could sing. She was nineteen, I remember Jaime quite clearly.

We, the Symptoms, went through about five drummers. One day Jaime told us she had met a new drummer through the Recycler. He was going to drop by that evening.

That evening the drummer showed up. We were all there in Jaime's parent's garage setting up and Jaime introduced the new drummer to us.

"This is Paul." Jaime said.

I looked over at the guy.  Paul was the picture of your long-haired drummer type. He gave us the nod as he tightened the screws on his drum kit.

Jaime was eager to sell this new drummer to us.

"Hey," she said to Paul, the new drummer, "Didn't you say you were in a band in the sixties that had a hit?  What was the song called?"

We were all busy setting up and only half listening but Paul said off hand. "Summertime Blues."

None of my younger band mates paid much attention to that but for me... time stood still and everything became quiet. 

"What band were you in?" I asked.

"Blue Cheer" he said.

Paul Whaley, Blue Cheer's drummer.

I looked at him and, my friends, I about dropped a brick.

He looked back at me and grinned because he saw my expression.  No one else in that garage new but the two of us, we knew.  Paul Whaley, monster drummer grinned at me and for that one moment it was 1967 again.

An amazing moment that I will never forget.

Yes, Blogspot Massive, Paul Whaley played with my band "The Symptoms"... for a while. And for a brief period in Los Angeles musical history, Paul Whaley and Yours Truly were Drum and Bass. Maybe a month or so. Then he moved on.

I think playing garages and dive Hollywood joints was bit of a let down after Blue Cheer but still....

Summertime Blues bw Out of Focus

Blue Cheer:

Dickie Peterson- bass vocals

Paul Whaley - drums

Leigh Stephen - guitar

Hippie For Life

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Orlando Owoh - Hunger

 

artist: Orlando Owoh

album: Hunger

label: Owoh Records

I'm so dumb.

And I can say that from personal experience.

No sooner had I posted that last album, Orlando Owoh - E get as E be, than some gentle soul commented that Moos over at Global Groove had already posted the same album.  I went over to check out Moos's post and low and behold not only had I downloaded it already but I had even commented on the post.

Egg on MY face hahaha.

OK, so you're wondering why I didn't realize I already had that album.  

Well, I could point out that since this is a new computer I don't have the necessisary app to extract the files which is true.  I still haven't opened Moos's copy of that album.

That excuse would be true.  But there is an even deeper reason.

I forgot.

But all that is in the past.

Here's another album from that lovely "downloaded albums" folder.  Again, thank you to whoever created these files.  Images are from discogs.

And always thank you to Dr. Chief Orlando Owoh for giving us all your gift of music may you RIP. 

Orlando Owoh - Hunger

Until further notice these files are HERE

Or you could buy the album HERE

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Orlando Owoh - E Get as E Be

 

artist: Dr Chief Orlando Owoh & his African Kenneries

album: E Get as E Be

label: Owoh Records

year: 1989

As I have previously explained I have moved to the Philippines.  And before I go on let me say, this place is a trip.  The Philippines are a trip.  The Philippines and the Filipino people are beautiful.  If you have a chance to visit the Philippines, do come.  You will not be disappointed.

But, back to music.

Before I moved to the Philippines I bought a new computer.  I had all my music files backed up on Carbonite so when I arrived in the Philippines I was able to download all my stored music files.

However, the download was slow.  I mean VERY slow.  Dear readers, it took two (2) months to download all my files.  No joke.  Finally though Carbonite told me that 100% of my files had been downloaded and I have spent the last few weeks going through my music folders.  Some fun.

So, check this out.  As I was looking through my files I found a folder labeled "downloaded albums."  This sounds interesting I thought.  I opened the folder and I found about 40 full length albums that I had downloaded from YouTube over the years.  And folks, amongst those albums I found this Orlando Owoh album that I had never posted.  

"E Get as E Be"....  

Well, it looks like I get a new Orlando Owoh album.

Sweet.

Orlando Owoh - E Get as E Be

Credits.  I have no idea who made these files but I'm posting them because... Hear me out.

In an interview taken from the movie "Life History of Orlando Owoh (part 2)  Orlando Owoh said this;

Interviewer (speaking to Orlando Owoh) :  Some other musicians do sing your songs.  Do they come for any copyright from you?

Orlando Owoh:  That’s what NIGERIANS eat from.

Interviewer:  And you are not angry at that?

Orlando Owoh:  (thinks a long time then says)  We met songs in the world.  That’s why we can sing.  And when we die some other people will continue singing.  I am just happy that I am fortunate.  I’ve got good destiny.  That I can find this cloth and buy it.  And I still find it on this man.  Then it’s a good and fine cloth.  And may the Lord make any other persons using my songs proper with it.

 

Thank you Dr Chief Orlando Owoh for your gift of music.  We are all blessed.

HrH Shakeera Ghoniem said:  Dr Orlando Owoh your memory will remain you are great just too great KENNERY BABA

Ajayi Abayomi said: Baba Kennerie I miss you, rest in peace baba

Tunji Akande said:  This is the man with velveting voice and deep philosophy.  He ruled his time with his unique songs and rhythm.  A leading singer, songwriter and musician of my generation.

KING DAVID said: You will forever be remember with all your evergreen records.  Many of us never listen to your music until we grew up and see how this resonates in our 21st century.  You have gone but your work lives on.  RIP

PS  I got the images for the cover and for the label from discogs.

PPS Until further notice this music can be found HERE

PPPS Or you could get an even better Rip from Global Grove HERE

PPPPS Or you could even buy this album HERE

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Larry Marshall Showcase

artist: Larry Marshall

album: Showcase

label: Little Bird

tracks:

  1) Bredda Nancy bw Anancy Skank

  2) Can't you understand bw Locks of Dub

  3) Brand new baby bw Clash of Steel

  4) Captivity bw Version

  5) Come on baby bw Version

  6) Heavy heavy load bw Version

  7) How can I forget you girl bw Version

  8) I admire you bw Watergate Rock

  9) Jah jah hear my cry

10) Run Babylon bw Version

11) Serious Love bw Joyce

12) Thelma bw Still calling

Larry Marshall was a transformative figure in reggae music.  He began recording music in the early '60s for various producers but he had his greatest success with Clement Dodd at Studio One singing as a solo artist and as part of the duo Larry and Alvin. His music was huge in the Jamaican dancehalls of the late '60s and early '70s.  "Mean Girl", "Throw Me Corn", "Keep On Pushing" and "Nanny Goat" were dancehall mainstays.  Perhaps more importantly though, Larry Marshall worked as a Studio One engineer and he was one of the guys coaching the musicians, throwing out melodies and bass lines for the artist to jam on.  He didn't play an instrument.  He would hear the riddims in his head and sing them to the musicians like "Bassy mon play this!"   Many foundation reggae bass lines arose in Larry Marshalls mind.  Lord only knows how many songs have been sung to the "Throw Me Corn" riddim.  His song Nanny Goat is regarded by many as the record that initiated the transition from rocksteady to reggae.  It is claimed in fact that Larry Marshall is the person who came up with the term "reggae." "Reggae" he said, is how his mother used to say the word "regular."  Reggae music.. Regular music..  Could be... But as with all things reggae who knows.

Wikipedia says that in 1974 Clement Dodd offered Larry Marshall the head engineer job at Studio One but that Marshall declined the offer and left Studio One to begin releasing music as a solo artist.   He released the singles "I Admire You" and "Can't You Understand" on Carl Pitterson's Black and White label both of which had dub versions by King Tubby (included here).  Later Marshall split with Pitterson and set up his own "Amanda" label.  In 1975 Larry Marshall completed his self-produced album "I Admire You" and released a limited number of copies in Jamaica and the United Kingdom on the Java label.  During the period of 1974 to 1985 Discogs lists 36 singles released by Larry Marshall.  

I myself became aware of Larry Marshall when I bought the CD of "I Admire You." 

If you don't own this CD you pretty much have to get it.  

 You can buy it here.

I picked up my copy of the I Admire You CD as a blind buy in a little music shop in Pasadena sometime in the mid 1990's.  I had no idea at the time who Larry Marshall was.  I wasn't too impressed by the cover, but it was on the Heartbeat label and it was an inexpensive used CD, so I decided to give it a try.  One of those blind music buys that turned into an obsession.  I started buying everything by Larry Marshall that I could get my hands on.  I bought a ton of his singles from eBay and from record lists.  Some of the records were from Jamaican used record dealers and they came to my door in pretty shitty condition quite frankly, but I didn't care.  It was always a nice day when I got a Larry Marshall single in the mail.

Larry Marshall died in 2017 at the age of 75 of complications of Alzheimers.   He had received very little financial compensation for his music and it's a damn shame.  In later years he had left Jamaica and had moved to Miami where he worked as a day laborer on construction sites to support himself.  He had given the world beautiful music and the world had moved on.  He continued to record occasionally but certainly his music never brought him fortune.  Maybe one could argue that it was his own fault that he had never capitalized on his music.  History is filled with great artist who were inept when it came to the business end.  And the music industry is filled with crooks and users, so Larry Marshall is not a unique story.  Life is not fair, for sure.  But still, it's a damn shame. 

When I knew I was coming to the Philippines I got rid of all of my singles.  Some I sold and others I gave to friends.  Everything in the Philippines rots with fungus and as much as I loved my singles I didn't want to see them ruined by tropical mold.  So, they're all gone.  

"We'll sing in the sunshine,

We'll laugh every day,

We'll sing in the sunshine,

Then I'll be on my way."

- Gale Garnett

Before I left however, I did manage to record a lot of my records.   I put together this showcase album from some my Larry Marshall 45's. There's a few snaps and crackles on some of the songs but it's all beautiful music. I'm posting the files for this album because I want people to hear the music.  If anyone has a problem with me posting these files and they have a legitimate claim, I will take them down but to be honest if you are so concerned about the royalties this music can bring, you probably should have thought about that when Larry was alive.

Until otherwise noted the files for this album can be found HERE.

OK, the evil money men have spoken.  The file has been taken down.  I hope you were one of the lucky people who downloaded this great alum while it was up.  

Larry Marshall

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