Flo and Colin - Abbashanti Dance - Tudor Rose - Early Ninties
Photo - Small Axe
Colin Moore 'The Fencebeater'
What are you doing here Colin; you should be telling me about some new DVD or CD someone has given you, why am I writing a tribute to you? I don't even like writing these things - too upsetting for me. You know that. Perhaps I should ask Steve or Dave or John Williams to do it. Or about a million other people who knew and respected you. It’s just too sad for words. One day I'm talking to you about the DJ guide and David Dubwise's interest in it, and you’re coming up with some ideas on the best price for him. I am telling you that Chuck Foster as sent the text for his rock-steady book - and you’re telling me you can't wait to see that. And then 48 hours later - Steve is telling me you have passed!!!!!
So here I am, it’s a cold bank holiday, Monday trying to work out what to say about you. A good friend, that don't really cover it, a really really good friend. Nah, that don't work either. Perhaps it might be good to start at the beginning. It was October 1978 when you first popped up wanting to buy some Small Axe's for your reggae club at Reading University. That was nice, but you also wanted to help - that was even better. The first thing you wanted to do was to put on a talk at the Reggae Club at Reading University. "That's sound good, let me know how its goes - I said." Well I want you to do the talk - replied Colin. What!!! No way. Anyways, Colin persisted and finally - I headed off to Reading to do the talk. A few days later Colin tells it was a great success. Was it? And here is the first clue to what Colin was all about - making things happen and encouraging people - it was a kind of kindness that is hard to find.
Not long after that the first sound system tapes arrived in the country I received a Gemini cassette from the US - from Bob in Seattle. I copied it for Colin. He loved it. Not long after that Colin came across a couple more - he brought them around Christmas Eve near to midnight. It was Kilamanjaro and another Gemini. It was the start of the Dancehall era. A very exciting time, every week there was a new singer or deejay. I would love to do some reviews of all this stuff he said. And he did. Not long after that we were talking about nick names. Well you love sound system tapes - and the dancehall - what do they do when they love a tune in Kingston: they beat the fence. You must be the Fencebeater, the name stuck. Then came the interviews. Bob Andy, I think was the first, Willie Williams, Leroy Smart, Junjo, Eek A Mouse, Peter King- and many many more.
Perhaps the strangest was the one with Judah Eskender Tafari. 11pm one Friday night 1993. You phone up, I thought something was wrong. "You are not going to believe this,” he says. Well, what it is - I reply. "I was just at the A Class Studio - Gussie P was cutting specials with Judah Eskender Tafari!!!" Judah had been a great favourite of ours from day one. We had to interview him, and thanks to Colin we did. So many great memories. And I sure man like Blacka Dread and so many others who Colin helped will be able to recount more. Colin made things happen, he made the world a better place.
My thoughts are with Flo his wife and Lauren his little girl, Rachel his big daughter, with his mum and dad, Richard his brother and Jane and Sarah his sisters. I want to wrap this up now Colin, what do you think, a spelling mistake - the grammar OK. What did you always say? Its reads well, it makes sense. I just wished the same could be said about your passing Colin. No sense in it all. Rest in peace.
Ray Hurford.
3pm Monday 4th May - 2009.
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Musically Mad - Karl Folke & Andress Wesilen - DVD There a a number of great reggae documentaries.'Roots Rock Reggae' 'Deep Roots Music' and 'Word Sound And Power' Years ago someone should have done one on the sound systems of Jamaica -the home of the sound system and the birthplace of reggae music.
Its not happened yet. Although if anyone could make a great documentary on Jamaican sound system it would be these two youths from Sweden. This doc on the sound systems of the UK - Musically Mad is up there with
the best of them. By zooming in on the UK Reggae Roots scene they have made something that for most people would find very hard to understand. Yet this is Totally enjoyable. Every single person who is featured in the doc makes great points. The cutting from one person to another is great - using some old footage is also very well done.
Probably the best bits for me - and I don't really want to do this, because like I said the whole thing is so good - and isso enjoyable, but special praise must go to Iration Steppers in Leeds, Mark is a natural storyteller. His story of toothless sound men is wild. Find out why there are so many toothless sound men. Buy this DVD. Its worth every penny!!!!
Jessica Burks - Hollywood Sign/Ride All Night + Dubs
Reggae was well known as being outward looking. Not copying which as been a big problem since the early nineties, no not that.It was about mixing in other styles - vocal styles in particular into a reggae beat. Jazz, Rock, Folk, but one style that really is close to reggae - country - as not been done that well. And this is not really country either - but its got that southern charm all over it. Words connect together in way that only happens in that part of the world. The rhythms used on both songs are classic mid-seventies roots reggae style. And the production is from Chuck Foster at Rough Sounds in LA. Two great tunes. Lets hope they turn into a album real soon!!!!
U Roy - Foundation Skank - Sound System
For fans of the deejay style - when it comes to albums that they want to see released this comes pretty close to the top of the list. Although nothing can really top 'Version Galore' it being the first DJ album - and it also being a classic set. Its what happened next the gap between U.Roy leaving Duke Reid to him teaming up with Bunny Lee. In that gap was a stack of self productions and great tunes for other producers. Here for the very first time is some of them. It would be have been great to hear more from the Mego Ann label - U.Roy's label but perhaps thats for another project. For the time being its great to hear 'Foundation Skank' and its version in fine style. There are so many gems on this 21 track set most of them have the version after the tune - so you are getting an idea of the time as well. The version era. A fantatic set and one that all fans of deejays will want to have in there collection.
Clinton Fearon - Vision
The Gladiators have released some classic sets - now days you will its Albert Griffiths and The Gladiators you will find on tour. But Clinton Fearon is still out there and not only is the man always on tour - he's also still putting out great albums. This one as been out for a year or so but the year of release matters not to this website. Anyone who knows anything about reggae will know that good things are not found easily. And this is very very very good. Recorded in the US in Seattle where Clinton is now based. Its that timeless Gladiators sound. You see Clinton is not just recording he's teaching. And the the people on this album have learnt well. This set as got that seventies sound - an early seventies sound. All it needs is great lyrics - and that is no problem for Clinton. If anything he makes it seem to easy - and yet that is the biggest problem reggae music as got. A classic set.
V/A - Once Upon A Time At King Tubbys - Pressure Sounds
One of the greatest DJ clashes of all time is the clash between Prince Jazzbo and I Roy!!! Forget about any of the nonsense that goes on today. Rolling around on stage is not entertainment - they should join a fight club. No the serious business is verbal. And no one got hurt. What Prince Jazzbo and I Roy was provide enjoyment to such an extent that everyone wanted to be involved. So gathering up all the many cuts from the various producers was never going to be easy - but now its been done. And with detailed notes from Noel Hawks so you can follow this musicl madness its just about as good as it gets. The I Roy cuts are some of the wildest tunes ever made. He uses his ability to mimic to the most. Jazzbo is the heavy hitter and scores some big points. In between there is Prince Far I, Derrick Morgan, Johnny Clarke and so many more. Musical History that is no longer a mystery!!!
The Small Axe Reggae Album Guide - Deejays - 150 pages
by Ray Hurford & Joakim Kalcidis £7.00 UK & Europe inc P&P £9.00 Rest Of The World inc P&P
Please make payment by Paypal smallaxepeople@tiscali.co.uk
Or email for more info about ways to pay.
Keith Poppin - Get Together - KP Productions.
Its so great to see Keith Poppin take matters into his own hands, and give his fans what they want - a greatest hits album! And one which he will get paid for, which is very important. Reggae fans who claim to love the music so much, really need to think about what they are doing when they are buying music. Do you really want to make a company who does not care about the music at all richer. Because, thats all you are doing. They do not release the music they do for love, its for money. If they loved the music so much, they would make sure the people who made it got paid. Blood and Fire have been doing that for over 10 years now, and so have Greensleeves for even longer, that is not the case for so many other companies. Until that changes - go and buy this album. Its full of great tunes including the man's mega hits hits like 'Envious' and 'Who Are You' plus 15 more of equal quality. A truly excellent set.
Now Available From
Small Axe - Price £5.00 inc P&P UK - £7.00 inc P&P rest of the world.
Please make payment by Paypal to
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