2006 JA tunes 10 + 5

[BMC]

First stash of 45s of 2006 just in.

Roots stylee 10:

1) Lutan Fyah - Strapped For Cash (Rootsie - Better Things riddim)
2) Tanya Stephens - Money God (Creation Music - Come back riddim)
3) Sizzla - Chant Dem Down (Kalonji)
4) Doniki - Work Fi It (Vineyard)
5) Gyptian - Love Is The Only Solution (Palm Of Gold - More Life riddim)
6) Chezidek - Fi Wah (Coppola - Visita riddim)
7) Michael Roze - Food (Our Promotion - Time And Patience riddim)
8) Fantan Mojah - Jah Time (Juke Boxx - Confessions riddim)
9) Capleton - Time Of Decision (Observer - Wolf & Leopards riddim)
10) Anthony Cruz - Half Way Tree (Footsteps)

Bashy stylee 5:

1) Ce'cile - Compromise (MX Production - Koto riddim)
2) Buju Banton - Good Good A Pressure Dem (In The Streetz - Return Of The Mudd Up riddim)
3) Elephant Man - Tickle (Chalwa - Game Time riddim)
4) Aidonia - Eagle (Very Huge - Crystal Water riddim)
5) Beenie Man - Man Nah Live Yu (In The Streetz - Return Of The Mudd Up riddim)


With two remarks:

* If it wasn't out of stock I guess Turbulence's Blood Stain on the Rootsie label would definitely have been part of the roots ten judging on the samples.
* Another wicked tune I just discovered is Patrick Anthony's Ganja on the Forward label. Never heard of the man before (anyone?). Similar deep low voice as Buju and this tune is wicked! Apparentely a few years old already (2004). Lyrically it contains some comments regarding gays though, just so you know in advance (please, no next debate about this).

[Mrs Trellis]

Hi Marc,
Nice selection there, some tunes I know and some I don't but will be looking out for.

Here's my list so far, although I haven't bought many more than the ones I've listed but I've been very happy with these...

Capleton - Time Of Decision (Observer - Wolf & Leopard riddim)
Turbulence - Blood Stain (Rootsie - Better Things riddim)
Luciano - Save Us Oh Jah (Soul Vybz - Movie Star riddim)
Sizzla - Chant Dem Down (Kalonji)
Buju Banton - Sensi Persecution remix (Champion Sound - Ganja Farmer riddim)
Richie Spice - Marijuana remix (Champion Sound - Ganja Farmer riddim)
Peter Hunnigale - In The Ghetto (Peckings - I Can't Stand It riddim)
Peter Hunnigale - Good Old Love (Peckings - My Girl riddim)

notes on the above...
obviously still waiting on the proper press of the Ganja Farmer riddim, but despite the sticking these 2 are great.
I did manage to pick the Turbulence tune and it is worth hunting down, a very good tune.
I also like the sound of the Perfect tune on More Life riddim, but haven't picked it up yet...

Cheers,
Ian

[Mrs Trellis]

oh yes and how could I forget, the pick of the BAF Fisherman releases imo is still Early One - Jig Jig Jig

[BMC]

ian said:

Luciano - Save Us Oh Jah (Soul Vybz - Movie Star riddim)

Hey ian!

What's that Luci tune like? Haven't seen it listed at OJs I think. Is it a European label?
On a Luciano tip, also check his Righteous Defender on BK Mars. Big tune too.

I also rated the samples of the Perfect on More Life, but as the Turbulence on Better Things it was out of stock. Next time.

Make sure to check that Tanya Stephens tune. Both musically and lyrically a great tune imo.

Cheers,
Marc

[lankou2]

soul vybz is a new label from paris, a joint venture between 2 sound systems : Soul stereo + vibes so nice, hence the name.i think mafia & fluxy were involved in that recut.

[naturalmystic]

I thought the Luciano cut on Soul Vybz movie star riddim was the weakest in the series. I think the one I'n'I prefer is the Al Campbell "Chapter a Day"

On the Niney's Wolf and Leopard, the Jah Mali cut I'n'I is good too.

On the peckings series, the Jah Mitto - sharper than barbwire, which features Bitty Mc Lean on keyboard, is very good. The female vocal on the other side, which i can't recall now, is very very good. On the rocksteady tip, Roger Robin - Take It Slow on Joe Frasier does it nicely as well.

The riddim by Yahbell, what's the fighting for, i think, which has Perfect - Babylon Guweh is a strong 2006 series.

On the mashup tip, lookout for the new bombist label, 50 cent PIMP and Jackson 5.

[Ital Dokta]

BMC wrote:

Roots stylee 10:

1) Lutan Fyah - Strapped For Cash (Rootsie - Better Things riddim)
2) Tanya Stephens - Money God (Creation Music - Come back riddim)
3) Sizzla - Chant Dem Down (Kalonji)
4) Doniki - Work Fi It (Vineyard)
5) Gyptian - Love Is The Only Solution (Palm Of Gold - More Life riddim)
6) Chezidek - Fi Wah (Coppola - Visita riddim)
7) Michael Roze - Food (Our Promotion - Time And Patience riddim)
8) Fantan Mojah - Jah Time (Juke Boxx - Confessions riddim)
9) Capleton - Time Of Decision (Observer - Wolf & Leopards riddim)
10) Anthony Cruz - Half Way Tree (Footsteps)

Heard the Anthony Cruz for the first time tonight and reckon I will be getting this one...nice relick of Bunny Wailer's Ballroom Floor with a straight cover of the original by Live Wyya. Also next cuts by Lady Saw and Tanya Stephens but I don't think I'll go for those.

Been hearing the Fantan Mojah and some others on the Confessions rhythm quite a lot lately as well and may go for some of those on my next order of singles. I've also heard samples of the Visita and rate the Chezidek and Jah Mason cuts. For the Soul Vybz tunes I like the Luciano and Anthony B cuts. That one, being a European label may not ever show up at Ernie's.

Haven't heard any of the others on BMC's list except the More Life which I did not like...also one new rhythm I have to mention is the Playlist with some strong cuts by Anthony B and Bounty Killer. Plus of course the Fisherman riddim sounds killer (all six singles of which will be in my greedy hands next week ).

Trouble with all these tunes is, by the time I finally hear 'em on the radio or whatever, they have already come and gone out of stock at Ernie B's, maybe never to return

[BMC]

italdokta said:

Heard the Anthony Cruz for the first time tonight and reckon I will be getting this one...nice relick of Bunny Wailer's Ballroom Floor with a straight cover of the original by Live Wyya. Also next cuts by Lady Saw and Tanya Stephens but I don't think I'll go for those.

So far I think only the Cruz has been officially released on 45. Curious to hear that Live Wyya and the Stephens takes! Nice riddim, love the Cruz tune.

italdokta said:

Been hearing the Fantan Mojah and some others on the Confessions rhythm quite a lot lately as well and may go for some of those on my next order of singles. I've also heard samples of the Visita and rate the Chezidek and Jah Mason cuts.

On Confessions I have the Fantan Mojah, Chuck Fender and Sizzla, but the latter is not as good as the wicked Mojah and Fender imo. Didn't care too much about the others on it. On Visita, I have the Chezidek, Jah Mason and Junior Kelly and rate all three tunes.

italdokta said:

For the Soul Vybz tunes I like the Luciano and Anthony B cuts. That one, being a European label may not ever show up at Ernie's.

That's the problem with OJs too. European labels rarely show up on their site, so I always have to order from Germany to get hold of such tunes.

italdokta said:

Haven't heard any of the others on BMC's list except the More Life which I did not like...

I really like this riddim, though understandable not to everyone's taste. I mentionned the Gyptian in the list above, but a few days and multiple spins later I have to say I rate the Turbulence and Chezidek (he's on a roll lately, a series of big tunes from him!) higher.

italdokta said:

also one new rhythm I have to mention is the Playlist with some strong cuts by Anthony B and Bounty Killer.

Ah yes, the Playlist riddim. Didn't rate the vocal efforts so much, except for the Turbulence which is wicked tune that got stronger after a few spins for me! I rate Bounty as a deejay, but as a singer I'm afraid I have to pass on him (didn't rate his effort on Drop Leaf so much either). Haven't seen an Anthony B listed on the riddim, so don't know that one.

Do check out the Time & Patience and Better Things riddims too, Doug. Some lovely tunes on both. Also check the Stephens from the list, I love that tune.

Another kinda interesting tune not mentionned is Babylon Wrong by Linval Thompson & Fanton Mojah, where Linval's original Six Babylon tune has his vocals combined with parts from mr Mojah.

Cheers!

[Ital Dokta]

BMC wrote:

So far I think only the Cruz has been officially released on 45. Curious to hear that Live Wyya and the Stephens takes! Nice riddim, love the Cruz tune.



Yeah, that Half Way Tree tune is going to be another big one for Mr. Cruz...I wonder sometimes why he isn't a bigger star in the reggae world? He seems to be able to drop some very catchy radio and dance friendly hits pretty much at will (thinking here of tunes like Pull It Up Now on the Ba Ba Boom revival from a couple of years ago, No Guns Inna Dance on Real Rock and lots more I can't recall) but never seems to get to the next level...maybe because he doesn't put out too many albums?

Anyway I heard these tunes again on the radio today and there is also a Lady G cut...suffice it to say the men don't fare so well on these ladies' versions The Anthony Cruz is by far the best cut, though. I just picked up a secondhand copy of Bunny Wailer's Rock'n'Groove LP on Solomonic while vinyl shopping today which includes the Ballroom Floor original, so now I will definitely have to get some of these relicks!

Ah yes, the Playlist riddim. Didn't rate the vocal efforts so much, except for the Turbulence which is wicked tune that got stronger after a few spins for me! I rate Bounty as a deejay, but as a singer I'm afraid I have to pass on him (didn't rate his effort on Drop Leaf so much either). Haven't seen an Anthony B listed on the riddim, so don't know that one.


The Anthony B is called Trigger Happy Cowboy (I had asked about it over at the other place before hearing it again and being able to ID it by cross referencing the other versions). Wicked anti gunman tune which unfortunately seems to be out of stock everywhere already. Bounty Killer is an artist I wouldn't normally check for but I have to say I rate this tune, singing and all. With the anti gun message it also mixes well with some of the other cuts. If they come back in at Ernie's I am definitely getting 2 or 3 cuts of these...funny because I had listened to some of the samples at Soundquake but they didn't really make enough of an impression to add to my "to order" list, until I heard the full tunes on the radio in context with a few different cuts played which makes a big difference in how the tunes sound.

That's the problem with OJs too. European labels rarely show up on their site, so I always have to order from Germany to get hold of such tunes.



Not an option for me unfortunately...a site like Soundquake just for example charges 37.50 Euro's to send one single 7" to Canada! I did order a couple of the new Tragedy riddim cuts on Bassrunner label out of Europe which did show up at Ernie's, however.

Thanks for all the recommendations Marc, always appreciated even if sometimes our tastes don't agree! I will check for some samples on those other tunes you mention, as usual some of them seem to be out of stock though

[admin]

All I've picked up on the 7" front lately are a few of the Peckings 7"s. I don't have the keyboard piece that Naturalmystic mentions but will pick it up ASAP and he gets a karma point for supporting Peckings

The Tippa Irie is magnificent and will feature in my top 5 tunes of the year, I guarantee it now.

Respect

Gordy

[BMC]

italdokta said:

Thanks for all the recommendations Marc, always appreciated even if sometimes our tastes don't agree!

My pleasure, Doug, love the chat about the tunes myself, whether we agree or not, 'cause ofcourse that's what taste is all about, to agree OR disagree with, would get boring if we'd agree all the time.

That radio show you got there must be pretty damn cool! For sure we don't have something like that over here (not as far as I know at least). Would love to have a radio station here play the tunes prior to or just after release so I can make better judgement than from the samples I always use.

[Ital Dokta]

BMC wrote:

That radio show you got there must be pretty damn cool! For sure we don't have something like that over here (not as far as I know at least). Would love to have a radio station here play the tunes prior to or just after release so I can make better judgement than from the samples I always use.

Yeah, it is pretty cool and other than the B&F board has been the biggest influence on my reggae music buying since I first started listening to it around the mid 90's (I still have a couple of cassettes I made back then where they are playing the big tunes of that day, lots of great Xterminator stuff and so on...kind of a neat nostalgia trip to listen to those tapes sometimes).

Actually there are two shows on different small independent stations, one on Saturday night and then another on Sunday afternoon. Both run by selector George Barrett who you might have read me and Chocolate Soldier talking about from time to time. He's pretty much a reggae institution in town here and has been doing the Saturday night show continuously since the late 70's. Pretty incredible if you ask me! The Saturday show is nearly all modern tunes (I think GB has some pretty strong connections with VP Records to get a lot of these tunes before official release) while on Sunday he might play anything from ska to the latest bashment.

Yeah just listening to the samples doesn't always cut it when trying to decide on tunes. Especially with modern tunes, I sometimes even have to hear the full song played quite a few times on the radio, before it kind of starts to get under my skin and I start to realize "hey, this tune is wicked". A good recent example is that Beenie Man & U Roy combination, Concept of Life on Free Willy. That tune and a couple of other versions have been getting played on the radio for a while now, I've heard them several times, but around when I heard it on your Best of 2005 CD's I finally started to sit up and take notice of it and finally ordered the tunes.

My pleasure, Doug, love the chat about the tunes myself, whether we agree or not, 'cause ofcourse that's what taste is all about, to agree OR disagree with, would get boring if we'd agree all the time.

Absolutely...and speaking of disagreeing, there's always good old Lars to keep the modern chats interesting over at B&F

[BMC]

italdokta said:

Absolutely...and speaking of disagreeing, there's always good old Lars to keep the modern chats interesting over at B&F

Haha, interesting I don't know, lively for sure.