Bless Up

Bless Up

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Yami Bolo Big Up!!



Yami Bolo - Free Mandela 7'' [1986 Skengdon Original Pressing]

  Massive, massive tune here, probably one of his best and most famous older releases! Perfect blend of roots and digi production, you can hear Sugar Minott's influence here. Killer instrumental by veteran pianist Jackie Mittoo also. Hard to find, but a must for any collector-




Yami Bolo - Be Still 7'' [1991 Tappa Original Pressing]

Fiery roots revival piece over a Tempo-like riddim. This was cut in '91, way ahead of the times. For reference, Sizzla didn't cut his first 7'' until four years after this. Credit Tapper Zukie for the instrumental as well. Be Still Babylon... Can't Touch The Rasta Children.




Yami Bolo - Hot Stepping 7'' [1993 Digital B Original Pressing]

Here Yami rides Bobby Digital's version of the Billy Jean riddim... bad bad cut.




Yami Bolo - Rasta Lover 7'' [1993 Kingston 11 Original Pressing]

Another hard to find and expensive 7'', this tune was also released as Rasta Soldier on the Patriot label as a 12''. Digi roots inna lover stylee. Not sure if this label has anything to do with King Jammy's label (also named Kingston 11), as there's no mention of him on the production. I also have a 12'' of Steve Harper and Ernest Wilson on same label/riddim that I'll post in the future.




Yami Bolo - Ghetto Youthman Have To Make It 7'' [1993 Yam Euphony Original Pressing]

Not only did Bolo cut tunes for a variety of producers, he also ventured in doing his own productions in the 90's. Heavy roots tunes that fit his singing perfectly, this is a favorite example of it. Unfortunately the tunes weren't always mixed very well, and some of the presses came out with poor quality.




Yami Bolo - Big Up And Live Up 7'' [199x Yam Euphony Original Pressing]

Crucial conscious chune with a bit more dancehall feel to it, was recorded around the same time as the tune above (YAM006 and YAM004). Could do without some of the screaming and exploding sound effects, but still worth a listen. Not only do I love Yami's music, but also his message. Coming up in a time that was dominated by slackness, he never has lost sight of his cultural themes. As someone who works in education, I appreciate how he always big ups the youthman as well. The children are the leaders of tomorrow, and we must be that positive influence if we are to expect them to succeed. Bless Up-
 

 Vida

Monday, May 13, 2013

Junior Demus - Rough Neck Chicken 7'' [1987 Supreme Original Pressing]

Comedic attempt by the one Bad Fowl (pun intended). Cool version of Death In The Arena riddim with ridiculous dee jaying over it. Get it while it's hot!


Andrew Wright - No Way To Control It 7'' [198x Progressive Original Pressing]

Wright is another obscure singer who released not much material, but what he did put out had a high ratio of straight bangers. This one is tuff, though check the next one as well which is rougher. Here he does a twist on the lyrics from Little Robert's Nobody Can't Stop Me (Tempo riddim on Mr. Doo label)... which was actually a cover of the Pointer Sister's soul hit Automatic in 1984.


Singing Melody and Andrew Wright - Me Alone She Love 7'' [198x Progressive Original Pressing]

Nice lil rare combo tune with two singers... no dee jays here! Always find it funny when a song is speaking about a girl being there's or only with them, but then it's multiple artists on the track! Production here by Erick Bubbles aka Derrick Howard of African Brothers (along side Sugar Minott and Tony Tuff).


Brian & Tony Gold - Can You 7'' [199x Two Friends Original Pressing]

Not your traditional reggae/dancehall track, never the less, this tune is quite powerful in a unique way. The lyrics speak of a correspondence in South Africa who speaks of the oppression of Apartheid, while calling Jamaica a paradise because people can "swim on any beach [they] want to...and stay up late at night." The message is straight forward in criticizing the Afrikaner rule, but also is a message to Jamaicans that there are other places in the world where the population is just as (if not more) oppressed than on the island. Deep tune...


George Nooks - Criticize 7'' [1983 All Sport Original Pressing]
Heavy version of Answer riddim with a stripped down instrumental and heavy bass. Nooks originally started his career as a deejay named Prince Mohammed, later changing his name and image to become a singer.