Black Solidarity

Black Solidarity

The Dance Hall starting in 1979 was dominated by Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes for five years up to about 1984.

In that course of time Junjo, had more hits, and worked with the very best of the business, and brought forward a whole heap of new artists.

But that does not mean that the other producers were making bad music, far from it. They simply did not have the connections that he had. In Junjo’s case Greensleeves.Linval Thompson, Sly & Robbie, Jah Thomas, Youth Promotion, and Roy Cousins also had great success.

Add to that list Black Solidarity – managed by Ossie Thomas. They weren’t as high profile as Youth Promotion, but it was the same kind of idea.Over the years a number of CDs gathering together the many singles the label released during thoseearly years or Dance Hall.

Bamboo Fence & Curry Goat – Black Solidarity – CD

A 14 track set featuring Cornell Campbell, Rod Taylor, Robert French, George Nooks, Tristan Palma, Ronnie Davis, Sammy Dread, Tony Tuff, Sugar Minott and Michael Palmer and the one and only Phillip Frazer, who of course is sharper than a razor!!!

You would have to search long and deep to find a better selection of artists than this. Each and everyone one have so many big hits. What Black Solidarity was a hit from one of them to make people aware of what they were doing.

Cornell Campbell opens up the set with ‘Two Faced Rasta’ this is a tune that sounds like it was recorded around 1975 – featuring the much loved ‘Flyers’ style. This seems like a track donated to the label from Bunny Lee, in a show of unity.

More in tune with the times is Rod Taylor’s ‘The Lord Is My Light’ featuring the ‘Swell Headed’ bassline – originally from Burning Spear. And is more typical of the kind of sound that Black Solidarity like to make.

These are the kind of rhythms, that rocked the Dance Halls of Kingston, in those times. Rod Taylor had the voice – for the cultural message that being delivered. It gained release on the label in Jamaica in 1980, and was also released by King Culture in Canada, but never gained release in the UK. A tune like that would have been a big seller in the UK, at the time. And is a little insight into the nature of the problem.

Robert Ffrench is another great singer from those times ‘Set Me Free’ as got all the elements of another big hit, but never gained release in Jamaica, or anywhere else. Which is a shame. The label did issue two other tunes from him though

Triston Palma’s ‘Spliff Tail’ is probably the biggest hit on this truly great CD, but it only ever gained release in Jamaica. The kind of music the label made, was really popular on the Sound Systems of Jamaica, what it lacked was the promotion that labels like Greensleeves and CSA gave the music back then in the UK.

Black Solidarity - Birth Of Dancehall - 1976 - 1979 - CD - 2012

On this CD you get 18 tracks, from the likes of Triston Palma, Rod Taylor, Michael Palmer, Tony Tuff, Ashanti Waugh, Early B, Robert French, Josey Wales, George Nooks, Puddy Roots, Sugar Minott, Sammy Dread, U Brown, Andy Livingston, Johnny Osbourne and Papa Levi.

Another truly great CD. The two tracks from Ashanti Waugh, ‘Crime Act’ and ‘Police Police’ can be found on the man’s albums. ‘Crime Act’ and ‘Love Child’ both released on Black Solidarity.

It showed that the label knew that man cannot exist on Singles alone. All the great artists are remembered by there albums. There are exceptions, there always is. Brigadier Jerry - was made famous not by albums or singles, but by Sound Systems cassettes! Hundreds of them!!!

Also good to see new names, Andy Livingston. I was fully expecting to hear a Carlton Livingstone sound alike. But instead was shocked to hear someone singing exactly like Ini Kamoze!!! Who’s got one of the most distinctive voices in the reggae business. ‘Trickle Down’ is not about the latest madness from some right wing think tank. It’s a great tune in the great tradition of Black Solidarity. Unity Iyah!!

The late and great Early B, who was killed at Cricket Club in the US, Also get two tracks. Both of which are to be found on his Black Solidarity set ‘Ghost Busters’ released in 1985. Early was really massive then. If I recall his album for the Black Solidarity was one of four released all released at the same time. Great works.

Josey Wales, gets one track here. ‘Let Go The Rhythm’ Can be found on his 1986 set for the label called ‘Ruling’. Which also gained release in the UK on Prestige Elite in 2000. Josey very rarely made a bad tune. And all his albums are great works. 

Also good to see Puddy Roots, I’m pretty certain he had an album release on the label, but at the moment I cannot find any trace of it. ‘Champion Bubbler’ the track here is a good example of what the youth was all about. 

Very interesting to see Papa Levi here on Black Solidarity. Like Sugar and YP, the label knew that was a lot of talent in the UK, who were not getting the support they needed to make an impact in the business.  After ‘Mi God, Mi King’ he got a big break with Island Records. The label should have concentrated on trying to capture the vibes of ‘Mi God’ which was a big hit in reggae music. For reasons best known to themselves, they tried to market him to the pop audience. That was never going to work. Another great CD from a great label.

Black Solidarity - String Up The Sound System - Black Solidarity - CD - 2014

Another 18 track Selection - Triston Palma, Tony Tuff, Robert Ffrench, Michael Palmer, Puddy Roots, Ashanti Waugh, Phillip Frazer, Bill Blast, Cutty Ranks, Michael Forbes, Tony Carver, Eddie Constantine, Rod Taylor, The Bibles, Frankie Paul

A great selection featuring some of the mainstays of the label the foundation, plus some new names.

Bill Blast is a dub poet, and is a good one. Unlike other dub poets, he’s well into taking an old rhythm, and giving it a wash and brush up to bring it up to date. In this case it’s the ‘Joe Fraser’ rhythm. Bill’s protesting the lack of goods made in Jamaica, as against ‘Barrel’ imports. In times past, these kind of tunes were common in Jamaican music. And the music was better for it. For Jamaica wasn’t just speaking for itself, but the whole of the Third World.

Tony Carver, is another new name, his ‘Ethiopia’ tune originally came out on Ganja Farm. And employs the ‘Peanut Vendor’ rhythm to great effect. Tony’s got a voice that fits in very well with the style and fashion of Black Solidarity, a touch of Triston, a touch of Tony Tuff, and Phillp Frazer. A great cultural tune from the label.

Eddie Constantine - the Jamaican singer is well known for his ‘Tenament Yard’ tune on Studio One. For Black Solidarity he reaches back in time to 1962, and Mariam Makeba’s ‘Love Tastes Like Strawberries’ . A big thank you to www.aquarium drunkard.com for this info. Reggae artists do come up with interesting titles for songs, but this one sounded like it was a cover.

I’ve never heard of The Bibles. But on the basis of this, this is a group who should be known more. Some great trumpet playing over a well militant digital rhythm. Is the foundation for a great reality tune. Ossie Thomas is at the controls for this one, and he does a great job. At the moment, I can’t find anymore info on the group. Hopefully Ossie as got more from them. 

All the rest of the artists, make contributions to the CD. Tony Tuff must have an album for Black Solidarity, that would be good to hear. Likewise Sammy Dread. I’m pretty certain that Robert Ffrench as got one, likewise Triston Palma. 

When you check out these V/A sets, start looking for the albums from these singers on Black Solidarity. You will be come across some great music, all made in the eighties early nineties. A great label, and a great era for Reggae music.

Dance Inna Delamere Avenue - Black Solidarity - CD

Another great selection this time featuring 16 tracks, which includes – U Roy, Linval Thompson, Triston Palma, Robert Ffrench, 3TIF, Little Kirk, Al Campbell, Early B, Jolly Stewart, Lover Boy, Phillip Frazer, Sassafrass, Sammy Dread, Tony Chin, Frankie Paul and Little John.

U Roy kicks off the album in fine style. You very rarely find him deejaying over anything from the Dancehall era. It wasn’t until Jazzbo and then Tappa brought him back in the mid-eigthies that he started to bubble again. He had spent the Rockers era working with Prince Tony – working on and releasing some great works on Virgin and Front Line – labels. And then he stopped. It’s possible he thought it made more sense to build up his Stur Gav sound system than do anything else.

Linval Thompson is another artist who likes to get involved, despite having his own label, and a great deal of great albums to his credit. ‘Bubble Up’ as got all the usual trademarks from LT, including ‘Really and Truly’ right at the beginning of the tune.

Triston Palma is a big part of the label, you could not create a V/A – Black Solidarity album without including him. ‘Bad Minded’ as got all the elements needed for a great song from him. A tough rhythm, and a love song that is full of pain.

Robert Ffrench was a regular on the label. Although he never got many single releases, he certainly was always associated with the label. And I think he’s also got an album on the label. What changes the perception of those times – is the sound system tape. You might hear a tune from an artist – a million times, and then find out it never gained release!!! Anyway this a great digital tune from the man, with a massive bassline.

3T & 1F are something new, or were. The tune is built over The Techniques ‘I’ll Never Fall In Love Again’ bassline. ‘Coche’ as got the vibes of The Mighty Diamonds ‘Pass The Kouchie’ and is as good as it. But it never gained a release anywhere. Hang on it seems like it came out on Trademark, credited to Triston Palma!! Always good to double check.

Sassafras is not someone who I would automatically connect with the label – yet here he is with ‘Breton’ which also gained release as a single at the time, which tells you how popular Sassafras was at time. People outside of the Black Solidarity camp, could see the need for what they were doing and clearly wanted to help.

Little Kirk is another one. This was an early tune for him, his main popularity came a good few years later. Yet he shows he’s got the dance hall vibes here. And creates a good tune with ‘Bad Boy Fi Dem’

One person you always have to check for on the label is Philip Fraser. His vocal style is something else, combining elements of Roy Shirley and Horace Andy, and in the process creating something brand new. Inspired on many tunes by the Bible. ‘Siren’ is a bit different, this is a little reality story about his dealings with the Police.

Another great CD from the label. Produced by Ossie Thomas in fine style.