Channel One

Channel One

V/A(Channel One) 1RLP - General For General - Hitbound - 1984. Not the

first one rhythm album, but certainly the one that finally established

the concept. 10 cuts of Leroy & Rocky's 'Love Me Girl' rhythm retitled

'General For General' due to the success that Tapper Zukie had, had

with his dj cut. This Channel One version of the rhythm was originally

by The Mighty Diamonds, whose cut of the rhythm is thankfully included

here. Other favourites are Barrington Levy's 'Dances Are Changing' and

'Ghetto Dance' from Jah Thomas. Plus the dub/instrumental cut.

V/A(Channel One) - 1RLP - The Unmetered Taxi - Empire - 1984. Sly and

Robbie's 'Unmetered Taxi' rhythm based on the old (very old) 'Peanut

Vendor' rhythm was a massive hit for them on their own Taxi label in

1984. So it was a surprise when they recut or remixed the rhythm again

for Channel One. Still this ten track set produced by Wayne & Kenneth

Hoo Kim, contains some truly great cuts of the rhythm. 'I Remember'

from Hugh Griffiths being a special favourite. All the cuts feature a

well played and very forward rhythm guitar, not present of the Taxi

cut.

V/A(Channel One) - 1RLP - Adam And Eve - Empire - 1984

Produced by I.Roy for Channel One this one rhythm LP employs Ernest

Wilson's 'Why Oh Why' rhythm, that Ernest cut for Studio One. The

reason for this album and the rhythm to be called here 'Adam & Eve' as

yet to be understood by myself. This is a great rhythm album, but so

far most of the rhythm albums have come out of a great popularity of a

rhythm at the time. Would I.Roy please come forward with an

explanation. In the meantime he's to be congratulated on producing a

excellent album. Ten superb cuts.

V/A(Channel One) 1RLP - Hypocrite Ina Dance Hall Style - Empire -

1985. The success of 'General For General' and 'Unmetered Taxi' for

Channel One, meant that follow up one rhythm LP's were inevitable.

Still they didn't rush the job. They were waiting for the next big

rhythm to come out of the dance halls of Jamaica. One of the big

rhythm then was Bob Marley & The Wailers 'Hypocrites'. Nothing on this

album really reaches the lyrical heights of that tune, but songs like

Earl Sixteen's 'Come A Long Way' and 'Leggo Mi Hand' from Black

Euphony make it a worthwhile set.

V/A(Channel One) - 1RLP - Worries In The Dance - Empire - 1985.

Frankie Paul's 'Worries In The Dance' the one he cut for Channel One

was a boom for Frankie. The slow sensuous rhythm was ideal for him. It

was also a new rhythm, fresh and crisp. This time Kenneth Hookim is at

the controls, but strangely Frankie's original tune is not on the

album, which is a shame. Although it's absence is more than made up

for. The nine cuts available here are well forward. 'Life In

Jailhouse' from Patrick Andy is particulary hard. Overall an

outstanding collection.

"Channel One - V/A - Channel One Story - VP The Hookim brothers seemed to come out of nowhere around 1974 - and take over the music. Perry couldn’t stop them, neither could Striker or Gibbo. It would be nice to see how it happened, but this compilation doesn’t do that. But what is present are the big hit makers. The Mighty Diamonds, Leroy Smart, Dillinger and John Holt. What makes the double CD are the tracks from groups like Earth & Stone, The Tamlins, and even Black Uhuru. Yellowman and Michael Palmer should be on a different CD, although it’s still great music."

"Channel One - V/A - Well Charged - Pressure Sounds

Up until this release I cannot recall a Various Artist set from Channel One. This one covers a little era from about 75 to 78. And is better for it. It has tunes on it that were so hard to get at the time. The Enforcer’s ‘Pay Them’ is one, and McWoner’s ‘No Fires It’ is another. No Mighty Diamonds here, but John Holt is present with his two big hits for the label ‘Tribal War’ and ‘Up Park Camp’. Also very good to see Ernest Wilson’s ‘I Know Myself’, a massive hit in the UK. Could never understand why he never got an album release on Channel One. But that’s how it was. Leroy Smart made some great tunes for them and it was only much later that an album came."