King Jammys

     King Jammys

     Prince Jammy Destroys The Invaders - Greensleeves.

     So good to see Greensleeves also digging deep into their dub

     catalogue. This one came out right at the very end of the dub era. And

     it showed what was to come next. The Space Invaders were and still are

     a very popular computer game, with every weird noise you can think of.

     It was perfect to be incorporated into the dub format. Jammy rhythms

     also had a more rockers approach to them - even in the dance hall

     style. Add the two together and you get this excellent 8 track set.

     Really pleased that Greensleeves went with the digipak format as well.

     Although its strange to think that dub was marketed in blank sleeves -

     at first! Hopefully someone in Jamaica will take note and give us more

     dub albums made in 2007!

King Jammys - King At The Controls - VP - 2006 - Directed by

After Junjo - and the Volcano label - came King Jammys - although to be precise Junjo first really serious rival was George Phang and his Powerhouse label.

When Junjo was no longer around George Phang went low profile as well.

And up came Jammys with King Tubby as his rival.

And what a battle these two had. Tubby was the first to release his secret weapon 'Tempo' it came out in late 1984, and then disappeared.

Jammy got the hit, a massive hit with 'Sleng Teng' produced on a keyboard owned and played by Noel Davey.

It's all explained in this fantastic DVD. Jammy explains how he slowed 'Sleng Teng' down and then added some Syn Drums FX.

A mad rhythm like Sleng Teng needed lyrics to match and this is where the late great Wayne Smith came in. 

He had been part of the King Jammys camp for a few years. 

Along with people like Half Pint and Noel Phillips.

Half Pint is also a very important part of Jammys story his 'Money Man Skank' album was a very big seller in the UK.

That album introduced the Hi Times band to the world.

They had a good sound more top end than the Radics. Led by Earl 'Chinna' Smith they gave Jammys his first new sound.

It's very important for a new producer to have a new sound, and it's very important for a producer to know when to change it.

Jammys parked loads of rhythms he made with the Hi Times band - because of the success of 'Sleng Teng'. 

Sadly none of this is mentioned in the documentary - but it's better to concentrate on what is. 

And that includes 'Bammy Man' playing a cut of 'Sleng Teng' on a giant pipe!!! I don't think Bammy ever recorded for Jammys - but it's good to see. 

Nuff respect to Jammys and his works - and for being part of this magnificent DVD.