Randy's

Randy's - The Rough Guide To Ska - World Music Network

Long before Clive Chin made an impact, producer Vincent Chin jumped in, and jumped to Shuffle and Ska beats.

All the early greats of those era's are here - Rico Rodriguez, Basil Gabbidon, Alton & Eddie, Bunny & Skitter, Roland Alphonso, The Maytals, Lord Creator, Don Drummond, and of course The Skatalites. 

Very popular on the Randy's label was Lord Creator - with whom they had hits with the likes of 'Don't Stay Out Late' and 'Man To Man'. In terms of production style - Randy's was closer to people like Coxsone than anyone else.

Although just like Buster they liked to experiment with the Nyahbingi percussion that was part of the beat at the time. Bunny & Skitter's 'Leaving Babylon' being a great example.

Randy's 50th Anniversary - Directed by Clive Chin, Fidel Luna, and Jana Saleh.

The Chin connection goes way back into the very deepest roots of reggae music. Now Ivan Chin is not mentioned in this documentary but he started in 1954!!! And made a whole heap of tune right the way up to 1959. Not having heard any of them - but looking at the titles and the artists my guess would be mento.

Two years later in 1961. Vincent Chin picks up. This is where this documentary begins and it is a very good one. 

Vincent recorded so many great artists - Roland Alphonso, Dave Barker, Dennis Brown, Cornell Campbell, Don Drummond. It's a very very long list.

Although the DVD does not and cannot feature some of these artists because they are no longer with us. It does give great insight into the setting up of this famous Label/Shop/Recording studio.

Men like Joe Williams a band leader pop up. Very often people like this are totally forgotten about - but they have often played a major role in the foundation of these companies.

Clive Chin does an excellent job in plotting the history of the label. But you sense he wants to keep the focus on his father Vincent 'Randy' Chin.

Who was producing way into the early seventies. Clive started around the same time, but then you have Patricia Chin - who nows runs VP - and who is the founder of VP.

And how about Keith Chin and Leonard Chin - they all fit into the story somewhere - but that story is not told here.

The story then switches over to Lord Creator aka Kendrick Patrick - he had a major hit with Randy's with 'Independence Jamaica' in 1962.

And made some classic tunes for the label throughout the sixties. You will be able to hear the man's amazing story in the extras of this excellent DVD.

It was a shame that it took so long for him to get some financial reward for his works. But such is the nature of reggae music. 

This a great box set that includes two CDs 50 tracks packed with great music including many great hits.