On August 2nd, 1974 I bought a book that was to have major influence on my life. Well my musical life anyway. I know the date is correct because I still have the book ans the date is written inside. It was called Rock File 2 and basically it catalogued singles which charted between the years of 1970 to 1973. Great. But it also had an article that caught my eye; being the only person into Reggae in my entire school, it was very hard to learn about the music and find new stuff, especially when you're only 13-14. I had a few Trojan compilations and singles, and there was a program on BRMB Radio on a sunday, but that was about it really. Anyway the article was written by Carl Gayle (a regular contributor to Black Music magazine) and was entitled Are You Ready For Rude And Rough Reggae? (inspiring people to dig deeper than Judge Dread and his "Big" records); it was divided into subsections: "The Real Thing " (a comparison of ethnic Reggae with string laden chart 45's); "Watch This Sound" (a brief history of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae plus the story of the Sound Systems); "Dub Wise Skank - Talkover" (dealing with the DJ phenomenon of U-Roy, Big Youth etc), and finally "Rude Reggae (a look at some of the lesser known rude Reggae 45's).
Now I made up my mind that I was going to find and listen to every record mentioned in these articles. Liquidator and Israelites were obviously a piece of cake, but "Kill Me Dead"? "Aldina"? "Everybody Rude Now"? Of course I did accomplish the task in the end but it took 30 years or so!
These podcasts document that article which had such an influence 40 years ago, there are two parts, the running order is pretty random to mix it up a bit and I know that you will know most of these records, but just imagine what it was like hearing them for the first time ever!
JOHN HOLT - TONIGHT
KEITH McCARTHY - EVERYBODY RUDE NOW
JUDGE DREAD - BIG SEVEN
KEN PARKER - JIMMY BROWN
LESTER STERLING - SIR COLLINS SPECIAL
LEE KING PERRY - PEOPLE FUNNY BOY
DERRICK MORGAN - COURT DISMISS
THE ETHIOPIANS - TRAIN TO SKAVILLE
U ROY - ROCK AWAY
DENNIS ALCAPONE - CASSIUS CLAY
U ROY - WEAR YOU TO THE BALL
U ROY - FLASING MY WHIP
U ROY - LOVE I TENDER
THE VICEROYS - WORK IT
THE SLICKERS - JOHNNY TOO BAD
PRINCE BUSTER ALL STARS - AL CAPONE
LLOYD TYRELL - BIRTH CONTROL
THE PIONEERS - LONG SHOT KICK THE BUCKET
KING STITT - THE UGLY ONE
SYMARIP - SKINHEAD MOONSTOMP
DERRICK MORGAN - MOON HOP
LLOYD TYRELL - BANG BANG LULU
CHARLIE ACE & FAY - PUNANNY
ERIC DONALDSON - CHERRY OH BABY
DANDY - REGGAE IN YOUR JEGGAE
BIG YOUTH - S 90 SKANK
THE UNIQUES - WATCH THIS SOUND
PRINCE JAZZBO - MR. HARRY SKANK
KING STITT - FIRE CORNER
THE MAYTALS - DO THE REGGAY
I ROY - BLACK MAN TIME
THE UNIQUES - EVERYBODY NEEDS LOVE
THE JAMAICANS - BA BA BOOM
MAX ROMEO - WET DREAM
U ROY - RULE THE NATION
LEE PERRY - THE UPSETTER
THE UNIQUES - AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG
JOHN HOLT - STICK BY ME
BIG YOUTH - FOREMAN VS FRAZIER
RUDY MILLS - JOHN JONES
https://x.mixcloud.com/mayfairmenthol/are-you-ready-for-rude-and-rough-reggae/