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REGGAE

A wonderful place on the Island to be.

Members: 24
Latest Activity: Aug 9, 2017

Discussion Forum

Grace Jones "Well Well Well"

Started by Edie Antoinette. Last reply by Edie Antoinette Jan 24, 2011. 3 Replies

Dub Riddim - The Kings of Dub

Started by Bohemian Chick. Last reply by Bohemian Chick Jul 29, 2009. 2 Replies

Jah Stitch

Started by Bohemian Chick. Last reply by Bohemian Chick Jul 29, 2009. 2 Replies

Bob Marley & The Wailers - The Birth Of A Legend

Started by Shelley "SoleMann" King. Last reply by Bohemian Chick Jun 19, 2009. 11 Replies

Reggae Dancehall Lounge

Started by Trisha Rushing. Last reply by Trisha Rushing Jun 1, 2009. 9 Replies

ROOTS REGGAE

Started by Bert. Last reply by Saint Mar 2, 2009. 2 Replies

From Mento to Dub-The Origins of Ska and Reggae

Started by Edie Antoinette. Last reply by Edie Antoinette Jan 20, 2009. 6 Replies

The Heptones

Started by Shelley "SoleMann" King. Last reply by Edie Antoinette Jan 12, 2009. 3 Replies

Reggae141 - Positive Roots Reggae Radio

Started by Edie Antoinette Jan 8, 2009. 0 Replies

HELP....

Started by Edie Antoinette. Last reply by Edie Antoinette Jan 8, 2009. 5 Replies

MAN IN THE HILLS

Started by Bert. Last reply by Edie Antoinette Jan 3, 2009. 1 Reply

LUCKY DUB...Sunsplash '91

Started by Edie Antoinette. Last reply by Edie Antoinette Jan 3, 2009. 4 Replies

Comment Wall

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Comment by Saint on April 9, 2009 at 12:42pm
Think I'll get some Gregory Isaacs myself....thanks
Comment by Saint on March 9, 2009 at 3:05pm
Thanks Edie..this is the I Jahman I was asking about..did not know much about them...I do have one old LP...thanks Much.
Comment by Edie Antoinette on March 8, 2009 at 11:11am
Saint..Is this the "I Jahman" you refer to?

Ijahman Levi (born: Trevor Sutherland) has been on the cutting edge of Jamaica's music for more than four decades. While his 1985 duet with his second wife, Madge, "I Do," remains his best known tune, reaching the top position on the British music charts, Levi has continued to influence reggae and ska vocalists with his eclectic approach and songs of spirituality, love and humanity. Educated to the high school level in Kingston, Levi was mentored by vocal teacher Joe Higgs. Recorded his first single, "Red Eyes People," under the guidance of Stranjah Cole for Duke Reid Productions, at the age of thirteen. Shortly after moving with his with his band, Vibrations, which he formed in 1965, Levi became a regular performer at the Q club.

After the group's disbanding, he formed Youth And Rudie And The Shell Shock, with which he performed until launching his solo career, as Youth, in 1966. Courted by several record companies, Levi recorded singles for Polydor in 1967 in 1967 and Decca in 1968. Levi's career was temporarily stilled when he was arrested in 1970 a sent to prison for three years. While imprisoned, he assumed the name of Ijahman Levi and wrote the classic tune, "Jah Heavy Lord." Released from prison in 1974, Levi found refuge at the house of Rastafari at the St. Agnes Place headquarters of the Twelve Tribes.

Much of his time was spent studying the Bible. In 1975, Levi recorded "Jah Heavy Lord" for the Concrete Jungle subsidiary of Dip Records. Singing on Rico Rodrigues' album, Man From Warika, for the Island label, Levi was signed to a recording contract by the label's owner Chris Blackwell. His two albums on Island -- Haile I Hymn, released in 1978, and, Are We A Warrior, released in 1979 -- were produced by late Jamaican producer Geoffrey Chung. Following the success of the two albums, Levi left Island and formed his own label, Tres Roots Records International", in 1980.

The following year, he married his second wife, Madge. Ijahman remained active in the 1990s. In 1991, he performed at the Zimbabwe Sunspalsh. Five years later, he was invited to the Gambia state house as a special guest of President Jammeh. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide

REVIEW
"A We a Warrior" is truly an overlooked gem for the waning years of roots reggae's Golden Era. With only five tracks on the entire album, Ijahman takes the opportunity to languidly suss out each tune to the fullest. Every song is at least five minutes long. Several of the cuts are nearly 8 minutes long and not a moment is wasted. The result is a mystical, lush, yearning, spiritual (The Church), and, yes, sexy (check Ms. Beverly) soundscape that is still phophetic and futuristic sounding nearly three decades after is original release. Ijahman sings as though he is truly possessed by a mystical muse.

The backing band on this album could easily be an allstar list of Jamaica's finest studio musicians of the era: They are nothing less than precise as they construct deep grooves that build upon and transcend the classic one-drop sound that was so (rightfully) pervasive at the time. There is a dark edge to Ijahman's spirituality and that's what makes this record exceptional.

This is not tourist Jamaican music, nor is it poppy or hippy-dippy reggae and there are no touchy, feelly, "everything is irie" (although the grooves are indeed deep) anthems here. The style, rythm and lyrics are unapologetically revolutionary, African and Rastafarian. This not to say that those who simply enjoy great music will be put off: Above all else, the music here is sublime and richly melodic. This ones for those who seek a deeper roots sound. "Are We a Warrior" is simply rare find, a unique record that takes the willing listener on a sonic quest in search of mystic revelations.
Comment by Edie Antoinette on March 7, 2009 at 9:57am
Stephanie, this comment was previously posted January 8:
FREE DOWNLOAD

Courtesy of Tone (sweet self)..Look in the "HELP" topic above. He left the whole album, as heard here. ♥
Comment by Saint on March 2, 2009 at 12:21pm
Has anyone ever heard of a old group called ...I Jahman....?
Comment by Edie Antoinette on February 18, 2009 at 4:59pm
Welcome to our newest member..Lydell!!!
Comment by Edie Antoinette on January 20, 2009 at 1:33pm
I love his music too! Puts me there in the Islands...Mmmm
Comment by J'thani on January 14, 2009 at 12:26am
Comment by Edie Antoinette on January 13, 2009 at 12:50pm
Makes sense J'thani...I always feel like Reggae and other Island music is a part of me..though I've never been there. Ultimately--we are all woven though. It's in our bones.

I was surprised to see that Reggae is a relatively young genre too.
Comment by J'thani on January 13, 2009 at 10:57am
Edie and OSC, I have seen Toots and the Maytals several times. Back in the late 70's they would open for groups like the Bob Marley and the Wailers, Third World, Jimmy Cliff, and Steel Pulse. I just say that to say back during that first
"wave"of Reggae Popularity,I think all who were into it in a consciuos way did recognize Toots and the Maytals and had heard about the Heptones even if they hadn't heard them. And Edie in reference to what you saidabout the isley Brothers, remember that alot of these Artist had spent time in the states the UK, and Canada, so they apart from Soca, Ska,etc. were hearing what we were hearing, for example, it is known that Bob Marley lived in Baltimore for a short period and worked as a welder.
 

Members (24)

 
 
 

Introspection

Entr'acte

  1. play Norman Brown — Night Drive
  2. play Norman Brown — Feeling
  3. play Norman Brown — Still
  4. play Miles Davis — miles 1
  5. play miles 2
  6. play miles 3
  7. play miles 4
  8. play miles 5
  9. play Marvin Gaye — I Met A Little Girl
  10. play Santana — 01 Singing Winds, Crying Beasts
  11. play Santana — 02 Black Magic Woman-Gypsy Queen
  12. play Mongo — 02. Afro Blue



The history of the Butlers/Raw Soul is dense, but for all of us music nerds, that's normal. It is not totally clear what year the Butlers actually formed but they released their first single in 1963 on Liberty Records. That single was "She Tried To Kiss Me" and another single followed on Guyden entitled "Lovable Girl." After the Guyden single the Butlers took a break not recording another record until the single "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" was released on the Phila label in 1966. The group also backed Charles Earland and Jean Wells on one Phila single ("I Know She Loves Me"). 


As you might be noticing, the Butlers were doing a fair amount of recording but not achieving much success. The group's recordings sold regionally but never had the promotion to make an impact on the national scene. After the single with Phila, the Butlers moved to the Fairmount label (part of the Cameo-Parkway family) and released a handful of singles, some being reissued singles of the past. The Butlers were with Fairmount for 1966-67 and then moved to Sassy Records. Sassy released the group's greatest single (in my opinion) "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" b/w "If That's What You Wanted." A copy of that 45 sold for just under $500 last summer on eBay. Even though that isn't that much in the world of record collecting--it's still a hefty sum. The Butlers released another single on Sassy ("She's Gone" b/w "Love Is Good") that appears to be even 
harder to come by then the "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" single.

 

The true history become a bit blurred here as the AMG biography states that the Butlers last record was released on C.R.S. in 1974 (". However, between 1971 and that single, Frankie Beverly formed a group called Raw Soul and released a number of singles. Some of the songs recorded by Beverly during this period are "While I'm Alone," "Open Up Your Heart," (both on the Gregor label) and "Color Blind." "Color Blind" was released by the Eldorado label and rerecorded by Maze. Beverly's big break came when Marvin Gaye asked Raw Soul to back him on a tour. Gaye helped Beverly/Raw Soul get a contract at Capitol. Beverly decided to take the group in a different direction, a name change occurred, and Maze was created. 

The above isn't the most complete history of Beverly but hopefully someone will know a way to get in touch with the man or his management because a comprehensive pre-Maze history needs to be done on Frankie Beverly (his real name is Howard, by the way). Below you'll find every Frankie Beverly (pre-Maze) song available to me right now ("Color Blind" will be up soon). 

If you have a song that is not included below, shoot it over to funkinsoulman (at) yahoo.com and it will go up in the next Frankie Beverly post (later this week--highlighting Maze). Also, if you have any more information please share your knowledge. The Butlers material has been comp-ed sporadically (usually imports) but the entire Maze catalog has been reissued and is available. 

Enjoy.  "She Kissed Me" (Fairmount, 1966 or 1967) 
 
 "I Want To Feel I'm Wanted" (not sure which label or year) "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh" (Phila, 1966) "Because Of My Heart" (Fairmount, 1966 or 1967)
   
 "Love (Your Pain Goes Deep)" (Sassy, 1967)
   
 "If That's What You Wanted" (Sassy, 1967)
 



Frankie Beverly is one of those cats that has lasting power. He started in the music business doing a tour with doo wop group the Silhouettes and then formed his own group called the Blenders. The Blenders never recorded a single, Beverly wouldn't appear on wax until forming the Butlers a few years later. Along with Beverly, the Butlers included Jack "Sonny" Nicholson, Joe Collins, John Fitch, and Talmadge Conway.

Beverly would later enjoy great success fronting Maze and Conway would become a
well-known penning Double Exposure's
"Ten Percent" and the Intruders' "Memories Are Here To Stay." 
 While Maze is a phenomenal group, Beverly's work before that group will always stand out as his best (imo).

The Butlers produced tunes that most Northern Soul fans would kill for and Raw Soul gave the funksters something to pursue. If, by chance, you know of a way to get in touch with Frankie Beverly or his management, please drop me an e-mail. It would be absolutely great to do an interview with him about his pre-Maze work. He's still playing out, most recently doing a New Year's Eve show in Atlanta.
:: Funkinsoulman ::

Power...Through Simplicity ♪♫♪

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