Jumping the Shuffle Blues / Trojan presents Mento & R&B

[Jamie Renton]

My name is Jamie and I have a problem, I'm addicted to the music of the early Jamaican sound systems, both the US jump boogie and proto rock n roll that they spun from the 40s onwards and the homegrown mento and RnB that followed. And man alive have I got an almighty fix with these 2 budget priced collections (a triple and a double)

Jumping ... features the American side of things, 85 tracks spanning the mid 40s to 1960 (Louis Jordan to Donnie Elbert), mixing the well known with the new to me. well packaged, crisp sound ... solid gone.

Subtitled 40 Roots of Reggae Classics the Trojan set is full of obscure examples of pre-ska JA sounds from 55 - 62: Jimmy Cliff, Laurel Aitken, Lord Lebby (with a very early back to Africa plea) and the Blues Busters amongst them.

You'd think that lot would be enough to keep me sated for a while, but I'm taking things a day at a time.

[AndyM]

Must.....not......go......to......Amazon.......


Too late.

[gary booth]

Me too. But Andy, we've only just spent £12.98 - unless you need that fix so bad you've paid for quicker postage?

[AndyM]

I always pay for quicker postage. I'm hardcore.

[Adam Blake]

Oh my God...

But I'm not going to succumb. I have so many bloody tapes and records of this stuff coming out my ears from when I first discovered it in the late 70s (with the "Intensified" compilations). Then I had a mate who was a complete obsessive (and it does get you like that, doesn't it, Jamie?!) and he was always laying 90minute cassette comps on me - all of which I still have and which still sound just fine.

I would pay up to about £25 for an original single of "Hey Bartender" by Laurel Aitken, however. (It probably goes for more but it's been on my 'wants' list for about 20 years)

[Jamie Renton]

I have so many bloody tapes and records of this stuff coming out my ears from when I first discovered it in the late 70s (with the "Intensified" compilations)

The Trojan compilation mostly features tunes from before the era covered by the Intensified albums.

Such as this from Lord Lebby (versioned by Bunny Wailer as "Down Here in Jamaica" in the early 80s):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnR3K7ah_xI

And this saucy little tune from Bedasse (oo-er missus)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25s6wdnES6A

Pssst Andy & Gary ... seen this?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Caribou-Downbea ... 166&sr=1-1

[Jonathan E.]

. . . I have a problem . . .

I see it as an opportunity, Jamie.

My opportunity to formally appoint you to the incredibly responsible position of being Head of the Department of Cleaning Me Out. You've done a really good job of it and deserve the honour! Congratulations. I'm sure you'll continue your outstanding work.

First, the Dub Colossus vinyl, which ended up with the Syriana vinyl slipping into the order — and now this! Standards are high.

Umm, I don't suppose you could comment on the sleeve notes just to make me feel better while I'm waiting for fresh supplies of loot to get an order in, could you?

[Jamie Renton]

Umm, I don't suppose you could comment on the sleeve notes just to make me feel better while I'm waiting for fresh supplies of loot to get an order in, could you?

Jumping the Shuffle Blues inccludes a 30 page booklet with 4 pages of background info on the early soundsystems and the remainder given over to a track by track breakdown, all written by compiler Phil Etgart

Trojan presents... has got a 10 page booklet, including 4 pages of photos (of the artists, records and posters advertising dances and shows) plus godd slevenotes from Mike Atherton.

I've just noticed that creatuive consultant on both sets is someone called Laurence Cane-Honeyset. No idea who he is, but I'm guessing he's a fellow addict.

[Jonathan E.]

Right, you're promoted then! Excellent work. Thanks for word on the notes. My teeth are now grinding.

. . . creatuive consultant on both sets is someone called Laurence Cane-Honeyset. . . .

The gentleman to who you refer has been responsible for a lot of Trojan compilations from some way back and is a generally knowledgeable obsessive about Jamaican music. Nice work if you can get it. Btw, his name is actually spelled Laurence Cane-Honeysett; not that Google will care that much. Here's an interesting interview with him in The Quietus, http://thequietus.com/articles/04768-the-history-of-trojan-records-laurence-cane-honeysett-interview-young-gifted-and-black-the-story-of-trojan-records, and a fascinating audio interview with him from http://www.musiclikedirt.com at http://soundcloud.com/musiclikedirt/trojan. You probably shouldn't listen to it unless you want to feel like you've wasted your life and missed every opportunity to indulge in nothing but music. Still, your position with me is secure . . . don't worry.

Btw, the audio interview with Phil Etgart by Bigmikeydread at http://www.futurenoisemusic.com/product.aspx?id=739 is also worth listening to.

[Jamie Renton]

Thanks for the links Jonathan, that's my lunchbreak reading and listening sorted.

[Jamie Renton]

Laurence Cane-Honeysett was interviewed by Cerys Matthews on her BBC 5 Sunday morning programme, talking about the forthcoming 5CD Trijan box set which features a lot of previously unreleased material (gasp, swoon etc)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... oe_Walker/

Interview starts about 41 minutes in

[Jamie Renton]

My addiction still rages...

This week I got my mitts on a double CD called The Story of Blue Beat, the Best in Ska 1961 Vol 1 25 singles released on the Blue Beat label in that year (CD 1's got the A sides, CD2 the Bs)

There are a few familiar pieces, Laurel Aitkin's version of "Hey Bartender" (have you got hold of a vinyl copy yet Adam?) and The Folkes Brothers "Carolina", but otherwise it's all new to me and it's all good, both A and B sides.

My current favourite is "Satchmo's Mashed Potao" by Girl Satchmo & the Swinging Mashers. Sadly not on YouTube, so here's the B-side "Darlin" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cbnQHebrxM

If you want to hear the A-side (and trust me, you do) you'll have to get down to the Blues Kitchen next Tuesday.

There are more CDs in this series but I'm going to be strong and resist temptation (who am I kidding)

[Adam Blake]

Laurel Aitkin's version of "Hey Bartender" (have you got hold of a vinyl copy yet Adam?)

Not yet. I want that one, and Slim Harpo's "Got Love If You Want It" on Excello.

[Jamie Renton]

I'm currently trying to save money. Then I saw this: http://www.fantasticvoyagemusic.com/jam ... y-for-you/
Oh we, I'll start saving next week