Roots & Culture 311 Items

Producer Jeremy Harding has delivered an update on dancehall reggae classics with vocals by some of Jamaica's most exciting artists these days including Naomi Cowan, Kabaka Pyramid, Blvk H3ro, Runkus, Bugle and Royal Blu, alongside veterans like Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Wayne Marshall and Agent Sasco. Now available as LP-vinyl - ten songs that will move the massive in full lenght, all with a deep respect to the originators including Michigan & Smiley, Tenor Saw, Half Pint, Garenett Sik, Ken Boothe, Yellowman and Tiger, on original riddims like "Real Rock", " Shank I Sheck", "Death In The Arena", "Answer", "Mad Mad" and more!

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Vis​-​A​-​Vis - Odo Gu Ahorow
by We Are Busy Bodies

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Odo Gu Ahorow (Medley) 00:00 / 15:16
Limited Edition 12" Vinyl
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
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As both a popular live act and in-demand studio musicians, Vis-A-Vis released 13 albums between 1975 and 1982, of which Obi Agye Me Dofo remains the most sought after. Led by vocalist Isaac “Superstar” Yeboah and featuring Sammy Cropper on guitar, Slim Manu on bass and Gybson “Shaolin Kung-Fu” Papra on drums, Vis-A-Vis helped propel K. Frimpong to fame as one of Ghana’s most popular stars of the 1970s. On some of Frimpong’s albums, they also overlapped as part of his other recording band, the Cubano Fiestas.

As We Are Busy Bodies begins its roll out the Vis-A-Vis catalogue, it will also simultaneously release another essential album by the group, 1976s Odo Gu Ahorow. Original copies of both LPs are scarce and in great demand, with Obi Agye Me Dofo briefly issued as an LP in the US in 1980, and again in 2011 by Continental Records. Along with the Frimpong albums, they remain some of the most sought after West African records from the golden age. These reissues have been handled with the utmost respect — every detail has been given strict attention and care, with albums being remastered by Senior Mastering Engineer, Noah Mintz at Lacquer Channel.

About the album:

"The Vis-A-Vis have had many good things to their credit, none more so than the collection of nostalgic items that make up this album “Odo Gu Ahoroo”. It has been able to achieve its well-deserved place in the Ghanaian musical best-seller parade. Now by the titles and programming this entirely new album benefits from Ofobros latest recording experience, bringing many plus-factors of listening pleasure.

With brilliant musicianship, the Vis-A-Vis as a group leads in the field of danceably rhythmic arrangements which do not obscure the enchanting melodies, such as “Abofra Ketewa”. Highlighting the softly soothing, yet richly textured blend of the organ and Slim’s bass work are solos by Sammy ‘red” Cropper on lead guitar, and other instruments as well.

The groups’ thirteen years’ experience in the field of dance music has made their melody reign supreme, and I hope these all are songs that will become a cherished part of our musical past in the future, and an enduring part of our musical period then. This recording the Vis-A-Vis with a new lustre that promises to glow through many mood-matching moments in the future.

Year 1964. Almost out of nowhere, the little-known and regarded director Sergio Leone transposes into a western key a film by Akira Kurosawa, and by putting together all the right pieces, adding a bit of intuition, lays down new rules for the 'spaghetti western' genre, giving way to an endless series of imitations.

"A Fistful of Dollars" would not have the same impact without the inimitable music written by Ennio Morricone, who had curiously been an old elementary school Leone’s classmate. The main soundtrack themes were chosen from two arrangements that Morricone had already drafted two years earlier; once removed the lyrics and added the unmistakable whistle of Alessandro Alessandroni, the spaghetti-sound was finally complete!

The film was an incredible success, and projected Leone, Morricone, and in particular the actor Clint Eastwood into the Olympus of the Great. The soundtrack was released for the first time the following year (1965), along with the one of Sergio Leone's subsequent work "For a Few Dollars More".

This new edition sees the original seven tracks of the score in a completely new layout. The format is a 10" 45rpm LP, with a 26x26cm miniposter attached. Clear vinyl edition.

Legendary innovative instrumental tune by Augustus Pablo. Recorded at Randy's Studio in 1971. Produced by Clive Chin.

Produced by Alvin "GG's" Ranglin in 1980. Killer roots vocal & Dj's, Dub on the flip.

Recorded at Harry J & Channel One in 1982 with iconic musicians as China Smith, Flabba Holt, Robbie Shakespear, along with Norris Reid and Delroy Williams on backing vocals.The album include a recut of the classic "Java" and the singing of Hugh Mundell on "Ratafari Tradition". Reissue with the artwork of the original Jamaican press.

Originally released in 1978 "Leggo Dub" produced by Ossie Hibbert is one of the iconic dub albums of the seventies. Seen as the dub companion to Gregory's classic "Mr. Isaacs" album it boasts six mind-expanding Cool Ruler dub treatments plus four further speaker-shakers to showcase the Revolutionaries in full effect. Now re-released in finest remastered sound quality on VP Records’ sub-label 17 North Parade!

Among the most important full-length album works from one of reggae’s greatest singers, "Mr. Isaacs" shows the great Gregory Isaacs in the prime of his career in 1976. Better known for his love songs, Isaacs was equally adept at cultural themes. The tracks "Set The Captives Free" and "Slave Master" are among the most popular in his catalogue, the latter immortalized on film in the movie 'Rockers'. The track "Storm" became an early favourite in the dancehall, its rhythm track (aka the Storm riddim) is re-imagined no fewer than 75 times over the last 40 years. Gregory Isaacs love of Rocksteady shines in his cover of the Silvertones’ "Smile", and his soulful side comes through on a cover of The Temptations’ "Get Ready". The breadth of material on "Mr. Isaacs" is the hallmark of a reggae classic!

Maxie Livingston Smith became Max Romeo through his concerted courtship of a local beauty. After a difficult childhood that saw him run away from home following the breakdown of his parents’ relationship, Max became lead singer of The Emotions harmony group, with Lloyd Shakespeare, brother of future bass wizard Robbie, during the rock steady era. Following the demise of the group, in 1968, at the request of Bunny Lee, Max wrote the suggestive “Wet Dream”, inspired by the rude ditties of the lewd American r&b singer, Blowfly, but then found himself forced to sing it in the studio after rejections from better-established peers such as Slim Smith, Derrick Morgan, Roy Shirley and John Holt. Despite a BBC ban, the song topped the British charts, spawning the debut album, A Dream. Tracks like “Wood Under Cellar,” “Wine Her Goosie” and “The Horn” continued the rude theme, though songs such as “Far Far Away” and “Love” were more traditional ballads, the latter made more outstanding through vibrant Rastafari-influenced percussion; “Club Raid” speaks of Max’s survival of a punitive police bust.