SoundSystem Sound-Off October |
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QSS
Old Croc Joined: 21 July 2009 Location: Bristol UK Status: Offline Points: 2414 |
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VERY WELL SAID MASAI. I don't know if we met or not but next time please link up, but in case we don't I don't understand why so many people are taking these events so seriously and turning them into ROOTS & CULTURE CLASHES. THEY ARE NOT!!! And even when people say "ROOTS & CULTURE" Who's "ROOTS" and who's "CULTURE" are we talking about? If we are trying to rivive the sound system culture then we need to first understand the origin and history of the sound system culture and the music that started it all, and give it the respect it deserves. History
The sound system concept first became popular in the 1950s, in the ghettos of Kingston. DJs would load up a truck with a generator, turntables, and huge speakers and set up street parties. In the beginning, the DJs played American rhythm and blues music, but as time progressed and more local music was created, the sound migrated to a local flavor. The sound systems were big business, and represented one of the few sure ways to make money in the unstable economy of the area. The promoter (the DJ) would make his profit by charging a minimal admission, and selling food and alcohol. It was not uncommon for thousands of people to be in attendance. By the mid 1950s, sound systems had eclipsed live musicians in any combination for the purpose of staging parties. By the second half of the decade, custom-built systems began to appear from the workshops of specialists such as Headley Jones, who constructed wardrobe-sized speaker cabinets known as "House[s] of Joy". It was also around this time that Jamaica's first superstar DJ and MC, Count Machuki (b. Winston Cooper) rose to prominence. As time progressed, sound systems became much more powerful and far more complex than their predecessors, which were as simple as record players with a single extension speaker. Competition between these sound systems was fierce, and eventually two DJs emerged as the stars of the scene: Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd, and Duke Reid. The popularity of a sound system was mainly contingent on one thing: having new music. In order to circumvent the release cycle of the American record labels, the two sound system superstars turned to record production. Initially, they produced only singles for their own sound systems, known as "Exclusives" or Dubplates - a limited run of one copy per song. What began as an attempt to copy the American R&B sound using local musicians evolved into a uniquely Jamaican musical genre: Ska. This shift was due partly to the fact that as American-style R&B was embraced by a largely white, teenage audience and evolved into rock and roll, sound system owners could no longer depend on a steady stream of the singles they preferred: fast-shuffle boogies and ballads. In response to this shift in supply, Jamaican producers introduced to their work some of the original elements of the Jamaican sound: rhythm guitars strumming the offbeat and snare-drum emphasis on the third beat, for example.[2] As this new musical form became more popular, both Dodd and Reid began to move more seriously into music production. Coxsone Dodd's production studio became the famous Studio One, while Duke Reid founded Treasure Isle. As sound systems continued to gain in popularity through the 1960s and 1970s, they became politicized in many instances. Many sound systems, and their owners, were labeled as supporters of a particular political party (such as the PNP or the JLP), but most of the sound systems tried to maintain political neutrality. Nevertheless, as a cultural and economic phenomenon, the sound system was affected by the vast socio-political changes taking place in Jamaica at this time. The culture of the Sound System was brought to the UK with the mass immigration of Jamaicans in the 1960's and 70's. Notable UK Sound Systems include Jah Shaka, Channel One, Aba Shanti-I, Jah Observer, Iration Steppas, Fatman International. Edited by QSS - 06 October 2011 at 12:03am |
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Ras Elder
Registered User Joined: 25 September 2007 Status: Offline Points: 240 |
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No disrespect, but an update for "Judge" and QSS.
Motion 54 played Ska... Ska is NOT reggae and as I can shuffle, I am living testimoney to that. Duke Vin is the pioneer for sound system in the UK. As this is about speakers etc, a little history concerning "House of Joy" boxes, if you go to Ridley Market in Dalston London, at the bottom of the market on the right hand side going down to Dalston lane there is a bredrin there selling music called Tim. He can tell about the record shop that used to exist near where the Bakery is now in the market, that shop, the bredrins who worked there used to own a sound called King Trojan and the logo on the boxes were the same as you see on the records. That sound had 2 "famous" House of Joy boxes called Robot and Giant, dem time boxes had names! I used to buy records from that shop, they had the listening booths that you went in to hear the music (like telephone kiosks). In East London side a pioneer for House of Joy boxes was a sound called Admiral Bailey who played in Manor Park (Saints Drive), his son started a sound system after him called KB International, KB's younger brothers then started a sound called...... CHANNEL ONE, the rest is Ourstory. Edited by Ras Elder - 06 October 2011 at 1:08am |
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QSS
Old Croc Joined: 21 July 2009 Location: Bristol UK Status: Offline Points: 2414 |
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Blessed Ras elder, greetings. Respect for the enlightenment on some more uk sound system history. I do know a bit about uk sound history, but i grew up on sound system in JA so most of my knowledge on sound system would be from there. But I have learnt a lot about uk sound system history by listening to people like yourself and others.
Regarding the Ska tune Motion played. I don't see a problem with that. Both Motion and myself and i do believe AV promotion (rice and peas) did say that on our sound check events, any genre of music that has a reggae link can be played, except for new bashment because of the lyrical content and the mesage it is bringing. And reggae did originate from ska and rock steady. Even r&b has a link to reggae. And if a sound chose to play r&b that might not be such a bad thing it might attract a few more ladies in di place. and I'm sure a lot of people would like that. Bless Edited by QSS - 06 October 2011 at 2:27am |
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Ras Elder
Registered User Joined: 25 September 2007 Status: Offline Points: 240 |
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Blessed QSS, is de "Judge, not de I who seh the music played come under reggae, you and I know it nuh go so. When these tings go on www, we MUST tell "our story", so it is correct. ps. first record I buy was on Orange St. as a teenager in 1967 called 'owe me nuh pay me' by The Ethiopians, a Ska tune.... I still have it, it cost me about 2 shillings! Nuff bredrin and sistren who were around in the day only talk to ones who were there and
remember and joke to themselves, it will be History not Ourstory if we dont watch out. ps. I listen QSS on corner at Bristol carnival, you drop HEAVY.... Edited by Ras Elder - 06 October 2011 at 5:03am |
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QSS
Old Croc Joined: 21 July 2009 Location: Bristol UK Status: Offline Points: 2414 |
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More of us need to learn more about our history (incl Sound System History) because we can't have a good future without first knowing and understanding the past.
(Hope to see you on the 16th at Rice & Peas)
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MotioN54SOLO
Registered User Joined: 09 May 2011 Location: North London Status: Offline Points: 132 |
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Good 2C ya Masai from the days of ol 89.4fm those who know
everyone is on Al Grey's case wid Beres , but I know only 2 people can draw the 45 7" cut everyone else got CD Al Grey get 5 stars for dat memba dat |
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JudgeDredd
Registered User Joined: 23 August 2011 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 515 |
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Think this has all gone bit too far, and is verging on irrelevancy.
Many people told me same ting outside, and left before dance finish. They're just not posting about it. I remember looking around and at times, majority of who were not stood around control towers were sitting down. Like Gee said, a sound plays what they want, and if people don't like it, they respond with their feet.. Nuff said, no history lesson required. Respect to Motion 54 crew, for hard work in putting on gig, just guess some of us are now more informed regarding the format. Edited by JudgeDredd - 06 October 2011 at 1:37pm |
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"Please inform the Federation, we have engaged the Borg.."
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QSS
Old Croc Joined: 21 July 2009 Location: Bristol UK Status: Offline Points: 2414 |
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I will agree with you there judge on what Gee said. Yes a sound can play what they like, but thats where the experience will come in for a selector to read the crowd and know what will work and what won't at that particular event. Even though sometimes there might be 70% of the crowd want to here one thing that doesn't mean the other 30% shouldn't get what they want at some point. The skill comes in knowing how to balance your selection and also be strong enough to ignore some of the disaprovals and acknowledge the aprovals. Have to disagree though on the point of no history lesson required. "If we don't learn about the past we won't understand the present and can't progress in the future" (that quote might not be entirely accurate but you get the drift) This applies to everything we do in life incl. this particular topic. Sound System and Reggae Music. Bless
Edited by QSS - 06 October 2011 at 1:47pm |
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MotioN54SOLO
Registered User Joined: 09 May 2011 Location: North London Status: Offline Points: 132 |
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exactly what me & T-Dubs was talking about,learning from errors , sharing knowledge and progression
I enjoyed myself set speed dispite few technicals , where is the Rice & Peas location? |
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JudgeDredd
Registered User Joined: 23 August 2011 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 515 |
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Firstly, respects Cutty, know you are a big player and serious soundman. I already have agood understanding about Reggae and it's origins. I came out to hear plenty of heavy tunes, with clean crisp mids and tops on Sunday, history lesson won't change that. To the praise of all the sounds, didn't hear any technicals that were dissappointing, was just "some" of the selections. For me, topic finish.. Bless Edited by JudgeDredd - 06 October 2011 at 2:14pm |
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"Please inform the Federation, we have engaged the Borg.."
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QSS
Old Croc Joined: 21 July 2009 Location: Bristol UK Status: Offline Points: 2414 |
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As I said on my first response after Sunday. I think everyone did enjoy themself even if some didn't like a couple tunes. I know I did Edited by QSS - 06 October 2011 at 2:33pm |
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QSS
Old Croc Joined: 21 July 2009 Location: Bristol UK Status: Offline Points: 2414 |
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Judge, the history lesson wasn't directed at you sir, it was a general statement for us all. I myself know a fair bit about reggae/sound system and its origin, but I'm always learning new things. This topic might finish but the SUBJECT caan dun sah!! Soundman banta is good (as long as its done with respect, an open mind and good humour)
Edited by QSS - 06 October 2011 at 2:51pm |
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