Jah Shaka was quite possibly the best known reggae sound system in Britain and beyond until his sudden death. Brothers Mikey Dread and Jah T's Channel One Sound System is almost on par in terms of popularity and notoriety. The two took over their father's business in 1979 and brought their sound to the local blues dances. Mikey chose the name Channel One as a homage to the legendary Channel One Studio in Jamaica. Every year since 1983, Channel One has performed at the Notting Hill Carnival, which starts to the day today and ends on Monday 28th August. After playing a selection of Greensleeves at the 2022 Notting Hill Carnival, Mikey was asked to rummage through Greensleeves' vaults and suggest tracks that would make a double album. Now the time has come: Just in time for this worldwide unique event, the "Roots Defenders of Notting Hill Carnival" present a collection of 20 tracks on double gatefold vinyl - "Channel One Sound System: Down In The Dub Vaults" (Green sleeves). An LP with vocals and an LP with the accompanying ones Dubs. Mikey Dread delved deep into the treasury of the Greensleeves label and brought to light some long-forgotten gems that were released as maxi-singles many years ago. Featuring artists like Reggae Regular, Keith Hudson, Michael Prophet and Linval Thompson as well Dubs by Sly & Robbie, Roots Radics and Rockers All-Stars features Down In The Dub Vaults” provides an overview of the tracks and Dubs who have played an important part in the Channel One rotation over the years:
Michael Prophet with "Just Talking" is such a classic that Mikey Dread first heard in Jamaica. This heavyweightDub from the editing room at Channel One Studios on Maxfield Ave, Jamaica, has been played on their dances by the Channel One Sound System for many years. Tetrack's "Trappers" by Gussie Clarke and Sly & Robbie could not be missing from any session. Mikey Dread says, "One of those tracks where you know when the KT88 tubes are warming up is Anthony Johnson's 'Let Go This One'." Almost an anthem for the Channel One sound system, 'Can't Pop No.' style”. The song by the young Hugh Mundell, directed by Augustus Pablo, is still an integral part of their current repertoire. Finally, I would like to highlight two of my personal highlights from this wonderful collection of old, venerable riddims: On the one hand, Keith Hudson with "Bloody Eyes" and the accompanying one, which I value very much Dub "My Eyes Are Red", on the other hand the Reggae Regulars with "Black Star Liner" and the Dubcounterpart "The Dub (It's Coming)”. Despite countless runs, I still listen to this maxi single from my collection with growing enthusiasm.
Conclusion: This release contains tracks that the Channel One sound system has been playing for over 40 years. "The project illuminates the history of real roots & culture music with vocals & Dubs on two vinyl records sourced from some legendary reggae artists. A lot of young people don't know these anthems and may never have heard them, so this release is really for the next generation of sound systems that are just starting out,” says Mikey Dread.
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Channel One Sound System: Down In The Dub vaults
4 Responses to “Channel One Sound System: Down In The Dub Vaults"
One thing you have to admit in fairness: it can be more up-to-date Dubblog really not be. Even if I repeat myself, I want you Ras Vorbei, thank you very much for your great work. The links and the great extra information you so effortlessly provide are what I always love about your reviews. This is evidence of in-depth knowledge and really makes you want to read your texts!
Muchas gracias, that's just the way I write, there's no other way. ;-)
A few long-lost classics. Glad to hear these gems once again. A kind of history lesson in dub for the younger generation.
Of course, I prefer to listen to my “own” samplers. Because that's where I put my very special highlights in a compact form. But it's always nice to hear samplers put together by others. I don't know every tune here either, and certainly not every one Dub and I also got it here Dub particularly impressed by Keith Hudson. I also find the “Revival” by the Regulars very exciting! So far I only knew "Ghetto Rock" and that hasn't diminished a tiny bit in its positive effect on me to this day. Even if it beeps a bit, the power and strength (maybe the same thing) still blows my mind. "Black Star Liner" plus DubI didn't know the version. It's great too, but whether it's better than "Ghetto Rock" is again a very special matter of taste. Even though Hugh Mundell originally wrote "Cant' pop no style", I have to say that I like Sugar Minott's version better. But also the version of Hugh Mundell would make all my limbs twitch on the dance and many who don't freak out as much as I do when good reggae is playing would probably ask themselves, "who is HE?"... And then maybe I would ask, "how can you be sitting there, telling me that you care" or something like that. I was never really able to do much with Triston Palmer, but I feel that my taste in music has been confirmed again, since this is the only tune by Tristan Palmer that I've always found really good. Something like that happens to me very often, which is why I always have such a big mouth when it comes to reggae taste. I just know that I'm right..... ;-) Ok, the horse is galloping inside me again.
All in all a nice sampler and I would be really interested to know how the current sound system generation takes it up and how much the fence or Soundguests can get used to it.
Ok, Andi – with his full name – Andi work calls me …………………………………… lemmi