Delroy Melody - Ease Up The Pressure played by David Rodigan on BBC 1Xtra (5 january 2014).

For many jamaican music fans, the name Delroy Melody is unknown, however for connoisseurs and lovers of roots reggae from the 1970’s and 1980’s his music includes gems like his album “Dread Must Be Fed” and rare single like “Ease Up The Pressure”. 

Early 1980, Delroy Melody met Ruddy Williams, owner of Black Beauty & Rudwill label. Ruddy have a tape with several heavyweight riddim played by The Studio One Band: Steelie (keyboard), Clevie (guitar), Pablove Black (organ & backing vocals with Delroy Melody), Brownie Brothers (drum), Sly Juice (percussion). The first riddim Delroy Melody heard was Ease Up The Pressure riddim, an adaptation of « Dennis Brown - Easy Take It Easy ». Delroy Melody loved the riddim so he started to write the Ease Up The Pressure lyrics. He was thinking about the bloody political election that happen at the same time in the country. Blood started to flow swifter than the river Nile, as tension rise between JLP and PNP factions. The 1980 general election was marked by over 800 murders. The song was recorded at Harry J studio with Sylvan Morris as engineer. Ease Up The Pressure was played by the PNP cars that travel the whole country to spread their political ideology. On october, 30 of 1980, the JLP won the general election. Ease Up The Pressure was banned from radio station because the song was associated to PNP party.

Release date: December, 1st of 2013

Get your vinyl copy: http://www.jamwax.com
Bandcamp: https://jamwax.bandcamp.com/album/ease-up-the-pressure-2
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/ease-up-the-pressure-single/id734104781
Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/album/7084619

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Delroy Melody - Ease Up The Pressure (Rodigan on BBC 1Xtra)

Jamwax (JAMWAX MAXI 25)
Release date: 14 avr. 2023, France
Roots Reggae

Produced by Ancel "Johnny" Powell & Patricia Wallace
Engineer: Melvin Williams
Recorded at Aquarius Studio (Kingston, JA) in 1985

Bass: Maurice Gordon
Drums: Nelson Miller
Guitar: Dwight Pinkney
Saxophone: Tony Green
Trumpet: Bobby Ellis
Percussion: Calvin
Keyboards: Winston Wright
Backing vocals: Ernest Wilson & Peter Austin from the Clarendonians

The one arm keyboard luminary is well known in the entertainment circle of Western Jamaica. Born on the 2nd of March 1954, the accomplished singer and musician hails from Hayes, Clarendon. In 1969 he went to live in Kingston until 1973. Ancel's first effort in a recording studio was inside the popular Randy's in downtown Kingston. He did a single called 'Riding On' on the Musical Barber label out of Mandeville.

In 1977 he joined a group called Solid Foundation and stayed with them for two years. After that he moved to Montego Bay to sing with Stamma and the Sounds of Mobay, with who he appeared on Reggae Sunsplash festival in 1980.
Johnny made the move for the United States in 1982, and formed his first own band 'Uprisers' in Pittsburgh city.

One of the things he likes to talk about is how he once reunited the famed Clarendonians with Peter Austin and Ernest Wilson. Both pioneer icons were at irreconcilable odds with each other for quite some time. When he came back to Jamaica in 1985, he invited Ernest Wilson to do back-up vocals for him. For the same studio session, he also invited Peter Austin for the same back-up duties, and that was how the reunion came about. Inside famous Aquarius studio, there was Burning Spear's personal Band called Burning. The songs recorded there were 'Moving Out' and 'True Love' with top musicians : Tony Green on the saxophone, Bobby Ellis on the trumpet, Dwight Pinkney on the guitar, Calvin on percussion, Nelson Miller on the drums and Maurice Gordon on bass. This was not the first time Ancel was working with Peter Austin. When the split came in the ranks of the Clarendonians, Ancel was asked to fill the breach. He thus teamed up with Peter Austin and their first single together was entitled 'Out Of Sight'. They later entered the annual Jamaica Festival Song competition in 1975. Their entry was entitled 'Paradise On Earth' which Ancel said was quite popular. However, it was not popular enough to prevent the late Roman Stewart from copping the award with 'Hooray Festival'.

After the release of 'Moving Out', Johnny moved to Miami and continued his career as a solo artist, singing with different local bands. He did a number of singles, notably were 'Faith, Patience and Love' and 'Stand Back' for a producer called Jolly in Miami. In 1988 Powell formed his second band Benja, a band which gained increasing popularity in the time in South Florida. They have performed on several festivals, played in most major clubs and were a big success in Andros Island in the Bahamas for an audience who not necessarily consider Reggae their prime choice of music.

The saddest part of his life was when he lost his left hand to what doctors termed as a cancerous situation in 1977. This did not, however, stop him from learning how to play keyboards. Initially he was taught by the late Bobby Vaugh in Montego Bay and also got further teaching from jamaican saxophinist Reuben Alexander.

Now approaching 70 years old, Ancel is still very active in his music. In previous years he performed at the Marcus Garvey Celebration and is currently working with the “Synergy Band” at Royalton Hotel in Negril under the stage name “Ancel P.” Let the one arm keyboard luminary life and music live eternally !

Moving Out

Johnny Powell - Moving Out (Jamwax)

Folk, salsa, r&b, ska, rocksteady and early reggae recorded in Jamaica in the sixties...

Sixties vibes from Jamaica Jamaica

T.Z. Junior "Sugar My Love", South Africa bubblegum boogie disco pop masterpiece originally released in Christmas 1985. Fully remastered from master tape with lovely liner notes on back cover. 
Vinyl: 
Digital Download: https://bit.ly/2BkmtSe
Release date: December, 14 of 2018

T.Z. Junior - Sugar My Love (Jamwax)

Margino ''Happy People'' LP is now available. 
Release date: April, 19 of 2019

I'm really happy to reissue this masterpiece. Thanks to the following people for their ears, inspiration and good vibes: Margino aka Kim Kallie, Attie Van Wyk, Phil Hollis, Pikes Cronje, Byron, Louis Hlophe and Pat Shange🙏.

Thanks to my mother for teaching me pop art when I was a teenager. It gave me the idea to transform Margino into famous ''Marilyn Diptych'' by Andy Warhol 🤪. Thanks to Florian Weigel for your patience doing this crazy artwork.

Recorded at RPM Recording Studios (Johannesburg, South Africa) in 1985, ''Happy People '' is a flawless album with dancefloor hits such as ''Happy People'', ''I'm Getting Out'' and ''One Hot Night'' and downtempo tunes such as ''You Turn Me On'', ''You Need A Woman'' and ''You''. All rhythm tracks were played by Attie Van Wyk (Keyboards, Synthesizer, Drum Machine) and Danny Bridgens (Guitar). The full album is a cream of boogie funk, disco and pop. For this reissue, Jamwax took the pleasure to remaster the sound from the original tape. The artwork was also remake with Andy Warhol ''Marilyn Monroe'' pop art style, for your eyes pleasure.

Margino - Happy People (Jamwax)

Safe Travel is an odyssey into Jamaican music. 1st volume is dedicated to Jamaica 50th independence anniversary celebration. 
Strictly vinyls from 1962 to 2012...tune in !!!
FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY
Artwork by Maztrone www.maztrone.com 
Master by Crystal Mixage www.crystal-mixage.com

Island In The Sun - Jamaica50 - Safe Travel Vol 1

Interstellar digital dancehall with stunning synth, superb vocal by Robert Ffrench in extended mix & mad style by obscure DJ Shortie Ranks. Recorded at Creative Sound Studio (Kingston, JA) in 1985.
Buy Vinyl/Digital: https://jamwax.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-wondering

"On I Am Wondering – a lovers of sorts – Ffrench is Dennis Brown in the high notes, and Gregory Isaacs in the song`s playboy sentiments. A guitar gently wah-wahs, while the synths do a giddy glissando. Midway through this discomix the bass becomes boss – throwing everything else – chopped piano chords and all – into echo. Then it`s rewind for the DJ cut – a brag and boast toast from Shortie Ranks – recounting his triumphs at legendary Kingston reggae venue, Skateland."
Review written by Ban Ban Ton Ton on April, 21 of 2020. 

Robert French grew up in central Kingston and attended Kingston College. He recorded his first singles in 1979, at the age of 17. He achieved success in 1984 with his performances at the Festival Song Contest and the Reggae Sunsplash festival. He had a combination hit with deejay Clement Irie with "Bun & Cheese", and his first two albums were released in 1985. He had another hit in 1989 with "Modern Girl", a collaboration with Courtney Melody. In the mid-1990s he relocated to New York City, where he teamed up with rapper Heavy D, with whom he had a hit with "More Love", with an album following on Ras Records, featuring collaboration with several artists including Lady G and General Degree. He has since returned to Jamaica, where he runs the Ffrench record label and distribution company. He released the album Yesterday and Today in 2001, collecting many of his earlier singles. After a period of inactivity as a recording artist, he returned in 2009 with the single "I Do". As a producer he has worked with artists such as Dennis Brown, Buju Banton (he produced Buju's first single "Ruler" on Stamina riddim), Beres Hammond, George Nooks, Luciano, Jah Cure, Yami Bolo and Sizzla to name a few. Robert French was the cosin of the late great Pat Kelly.

As a french label, big fan from Ffrench productions, i'm very proud and happy to start a collaboration with Robert Ffrench, the most french jamaican. Stay tuned for many many more. 

released June 2, 2020

Robert Ffrench - I Am Wondering (Jamwax)

Interstellar digital dancehall with stunning synth, superb vocal by Robert Ffrench in extended mix & mad style by obscure DJ Shortie Ranks. Recorded at Creative Sound Studio (Kingston, JA) in 1985.
Buy Vinyl/Digital: jamwax.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-wondering

"On I Am Wondering – a lovers of sorts – Ffrench is Dennis Brown in the high notes, and Gregory Isaacs in the song`s playboy sentiments. A guitar gently wah-wahs, while the synths do a giddy glissando. Midway through this discomix the bass becomes boss – throwing everything else – chopped piano chords and all – into echo. Then it`s rewind for the DJ cut – a brag and boast toast from Shortie Ranks – recounting his triumphs at legendary Kingston reggae venue, Skateland."
Review written by Ban Ban Ton Ton on April, 21 of 2020.

Robert French grew up in central Kingston and attended Kingston College. He recorded his first singles in 1979, at the age of 17. He achieved success in 1984 with his performances at the Festival Song Contest and the Reggae Sunsplash festival. He had a combination hit with deejay Clement Irie with "Bun & Cheese", and his first two albums were released in 1985. He had another hit in 1989 with "Modern Girl", a collaboration with Courtney Melody. In the mid-1990s he relocated to New York City, where he teamed up with rapper Heavy D, with whom he had a hit with "More Love", with an album following on Ras Records, featuring collaboration with several artists including Lady G and General Degree. He has since returned to Jamaica, where he runs the Ffrench record label and distribution company. He released the album Yesterday and Today in 2001, collecting many of his earlier singles. After a period of inactivity as a recording artist, he returned in 2009 with the single "I Do". As a producer he has worked with artists such as Dennis Brown, Buju Banton (he produced Buju's first single "Ruler" on Stamina riddim), Beres Hammond, George Nooks, Luciano, Jah Cure, Yami Bolo and Sizzla to name a few. Robert French was the cosin of the late great Pat Kelly.

As a french label, big fan from Ffrench productions, i'm very proud and happy to start a collaboration with Robert Ffrench, the most french jamaican. Stay tuned for many many more.

released June 2, 2020

Shortie Ranks - Dance In A Skate Land (Jamwax)

Buy Vinyl/Digital: jamwax.bandcamp.com/album/woman-at-the-well

Sylvia Fagan aka Guardian Angel is the oldest sister of Bevin Fagan which is Matumbi's lead singer. Matumbi was the top british Reggae band from the 70's and early 80's. Bevin Fagan and Euton Jones (drummer and founder member of Matumbi) produced "Woman At The Well", the only LP by Guardian Angel in 1980 with a blend of disco, boogie funk, lovers rock and roots reggae.

Recorded at Gooseberry and T.M.C. studios (London, UK) in 1980.
Produced by Euton Jones & Bevin Fagan.
Analog 1/4inch tape transfered at FX Copyroom by Euton 'Matumbi' Jones & Engineer Harvey Birrell on a Studer A810. Mastered and lacquer cutting by François Terrazzoni at Parelies Audio Visuel.

Special thanks to all musicians who made it possible, Dennis and Andy Robinson, Jason and Valerie Fagan, Euton Jones and his daughter Shana Jones, Winston Francis and Dennis Bovell.

released June 2, 2020

Jamwax

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