Burning Spear - Walking (YTsRT Re-Dub)

In July 1984, Black Roots released their second album, The Front Line, on vinyl and cassette.

The title track of this album, ‘Frontline’, was the theme song for the BBC Television sitcom that ran for one series by the same name.  It is a story of 2 brothers who are constantly fighting like ‘cat and dog’ and the reason is that one is a police man and the other a dreadlocks man, both living together in the same house.  Their life styles are such opposites that they can never agree about anything.  And this clash of lifestyles is what informs the comedy that unfolds.

Unfortunately it is not deemed a success and it does not make it past that the first series of 6 episodes for a longer run.  However, it is a positive experience for Black Roots as it introduces the band to a wider audience and affords the opportunity to release and promote another album release.

Now on 15th July 2014, almost 30 years to the day since it was first released, Nubian Records, is releasing this set as part its program of uploading and making its back catalogue available for download.

In addition to the original classic tracks that originally made up this album, like ‘War’, ‘Struggling’ and ‘Blackheart Man’, Nubian have added 2 bonus tracks, ‘Chanting For Freedom’ and’ Confusion’.  Although these 2 tracks were originally released on 12” vinyl in 1981, as the follow up to the ‘Bristol Rock EP’ they never featured on any of the early albums.

The Front Line

Chanting For Freedom

Buy @ Bandcamp

Barry Brown - Run Wicked Man

Hugh Mundell "Blessings of Fari"/"Rent Man" (MunRock)

Lacksley Castell - Unkind To Myself 12

This is my most recent reggae style track, a simple collection of sounds including skanks, dub, synths and pads to add a brilliant end of summer melody to my collection. 

Jamaican Ginger Cake

Deep roots reggae with a hypnotic dub groove. Heavy bass, one drop drums, minimal textures and mantra-style echoes. A relaxed but powerful soundscape, built on rhythm and space.

Di librarian Dub

Clinton Fearon - Working for the Man

Here is another heavyweight remix EP from the mighty roots reggae band Black Roots hailing from St Paul’s Bristol.

The song ‘I Believe’, originally released on ‘On the Ground’ (Sugar Shack Records - September 2012) is lifted from this album and given a new edge and sharpness on these 4 mixes.  It is a seminal song, one of the most popular off the album so this was a strong motivation to go back into the studio to create and put some different versions out on release.  Its lyrics are strong and powerful. They draw on personal experience.

Black Roots sing that ‘life in the system is not easy because it doesn’t cater for I and I but if you believe in the higher power you can still hold your head up high’.  Isn’t that the truth! In spite of the fact that the ‘system’ has discriminated against you, that life for you is hard and difficult, that you are powerless and disenfranchised you can still find that inner strength and belief in the higher power to show you the way to transcend this pressure and believe in yourself.

Jah Garvey and Buggsy, 2 emcees based in St Paul’s Bristol, join Black Roots in the lyrical mix, to add another layer of reasoning to the underlying message of this song.  Jah Garvey too is a roots artist inspired by his exposure to the plight of people that he encounters on his daily journeys and feels that he must support their lives through his music encouraging happiness, enlightenment, personal growth and development.  He features on 3 of the mixes and Buggsy who describes himself as the fast spitting Rasta emcee from St Paul’s Bristol, boasting a flow like an automatic weapon features on 1 mix.  He describes himself as a soldier in Jah Army joining up with the ‘old skool’ to help to deliver a message full of ‘truth and right’ and shows his respect for Black Roots in the lyrics that he chats.

I Believe EP

Life In The System Dub

Life in the System Dub

“Black Roots”, the eponymously named debut album, was originally released in 1983 on Kick Records, by which time the band was established as one of the UK's leading live acts with a strong repertoire of socially aware songs reflecting the issues of the day. When it came to their first album, they chose eight of their strongest tracks and assembled what was to become one of the classic British reggae albums of the decade.

Featuring 8 songs “The Father”, “Survival”, “Juvenile Delinquent”, “What Them 'A Do”, “Opportunity”, “Tribal War”, “Africa” and “Move On”, the album covers themes of social alienation, deprivation, repatriation, RastafarI, violence within the black community and ends, with the tale of a failing relationship. Three decades later, many of the songs are just as relevant and provide the perfect complement to their latest recordings.

It was re-issued Bristol Archive Records on vinyl in 22nd April 2013 to coincide with Record Store Day.  The release on vinyl was strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide. 400 copies were made be available for Record Store Day, 22nd April 2013, at participating retailers and feature a facsimile of the original sleeve, whilst 100 copies will be available directly from Bristol Archive Records and very select retailers and feature a unique handmade screen printed sleeve as well as being individually numbered, a very special edition.

This was the first time that this album was available on vinyl for twenty-five years and demand outstripped supply.

This release was made available by Nubian Records on digital platforms. Here is an opportunity to stream or download either this song or the full album that is still in great demand from old and new fans alike.