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In addition to the original classic tracks that originally made up this album, like ‘War’, ‘Struggling’ and ‘Blackheart Man’, Nubian have added 2 bonus tracks, ‘Chanting For Freedom’ and’ Confusion’.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

Tracklist:

Culture – Why Am I A Rasta Man
Cocoa Tea – Young Lover
J Boog – So Far Gone
Marlon Asher – Ganja Farmer
Ginjah – Black Sugar
I Wayne – Bleacher
Ky-Mani Marley Feat. Gail Gotti – Slow Roll
Erup Ft Keida - Baby Girl
Vybz Kartel - Warn Him 
Charly Black - Drive Me Crazy
Mavado – Tie Yuh
Beres Hammond – Can You Play Some More
Tanya Stephens – Goggle
Etzia – Tease Me
Gappy Ranks – Dancehall Original
Chaka Demus & Pliers – Murder She Wrote
Cutty Ranks – A Who Seh Me Dun
Shaggy Feat. Mavado – Girls Dem Love We
Busy Signal – Picante
2 Play Feat. Raghav & Jucxi – So Confused
Vybz Kartel – Love Dem/Gallis Anthem


Why Am I A Rasta Man - Reggae/Dancehall Mix

The Itals - Jah Glory Version

Burning Spear- Free Black People

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

Following the 2011 release of “Black Roots – The Reggae Singles Anthology” and the 2012 rerelease of “All Day All Night” deluxe version by reissue label Bristol Archive Records, Black Roots and their label Nubian Records have now teamed up with Bristol Archive's parent label Sugar Shack Records to release their brand new album “On The Ground”.

It may be more than twenty years since the original line up were together in the studio, but for their new record they've picked up where they left off and are right back in that classic Black Roots groove that will keep their existing fans happy and appeal to a whole new generation of reggae lovers, many of whom weren't born when Black Roots released their string of classic records.

The music is entertaining and upbeat, but it is still roots music. These songs have a social message that is just as relevant in the troubled world we inhabit in 2012 as the band's songs were during the ups and downs of the 1980s. 

Opening track “I Believe” makes it clear that for all the progress we've made, for many people life today is just as hard as it's ever been. Surviving the system isn't easy. Second track “Pompous Way” is also concerned with society, but this time with fixing it and reaching out to the next generation rather than labelling them as the problem. The music itself harks back to Black Roots of old and other than the mention of the digital age could easily have been recorded thirty years ago.

Another song that sounds like it could have come from the band's first incarnation is “Militancy” definitely sounding like Black Roots of old and also touching on the theme of slavery, a theme that receives further exploration in the aptly titled “Slavery” recalling the memory of the great evil that befell millions of Africans and their descendants.

There are more upbeat songs recalling a life in rural Jamaica with “Long Long Ago” or celebrating  Africa with “Oh Mama Africa.” In fact whatever the message the band are delivering they still do it with great and enjoyable music, the new members of the band more than earning their place alongside the founding fathers.

More than three decades after they formed, Black Roots are back with a brand new 17 track CD album that defies the passage of time and will appeal to all reggae fans, was released on September 10th on CD, limited edition vinyl and digital download, available from all good retailers.

On The Ground

Militancy

“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.

Black Roots

What Them A Do

Africa

VP Records brings four essential 7-inch singles back to the market, crossing boundaries from the Rastafari anthem "None A Jah Jah Children" to Glen Brown and Richie McDonald's deep roots scorcher "Realize"; and a pair of massive Junjo Lawes productions featuring the Roots Radics: Johnny Osbourne's eternal hit "Ice Cream Love" and Hugh Mundell's much sought "Rasta Have The Handle." All feature superlative dub mixes on the flip, hallmarks of reggae's golden era.

None A Jah Jah Children

None A Jah Jah Children No Cry - Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus

Joe Higgs - More Slavery

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Why Am I A Rasta Man - Reggae/Dancehall Mix

Tesfaye Freyer

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