RELEASES

Released 16th July 2012 on CD & Digital Download,
through Bristol Archive Records / Shellshock and all digital platforms.

1986 was a period of transition for reggae music. In Jamaica roots had been entirely displaced by dancehall which itself was progressing from the early digital sound into what would become known as ragga, whilst in the UK a more mellow approach inspired by the commercial success of lover’s rock held sway. Reggae’s twin capitals of Kingston and London couldn’t have been on more different paths and yet this was the year that a young Dan Ratchet would travel between both cities, absorbing their very different vibes and working with leading musicians from both scenes to record tracks for what was intended to be his first album.

Now after 26 years, that album “Jah Poor People” finally gets released on Bristol Archive Records on 16th July. Although he’d already gained plenty of experience on the live scene as a member of Full Force + Power amongst other things, Dan’s big opportunity came through his cousin Simbarashe Tongogara, a writer and producer who was very well known on the UK reggae scene and had extensive connections both in the UK and Jamaica. Spotting Dan’s talent Simba arranged for him to record the first sessions in London with backing provided by members of Aswad and Misty In Roots amongst others. An extended stay in Jamaica saw further sessions at Channel 1, Tuff Gong and Dynamic studios with first rate backing musicians including Earl “Chinna” Smith and Sly Dunbar. The final mixes were done by Steven Stanley best known for his work with Bob Marley and The Wailers.

Having completed the album, Simba and Dan faced the same difficulties experienced by so many other producers and artists and weren’t able to get the record released as they wished, the only evidence of all their hard work being the 12” release of “Sweet Rosie” on the Jamaican Startime label and a Zimbawean issue for “The Time Has Come”. Finally the music’s time has come and Bristol Archive Records are very pleased to be given the chance to showcase some of Dan’s first recordings.

When Simba gave us the master tapes, we discovered that although the album had been conceived firmly in the vinyl era they’d recorded plenty of versions and alternate takes meaning we were able to select 16 tracks for both a full length CD release and a digital download. The album itself ranges from the political themes of title track “Jah Poor People” and “Afrikana Policies” to joyful expressions of love with “Sweet Rosie” and “Girl You Want My Love” yet whatever the subject, you can’t miss the sweetness of Dan’s vocals. This album truly demonstrates Dan’s amazing voice, and it is rather fitting that this, his first album should give him the wider exposure that his hard work and talents have always deserved, even if it is a quarter of a century after he and Simba started the journey.

All tracks recorded at BBMC, London 1986 except tracks 15 and 16 recorded at Channel One, Jamaica 1985

All tracks engineered by Michael Campbell except tracks 15 and 16 recording engineer unknown

All tracks mixed by Steven Stanley at Dynamic Studio, Jamaica 1986 except tracks 11 and 12 mixed at BBMC, London 1986

Produced by Simbarashe Tongogara

Tracks 1,2,5,6,7,8,9,10,15,16 written by Simbarashe Tongogara

Tracks 11 and 12 written by Simbarashe Tongogara and Joe Brown

Tracks 3 and 4 written by Neil Williams and Barry Anderson

Tracks 13 and 14 written by Neil Williams

All tracks published by Archive Publishing Ltd 2012 www.archivepublishing.net

All tracks owned by Simbarashe Tongogara and exclusively licensed to Bristol Archive Records

Musicians: Drums: Sly Dunbar, Angus Drummie Zeb, Joe Munya Brown

Bass: Anthony Tsungi Henry, Chris Meredith

Keyboards: Anthony Asher Brissett, Clifton Bigga Morrison, Tarzan

Guitars: Earl Chinna Smith, Martin Tatta Augustine, Fozel Pendregras

Percussion: Harry T

Harmonies: The Mighty Tamlins, Tony Pops, Angus Drummie Zeb

Horns: Michael ‘Bammie’ Rose, Eddie ‘Tan Tan’ Thornton

Lead Vocals: Dan Ratchet

All tracks digitally transferred by Adrian at Great Bear, Bristol, UK

All tracks mastered by Steve Street February 2012

x Hide Release Information

BUNNY MARRETT- ‘I’M FREE’

Released 18th June 2012 as Vinyl LP (Limited Edition), CD & Digital Download,
through Bristol Archive Records / Shellshock and all digital platforms.

An influential figure on the Bristol reggae scene since the 1970s, Bunny Marrett has been shamefully neglected on record with just two tracks on the A side of a 1981 Shoc Wave 12” his sole output, although his compositions have fared somewhat better having been recorded and released by both Black Roots and Delroy Ogilvie.

Bristol Archive Record’s June 18th release of Bunny’s 1986 recorded album “I’m Free,” should go some way to making up for that oversight. As a bonus, Bunny is accompanied by legendary Bristol band The Startled Insects and equally legendary local jazz drummer Tony Orrell.

Bunny may be a reggae artist, but he is also a jazz lover and with first rate jazz accompaniment, the music they produced is a totally natural fusion of reggae and jazz that more than twenty five years after it was recorded still sounds totally fresh.  It’s naturalness, it’s simplicity and it’s beauty make this music timeless and with an appeal far beyond the traditional reggae market. This is joyful music created by musicians who were obviously having fun and that shines through. There is no artifice in this meeting of Jamaica’s and the United States’ greatest musical gifts, it just works as a perfect blend of styles.

Bunny has been singing since his childhood in Montego Bay and after relocating to Kingston was soon entering talent competitions. Moving to England whilst still in his teens, Bunny continued to sing as well as becoming involved with sound systems. He also embraced the local jazz scene as well as the diverse music of the West Indies including learning to play Piano with Laurel Aitken. Although his profile outside of Bristol may not have been high, by the time he recorded “I’m Free” he was an experienced writer and performer.

When they collaborated with Bunny the, Startled Insects had already made an impact with their first two records on Antenna and were about to be signed by Island. One of the Startled Insects, Richard Lewis, will be well known to fans of Bristol Archive Records as legendary engineer and producer UK Scientist. The remaining band members known as just the Insects, would go on to a very successful career scoring music for film and television, writing for Massive Attack and working with several leading UK acts.

Drummer Tony Orrell is something of a legend in Bristol music circles. In fact, having played with Spirit Level, Sphere, Andy Sheppard and Adrian Utley to name just a few, he’s a hugely respected musician on the UK jazz scene and has often utilised his talents for non jazz artists.

The vinyl LP contains the 1986 album as it was envisioned, four vocals, the uplifting title track “I’m Free”, Bunny’s tribute to Bob Marley with “Jazzy Reggae” making an excellent adaptation of the Wailers original. “Farm Diggin’” inspired by life in rural Jamaica and “Natural Princess” a pure love song, “Jazzy Reggae and “Farm Digging” are accompanied by their versions/dubs. For the CD issue we have added “Times Are Getting Harder” and “Hard Times (dub)” both tracks from Bunny’s Shoc Wave 12”.

x Hide Release Information

DAN RATCHET– ‘Afrikana Policies / Ekomé Is Unity’

Released 11th June 2012 as 12”Vinyl (Limited Edition) & Digital Download, through Bristol Archive Records / Shellshock and all digital platforms.

For the young Dan Ratchet 1986 was a busy year. Under the guidance of Simbarashe Tongogara, his cousin and a man with extensive experience in the music industry, he spent several months working in Kingston and London studios recording what was intended to be his first album. For various reasons, the only songs to see a release were “Sweet Rosie,” which saw a limited pressing on the Jamaican Star Time label and “The Time Has Come” which had been co written with Misty’s drummer Munya Brown and released in Zimbabwe as a double A Side, coupled with Misty In Roots “Wandering Wanderer.” The rest of the tracks remained in Simba’s safe keeping until Bristol Archive Records licensed the album for forthcoming release under the title “Jah Poor People”.

As a taster for the album, Bristol Archive Records will be releasing a double A sided four track 12” single and digital download of the tracks “Afrikana Policies” / “Ekomé Is Unity”, both sides featuring the vocal version immediately followed by dub versions in proper reggae discomix style. As luck would have it, after we scheduled the release we discovered that the two songs are Dan’s favourites from the album, what better recommendation could there be.

Recorded at the height of the campaign against apartheid “Afrikana Policies” was a message to the racist regime of P. W. Botha. Fortunately Dan’s hope for an end to apartheid was to come true sooner rather than later, but the song’s message still has resonance today and Dan’s sweet vocal belays the strong political message of the song.

“Ekomé Is Unity” is a song inspired by Bristol based cultural organisation Ekomé and was co-written by the man behind it, Barry Anderson. Although Ekomé concentrated on African music and dance, many of Bristol’s reggae musicians passed through its doors and Barry Anderson was a key figure in Bristol’s live reggae scene during the 1980s.

Simbarashe Tongogara allowed us access to all the session tapes and as we were lucky enough to find alternative versions of the non vocal tracks, we have made them exclusive to the 12” vinyl and digital download and we have included different mixes on the “Jah Poor People” album.

The 12” vinyl and digital download will be available from 11th June from all good retailers and on the usual digital platforms.

Tracks:

1. Afrikana Policies
2. Afrikana Policies Dub
3. Ekomé Is Unity
4. Ekomé Is Unity Dub

ARTIST: Dan Ratchet

TITLE: Afrikana Polices / Ekomé Is Unity

RELEASE DATE: 11th June 2012

LABEL: Bristol Archive Records

DISTRIBUTION: Shellshock

FORMAT: Format:  12” Vinyl (Limited Edition) and Digital Download

CAT NO: ARC254V

WEBSITE: www.bristolarchiverecords.com

CONTACT: Mike Darby, E: [email protected]  T: 07885 498 402

PRESS CONTACT: Garry Hutchinson, E : [email protected] T: 01429280582

x Hide Release Information

SMITH & MIGHTY
‘The Three Stripe Collection 1985 –1990’

Released on 14th May 2012 through Bristol Archive Records.

During the 1990s, “The Bristol Sound” became a global phenomenon with albums from Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky regularly placed high in polls of the best albums of the decade or indeed of all time. But for those in the know, “The Bristol Sound” had been defined at the tail end of the eighties with a string of releases from the studio of Rob Smith and Ray Mighty.

Perhaps if they hadn’t been so ahead of the field, had released an album instead of a run of singles or if their subsequent signing to a major label had worked out, the names Smith & Mighty would be as well known as those other Bristol artists.

It’s never too late to put the record straight and add another name to the pantheon of Bristol music greats, something they more than deserve. It is with genuine excitement that Bristol Archive Records announce the release of Smith & Mighty, “The Three Stripe Collection 1985-1990”.

The 17 tracks have been personally selected and compiled by Rob Smith and starts with “Walk On” and “Anyone” the two songs that announced the arrival of Smith & Mighty and heralded the coming of “The Bristol Sound”. The tracks selected, comprise a complete overview of the label’s two years as an independent, highlighting just how productive and creative the partnership was. They took musical ingredients from reggae, funk, hip hop, pop, house, soul and anywhere else that inspired them, added a huge amount of talent, skill, originality, a large portion of the Bristol vibe, some primitive digital technology and turned out cutting edge, boundary crossing dance music the likes of which had never been heard before. Being producers they used these songs to showcase the pool of local talent including; Jackie Jackson, Krissy Kriss, MC Kellz and DJ Lynx.

The majority of these tracks have never been re-released since they appeared as singles more than twenty years ago and for the first time they are gathered together as an album. “The Three Stripe Collection 1985-1990” will be issued on May 14th as a double vinyl LP, CD and digital download, to borrow from one of the song titles “This Is The Time” to finally acknowledge the Smith & Mighty legacy and as Krissy Kriss says in that very song, “This is what we call the Bristol Style……just listen”.

www.bristolarchiverecords.com

1. Walk On
2. Anyone
3. This Is The Time
4. Brain Scan
5. Always Be There (Instrumental)
6. Acid Off A Way (Part 1)
7. Acid Off A Way (Part 2)
8. Time to Rhyme – Featuring The General
9. The Dark, Dark House
10. Some good
11. Mix Me Down Maestro
12. Killa
13. Funky Man (You Better Run)
14. Different Chapter
15. Clash Of The Beats (Instrumental)
16. Anyone (Mellow Mix)
17. Walk On (Mellow Instrumental)

ARTIST: Smith & Mighty
TITLE: ‘The Three Stripe Collection 1985–1990’
RELEASE DATE: 14th May 2012
FORMAT: Double Vinyl LP, CD and Digital Download
LABEL: Bristol Archive Records
CAT #: ARC247V and ARC247CD
BARCODE: 5052571023914 / 5052571023921
GENRE: Dance, Electronic
CONTACT: Mike Darby, E: [email protected] T: 07885 498 402
PRESS CONTACT: Garry Hutchinson, E : [email protected] T: 07834713232.

x Hide Release Information

Released on 23rd April 2012 via Sugar Shack Records / Bristol Archive Records

For our first venture into reggae, Sugar Shack have teamed up with a new group, AMJ Dub Collective. The group’s name may be new to people, but their part in Bristol’s musical heritage goes back more than thirty years. Mark Spence and Andy Clarke, the band’s rhythm section are graduates of Zion Band from which they progressed to legendary Bristol band Restriction, (music from both bands can be found on our sister label Bristol Archive Records). The third member of the trio is producer John Hollis, another Restriction graduate and for their first release they’ve called on two other former band mates Eric ‘The General’ McCarthy on MC duties and Bristol legend Rob Smith for a brace of mixes.

The trio’s aim was to recreate the classic reggae sound that they grew up with, yet they aren’t afraid to bring things up to date where appropriate as well as bringing in some guest musicians for an added Latin twist that harks back to Jamaican music’s origins and close links with Cuba and the wider Caribbean.

The idea for these tracks came from Mark Spence who felt it was long overdue to document in song the City’s rich heritage of sound systems, their selectors, MCs and the posses who supported them, a tribute to the reggae scene that nurtured and inspired the members of AMJ Dub Collective as well as countless others over the decades.

The choice of Eric ‘The General’ on microphone duties was obvious as not only had he taken that role in Restriction, but was also an MC on legendary Bristol sound system Enterprise. His delivery has lost nothing in the last thirty years and it’s great to be able to hear him again.
Rob Smith needs no introduction and although his career has covered the “Bristol Sound”, drum and bass and dub step, he has never drifted far from his reggae roots, having been a founder member of both Zion Band and Restriction, it’s only natural that his mixing talents were called upon and he certainly delivers.

This is reggae for the twenty first century, yet reggae built on years of practice and skill, music played on real instruments by real musicians and not something programmed on a PC using the same tired digital effects, “Sound History” will be released as a limited edition 4 track 12” EP complete with picture sleeve, if only all new reggae was made with such care and attention.

Tracks:

Side 1
SOUND HISTORY 1
SOUND HISTORY 1 (version)

Side 2
SOUND HISTORY 2
SOUND HISTORY 2 (version)

Release ‘Sound History Volume One’
Artist AMJ Dub Collective
Format 12” Vinyl (Limited Edition)
Cat Nos FOD090V
Label Sugar Shack Records / Bristol Archive Records
Barcode: 5052571026717
Release Date 23rd April 2012
Genre Roots Reggae

x Hide Release Information

BLACK ROOTS
‘ ALL DAY ALL NIGHT ’ (Deluxe edition)
Released 23rd April 2012 on CD via Bristol Archive Records

Having previously teamed up with Nubian Records to release the critically acclaimed “Black Roots – The Reggae Singles Anthology”, Bristol Archive Records have once more been allowed into the Black Roots/Nubian tape vaults. This time we bring out a 25th anniversary deluxe CD edition of “All Day All Night”, the album that saw them teaming up with the Mad Professor and moving away from their original sound for a more polished version. Whilst the music may have been brought up to date, the band’s lyrics rarely strayed away from the same themes of social and historical justice that define the roots genre.

As well the original dozen vocal tracks, we’ve added several dub versions and the extended 12” mix of “Pin in the Ocean”. The music itself saw the band embracing new technology and production techniques to give themselves a more contemporary UK sound, expertly helmed by the UK’s leading reggae producer Neil Fraser. The dub mixes give another dimension to the music, the Mad Professor’s signature mixing style meaning these mixes wouldn’t seem out of place in his own “Dub Me Crazy” series.

A quarter of a century after its first release, “All Day All Night” is worthy of reissue and hopefully will find a new audience amongst fans who were too young for its original release as well as appealing to those who want to supplement their vinyl issues and enjoy the many extra tracks included on this CD. Bristol Archive Records have paid their usual attention to detail and to complement the newly re mastered music, the booklet will include many previously unpublished photos of the band.

Back together after many years, Black Roots are working on a new album to be released in late 2012 as well as performing around the UK. The fact that several of these songs have found a firm place in their live set, emphasises the quality of the writing and the need for this long overdue reappraisal. Bristol Archive Records have once again fulfilled their mission and rescued another deserving and high quality album from obscurity for a new generation of fans.
www.bristolarchiverecords.com

Tracks CD:
1. Realize
2. Pin In The Ocean
3. Release the Food
4. Freedom
5. Poor Children
6. Spare The Rod
7. Conman
8. Seeing Your Face
9. All Day All Night
10. Mighty Lion
11. Suffer Me Not
12. Childless Mother
Additional tracks:
13. Pin In The Ocean (Extended Mix)
14. Reality Dub
15. Folitrickshun Dub
16. Dub Free
17. Face Dub
18. Fertility Dub

Release: All Day All Night (Deluxe Edition)
Artist: Black Roots
Format: CD
Cat No: ARC252CD
Label: Bristol Archive Records
Barcode: 5052571026526
Release Date: 23rd April 2012
Genre: Roots Reggae
Website: www.bristolarchiverecords.com
Contact: Mike Darby, E: [email protected] T: 07885 498 402

x Hide Release Information

JOSHUA MOSES
JOSHUA TO JASHWHA – 30 YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS

Released 9th April 2012
as Limited Edition Vinyl with Insert, CD and Digital Download

From the beginning of Bristol Archive Records involvement in documenting Bristol’s neglected reggae heritage we’ve wanted to release an album that showcases the great talent of one of the local reggae scene’s mainstays, Joshua Moses.

Unfortunately, Joshua has no copies of the many recording sessions he has done in the years since his first session in 1978, and so it has taken more than eighteen months of painstaking research and the pursuit of numerous leads to gather together the fifteen tracks on “Joshua To Jashwha – 30 Years In The Wilderness”. The result is more than worth any effort involved on our part and is as strong a debut album as anyone could wish for, guaranteed to create a buzz among reggae fans worldwide.

The tracks on this album were recorded between 1978 and 2003 yet prior to Bristol Archive’s involvement the only tracks to have been previously released were the very scarce “Africa (Is Our Land) and it’s dub counterpart “Home”. The former, included on the “Bristol Reggae Explosion 1978-1983” and both tracks will be reissued on a very limited 12” in February 2012. The only other track to have previously seen the light of day is “Rise Up”, first heard on “The Bristol Reggae Explosion Volume 2”. Again we have included it’s dub counterpart and again we are releasing a very limited edition 12” alongside “Africa (Is Our Land)” in February 2012.

The other 11 tracks were recorded over a period of twenty years and include a trio of live recordings, but all the tracks have one thing in common, they are all roots tunes of the highest order and Joshua being a multi talented musician has created the music with as much skill as the lyrics. Having dealt with repatriation with “Africa (Is Our Land)”, we move on to “House of Dread”. One of the highlights of Joshua’s live shows in the early eighties, it welcomes all of humanity to embrace Rastafari in universal unity, although there is the caveat that the rich may not be welcome.

Evildoers come under attack in “Stick It Up” which attacks the hypocrites and parasites, (vampires and old pirates), who have caused so much suffering throughout history. We then move onto “Jah Time Has Come” that skilfully adapts Aswad’s  “Promised Land” rhythm as Joshua looks forward to the coming of Jah and universal justice. Another candidate for the twelve inch treatment is “Suffering Is In the Past” and it’s dub counterpart, a tale of life’s struggles and overcoming suffering. This is followed by “Rise Up”, Joshua’s call to fight oppression and injustice wherever it is found. “Steel” calls for love to triumph over evil. Joshua then proclaims his Rastafarian, Jamaican and African identity in “Bobby Wrong”. “Children Of the Light” and “Nothing To Lose” show Joshua’s vocal versatility as he uses a falsetto voice, whilst “Protection” says that if you embrace Jah he will guide and protect you and show you the way. The final track “Distant Guns” introduces a bluesy guitar giving the song a unique and extremely catchy feel as Joshua sings how love will triumph over adversity come judgement day. All the tracks are sung with the utmost conviction, by an artist who truly believes what he sings.

It’s likely that if Joshua had been recording in Kingston rather than Bristol he would have become an international star, his music avidly collected and lauded with praise. It may be rather belated, but this release should go a long way towards establishing Joshua’s reputation internationally.

The other purpose  of this release is to draw a line under Joshua Moses and see him reborn as Jashwha Moses, Jaswha has had many trials and tribulations over the decades and his lonely struggle for musical success has often been an uphill battle. Now with this career retrospective and a new name to tie in with his new, but equally spiritual material, he can hopefully look forward to the success and wider recognition his talents have always deserved.

www.bristolarchiverecords.com

ARTIST: Joshua Moses
TITLE: ‘Joshua to Jashwha – 30 Years In The Wilderness’
RELEASE DATE: 9th April  2012
LABEL: Bristol Archive Records
DISTRIBUTION: Shellshock
FORMAT: Format:  CD, Vinyl and Digital Download
CAT NO: ARC250CD and ARC250V

Track listing:

CD:
1.    Africa (Is Our Land)
2.    House Of Dread
3.    Stick It Up
4.    Jah Time Has Come
5.    Suffering In The Past
6.    The Suffering (Dub)
7.    Rise Up
8.    Rise Up (Dub)
9.    Steel
10.   Bobby Wrong
11.   Children Of The Light
12.   Nothing To Lose
13.   Protection
14.   Distant Guns
15.   Home (Version)

Vinyl:

Side A

1.  Africa (Is Our Land)
2.  Home (Version)
3.  House Of Dread
4.  Stick It Up

Side B

1.  Jah Time Has Come
2.  Rise Up
3.  Rise Up Dub
4.  Steel
5.  Protection
6.  Distant Guns

x Hide Release Information

COOL RUNNINGS
‘COOL RUNNINGS’
Released on 9th April 2012 on CD and Digital Download

With a career that spanned twelve years including the entire 1980s, Cool Runnings were one of Bristol’s longest lasting bands, yet their failure to gig beyond the West Country or release anything more than their lone twelve inch single means that they are also one of the City’s best kept musical secrets. Originally formed in Weston-Super-Mare by Keyboardist Mark Tuck and Guitarist George Condover, they immediately relocated to Bristol and recruited various local musicians including an experienced and talented singer, Winston Minott.
Although “Robin Hoods Of The Ghetto” was their solitary release, the band regularly recorded material throughout their career and fortunately thanks to the foresight of George and Mark in holding onto various master tapes, Bristol Archive Records are able to release the band’s self titled debut album “Cool Runnings”.
We’ve selected a dozen tracks recorded between 1983 and 1985 at various local studios, and a couple of live tracks, to give an idea of why the band were so popular in person. Although their music leans towards the more mellow end of the market, (Lovers Rock), music ideally suited to Winston’s soulful voice, the band were more than capable of writing good roots tunes, five of which are featured including the excellent “We Must Go Home”, “Children Of Zion” and the previously released “Robin Hoods Of The Ghetto”. Winston Minott had spent many years touring all over Europe with soul band The Invaders and many songs showcase his vocal talent, but a particular highlight has to be “Playhouse” an alternative recording of which can be found on “The Bristol Reggae Explosion Volume 3”.
Perhaps proper management would have seen Cool Runnings achieve the success and wider exposure that their combined talents and unique take on reggae undoubtedly deserved. Now twenty years after the members went their separate ways, Bristol Archive Records are pleased to fill in another missing piece of the City’s musical heritage with a band whose music fits perfectly with their name, Cool Runnings.

Tracklisting:

1. We Must Go Home
2. Playhouse
3. Children Of Zion
4. Give Me Some Interest
5. Robin Hoods Of The Ghetto
6. Lawman
7. You Can’t Pay Me
8. Is This For Real?
9. Permanent Diet
10. There You Go
11. Sunshine – Weep Willow Weep
12. Last Train

ARTIST: Cool Runnings
TITLE: ‘Cool Runnings’
FORMAT: Format : CD and Digital Download
LABEL: Bristol Archive Records
DISTRIBUTION: Shellshock
CAT NO: ARC248CD
RELEASE DATE: 9th April 2012

x Hide Release Information

THE BRISTOL REGGAE EXPLOSION 3 – THE 80’s PART 2

VARIOUS ARTISTS

15 Track CD, 8 Track LP AND Digital Download

Released 19th March 2012

The Bristol Reggae Explosion is back with a third volume. Whilst still happily exploring what was happening in the city during the 1980s, we’ve bent the rules and included a lone track from 1979. If anything, this third volume is our strongest so far, an amazing achievement when you consider that 11 of the 15 tracks are previously unreleased.

By popular demand, “Bristol Reggae Explosion Volume 3 – The 1980s Part II” has a strong leaning towards the roots side of reggae. The album opens with Revelation Rockers “Jah Praises”, recorded in 1979 and taken from the album of the same name that sees its first release on Bristol Archive Records in March 2012 exclusively on vinyl, so it’s inclusion on Volume 3 will be it’s only CD issue. Revelation Rockers soon changed their name to Talisman and as such they feature twice more with the unreleased (Cave mix) of “Takin’ The Strain” and “Lick & Run” taken from their debut album “Takin’ The Strain”, re-released on CD as a deluxe edition in March 2012.

We included Bunny Marrett’s only vinyl outing on Volume 2. He returns for Volume 3 with an incredibly soulful and atmospheric performance of “I’m Free.” An alternative version will be included on Bunny’s first album which Bristol Archive Records plan to release later in 2012, something we are really excited about.

Another act from whom we intend to release a long overdue album is Joshua Moses. ‘Stick It Up’ is a live recording that gives you some idea just how good his shows were and is a taster from the album ‘Joshua to Jashwha- 30 Years In The Wilderness’.  Maintaining the roots vibe are Zion Band, most of whom would go on to form Restriction but not before putting out a six track EP and we’ve included “Babylon Fire/Babylon Dub” from that scarce vinyl release.

Two more previously featured acts from Volume 2 are Alfred McIntosh, whose dubs were so well received last time, and Cool Runnings, with unreleased alternative versions of two songs taken from their forthcoming self-titled album on Bristol Archive Records.

Although very well known locally, Popsy Curious gets his introduction to the worldwide reggae community with his “Chant  Down Bobby Rome”. He makes a second contribution showing his lovers rock side, as one of the vocalists on Vibes’ “My Love”. The remaining artists Ron Green, Zapp Stereo, The Radicals and Dan Ratchet will be familiar to those who have our previous volumes. It is worth noting that Dan Ratchet is backed by members of Aswad for his take on the classic mid-eighties U.K. reggae sound. Bristol Archive Records are currently working on releasing Dan’s first album from which “Sweet Rosie” is taken as well as an album from the multi-talented Ron Green.

All in all, these 15 tracks provide a great overview of the diversity of ideas and styles that were bubbling away in 1980s Bristol. We have had a great response to our first two volumes and hopefully volume three will receive an equally positive welcome.

www.bristolarchiverecords.com

ARTIST: Various Artists
TITLE: The Bristol Reggae Explosion 3 – The 80’s Part 2
RELEASE DATE: 19th March 2012
LABEL: Bristol Archive Records
DISTRIBUTION: Shellshock
FORMAT:  CD, Limited Edition Vinyl LP and Digital Download
CAT NO: ARC249CD and ARC249V
BARCODE: 5052571025215 / 5052571025222
DOWNLOAD LINK (For review purposes only): to follow WEBSITE: www.bristolarchiverecords.com
CONTACT: Mike Darby, E: [email protected]  T: 07885 498 402
PRESS CONTACT: Garry Hutchinson, E : [email protected] T: 01429280582

Track listing:

CD Tracks

1. Revelation Rockers Jah Praises   (Taylor 1979) (p) Archive Publishing 1979
2. Bunny Marrett   I’m Free (Bunny Marrett 1983) (P) Copyright Control 1983
3. Talisman   Takin’ The Strain (Cave Mix 1983) (p) Hue & Cry/Warner Bros Music 1983
4. Joshua Moses Stick It Up   (Joshua Moses/Mikey Taylor 1983) (p) Archive Publishing 1983
5. Alfred McIntosh   Pain (Dub) (McIntosh/Talisman 1983) (p) Archive Publishing 1983
6. Babylon Fire / Babylon Dub Zion Band  (Reynold Duncan 1982) (p) Copyright Control 1982
7. Talisman   Lick & Run (Taylor 1983) (p) Hue & Cry/Warner Publishing 1983
8. Cool Runnings   You Can’t Pay Me   (Condover/Minott 1983) (p) Archive Publishing 1983
9. Ron Green featuring Glen Quake Then Came You (Dub) (Ron Green 1983) (p) Third Kind Music 1983
10. Popsy Curious   Chant Down Bobby Rome   (Barrett 1989) (p) Archive Publishing 1989
11. Zapp Stereo   The Mission   (Snow/Palaste 1984 ) (p) Copyright  Control 1984
12. Cool Runnings Playhouse   (Condover/Minott 1983) (p) Archive Publishing 1983
13. The Radicals   Soul Eternal   (John Carley 1980) (p) Archive Publishing 1980
14. Vibes My Love (Barrett/Minott/Morrison 1988 ) (p) Copyright Control 1988
15. Dan Ratchet   Sweet Rosie (Neil Williams 1985) (p) Archive Publishing 1985

Vinyl

Side A

1. “Jah Praises” – Revelation Rockers
2. “I’m Free” – “Bunny Marrett
3. “Takin’ The Strain” (Cave Mix) – Talisman
4. “Stick It Up” – Joshua Moses

Side B

1. Babylon Fire/Babylon Dub” – Zion Band
2. “Chant Down Bobby Rome” – Popsy Curious
3. “Pain (Dub)” – Alfred McIntosh
4. “Playhouse” – “Cool Runnings

x Hide Release Information

REVELATION ROCKERS – ‘JAH PRAISES’

Released 5th March 2012 as Limited Edition Vinyl LP and Digital Download

1979 was a good year for reggae and British reggae in particular. Lover’s rock went mainstream  with Janet Kay on Top Of the Pops and Aswad, Steel Pulse and Linton Kwesi Johnson all building on their debuts with strong second albums. Meanwhile the healthy live circuit gave bands an opportunity to make a living from music. One of those bands was Bristol’s Revelation Rockers who although founded in 1976, would not find real success until slight line-up changes and a change of name to Talisman which would see them become established as one of the UK’s finest live acts.

Until recently Bristol Archive Records had believed that no recordings of Revelation Rockers existed, so when we were handed a master tape we couldn’t wait to get it transferred and as the first people to listen to these tracks in nearly a third of a century we knew we’d discovered something rather special. The five songs on this album aren’t some rough demo tracks best forgotten, but a fully realised UK roots album worthy of standing alongside anything released at the time.

The reason why these tracks weren’t released in ’79 is long forgotten – perhaps it was the change of name or personnel, possibly the lack of funds or interest from record labels or maybe it was just that the music and Talisman took a slightly different direction. Whatever the reason, Bristol Archive Records is belatedly putting things right with the 5th March 2012 release of “Jah Praises” Revelation Rockers entire recorded legacy as a vinyl only LP, just as it would have been in ’79.

This record is a time capsule, dealing with the reality of life in late seventies Britain, racism, mass unemployment, industrial unrest and poverty. The title track is a song of praise to Jah driven by a relentless bass line backed up by horns, the sort of song that was almost compulsory for any seventies roots album. From praising Jah, the music tackles the loss of cultural identity caused by the legacy of slavery, “Give me back my culture, give me back my roots”, the track “Culture” makes its message clear. Perhaps borrowing a lyrical idea from the Wailers “Who Feels It Knows It” makes it clear you can’t truly relate to how others live their lives until you’ve actually experienced a similar situation yourself, a lesson still very much relevant today. “Wicked Dem” is a song that would go on to become one of the signature tunes of Talisman. Here we have its earliest recorded incarnation, very different from the version we all know, rawer, sparser, slower and heavier, but just as hard hitting and able to hold its own with the later Talisman cuts. The album ends with a change of mood, a love song, yet there’s nothing soft about “When You’re Away” as it’s driven along by a heavy contemporary backing with the added benefit of horns.

It’s a rare event to have the opportunity to hear an entire “lost” reggae album, even rarer when the music is this good. This record is essential for all fans of UK roots reggae and beyond, rewriting the story of what was happening on the Bristol and UK reggae scenes in 1979. Long overdue it may be, but Revelation Rockers finally get to secure their place in the music’s history.

x Hide Release Information