Jah Stitch - Dread Inna Jamdown-CD
Artist : Jah Stitch
Album : Dread Inna Jamdown-CD
Year : 2007
Genre : Reggae
Source : CDDA
Label : Kingston Sounds
CatNr : KSCD012
URL : www.jamaicanrecordings.com
Date : 25-07-2007
Quality : VBR
Size : 50,3 MB
Time : 50:14 min
01 dread inna jamdown 03:02
02 dem seek natty everywhere 03:03
03 make a joyful noise 03:11
04 serious thing 04:32
05 the best by any test 02:56
06 natty dread skanking 03:41
07 from dusk to dawn 04:28
08 hold on tight 03:39
09 love for everyone 03:06
10 rock to the beat 03:13
11 natty going on so 03:34
12 love together in harmony 03:14
13 tune into jumpers 04:21
14 channel 1 lesson 04:14
The mighty Jah Stitch is a legend in Jamaica,making the move as so many
ghetto youthÆs have tried, from Bad Man to Music Man. He embraced the DJ
Culture that he himself was an integral part of and put not one, but two
musical stamps on the format. His initial Big Youth sounding chants,
grow from working alongside the man on the mic. Big Youth being a fellow
artist that started around the same time as Mr Stitch. The second almost
spoken vibe came about after a well documented incident that led to him
being shot. He lived to tell the tale and cut some of the finest Roots,
DJ cuts, with his new vocal style that many have copied but few have
surpassed.
Jah Stitch (Born. Melbourne James,1949, Kingston, Jamaica) started out
at a young age listening to the tunes playing out around Princess
Street. He came from the same singing yard as singers Roy Shirley,
Stranger Cole and The Heptones. His induction to the Sound System scene
was put into action when he and a young friend called Finger, started
their sound system named Fingertone. This would evolve into the now
legendary Lord Tippertone Sound System, Jah StitchÆs role as leading DJ
would often lead many of his fellow sparing partners, to prominence in
the DJ Field. Another important meeting around this time, would be with
producer Bunny Lee. They would met at various studioÆs in the Kingston
area, where he would be picking up various dubs for playing purposes on
the sound system. A friendship was started,with suggestions of rhythms
that could be suitable for voicing over. Bunny Lee seeing that reggae
was moving towards this musical style, became heavily involved and was
one of the main exponents in promoting and selling the music. Although
Bunny Lee would be responsible for many of Mr Stitch's releases, it fell
to producer Errol Holt to release Stitch's debut single 'Danger Zone'.
Jah StitchÆs split from the Tippertone Sound System and then starting
with the Black Harmony Sound, caused some resentment in an already
turbulent time in Jamaica. This would lead to the now infamous and
aforementioned incident, where Jah Stitch would end up being shot next
to Bob MarleyÆs shop in KingstonÆs Beeston Street. Word travelled around
that the shooting was fatal, even as far as England where Bunny Lee had
taken some of Jah StitchÆs material to be released. Miraculously even
with a bullet passing through the side of his mouth and out the other
side he didn't die. A picture taken at the hospital with John Holt and
Ken Boothe was sent out to reconfirm this fact. This would lead to what
we touched on earlier, the second stage of Mr Stitch's career, on
leaving hospital he cut the aptly named 'No Dread Can't Dead' where his
style is almost spoken, over crucial rhythms and again to fine effect.
We have selected some of his best known tracks to show his knack of
working a killer rhythm and dubbed vocal with an almost call and
response story telling style. The opening and title track to this set
Dread Inna Jamdown sees him working over John Holt's 'In The
Springtime'. The second cut Dem Seek Natty Everywhere works another John
Holt classic 'Forgot To Say I Love You'. Make A Joyful Noise uses Jackie
Mitto's 'Drum Song' as a back drop. Serious Thing plays with Johnny
Clarke's 'Playful Forget wise'. The Best By Any Test utilises Ken
Boothe's 'Moving Away', where Natty Dread Skanking roles over the
Midnight Special/Rock rhythm. From Dusk Till Dawn adds a little
something nice to the classic 'Three Piece Suit' rhythm, Hold on Tight
turn's around Johnny Clarke's version of 'I'll Be Lonely' and Love For
Everyone uses Johnny's brother's Fish Clarke's cut of the same name. Pat
Kelly's 'Kiss Me Each Morning' gets turned into Rock To The Beat and
Jackie Mitto's instrumental 'Autumn Season' becomes Natty Going On So
and Live Together In Harmony incorporates Pat Kelly's timeless 'No
Love'. The CD edition carries two extra cuts, Tune Into Jumpers works
over Johnny Clarke's 'Empty Chair' and Channel 1 Lesson breaths new life
into Derrick Morgan's 'Blazing Fire'.
After some hits in the 1970's, the 1980's would see a short name change
to Major Stitch. But we feel that his best loved monicker Jah Stitch
serves the man well. So sit back and enjoy some fine DJ Cuts from the
unstoppable Mr Stitch.... No Dread Can't Dead... indeed...