SiamRootsical Roots Riddim Broadcaster: Jah Woosh Special

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Jah Woosh Special - Chant Freedom Mixtape 1971-1981

Chant Freedom... Tribute to the late, great Jah Woosh, who passed away in 2011. 139 tracks of pure Wooshishness inna 12'' discomix style with vocal cuts, versions and King Tubby dubs. Backed by most of the 70s Jamaican rhythm sections and some from the UK, bands like The Morwells, The Aggrovators, The Revolutionaries, The Mighty Cloud Band, Skin, Flesh & Bones, Soul Syndicate, The Sunshot Band, Santic All-Stars, Rupie Edward's All-Stars and, later, The Roots Radics, Creation Rebel and On-U Sound's Singers & Players.

Jah Woosh made his name in the early 70s alongside contemporaries Big Youth, Jah Lloyd, I-Roy, Prince Jazzbo, Jah Stitch, Dillinger, Prince Hammer and Dr. Alimantado. Unlike most of these others he didn't use a trademark whoop or phrase that made him immediately recognisable and it takes a listen or two to ketch his style. He is perhaps best described as a CHANTER, with religious and spiritual selections his specialty (demonstrated on his frequent returns to Psalm 121). He is closest in style to Jah Lloyd (Jah Lion) and early Dr. Alimantado though at times sounds like U-Roy, Stitch or Jazzbo and adopts I-Roy's nursery rhyme delivery to good effect. He also tried his hand as a singer. Jah Woosh half retired from the music industry and repatriated to Ghana in the 1980s where he continued to control and re-issue his music on his Original label. He later resumed recording intermittently, doing occasional stageshows and soundsystems in the UK and Europe.

CD1 focuses more on the deejay's earlier output from 1971 into the mid-70s with some great productions from the likes of Rupie Edwards, Phil Pratt, Sidney Crooks, Keith Hudson, Bunny Lee, Leonard Chin, Dudley Swaby, Tappa Zukie, as well as the man's own releases after 1976. Also featuring Johnny Clarke, Horace Andy, Keith Hudson, The Morwells, King Tubby, Carl Malcolm, Junior Ross & The Spear, The Heptones, Bobby Kalphat, Keith Poppin, I-Roy, The Ethiopians, Creation Rebel, Errol Holt and Dino Perkins. Crucial riddim like Envious, Don't Think About Me, Miss Wire Waist, Irie Feelings, Party Time, Firestick, Letter To Mummy & Daddy, Fattie Bum Bum, Taxi, Buy You A Ring, Stalag...

CD2 is mostly classic roots rockers from the mid-late 70s onwards. More self-productions, particularly with the Mighty Cloud Band and Creation Rebel on Woosh's Original, K&B, Yard International and September labels, as well as releases from Striker Lee, Santic, Lloyd Campbell, King Sounds, Yabby You, Junior English, Tappa Zukie, Pete Weston, Jah Shaka and Adrien Sherwood. Features: Horace Andy, King Sounds, Ras Ibuna, Yabby You & The Prophets, Reggae George, Junior Ross & The Spear, The Twinkle Brothers, Dubwise, Errol Holt, Bim Sherman, Johnny Clarke, King Tubby, Dillinger, Jah Stitch, Prince Alla, Sly & Robbie, Jah Shaka, Singers & Players, Creation Rebel and Sis Bee. Riddim like Drum Song, A Serious Thing, Top Ranking, Please Be True, Love Forever, Blood Ago Run, Leggo Violence, Black Wadada, Zion Gate, and so...Extended versions of Blood Ago Run, A Weh You Come From, Diverse Doctrine and the almighty Jah Is The Ruler Discomix