Tapper Zukie was one of the most popular roots artists of the mid to late '70s, both here in the UK and in Jamaica. In 1976 he was the warm up act on Patti Smith's UK tour.
This 1978 album sees the man in fine form toasting over some familiar tracks (I'm sure many listeners will recognise the fabulous 'Ghetto Rock').
Tracklist:
01 Peace In The Arena
02 The City Of Mount Zion
03 Ghetto Rock
04 Tribute To Steve Biko
05 Dangerous Woman
06 Get On The Double
07 Praise Jah In Gladness
08 Peace In The City
09 Bimbo Bimbo
This incredible record contains, without any doubt, my favourite recordings of Balinese gamelan music. Beautifully measured, stately music that just seems to stand outside of time.
I first bought this album in '85 or '86 having read something in NME about Jeffrey Lee Pierce and his self-destructive ways. I made the purchase at the local record shop in Bishop Auckland, Brothertons Music, at the time an old fashioned place that also sold sheet music. David, the shop assistant always wore a suit and the other assistant, Ruby, was good friends with my grandmother. Strange that this dusty place should have held so many weird and wonderful records and played such a crucial part in my musical education. I would regularly spend my paper round money in there and around the same time I bought Captain Beefheart's Safe as Milk on cassette and Fresh by Sly and the Family Stone.
In the mid '90s when I moved South, many of my records were sold and this was one of those that went, but its also long been one of the records that I regretted selling so I was very pleased to find it again recently, and you'll be pleased too as I'm now able to share it here.
The Gun Club were a seminal '80s blues-punk band who, despite a number of line-up changes, managed to channel the spirits of all the dead outlaw rock 'n' rollers through their primal rockabilly howl. This is a stunning live recording of a band at the height of their powers. This line-up sees The Cramps' Kid Congo Powers taking most of the lead guitar and Patricia Morrison (later of the Sisters of Mercy) on bass duty. The performances are electric from start to finish.
Here's some live footage from 1984:
Tracklist:
01 Eternally Is Here
02 Bad America
03 Stranger In Town
04 Gila Monster, New Mexico / Preaching Blues
05 Sleeping In Blood City
06 Goodbye Johnny
07 Give Up The Sun
The brothers Bouchenak were a proto-Rai group from Morocco formed in the late '70s and disbanded in the late '80s. This album was released in 1984 and it contains some rocking cuts, complete with gnawa qraqabs and bubbly synths.
As usual, any more info on this group or these songs would be much appreciated.
The music is, of course, for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear then go out and try and buy stuff...or something, give money to a down on his luck musician, or sponsor a good busker, it may be the start of something beautiful.
If any of the zips die, then post a comment and i'll try to repost. And leave comments, abuse, name calling, any response is welcome.
I think all of the albums posted are currently unavailable, but if this is not the case we'll remove the offending files.
