Max Romeo and the Upsetters - War In a Babylon

This album is a classic reggae album which must simply be listened to
Listen to (and Download) the album 'War in a Babylon', by Max Romeo and the Upsetters.

Max Romeo (born Maxwell Livingston Smith, 22 November 1947, St. D'Acre, St. James, Jamaica) is a reggae and roots reggae recording artist who has achieved chart success in his home country, and in the UK. Romeo was responsible for launching an entirely new sub-genre of reggae, whose overtly suggestive lyrics caused an outcry but took a massive hold of the music scene regardless. Yet innuendo was the least of the singer's stylings, previous to the release of his infamous "Wet Dream," Romeo had garnered a string of sweet hits with the vocal trio the Emotions. And once the nocturnal naughtiness faded, the singer established himself as one of the most important figures in the roots scene. (Wikipedia).

War Ina Babylon is perhaps the most famous and cult album by Max Romeo and Lee Perry's backing band The Upsetters, released in 1976. Along with The Heptones' Party Time and Junior Murvin's Police and Thieves, this album can be seen as part of a Black Ark Lee "Scratch" Perry produced "holy trinity". Highlights include the moving "One Step Forward", "War Ina Babylon", the militant "Chase The Devil", and the "film noir" reggae of "Norman".

One step Forward- Max Romeo and the Upsetters

Max Romeo & The Upsetters - I chase the Devil

Albums

* A Dream (1969) Pama
* Let The Power Fall (1971) Dynamic
* Revelation Time (1975) Tropical Sound Tracs
* War Ina Babylon (1976) Island
* Reconstruction (1979) Island/Dynamic
* Rondos (1980) King Kong
* Holding Out My Love to You (1981) Shanachie
* I Love My Music (1982) Solid Groove
* One Horse Race (1985), Island in the Sun
* Transition (1989) Rohit
* Fari - Captain of My Ship (1992) Jah Shaka
* Our Rights (1992) Jah Shaka
* Cross or the Gun (1995) Tappa Zukie
* Selassie I Forever (1999) Mafia & Fluxy
* Love Message (1999) Warriors
* Something is Wrong (1999) Warriors
* In This Time (2001) 3D (Max Romeo & Tribu Acustica)
* Pocomania Songs (2007) Ariwa Sounds


Compilations

* Max Romeo Meets Owen Gray At King Tubby's Studio (1984) Culture Press (with Owen Gray)
* Max Romeo and the Upsetters (1989)
* Wet Dream (1993) Crocodisc
* McCabee Version (1995) Sonic Sounds
* Open The Iron Gate (1999) Blood & Fire
* The Many Moods of Max Romeo (1999) Jamaican Gold
* Pray For Me: The Best of Max Romeo 1967-73 (2000) Trojan Records
* Perilous Times (2000) Charmax
* On The Beach (2001) Culture Press
* The Coming of Jah (2002) Trojan
* Ultimate Collection (2003) (compiled by David Katz)
* Holy Zion (2003) Burning Bush
* Wet Dream: The Best of Max Romeo (2004) Trojan
* Crazy World of Dub (2005) Jamaican Recordings
* Max Romeo Sings Hits of Bob Marley (2006), Jet Star

Robin Williamson - Myrrh

Robin Williamson (born 24 November 1943, Edinburgh) is a Scottish multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, songwriter and storyteller, who first made his name as a founder member of The Incredible String Band.

Robin Williamson released his first solo album, Myrrh, in 1972, when still a member of the Incredible String Band. The album begins with a composition by a long-time friend of Williamson, Ivan Pawle (of the band Dr. Strangely Strange). 'Strings in the earth and air' is a perfect opener, one of the most beautiful songs Robin has ever recorded. It sets the mood for the album perfectly, invoking images of music, nature, love and beauty.

Band members:
Robin Williamson - Guitar, Chinese Flute, Vocals, Oboe, Jew's-Harp, Gong, Bazouki, Cello, Violin, Piano, Bass, Flute, Guitar, Mandolin
Janet Williamson - Organ, Piano
Stan Lee Buttons - Organ, Pedal Steel, Bass
Suzie W.T. - Flute, Soloist
David Campbell - Viola
Gerry Conway - Drums

Jack Miller - Art Direction
Mitch Walker - Design, Photography
Mike Blore - Art Direction

Tracks:
1. Strings in the Earth and Air
2. Rends-Moi Demain
3. The Dancing of the Lord of Weir
4. Will We Open the Heavens
5. Through the Horned Clouds
6. Sandy Land
7. Cold Harbour
8. Dark Eyed Lady
9. Dark Dance
10. I See Us All Get Home

Download Complete Album - Myrrh - Robin Williamson
Megaupload alternative download link

 

Listen to Robins wonderful version of  "The Parting Glass"

Biography;

He lived in the Portobello area of Edinburgh, and attended George Watson's College before leaving at the age of 15 to become a professional musician. At first he performed in local jazz bands, with Gerard Dott (a later member of the ISB) and others, before turning to traditional music as a singer and guitarist. By 1961 he had met and begun sharing a flat with Bert Jansch, and in 1963 they traveled together to London to play the metropolitan folk circuit.[1]

By 1965 he had returned to Edinburgh and formed a duo with Clive Palmer, specialising in fiddle and banjo arrangements of traditional Scots and Irish songs. Joe Boyd signed them to Elektra Records in 1966, by which time they had recruited third member Mike Heron. As resident band at Clive’s Incredible Folk Club in Glasgow, they called themselves the Incredible String Band.

Between 1966 and 1974 the Incredible String Band, based around the duo of Williamson and Heron, released some 13 albums, becoming in the UK one of the most popular, best-loved and influential groups of the era. The group also included Williamson's sometime girlfriend Licorice McKechnie.

Williamson released his first solo LP, "Myrrh", in 1971 when still a member of the Incredible String Band. After the band split up in 1974, he began living in Los Angeles and, for a while, turned his attention to writing, co-writing an espionage novel, "The Glory Trap".

By 1976 he had returned to music, forming The Merry Band with Sylvia Woods (Celtic harp), Jerry McMillan (fiddle), and Chris Caswell (flutes, and wire-strung harp). They toured extensively for three years throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, and released three albums "Journey’s Edge", "American Stonehenge", and "A Glint At The Kindling".

After the breakup of the Merry Band, Williamson returned to the UK and started to tour solo, offering sets dominated by traditional stories set to song. Releases of this period include "Songs of Love and Parting" and "Legacy of the Scottish Harpers". Williamson's concern with the British bardic tradition also manifested itself in several books and tapes containing spoken renditions of traditional tales. He has also written a tutorial book of English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Fiddle Tunes (ISBN 0-8256-0165-7) as well as one for the penny whistle (ISBN 0-8256-0190-8).

Williamson's live album with John Renbourn, 'Wheel Of Fortune' (1995), was nominated for a Grammy, (as was the ISB album 'Hangman's Beautiful Daughter', in 1968).

In the late 1990s he took part, with Palmer and Heron, in a reformed ISB. Williamson left the band some time around the start of 2003 - some rumours had it that he was forced out in acrimonious circumstances. The reformed band disbanded once again in 2006.

Meanwhile Williamson resumed his solo career, notably on record with a series of albums for the ECM label. "Seed-at-zero' (2000), 'Skirting The River Road' (2002) and 'The Iron Stone' (2006) featured him combining his own words with those of the likes of Dylan Thomas, William Blake, and Walt Whitman. Musically these records show him increasingly working in a fusion style (similar in some ways to the avant-garde work of the Incredible String Band in the 60's) which incorporates folk, jazz, Renaissance, Classical and Eastern influences. A group of distinguished jazz musicians accompany Williamson on the two most recent ECM records, notably violist Mat Maneri, bassist Barre Phillips, Swedish multi-instrumentalist Ale Moller, and English sax player Paul Dunmall.

Wikipedia

 

 Discography;

Solo Albums
* - Myrrh (1972)
* - Journey's Edge (1977) (with The Merry Band)
* - American Stonehenge (1978) (with The Merry Band)
* - A Glint At The Kindling (1979) (with The Merry Band)
* - Songs of Love & Parting (1981)
* - The Fisherman's Son And The Gruagach of Tricks (1981)
* - Prince Dougie And The Swan Maiden (1982)
* - Rory Mor And The Gruagach Gaire (1982)
* - Music for the Mabinogi (1983)
* - Selected Writings (1984)
* - Five Humorous Tales of Scotland and Ireland (1984)
* - The Dragon Has Two Tongues (1985)
* - Five Celtic Tales of Enchantment (1985)
* - Five Legendary Histories Of Britain (1985)
* - Five Bardic Mysteries (1985)
* - Five Tales of Prodigies and Marvels (1985)
* - Legacy of the Scottish Harpers (1986)
* - Legacy of the Scottish Harpers Volume Two (1986)
* - Winter's Turning (1986)
* - Songs For Children of All Ages (1987)
* - Ten of Songs (1988)
* - Music For The Newly Born (1990)
* - Wheel Of Fortune (1995, with John Renbourn)
* - The Island Of The Strong Door (1996)
* - Songs For The Calendarium (1996)
* - Farewell Concert At McCabe's (1997, with The Merry Band)
* - Mirrorman's Sequences (1997)
* - Celtic Harp Airs And Dance Tunes (1997)
* - Memories/Erinnerungen (1997)
* - Dream Journals (1997)
* - Bloomsbury 1997 (1998, with Mike Heron)
* - Gems Of Celtic Story 1 (1998)
* - Ring Dance (1998)
* - Gems Of Celtic Story 2 (1998)
* - A Job Of Journey Work (1998)
* - The Old Fangled Tone (1999)
* - Music For Macbeth (1999)
* - At The Pure Fountain (1999, with Clive Palmer)
* - The Seed-at-Zero (2000)
* - Just Like The Ivy (2000, with Clive Palmer)
* - Bloomsbury 2000 (2001, with reformed ISB)
* - Carmina (2001)
* - Skirting The River Road (2002)
* - Gems Of Celtic Story 3 (2002)
* - The Iron Stone (2006)
* - The Celtic Bard (2008)
* - Just Like The River And Other Songs For Guitar (2008)

With Incredible String Band
* The Incredible String Band (Elektra, June 1966)
* The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion (Elektra, July 1967)
* The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (Elektra, March 1968)
* Wee Tam and the Big Huge (Elektra, November 1968)
* Changing Horses (Elektra, November 1969)
* I Looked Up (Elektra, April 1970)
* U (Elektra, October 1970)
* Be Glad for the Song Has No Ending (Island, March 1971)
* Relics (Elektra compilation)
* Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air (Island, October 1971)
* Earthspan (Island, November 1972)
* No Ruinous Feud (Island, March 1973)
* Hard Rope and Silken Twine (Island, March 1974)
* Seasons They Change (Island compilation, 1976)
* BBC Radio 1 Live on air (1990, CD)
* BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert (1992)
* The Chelsea Sessions 1967 (1997, CD)
* First Girl I Loved: Live in Canada 1972 (Trojan Records, 2001, CD)
* nebulous nearnesses (2004, CD)
* Across The Airwaves: BBC Radio Recordings 1969-74 (2007, CD)

For solo releases, see under Robin Williamson and Mike Heron.
[edit] Singles (UK only)

* "Way Back In The 1960s" / "Chinese White" (Elektra, 1967)
* "Painting Box" / "No Sleep Blues" (Elektra, 1967)
* "Big Ted" / "All Writ Down" (Elektra, 1969)
* "This Moment" / "Black Jack Davy" (Elektra, 1970)
* "Black Jack David" / "Moon Hang Low" (Island WIP 6145, 11/1972)
* "At The Lighthouse Dance" / "Jigs" (Island WIP 6158, 2/1973)


Bibliography;
Robin Williamson
* - English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Fiddle Tunes (1976)

Robin Williamson
* - Penny Whistle Book (1977)

Robin Williamson
* - Five Denials on Merlin's Grave: A Poem With Annotations (1979)

Dan Sherman and Robin Williamson
* - The Glory Trap (1981) (novel)

Robin Williamson
* - Holy Howlers (1987)
* - The Craneskin Bag: Celtic Stories and Poems (1989)
* - Wise and Foolish Tongue: Celtic Stories and Poems (1991)

Robin Williamson and John Matthews
* - From the Isles of Dream: Visionary Stories and Poems of the Celtic Renaissance (1993)

R.J. Stewart and Robin Williamson
* - Celtic Bards, Celtic Druids (1996)

Robin Williamson and John Matthews
* - The Bardic Source Book: Inspirational Legacy and Teachings of the Ancient Celts (1998)

Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking

Unhalfbricking is the third album by British folk rock band Fairport Convention, released in 1969. It is seen as a transitional album in their history and marked a further musical move away from American influences towards more traditional English folk songs that had begun on their previous album, What We Did On Our Holidays, and arguably reached its peak on the follow-up, Liege & Lief, released later the same year.

Although featuring several at the time unreleased Bob Dylan songs, the album also marked Sandy Denny's maturation as a singer and songwriter, including "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?", a song covered by many other performers and now regarded as a classic.

The only traditional song on the album, "A Sailor's Life", is seen as pivotal in the development of English folk rock music.

Changes in the line-up of the band, due to not only to its musical direction but also to external events, mark this album as a turning point in the band's history. 1969 was a prolific year for Fairport Convention; from What We Did On Our Holidays to Liege & Lief within twelve months represented a major development.

 

The album also gave the band their first UK chart success, reaching number 12 in the UK album chart (the second highest position in the band's entire career), while the single release, "Si Tu Dois Partir", achieved number 21 in the UK singles chart
Fairport Convention "Time will show the wiser (1967)

Personnel:
Sandy Denny - Vocals, Harpsichord
Richard Thompson - Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Electric Dulcimer, Piano Accordion, Organ, Backing Vocals
Ashley Hutchings - Bass, Backing Vocals
Simon Nicol - Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Electric Dulcimer, Backing Vocals
Martin Lamble - Drums, Stacked Chair Backs on "Si Tu Dois Partir"

with:
Ian Matthews - Backing Vocals on "Percy's Song"
Dave Swarbrick - Fiddle on "Si Tu Dois Partir", "A Sailor’s Life", and "Cajun Woman" and Mandolin on "Million Dollar Bash"
Trevor Lucas - Triangle on "Si Tu Dois Partir"
Marc Ellington - Vocals on "Million Dollar Bash"

Tracks:1. Genesis Hall
2. Si Tu Dois Partir
3. Autopsy
4. A Sailor's Life
5. Cajun Woman
6. Who Knows Where the Time Goes?
7. Percy's Song
8. Million Dollar Bash

Download Complete Album- Unhalfbricking

After their previous album had seen original singer Judy Dyble replaced by Sandy Denny, the group's male vocalist Iain Matthews left during the recordings for Unhalfbricking,and Denny took a more central role. The band had been invited to Bob Dylan's London music publishers to hear then unreleased tracks from The Basement Tapes, and of this the band's bassist, Ashley Hutchings, said "this strange, kind of mish-mash of styles and drawled lyrics came out of the speakers. It sounded kind of subterranean; there was this strange cloak of weirdness covering them. We loved it all. We would have covered all the songs if we could."

n the event, versions of "Percy's Song", "Million Dollar Bash" and "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" (retitled "Si Tu Dois Partir") were used on the album. The French lyrics for the latter were created during the interval of a performance at the Middle Earth Club.According to guitarist Simon Nicol "I think the boredom factor was one of the reasons we came up with this wacky idea. Three or four punters joined us in the dressing room; they were either French visitors or students of French working in London, and happened to be there that night."

Meanwhile Denny's "Autopsy", "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" (which would become her signature song), and the lengthy "A Sailor's Life" were also included. The latter track had been a traditional English folk song collected by A. L. Lloyd and already part of Denny's club repertoire. In particular, the version on Unhalfbricking has been described as "the turning point of Fairport's history from earlier contemporary Americana to English songs" and by Allmusic's Richie Unterberger as a "clear signpost to the future".

Guitarist Richard Thompson contributed two compositions to the album. The opening track, "Genesis Hall", is a slow song in waltz-time, on which he played dulcimer, and Sandy Denny provided the vocals; it was the B-Side of the single release.Genesis Hall was the nickname of the former Bell Hotel in Drury Lane, which had become a squat in early 1969 and later became noted for a mass eviction by the police. "Cajun Woman", which opens the second side of the album, features Dave Swarbrick's fiddle-playing in his first work with Fairport.

Sandy Denny - Who Knows where the Time Goes

Links;

Sandy Denny Albums