This is one of those deeper downbeat cuts that I just adore. Originally released as a split 45’ with Alton Ellis on the short-lived Bamboo label, it was written by one of the grandfathers of reggae (Coxsone Dodd) and features the backing instrumentals of my favorite group of the era - The Sound Dimensions.
It’s an onslaught of rhythm, with as rounded a bassline as you will ever find, that trademark slap back Studio One reverb on the guitar, and barley legible vocals. There is not much information on Duke Morgan and my guess is, as was common with the period, he stood in line to perform, was paid a pittance for his performance, and never heard from again.
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Those of you who know me know that I have a soft spot for psychedelic music, and it’s not because of the various drugs associated with it. I’ve actually never done any. For me, it’s always been the genre’s ability to take you somewhere else, often on a magical journey, wrapped in velvet or fancifully frilly Victorian clothes. It’s the escapist-ness of the music I adore, the almost magical quality, and this week’s song is one of my favorites.
Tintern Abbey (the band) was formed in 1967, recorded about nine tracks, and released a 45’ single on Decca’s sub label Deram. They were making waves in the London music scene under the same management of the Spencer Davis Group, but soon disbanded. That 45’ single has gone on to become one of the genre’s most sought after, taking on cult status. I adore the soft knee compression on the cymbals, the rounded bassline and slightly vibrating vocals. It’s swirly enough and fits in perfectly with the period. If you enjoy this song, former members Paul Brett and John Dalton self-released the remaining tracks with demos, but this pressing is also hard to find. Just about everyone knows Bow Wow Wow’s cover of “I Want Candy,” but in 1982 it was hard to find that song on the airwaves in the US. I would eagerly sit by the radio on weekends hoping Casey Kasem would announce it on American Top 40. He rarely did. It has of course become a classic.
Bow Wow Wow was initially the brainchild of London Impresario Malcolm Mclaren. After convincing Adam Ant’s guitarist and rhythm section to jump ship, an acquaintance found a young teenager singing in a laundromat and the rest is history. Their sound was memorable for Barbarossa’s drum patterns which was often considered the ''Burundi beat''. "Do You Wanna Hold Me?" is from their 1983 album When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going. It was their third, and sadly, final album. I also think it’s their best. "Do You Wanna Hold Me?" is part love song, part social statement, and features their trademark bouncy interplay between the drums and bass. It also features Ashman’s shimmering guitar and Annabella Lwin’s powerfully youthful voice. I think it’s a classic 80’s song that never got that much attention this side of the Atlantic, and it's one I adore. |
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November 2024
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