things and time will tell.

Jah Thomas ‎– Gwan A School Midnight Rock Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Jamaica, (1981/1982?) Info Chicago teachers and students are heavily on my mind as they've just started returning to in-person school (under stressful and unfair conditions, natch)... I figured a return to our occasional series of school house reggae tunes was in order. "Gwan A School" is Jah Thomas self-production released on his own Midnight Rock label, likely in 1981 or '82. Nkrumah Thomas landed hits both recording deejay cuts as Jah Thomas and as a producer for other classic dancehall vocalists. Here, Thomas rides a recut of the "Mean Girl" rhythm, named for Larry Marshall's track from the late 1960s(?). Jah Thomas comes with lyrics that are straight PSA meets early 80s dancehall: If you really can't spell / Then say a school gon' help / If you really can't write / Then say you really not right... A verb is a doing word /  Adjective is a describing word / A noun i...

I do intend to get back to some Chicago music (and even another visit to George Washington Carver Area High School ), but first another visit to JA and Billy Boyo, the "high school MC" from my last post. I'm passing on two of his strongest singles, including one of my favorite reggae records ever. Please, grab this! ________________________ In the early 1980s, the dancehall explosion in Jamaica brought scores of artists who, instead of chasing the international stardom of Bob Marley or the cult of roots reggae collectors abroad, brought the focus back home. Deejays and singers of the new reggae style were more focused on the hometown audience, rocking mics at the dance over the "version" (dub or instrumental) side of crackly, JA pressed 45s. The lyrics could touch on "roots and culture," but you were at least as likely to hear a 3 minute tribute to the virtues of Clarks shoes as repatriation themes or devout Rastafarian tributes. Both Billy Boyo s...