Reuploaded 11/28/2025
Anyone that's hung
around here long enough know I'm a big fan of On-U Sound's take on Dub. In the
late 70s & early 80s John Hassell was also making some great Dub reggae
recordings out of his house at 21
Nassau Road, London,
S.W. 13. Hassell, aided by his wife Felicity, cut reggae Dub-plates with such
finesse & understanding that the studio's output supplied Reggae Sound
Systems throughout the UK.
One of the artists he
worked with was the band Matumbi & the great reggae guitarist Dennis
Bovell.
Dennis Bovell (sometimes
known simply as Blackbeard) was born on May 22, 1953 at Saint
Peter, Barbados,
West Indies. He is a reggae guitarist, bass
player, & record producer. He was a member of the British reggae band
Matumbi. He also released Dub-reggae records under his own name as well as the
pseudonym 'Blackbeard'. He is most widely known for his decades-spanning
collaborations with Linton Kwesi Johnson.
Bovell moved with his family to South London
at the age of twelve. He became immersed in Jamaican culture, particularly Dub
music. He set up his own Jah Sufferah Sound System. Running the sound system
brought trouble from the police. Bovell was imprisoned for six months on
remand, but was later released on appeal. Bovell was friends at school with
future rock musicians including keyboardist Nick Straker & record producer
Tony Mansfield, both of whom later worked with Bovell.
Bovell also worked as an engineer at Dip Records, the precursor to the Lovers
Rock label. He was a key figure in the early days of the lovers rock genre. He
is also known for attempting to fuse disco rhythms with reggae, most notably
with the hit song "Silly Games" a minor hit written by Bovell & released by
Janet Kay.
He has produced albums by a wide variety of artists including I-Roy, The Thompson Twins, Sharon Shannon, Alpha Blondy, Bananarama, The Pop Group, Fela Kuti, The Slits, Orange Juice, & Madness.
As Blackbeard, Bovell released Strictly Dub Wize in 1978. I Wah Dub came out in 1980, carrying on Bovell's eclectic sensibilities.
On I Wah Dub, the
musicians are: Dennis Bovell – guitar, bass, piano, organ, percussion, &
drums; John Kpiaye – guitar & piano; Tony Robinson – piano & organ;
Nick Bailey – synthesizer; Julio Finn – harmonica; Patrick Tenyue – vocals
& melodica; & Angus Gaye & Jah Bunny – drums.
Blackbeard - I Wah Dub, More
Cut Records RDC 2002, 1980.
decryption code in comments
Side 1 -
Electrocharge
Steadie
Jazzz
Reflections
Side 2 –
Blaubart
Oohkno
'nough
Binoculars
Enjoy,
NØ