Recently I photographed Gappy Ranks for his new album, the Peckings-produced “Put The Stereo On”, which is out on Greensleeves on the 23rd of August. However, the album was initially delayed so I nabbed the best photo from the shoot for the cover of his EP, “Rising Out Of The Ghetto” [Above]. Still, the album’s looking good (a Tony McDermott job), and sounds good too, featuring the killer cuts “Heaven In Her Eyes”, “Put The Stereo On” and “Mountain Top”. If you’re more on a dancehall tip you should pick up the EP, which features “Stinkin Rich” and “Rising Out Of The Ghetto”.

It’s funny, looking at the Greensleeves book now, you’d have no idea what a mission it was to find those 100 album covers. Greensleeves don’t have any of their original LPs in their archive (CDs only), which meant I had to track them all down. It was a massive mission! Thanks to all the collectors who helped out.

Here’s Vusi again at Mandela’s 90th birthday concert in Hyde Park, 2008.

Staying on the sweet voice vibes I’ve put together a new chart – the sweetest voices in reggae music. Disagree with it here.

Tristan Jehan (a computer coding genius and hyperinstrumentalist from MIT) has created a program called The Swinger, that uses timestretch to put a swing into your favourite tunes. Check out the swung versions of “Money For Nothing” and “Sweet Child Of Mine”. Crazy!

Money for Nothing (swing version) by TeeJay

Sweet Child O’ Mine (Swing Version) by plamere

After almost two years, a collaboration between Stüssy Deluxe, Greensleeves Records and myself is finally ready. The project began in summer 2008 when Stüssy designer Nick Bower asked me to put together a mixtape for Stüssy Deluxe. I went to Greensleeves Records for the music, and the project then grew to include a book on Greensleeves album cover art (”Greensleeves The First 100 Covers”) and a small clothing collection of nine Stüssy Deluxe tees, with prints featuring elements of the album cover art (Mister Yellowman, Jammy Destroys the Invaders, Sleng Teng, etc).

The book is a document of the first 100 Greensleeves album covers. It also contains interviews with Greensleeves’ founders, Chris Sedgwick and Chris Cracknell, and its chief designer, Tony McDermott, who has worked for Greensleeves almost since the day the label launched in 1977. During the project I was lucky to be able to spend a number of days in the Greensleeves archive, where I found various bits and pieces of reggae history that, as far as I know, have never been published before, including a couple of hand-drawn Tony McDermott 12″ sleeve designs from the early ’80s that were never used. If Greensleeves don’t use them for some special edition Junjo 12″ reissues they are sleeping!

Stussy Le Brea store, LA. Photo: Fatsarazzi.

The mixtape features 56 tracks from the label’s first ten years, including a few specials and some remixes I put together mixing old and newer material from the Greenleeves catalogue – mostly newer acapellas over classic Roots Radics rhythm tracks from the early days. I’ve posted a couple of them in the Remix section – Sizzla & Morgan Heritage’s “All I Want” over Junjo Lawes’ Diseases (Mad Mad) rhythm, and Mavado’s “Wa Dem A Do” over the Wailing Souls classic, “Fire House Rock”. The project is out now at Stüssy outlets and other stores. I’m hoping to post the mix for download at some point…

The £10 soundclash. The most fun you can have with £10!

What you need:
• Two to four players, each with ten pounds (or equivalent in your currency).
• Record shop with a good bargain basement (eg. 50p per record or less).
• Venue (eg. someone’s house) with a decent soundsystem.

Players spend their £10 budget on the biggest tunes they can find in the bargain basement, keeping the selection secret from the other players. Back at the venue, each player spins one tune per round, then all players vote on the biggest selection. As well as the tune, other elements may influence the vote, including record condition, cover artwork, etc. If the tune is on a Telstar compilation that’s going to knock off some points.

Ten Pound Clash, 17.04.2010
[Round winners in green]

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ROUND 1
Al Fingers: “Ghetto Heaven (Remix)” – Family Stand
Sammy J: “Family (South Side Thames Mix)” – Mckoy
Matt Blaze: “Wishing On A Star” – Rose Royce
Danny G: “Dreamer (Radio Version)” – BB&Q

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ROUND 2
Danny G: “Emergency” – Light Of The World
Matt Blaze: “Life & Times” – George Duke
Al Fingers: “Body Talk” – Imagination
Sammy J: “Love & Hate” – Rodney P & Dobie

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ROUND 3
Matt Blaze: “When You Get Out Of Jail (RZA Mix)” – Fried
Al Fingers: “Tonight I’m Gonna Let Go (Remix)” – Syleena Johnson
Danny G: “Saturday Love” – Cherelle (disqualified as played in a previous clash)
Sammy J: “Keep It Up” – Milton Wright

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ROUND 4
Sammy J: “Hypnotic Love (Street Love)” – Philip Leo feat CJ Lewis
Matt Blaze: “So Fly” – Nate Dogg feat Snoop Dogg
Al Fingers: “Float On” – The Floaters
Danny G: “The Groove” – Rodney Franklin

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ROUND 5
Al Fingers: “I Love The Nightlife” – Alicia Bridges
Danny G: “Give It To Me Baby” – Rick James
Sammy J: “Realistic” – Shirley Lewis
Matt Blaze: “Come Into My Life” – Joyce Sims

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ROUND 6
Matt Blaze: “Jazz Carnival” – Azymuth
Al Fingers: “Just Holdin On” – Ernie Watts
Sammy J: “I Will Always Love You” – Pam Hall
Danny G: “All Night Long” – Mary Jane Girls

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ROUND 7
Matt Blaze: Unknown white label
Danny G: “Straight To The Bank” – Bill Summers
Sammy J: “Not As Happy” – Freddie McGregor
Al Fingers: “Sounds Of Masailand”

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ROUND 8
Al Fingers: “Why Can’t We Live Together” – Timmy Thomas
Matt Blaze: “1, 2, 1″ – Oran Juice Jones
Danny G: “Rising Sun” – Beggar & Co
Sammy J: “Stay A Little While Child” – Loose Ends

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ROUND 9
Al Fingers: “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” – Roberta Flack
Sammy J: “Body Fusion” – Starvue
Danny G: “Intuition” – Linx
Matt Blaze: “Ain’t No Need To Worry” – The Winans feat Anita Baker

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ROUND 10
Matt Blaze: “?” – Alison Moyet
Sammy J: “Natural” – Penny Irie
Danny G: “So What” – Smiley Culture
Al Fingers: “Spirit” – Al Jerreau

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ROUND 11
Al Fingers: “I’ve Been Lonely For So Long” – Frederick Knight
Matt Blaze: “Sex Symbol” – Sheila E
Danny G: “It’s Serious” – Cameo
Sammy J: “Slow Down” – Loose Ends

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ROUND 12
Al Fingers: “Eye To Eye (Remix)” – Chaka Khan
Matt Blaze: “Got To Be There” – Chaka Khan
Danny G: “Don’t Mind The Waiting” – Omar
Sammy J: “Change Is Gonna Come” – Neville Bros

Tie breaker: Matt Blaze played “Living For The City” – Stevie Wonder. Disqualified (played in a previous clash). Al Fingers wins round by default!

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ROUND 13
Matt Blaze: “Do The Right Thing” – Redhead Kingpin
Danny G: “I Can’t Take Losing You” – The System
Al Fingers: “If It’s Magic” – Stevie Wonder
Sammy J: “Round & Round” – Telvin Campbell

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ROUND 14
Al Fingers: “Once You Get Started” – Rufus
Matt Blaze: “Heaven Knows” – Lalah Hathaway (bonus points for 6 panel poster)
Danny G: “Don’t Look Any Further” – Dennis Edwards (disqualified as keeps playing “Motown In Motion” compilation)
Sammy J: “Written All Over Your Face” – Inner Zone

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ROUND 15
Matt Blaze: Alicia Keys live bootleg
Al Fingers: “Criticize” – Alexander O’Neal
Danny G: “And The Beat Goes On” – The Whispers
Sammy J: “Crying” – Neville Morrison

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ROUND 16
Matt Blaze: “Dr Beat” – Miami Sound Machine
Danny G: “I Need Your Loving” – Alyson Williams
Al Fingers: “Just Coolin’” – Lavert
Sammy J: “Real Love” – Jody Watley

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RESULTS:
Al Fingers: 8 rounds WINNER!
Matt Blaze: 5 rounds
Danny G: 2 rounds
Sammy J: 1 round DRUMPAN SOUND!

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