Soul Vendors
Soul
Vendors to showcase Studio 1 flavor at SNWMF 06
One-time house band for Jamaica’s premier hit machine, Studio
One, the Soul Vendors have reunited and will bring the “True
Sound of Jamaica” to SNWMF ’06.
The late Clement "Coxsone"
Dodd's Studio One in Kingston Jamaica was often called
"Jamaica's Motown" by musicians and critics alike and the
resemblance was more than skin deep. Much of what we today know
as reggae originated there and at competitor Duke Reid's
Treasure Isle studio. This was never more true than with some of
the music created by one of the house bands at Studio One, the
Soul Vendors. The "riddim" the Soul Vendors are most famous for
is "Real Rock," which has been the foundation for countless
recuts down through the years. Serving as the backing track for
Studio One vocalist Willie Williams' "Armagideon Time", the
track wasn't as overused as some riddims at Studio One, but
gained particular notoriety when England's punk rock band, the
Clash, covered the song and released it as a single to great
acclaim. Since that time, the riddim has been used over and over
by everyone from Michael Rose to Sizzla, and practically every
artist in between, often more than once. The other horns
instrumental known to many modern reggae fans (although perhaps
not by name) is "Rockfort Rock," which Roots Radics used to
Israel Vibration shows with.
Until recently, the Soul Vendors only had one LP explicitly
credited to their name (Studio One’s “Soul Vendors On Tour”
which contrary to the implications of its title is a various
artists compilation consisting of studio tracks). Despite the
lack of records bearing their moniker, the Soul Vendors have had
an impact on reggae music far exceeding the music credited to
them on a record label. A list of all tracks they appear on
would take up a number of pages but a short list of hits they
backed include “Bend Down Low” by Bob Marley and the Wailers,
“I’m the Toughest” by Peter Tosh, “Fatty Fatty”, “Party Time”,
as well as the entire “On Top” album by Heptones, Desmond Decker
& the Aces’ “007” and the album “Israelites”, as well as many
hits by artists including Melodians, Stranger Cole, Ken Boothe,
Delroy Wilson, Ethiopians, Larry Marshall, Alton Ellis and
Marcia Griffiths. Many of these artists, it might be noted, have
made appearances in the past at SNWMF, and one could only hope
for backing of the quality the Soul Vendors bring to the table.
Drummer Joe Isaacs is blunt and to the point when it comes to
the history of the band and the rightful place of its members in
the history of the music, whether they were called the Soul
Vendors, the Soul Brothers or the Soul Dimension, all names that
were attached at one time or another to the outfit. Quoting from
a recently published interview, Mr Isaacs says: “Most times
people who called themselves producers weren’t even there when
the music was being structured; it was basically the musicians
who were responsible for crafting the hit songs that are today
being rated as foundation music.” Isaacs goes on to say, “One
man who was key to the whole Studio One experience was Jackie
Mittoo. A lot of people, even those who revere him, don’t really
know the extent to which he has contributed to the establishment
of Studio One and by extension, Jamaica’s music. In our time, we
used to make 12 tunes every day and this man, Jackie Mittoo, was
the driving force behind it all. He was the man who most times
told the bassie (bass guitarist Brian Atkinson) what to play,
told me (the drummer) what to play and when to roll. He was the
man who created all these rhythmical patterns that are now
branded as classic Reggae, but nobody knows that!”. |
Commenting on the various names that were given to what amounted
to the same band, Isaacs says “These different names were put
together as a marketing strategy by Sir Clement Dodd who is a
great man. Dodd…knows about marketing, yuh nuh. And he knows
about picking artistes. He knows the business very, very well.
To be honest with you, if it wasn’t for him giving us the
opportunity to make these tracks I wouldn’t have anything to
talk about right now. So therefore, I can say that I love this
man. But as far as the music-making is concerned, is not him
make them (the actual music)”.
Issacs continues, “They, the musicians of my era, were a part of
building the empire of Studio One which existed from the 60s
until now, which look to me like five decades, and the original
people who made it happen, didn’t get recognition, didn’t get
money, didn’t get nothing. But we get the greatest gift of all,
we get the blessings of God who gives us life and the ability to
make great music. We have no animosity towards anyone, as we
firmly believe that nothing happens before the time.”
The lack of releases credited to the band was alleviated
somewhat over the past couple of years when they released two
albums, “Together Again” and “3 + 1”, both available in the US
as well as Jamaica and the UK. Both these albums feature the
current line up as will appear at SNWMF: Joe Issacs behind the
drums, Brian Atkinson on bass duties, Hux Brown and Bo-Peep on
guitars, former Chalice keyboardist Irvin “Allah” Lloyd covering
the multiple keyboard instruments, plus a 3-piece horn section
and featuring the vocal skills of King Banton.
In addition to showcasing
their instrumental talents with a set on their own, SNWMF is
pleased to feature the Soul Vendors as a back-up band to
vocalist extraordinaire Ken Boothe
as well as numerous rocksteady and reggae artists not confirmed
as of this writing but to be announced soon. While the band is
more than capable of delivering a complete instrumental set,
they have recently backed live sets by artists such as Winston
Jarrett, Derrick Harriot, Heptones, John Holt and Alton Ellis to
name but a few. With such versatility, it is certain that
whoever they are paired with this year will truly benefit from
the sound and experience of these studio veterans, teaming up to
make for another year of surprises and top-rank entertainment of
historical significance at the festival!
- JB Welda
Soul
Vendors Links:
The Music Of
Soul Vendors -
Track List |
