Tighten Up! The History Of Reggae In The UK / Michael de Koningh & Marc Griffith. - London: Sanctuary, 2003. - ISBN 1-86074-559-8. - Pb., 376 p., + 12-track CD
Cover notes[]
With the influx of young Jamaicans into post-war Britain, the sounds that were so much a part of the West Indian culture they left behind found new, fertile soil in the UK music scene. Over the following decades, home-grown names like Delroy Washington, Matumbi and Lloyd Coxsone took the baton from their Jamaican brothers, not to create a picture of Jamaica away from Jamaica but to forge a brave nwe reggae world in their adopted heartland. But who were the singers and players on British-recorded material? Who set up the UK's fledgling reggae labels? Who ran the shops that put the music back to the streets? With a cast of characters since made legendary by their contribution to the UK reggae scene, Tighten Up! is the story of how the authentic Jamaican vibe found a new home, becoming a vital chapter in Britain's cultural history, an integral part of its sonic architecture. Complete with interviews, a comprehensive Pama discography, an exhaustive directory of UK reggae labels and an exclusive 12-track CD, Tighten Up! is the ultimate companion to UK reggae from 1960 to 1980.
Contents[]
CD Notes Foreword 1 Many Rivers To Cross 2 Putting Down Roots 3 Straighten Up: The History Of Pama Records 4 Straight To Trojan's Head 5 London's Reggae Rulers 6 London To Birmingham .. And beyond 7 Style And Fashion: Aprés Trojan 8 The Dancehall: The Sound Systems, Reggae Radio, The Shops And The Printed Word Epilgue: Reggae Music And Lables Into The 1980s Appendix 1: A Comprehensive Directory Of British Reggae Labels Appendix 2: Pama Discography Sources Index
CD Notes[]
Rico Rodriguez[]
Rico Rodriguez is a core and exemplary figure in the development of the music described in this book. Thus he is quite well represented in its content, based on an interview, Michael de Koningh had with him in 2003. It starts with Rico's departure from Jamaica in 1962 (p. 14) ...
- But: It could be more. (Jama Rico, 4.6.2007)