The Bleechers: Ram You Hard

Skinners Love ItThe terminology defining and associated with the skinhead movement in England during the latter part of the '60s and the '70s, until RAC and the National Front turned everyone into morons, is convoluted to outsiders and even a bit suspect to those that kinda know what's what.

The term skinhead reggae seems like a misnomer. Where there in fact skinheads pushing and pulling those ups and downs on the island of Jamaica when ska turned to rock steady turned to reggae? Nope. But the record buying population consuming these new sounds was, in part, attached to the skinhead revolt taking place in Britain.

The sounds commonly associated with skinhead reggae are really just rock steady tunes sporting some heavy drumming and gritty organ solos. It's not necessarily void of horns, but the main proponent of the sound currently, the Aggrolites, don't sport a brass section. Again, defining an antiquated music through some subculture is probably defeating.

A few compilations, burdened by the tag, have worked to define the medium while including everyone from Tommy McCook to Junior Murvin. But really, that just seems like a summation of Jamaican musical history. And while skinheadism plays a part in that past, it seems odd to have the cultural other serve as a demarcation point in a black music. Whatever. It sounds good.

One of the groups commonly shouldering the skinhead reggae tag, the Bleechers, haven't been anthologized as of yet. The group, made up of Leo Graham, Wesley Martin and a guy just named Sammy, didn't shout out any full length discs, but did work some pretty impressive singles for everyone from JJ Johnson (no, not the trombonist from the States) and Lee Perry.

Working in the employ of that latter figure, the band, at the behest of Perry recorded "Check Him Out." That track, which for all intents and purposes a reggae track, is actually a commercial for Perry's record shop. Included in the lyrics, in atop of the chorus where listeners are told, "You better check him out," the vocal trio sings directions to find the place. Not the utmost artistic peak the band would reach, but it sounds as good as anything from that specific era in JA music.

Another, better known and explicit track, finds the Bleechers getting as nasty as Blowfly when describing what's going to happen to a young woman. "Ram You Hard" comes replete with lyrics like "I ram you hard/To make you feel alright." Classic, if not a bit sleazy. But even if the band came up with a few choice cuts, the lack of its renown is troubling. Again, no proper anthology has been released - but who even knows how many singles these folks have. Google 'em and see the scant info.

Luckily, the South American skinners over at You and Me on a Jamboree have compiled a nifty little RAR of some stray shots from the group. I can't imagine the copywrite holders - if some one like that even exists - is gonna take issue with it. But cop it while you can.