The Abyssinians

Satta Massagana

(Heartbeat, 2007)

As far as re-releases go, very frequently, the packaging is ignored. In the case of Satta that has been avoided. The cd cover most would associate with this disc is a close up of Bernard Collins, Donald Manning and Lynford Manning, who make up the vocal trio that are the Abyssinians. Across the cover of this new Heartbeat edition, the trio is shown near what appears to be an underground waterfall. Whether or not the image is authentic is secondary to the fact that it adds to the mystique of the men that it aims to represent.

Packaging aside, this set has expanded the ten tracks that make up the original “Satta” to include an additional 8 songs, including a vocal and a dub version of “Leggo Beast”. Forgetting the supplementals, “Declaration of Rights” begins the disc and urges, much in the same way Tosh and Marley do, to “Get up and fight for your rights my brothers”. Immediately predating the Clash’s “Know Your Rights” on Combat Rock, the song makes clear the political and social stance of the group.

A religious fervor, starting with the next track “The Good Lord”, and continuing through “Forward Unto Zion” is blatant and could not be more apparent as the group croons “Send us home to Zion city/For we drink milk and honey”. Further allusions to the Torah, the Book of Jeremiah specifically, abound as in “Abendigo” where three men are “condemned to be burned in the furnace” as a result of remaining stalwarts of their faith.

If one fault can be pointed out, and there may only be one, during “Y Mar Gan” the keyboard production, while being a few years ahead of its’ time, sounds less organic that on any other track.

The ’76 debut of the band remains a classic within the roots catalog, and even if you think you aren’t familiar with this vocal trio, you’ve probably heard the “Satta” rhythm more times than you can count, which as it turns out, isn’t such a bad thing at all.

Lee Perry

Chicken Scratch

(Heartbeat, 2007)

Originally released more than a decade ago, Chicken Scratch possesses an indisputable ability to make a tangible cross section of Lee Perry fans cringe. Of course, only those fans who can not appreciate a good ska beat will feel that way. Unfortunately, that proportion of fans probably makes up the bulk of Perry listeners. Deep roots, echo chamber sound effects and crashes are expected from any Perry release, regardless of how early the recordings may be. Chronologically, these tracks represent some of the earliest sides from this would be Jamaican musical giant.

Backing him throughout these offerings are graduates of the Alpha Boys School: better known as the Skatalites. Supplementing the historical aspect of Perry’s career, the Skatalites early on in their short lived initial phase were a house band, albeit one of the best ever assembled. And here we are given the chance to listen in on the prototypical motions of the group. “Feel Like Jumping” should be familiar to anyone who has entertained the notion of purchasing a pork pie hat, considering the music is also used for “Fat Man” by Derrick Morgan. Similarly, “Tackoo” is also the Alton Ellis tune “Ska Beat”, from Skatalites and Friends at Randy’s. Given these recycled rhythms, it’s interesting to hear Perry make use of a familiar tune and experience his oddly pleasing voice, though he may not adhere to the singing standards of either Ellis or Morgan.

Again, for those looking for dub, it won’t be located here. What is similar between this and later work by Perry, or anyone else from the island, is the inclusion of religiously themed lyrics. Between “Rape Bait” and the groaning proclamation at the beginning of “Roast Duck” are songs like “By Saint Peter”. Traditional themes of sixties Jamaican music are explored as well: like family trouble and having problems with those damnable rudies.

Outstanding, this release is not. And in-fact, if this happened to be led by another personage, there ostensibly would be little interest. Even with the additional tracks that supplement the re-release and the strength of the solitary standout, “Hand to Hand”, there are incalculable better ska discs to spend that i-Tunes gift card on.