Prince Buster and the return of Al Capone...

In starting to research music for the documentary about my father's record store, I have been listening to and compiling various early Rock-Steady and Blue-Beat tracks... It seems strange to see this music in my I-Tunes playlist, as I haven't listened to much of it for around a decade. Drawn largely from the mid to late '60s, most of the tunes remain strangely fresh and contemporary. You can hear the roots of early reggae in these tracks - but they are much grittier, and the inherent humor makes them seem quite racy, even by today's standards. I was surprised to read somewhere that Prince Buster had retired to Miami, Florida. I was also thrilled to find a Lord Kitchener Calypso track from 1960 called, ironically enough: Margie. Much Rap music unwittingly takes a leaf from the book of Kitchener - his rhymes are clever and off-center. I have posted AL CAPONE by Prince Buster - for your enjoyment...
LISTEN to Prince Buster's Al Capone

MISTER MAURICE checks in...

After a stint as a volunteer in the Israeli army, my father returned to the UK and opened a blue-beat record shop in Moss Side, Manchester. Between the early 1960s and mid '70s he supplied the hottest Rocksteady and Bluebeat imports to the Jamaican emigre community. In that time the likes of Bob Marley, Desmond Dekker and Prince Buster frequented his store. He was befriended by the late, great Lord Kitchener, and was the supplier of '45s to the neighborhood Rude Boys, Sound-Systems and all-night 'blues' jams... On my last visit to the UK, I managed to video-tape my father as he discussed his tenure at the store and reminisced about the music. These interviews will form the basis of a short film detailing his store and humorous exploits. Entitled: MR. MAURICE - A GREAT WESTERN TALE, the film will feature stories, photographs and a pilgrimage to the now defunct location of his shop, on Great Western Street...
VISIT the Store via Google Maps
BLUEBEAT on Wikipedia
CELEBRATE Lord Kitchener
WHAT IS A Rude Boy

Back From The UK...

I went to the UK in November 2006, and it was the first time that I'd been back for about 12 years. I didn't even make it to London - just to Manchester - which was quite a trip, in terms of architectural and cultural changes alone. It was great to see my Mum, Dad and Brother. It was amusing to go to local thrift stores and especially Affleck's Palace - which remains as a Northern Mecca for all things pop-culture. On one particular Sunday - Michael Holden and Sean McLusky took to train to see me, and after a pub-crawl, we stayed at the illustrious five-star Lowry Hotel... Felt like an episode of Vincent on BBC America, with Ray Winstone... Out of the blue, my old college chum W.I.Z. sent this photo-booth pic of me, him and Paolo Sedazzari - who is now also a Director in his own right. The snapshot (above) is from around 1985 - we were all at college together. The UK has changed so much since... On my visit I managed to sit down for a drink with Barry Hale from Threshold Studios. It was strange to discuss how the great, grey-green River Irwell and surrounding Lowry Center had been transformed into what looked like a set from a gritty Bladerunner... WHo knows? Maybe TRIP CITY might be filmed in a futuristic setting, after all... Stay Tuned...
VISIT Affleck's Palace
STAY at the Lowry - or not
WATCH Paolo Sedazzari's Trailer
GO SEE The Lowry Center