FOX FIRE 7" 45 RPM
DKR-102 - TREVOR BYFIELD - BURNING BUSH 7"
DKR-103 - TREVOR BYFIELD - TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME 7"
DKR-104 - CLIVE MATTHEWS - LIVE NOT FOR VANITY 7"
DKR-105 - CLIVE MATTHEWS - APOLOGY 7"
This batch of releases is what Deeper Knowledge Records is really all about - showcasing and making available fantastic music that has been rarefied, but with no correlation to its quality. That is to say, music that we feel is every bit as great as well known, much-loved and canonized classics, but just never reached the ears of as many folks, only due to its unavailability. And the music made by the close-knit foursome of Trevor Byfield and Clive Matthews as artists, and Norman "Fox Fire" Vassell and the late Clinton "Percival" Williams as producers, is just that. Starting in the late '70s and into the early '80s, this foursome cut some of the best and heaviest roots reggae tunes of the era. We will be issuing eight great singles from these folks, and here is the first batch of four. Trevor Byfield's "Tell Me That You Love Me" is one of the most dread love songs that we've heard, and the flip is one of the most truly psychedelic, heavy and unique Tubby's dubs ever mixed. In fact, the crew liked this rhythm for this song so much that they cut three tunes on it! Clive Matthew's "Apology" is on the same rhythm, but instead of pleading for a woman's love as Trevor did on his take, Clive is telling her she's written off! The killer vocal is backed with a different and again wicked dub mix. Have no fear, the third cut on this rhythm, another vocal by Clive called "Am Going Home", is coming in our next batch, later this year. Next up is Clive Matthew's "Live Not For Vanity", a serious warning given thru a heavy tune. Lastly for this batch, Trevor Byfield's "Burning Bush", a classic ode to herb smoking. Originally issued on the Mistic, Percival and Fox Fire imprints respectively, these four tunes are now re-presented using the Fox Fire design originally used on "Burning Bush", which is one of our favorite label designs of all time! We would also like to let everyone know that Clive, Trevor and Norman are still making great tunes thru their new imprint, One Sleeve Music! If anyone is interested in working with these gentlemen, please contact us and we will put you in touch!
Sound Clips:
Trevor Byfield - Burning Bush
Trevor Byfield - Burning Bush DUB
Trevor Byfield - Tell Me That You Love Me
Trevor Byfield - Tell Me... DUB
Clive Matthews - Live Not For Vanity
Clive Matthews - Live Not For Vanity DUB
Clive Matthews - Apology
Clive Matthews - Apology DUB
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9 comments:
Hello, Rob. Any idea who mixed the dub on "Tell Me That You Love Me"? Both King Tubby and Scientist have been mentioned elsewhere. This would be 1979, right? Was Scientist doing stuff of this calibre at that time at King Tubby`s? I have to say, the DUB IS HUGE! It does remind me of the "machine-gun edit" King Tubby uased on "A Ruffer Version" back in 1975, only this time around it's a train blowing its way through studio quarters!
hello, thanks for the comments. according to the Fox Fire crew, the dub to 'tell me...' was mixed at Tubby's by King Tubby himself. this is earlier than 1979, somewhere in the range of '76-'78, but definitely before Scientist was active. undoubtedly one of the most killer dubs ever. there are two more cuts on this rhythm, 'apology' which we also just issued and 'am going home' which we'll be issuing in a few months. thanks for your interest.
Yeah, the dub bulldozes the original song out of the yard and on to the streets. My initial reaction listening to the A side was that the rhythm is great, but the vocal merely good. Then I listened to the version side and was truly blown away. Thank you again for the input, Rob.
Rob...
Chris in Toronto.
Thank you sir..
your killing it.
Rob...
Chris in Toronto.
Thank you sir..
your killing it.
I received my copy of this masterpiece a few days ago and just played it back yesterday to find out that the version side plays with five loud clicks or pops just before the "steam locomotive" sequence. According to the vendor, from whom I purchased my copy, all their stock of the single shows the same problem. Is this a consequnce of using a damaged original single for mastering or is a pressing flaw?
I've personally heard no such problem with the record, nor have I heard anything of this nature from anyone who has bought the record thus far. Vinyl manufacturing is however an imperfect science and it stands to reason that a copy or copies could have a pressing issue. However I've listened to this one (the master and the finished record) many many times and experienced no such issue. If your retailer will not provide you with a refund or suitable replacement, we will be happy to oblige you, just email us. Thanks.
Thanks, Rob. Yeah, I could have sworn it's a pressing problem not inherited with the mastering of the record, as I've listened to so many records with various degrees of surface noise down the years. I have now e-mailed you as well. I really appreciate the work you've done reissuing unvailable reggae, digital and dub. Much obliged.
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