Dennis Bovell - Brain Damage (Fontana 1981) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Born in Barbados in 1953, reggae guitarist Dennis Bovell (sometimes known simply as Blackbeard) was one of the key figures on the London reggae scene of the late '70s and early '80s, not only as a solo artist but also as a producer. The band Bovell co-founded in the mid-'70s, Matumbi, was one of England's first self-contained reggae bands, and also one of the best; in addition, Bovell released several albums of solo dub experiments, which often featured jazz-pop keyboardist Nick Straker and producer Tony Mansfield (Captain Sensible, New Musik), both old school chums. As Blackbeard, Bovell released Strictly Dub Wize in 1978; he quickly became involved in production work for experimental post-punkers like the Slits and the Pop Group. I Wah Dub appeared in 1980, carrying on Bovell's eclectic sensibilities; Bovell reverted to his real name for 1981's Brain Damage, which began to move away from dub towards rock, R&B, boogie-woogie, etc. Bovell spent the early '80s working with artists like Linton Kwesi Johnson and Alpha Blondy; he returned with a mostly straight reggae album in 1986, Audio Active, recorded with a group tagged the Dub Band. Steve Huey AMG

Track listing:

A1. Brain Damage
A2. Bettah
A3. After Tonight
A4. Our Tune
A5. Run Away

B1. Heaven
B2. Bah Be Lon
B3. Bertie

C1. Aqua Dub
C2. Frea Stoil
C3. Smouche
C4. El Passoah

D1. Chief Inspector
D2. Ehying
D3. Dutty
D4. Cabbage

Personnel:

Dennis Bovell: Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Piano,
Drums, Synthesizer, Organ
Angus Gaye: Drums on Brain Damage, Run Away, Bah Be Lon
And all tracks sides 3 & 4
Brinsley ‘Dan’ Forde: Guitar on Frea Stoil
Eddie Thornton: Trumpet on Heaven
Errol Melbourne: Drums on Heaven, Dutty
Frank Marshall: Piano on After Tonight
Henry Tenyue: Trombone & Saxophone
John Kpiaye: Guitar on Heaven & all tracks sides 3 & 4
Julio Finn: Harmonica on Dutty
Laura Logic: Saxophone on Bettah
Mac Pool: Drums on After Tonight
Marie Pierre: Backing vocals on Bertie
Patrick Tenyue: Flugel Horn
Phil Towner: Congas on Heaven
Rico Rodrigues: Trombone on Frea Stoil
Seyoum Netfa: Congas on Heaven
Steve Gregory: Saxophone on After Tonight
Tony Robinson: Piano on Brain Damage, Bah Be Lon
And all tracks sides 3 & 4
Webster Johnson: Talking Drum on Heaven
Mixed by Dennis Bovell
All titles arranged & produced by Dennis Bovell
At Studio 80, London.