The Force Of Music – Freedom Fighters Dub (Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove – TWCD1051)

"I may not live but another 5 minutes but it will be 5 minutes definitely on my terms"
George Jackson, 23. 6. 67

Excellent 70s Dub Album
This is a solid dub recording from the 1970s, produced by Roy Cousins, engineered by Errol Thompson and mixed by Scientist and Ernest Hookim, hence it was probably recorded at Channel One Studios. All dubs are very good, my personal favorite is Black Prince and Princess Dub. -Kahey

By Devin Morrison on Aug 29, 2019
Rootfire’s “Rare Record Showcase” is a new bi-monthly series dedicated to sharing top-quality Jamaican and Jamaican-inspired records of the past, that have heretofore unjustly existed under the radar of all but the most deep-diving music lovers.

For this second edition of the Rootfire “Rare Record Showcase,” I’ve chosen one of my favorite Dub records, the late 70s scorcher entitled The Force Of Music – Freedom Fighters Dub.

I don’t know and could never find out much about this record. It was produced by Roy Cousins (of The Royals fame) and released on the Ballistic label out of the U.K. in 1978.

It is a near perfect example of Dub at it’s peak. Heavy un-recycled riddims recorded brilliantly, and expertly mixed and dubbed. I love every track, but my favorite is probably “Free Namibia Dub.”

If anyone knows more about this record, please send me some info! For everyone else, get ready for a half hour version excursion through Dub heaven.

Channel 1 Recording Studio with engineer Anthony 'Crucial Bunny Tom Tom' Graham at the controls and Roy Anthony Cousins on the right.

Although the Royals' lineup had shifted on a number of occasions, in the mid-'70s a more dramatic cleft occurred, forcing Roy Cousins to take stock. While he mulled his next move, the singer/producer kept his group's name alive with the release of Pick Up the Pieces, a stunning compilation of the Royals' best recent work, with a second set, Ten Years After, following in 1978. Thanks to DJ Lloyd Coxsone, who set the London scene shaking with dubs of Ten Years After's songs, Cousins struck a deal with United Artists. The label, via their Ballistic imprint, released both Pick Up the Pieces and Ten Years After, as well as Freedom Fighter Dub, whose ten versions were drawn evenly from both vocal albums. Freedom Fighter itself was credited to Force of Music, a moniker that encompassed just about every name musician then on the scene. the Royals never used one studio exclusively, and even the dub set was divvied up, with various tracks mixed down by Errol Thompson, Ernest Hoo Kim, and Scientist. The echoing-in-the-ether of "Smoke Pipe Dub," the militant sound of "Pagan Front Dub," and the melody laced "Free Nambia Dub" each highlight the diversity of the approaches within. "Tribute to Lloyd Coxsone in Dub" is just exuberant, a fitting homage to the man who helped make it all happen; Cousins gratefully dedicated the album to him. The bulk of the vocal tracks were stunning versions of classic riddims, most arranged in roots reggae style, with only a few falling into rockers territory. The dubs invariably toughened them up, although "Promised Land"'s cheery atmosphere still shines through on "Fresh Cow Milk Dub," while the sweet melody of "Freedom Fighters" bubbles to the surface of "Free Namibia Dub" The vocal sets cemented the Royals' vocal reputation in stone, this dub set did the same for Cousins' productions.

All of the corresponding vocal versions to The Force Of Music's Freedom Fighters Dub LP can be found on The Royals - Pick Up The Pieces anthology on Pressure Sounds and The Royals - Ten Years after CD reissue on Tamoki Wambesi.

The Force Of Music – Freedom Fighters Dub

PRODUCED BY: Roy Cousins
RECORDED AT: Randy's
MIXED BY: Ernest Hookim, Scientist
MIXED AT: Channel One
ENGINEERED BY: Errol Thompson

Label: Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove – TWCD1051
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: 1978 / Reissue 2021
Genre: Reggae
Style: Dub

Source: Digital

1. Introduction (Vocals – Charlie Chaplin) / Blood For Freedom Dub 3:53
2. Namibia Dub 2:46
3. Black Prince And Princess Dub 3:07
4. Quake Heart Dub 2:57
5. Pieces Of Dub 3:04
6. Smoke Pipe Dub (Vocals – Baba Dread) 3:43
7. Zingini Dub 2:54
8. Narga Silasi Dub 3:42
9. Fresh Cow Milk Dub 3:45
10. Meet The People Dub 3:53
11. Kamforo Mix 3:41
12. Dib Kan Dub 4:09
13. Yerkundu Dub 3:20
14. Akako Dub 4:15
15. Widgeon Dub 4:01
16. Zawditu Mix 5:53

Companies, etc.
Marketed By – Cousins Cove
Distributed By – Cousins Cove
Recorded At – Randy's Studio
Recorded At – Channel One Recording Studio
Recorded At – Dynamic Sounds Studios
Mastered At – Glass Studios
Published By – Water Yard Music
Published By – Ben Music

Credits
Arranged By, Written-By, Producer – Roy Anthony Cousins
Bass – Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Berthram "Harry" Johnson, Earl "Bagga" Walker, George "Fully" Fullwood, Robert "Robbie" Shakespeare
Drums – Basil "Benbow" Carey, Carlton "Santa" Davis, Phil Callendar, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace
Engineer – Ernest Hookim, Errol Thompson, Karl Pitterson
Executive Producer – Jemima Antonia Cousins
Guitar – Albert Griffiths, Bertram "Ranchie" McLean, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Geoffrey Chung, Noel "Sewell Radic" Bailey, Tony Chin
Horns – Albie Donnelly, Bobby Ellis, John Adams, Simon O'Grady, Tommy McCook
Keyboards – Bernard "Touter" Harvey, Earl "Wire" Lindo, Gladstone "Gladdy" Anderson, Lloyd "Charmers" Tyrell, Paul "Pablove Black" Dixon, Robert "Robbie" Lyn, Winston "Brubeck" Wright
Percussion – Noel "Skully" Simms, Uziah "Sticky" Thompson

Notes
A Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove production. Made in England

This re-issue has 6 extra tracks not on the original release. The Discogs track listing matches the rear of the CD. Based on the liner notes compared to all prior 10-track issues, the actual running order is:

Track 1 - vocal intro followed by extra track, presumably what is listed on the rear as track 11
Tracks 2-11 - LP tracks in original order, or what is listed on the rear as tracks 1-10
Tracks 12-16 - extra tracks, presumably what is listed on the rear as tracks 12-16

The prior 10-track CD lists Channel One and Randy's as the recording studios. This CD also lists Karl Pitterson at Dynamic Sounds, so presumably this aspect of production is the extra tracks.