| volume 3 * issue 6 * April 1999 |
this month's features: |
wailing news * new releases * wailers shorts * wailers net tour dates * the wailers reporter * back issues |
HAPPY BUNNY DAY-
It's that time of the year again, to wish Bunny Wailer another happy birthday! On April 10th, Bunny will celebrate his 52nd birthday! Hopefully this year will finally see such long awaited projects as his autobiography entitled "Old Fire Sticks," as well as his double-disc release "Standing Ovation."
So far this year, Bunny has yet to make a live performance, but with any luck this will change as the year progresses. This issue of The Wailers News is specially livicated to Bunny Wailer - who is continuing not only The Wailers' Legacy, but also his own!
KEEP ON PUSHING - CURTIS WILL!- Congratulations are in order for one of music's all time geniuses - Curtis Mayfield. Curtis was a 1999 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for his solo career. He had already been inducted in 1991 with his fellow members of The Impressions. Curtis' influence on not only American popular music, but on Jamican music, specifically, is immeasurable.
The Impressions had a huge impact on the ska and rocksteady movements of the '60s, as well as reggae. In fact, many Jamaican artists have covered a song written by Curtis, including The Wailers', who versioned "Keep On Moving," "I Made A Mistake," "Amen," "People Get Ready," "Little Boy Blue," "Long, Long Winter," and many more.
Bunny Wailer sums up the vast influence that Curtis Mayfield had on The Wailers, as well as himself, when he says in the liner notes to the superb "The Never Ending Wailers" album, "When he [Curtis Mayfield] came to Jamaica in the early '60s we went to see him. We were like in the first row of the Carib Theatre and we took in the Impressions. [They were] our loved ones - we fought our way to get to the front row."
You can read more about Curtis and The Impressions by visiting the official Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees site!
ON THE ROAD AGAIN- Get ready! As we mentioned a few months back, Junior Marvin & Friends are planning a full U.S., Canadian and European tour for this year, and now have a big name arranging part of their tour. Peter Schwartz of The Agency Group, based out of New York, will handle the band's U.S. and Canadian portions of their World Tour '99, which should begin in late July. Their European leg will begin in early summer.
If you are, or know, someone who is interested in booking the band, get in touch with Peter at any of the following:
Mr. Peter Schwartz The Agency Group 1775 Broadway, Suite 433 New York City 10019tel: (212) 581-3100 fax: (212) 581-0015 e-mail: Peter.S@theagencygroup.com
As the band's manager, Mark Miller also tells us, Junior is currently finishing up his first solo album, which should be out soon.
If you don't know already, Junior Marvin was an integral member in The Wailers' sound, for nearly 20 years, beginning in 1977. After Bob Marley died in 1981, Junior took over the duties of lead vocals, song writing and lead guitarist of The Wailers Band.
Keep watching The Wailers News, for even more great news and updates on Junior Marvin & Friends, coming very soon!
UNITING FOR A GREAT CAUSE- For all the trivia buffs out there, what was the world's first single recorded live over the internet? The answer is "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" and the single, recorded on March 17th, was broadcasted by several big name artists last month. This internet single, originally recorded by Bob Marley & The Wailers for their "Natty Dread" album, was recorded in different locations around the world (in fact four continents at the same time!) and then sent via the internet to London, to be mixed and broadcast for the world.
The song featured Sinead O'Connor, Thomas Dolby and producers Coldcut, all taking part in "Megalab '99," which was shown during "Tommorow's World," of BBC ONE. The single should be available soon and proceeds will benefit War Child.
War Child is a charity that benefits the people who are most devistated by war - children, all around the world. For more information about this charity, visit the War Child website and for more information about Sinead O'Connor, who isn't shy about showing her love for Bob Marley, visit a fan's tribute page to her.
Special thanks to Alvaro Gaynicotche, a big time Wailers fan from Uruguay, for sending us more information about this historic first!
RASTAFARI RECORDS-
Bruno Blum's Rastafari Records has just released its first two singles, and what's interesting is that the first artist featured on the label is none other than Jah Rastafari himself, Haile Selassie I. The releases are in 7" vinyl form and the first record (RAS 01) is entitled "War" and includes Haile Selassie's October 4, 1963 speech to the United Nations on the A-side, spoken in Amharic. Bob Marley adapted this speech into his "War" song for his "Exodus" album. The B-side is "Peace" and is the dub version to the A-side. Dispersed throughout "War" are spoken quotes by Bob Marley as well. The speech is backed by Bob Marley & The Wailers' "War" rhythm, peformed by members of The Wailers Band, including Aston "Familyman" Barrett, Earl "Wire" Lindo, Mikey "Boo" Richards, and Bruno Blum himself on guitar and vocals, as well as producing both singles.
The second single on Rastafari Records is entitled "War/Selassie Is The Chapel" (RAS 02). The A-side is Haile Selassie's United Nations speech over the "War" rhythm, but also combined with segments of The Wailers' "Selassie Is The Chapel," to form a "virtual duet." The B-side is entitled "War/Selassie In Dub" and is the dub version to the A-side.
To accompany these excellent releases are picture sleeves and complete background information, including a full English translation of Selassie's speech and a picture of his address to the United Nations. They are both definitely worth owning, and you can pick up your own copies for only $5 each by e-mailing Bruno Blum himself and placing your order.
In addition to ordering these two Rastafari Records singles, you can also order nearly every promotional item for the Complete Wailers sets, which are becoming very scarce. To see a list of what is available click HERE! and if you want to view pictures of most of the promos, click the "complete" link at the left.
THE RIGHT TIME- The year was 1986 and a Swedish Rastafarian named Iya Karna ventured to Tuff Gong studios in Jamaica to record some material with members of The Wailers Band. If you've never heard of Iya Karna or these sessions, you're probably not alone. For the first time in over a decade, these sessions will finally see the light of day.
The reason for the long delay in releasing the album, is that Iya Karna felt that because in 1986 the Jamaican musical environment was ruled by slackness, he wanted "to hold on to the recordings until the time got right and these unique recordings would be appreciated to the fullness." Finally the album is about to come out and is entitled "Inkarnation." The musicians on the album include the likes of Aston "Familyman" Barrett, Earl "Wire" Lindo, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths, Iya Karna himself, as well as Carlton Barrett on drums. One of the reasons that this album is so special is because of the fact that these are some of Carlton's last recordings, as he was murdered in 1987.
Another unique aspect to the album is that it isn't merely a collection of cover songs, but rather an album filled with original material, written by Iya Karna. The CD will feature 14 songs total, four of which are dub mixes. The songs are:
Can't Find No Love Sunny Day Cultural Vibes The Woman I Love Man Must Know Shacklefoot No Compromise |
Gimmicks Don't Let Them Fool You Oh Babylon Can't Find No Dub Sunny Dub The Woman I Dub Dubbicks |
The music on the album is being prepared for release by Internal Dread at the Rub-a-Dub studios in Stockholm, Sweden. It will be a while until the album is officially ready for release but as Johan Andersson tells us, "The music is jumping out of the speakers and the Barrett brothers sound as good as ever!" It really should be an incredible release and once we find out more informaton, we'll pass it on!
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WailersNet-
At the opening to the "Bob Marley - A Tribute to Freedom" theme park and restaurant on February 6th at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers also performed, as well as Rita Marley and Inner Circle. You can view some pictures from the Melody Makers' performance on their website www.melodymakers.com.
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WAILERS SHORTS- Word has it that VH1 is in the planning stages for a Peter Tosh "Behind the Music" special. Nothing specific has been finalized as of yet, but it could be a very interesting project, with rare photos, video, interviews and much more. If you have seen any of the "Behind the Music" specials, then you know that all sides are equally covered in reporting various parts of the artist's musical history, and besides this, they are very entertaining and educational as well.
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TOUR DATES: WAILIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD- Andrew Tosh - Freedom Fighters Tour (w/Michael Rose & Fully Fullwood Band)
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