Dead Boy Productions

 

Moonstomping Madness : My Thoughts On Some Tracks

Ace

A growing number of collectors are asking me for the rare skinhead record titles but strangely very few have actually ever heard them. Here then, are a few of the 'ultra rare' titles with my personal opinion regarding each tune ……..you may be surprised.

SKINHEADS A BASH THEM - CLAUDETTE GRAPE GR3020

"Skinhead say Paki can't reggae…….skinhead say Paki don't spend money…..skinhead a bash dem…." observes Claudette on this 1970 tune over a very uninspired rhythm reminiscent of a speeded up "Hong Kong Flu".

Commenting on rather than glorifying (I hope) the unpleasant practice of Paki (Pakistani) bashing that started with the large influx of Asian peoples in to the UK around the time of this record. Sadly skinheads became notorious for this practice. Many did indulge in it but an equal number were very much against racist attacks and had colored members within their ranks.

Musically "Skinheads A Bash Them" is weak, Claudette's voice is nothing to write home about and it's only saving grace is a nice horn line almost pinched from the Sir JJ's Ethiopians hit.

SHAKE ME WAKE ME - DANDY DOWN TOWN DT402B

This is the original vocal on the rhythm Dandy used again a few numbers along the label as the monster "Reggae In Your Jeggae" chartbusting single (DT410). Poor Dandy's girl is leaving him and he's so distraught that he needs a shake to prove he's not dreaming this ghastly situation. Good catchy vocal on a perfect skin rhythm you all know. An undiscovered gem.

SKINHEADS DON'T FEAR - HOT ROD ALL STARS TORPEDO TOR5

Take a break-neck, tinny, feeble rhythm track that no one wants to voice, drag in some guy with two fingers and get him to attempt to play some melody lines on a hammond in a particularly inept style and for all of his fee of £3.50 you've recorded this 'classic'. Then in an attempt to flog the dead horse think up a name with "skinhead" in the title and - wow - thirty years on you've a mega-dosh lump of vinyl. By far the worst of all the cash-in skinhead records and the flip is rubbish too!

SKINHEAD REVOLT - JOE THE BOSS JOE JRS9

This is the business! You can rely on Joe Mansano to come up with a heavy moonstomper. Punching rhythm with a lazy Reco weaving in and out mixing into a great bit of interplay between horn and keyboard. Just for good measure Dice pops up with an odd shout of "Skinhead revolt" through out the disc. Real skinhead music and worth every penny.

TEA HOUSE - THE OPENING REGGAE REG3001

Weird title on this rare Dr. Bird offshoot label. Moody mid tempo instrumental with a very 'far east' style keyboard sound - great eerie feel to this piece of work. I would guess at a Joe Mansano production as the music resurfaces as the even more oddly titled "Tea House From Emperor Rosko" on Joe with Dice adding a chirpy toast over the top. Well worth searching out.

SKINHEADS A MESSAGE TO YOU - DESMOND RILEY DOWN TOWN DT450

I have to disagree with Marc Griffiths regarding this record. Marc doesn't like it but I think it's very worthy. A good strong Dandy/Rudies rhythm fair pumps along with Des preaching anti violence to the skinheads, "….wear your boots but don't kick nobody…." he sings and who can fault a record calling for peace. Strange plagiarism of Buster's "Al Capone" as Des repeats a couple of times "…..don't call me skinhead, my name is John The Baptist…". Those of you with any biblical knowledge will know that John the Baptist was beheaded so I'm not quite sure what allegory Mr. Riley is trying to draw on this one. Well worth picking up and if anyone can tell me what parallel skinheads and John the Baptist share I'd love to know as this has baffled me for nearly thirty years now.