Studio One presents...
There are many thinks for which to thank and praise the "Motown of Jamaica", the legendary studio that has given us the most wonderful reggae since its founding as far back as 1954. Started by the equally legendary Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, this sheer powerhouse of creativity rightly deserves its place at the very top table of significant musical stables. There is clearly little space here to do justice to the output from this startling treasure-trove of the very best in musicianship and production, and besides the vaults offer us almost too numerous opportunities for more lengthy reflection. And we will. But for now I wanted to draw attention to an artist that I had previously been criminally unaware of on the Studio One roster, and one who serves to illustrate a charming by-line to the Studio One story.
Jennifer Lara, who sadly passed away only recently in 2005, was a singer of some of the sweetest lover's rock you are ever likely to hear. Her 1974 debut "Studio One presents Jennifer Lara" is a close-to-perfection slice of the most soulful and tenderly funky reggae one could hope to find, and is a record that drips with the mellow pleasure that only reggae can truly muster. Honey-sweet paeans to love such as "Love and Harmony" and "A Woman" are of the finest quality, while "Where All The Good Men Gone" is simply stunning, and Lara's voice reveals itself to be a thing of sheer beauty. And of course Lara's excellence on this most consistent of labels is by no means an isolated case.
It is fitting that many of the ladies upon whom Studio One were quite literally dependent for its smooth operation, with many doubling as assistants, saleswomen, record pressers and emergency DJs, also provide it with many a musical standout. Marcia Griffiths and the immense Hortense Ellis are themselves pure legends, but these are just the tip of a solid silver iceberg.
Studio One released an incredible series of reissued compilations on the Soul Jazz imprint a couple of years ago and their amazing breadth of coverage provides as good a starting point as any for an exploration of the majestic output of the ladies, and of course gentlemen, of this phenomenal studio.
I have certainly discovered some artists and recordings from these records alone, from audaciously inspired soul covers to outright Roots fundamentals, and everything in between. But before you dig out your own stash of "Studio One" 7s and old favourites (I know you all have them), there is one other great reason for finding some Jennifer Lara as you reacquaint yourself. It comes with the closing tune on the afore-mentioned album, the sublime "Suki Yaki", itself the roots of perennial evergreen "Lodi Dodi". In fact, maybe dig that out first and let's get this party started properly.
Jennifer Lara, who sadly passed away only recently in 2005, was a singer of some of the sweetest lover's rock you are ever likely to hear. Her 1974 debut "Studio One presents Jennifer Lara" is a close-to-perfection slice of the most soulful and tenderly funky reggae one could hope to find, and is a record that drips with the mellow pleasure that only reggae can truly muster. Honey-sweet paeans to love such as "Love and Harmony" and "A Woman" are of the finest quality, while "Where All The Good Men Gone" is simply stunning, and Lara's voice reveals itself to be a thing of sheer beauty. And of course Lara's excellence on this most consistent of labels is by no means an isolated case.
It is fitting that many of the ladies upon whom Studio One were quite literally dependent for its smooth operation, with many doubling as assistants, saleswomen, record pressers and emergency DJs, also provide it with many a musical standout. Marcia Griffiths and the immense Hortense Ellis are themselves pure legends, but these are just the tip of a solid silver iceberg.
Studio One released an incredible series of reissued compilations on the Soul Jazz imprint a couple of years ago and their amazing breadth of coverage provides as good a starting point as any for an exploration of the majestic output of the ladies, and of course gentlemen, of this phenomenal studio.
I have certainly discovered some artists and recordings from these records alone, from audaciously inspired soul covers to outright Roots fundamentals, and everything in between. But before you dig out your own stash of "Studio One" 7s and old favourites (I know you all have them), there is one other great reason for finding some Jennifer Lara as you reacquaint yourself. It comes with the closing tune on the afore-mentioned album, the sublime "Suki Yaki", itself the roots of perennial evergreen "Lodi Dodi". In fact, maybe dig that out first and let's get this party started properly.
posted by Twelve Bar at 7:42 AM
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