TWO BIG SOUND: 7 Nights a Week
Holy Roller proudly presents more heat from Shottsmann TWO BIG SOUND, Part One: Seven Nights a Week is ready for viewing here for a limited time.
TWO BIG SOUND revisits the ‘platinum era’ of the UK sound system in which two sounds ruled, The mighty Saxon Studio sound and the legendary Sir Coxsone sound.
This film is a ruff cut history lesson with a difference, it is by no means the bible of the UK sound system, It doesn’t cover every facet of the sound system UK history, nor does it follow a timeline or chronology. What Two Big Sound does do, is uncover subjects rarely heard about in Black UK music history.
The film takes an earthy look into the lives and music passion of some of the pioneers within the Saxon and Coxsone massive, they who lived and breathed and affected sound system culture from the UK, Jamaica and the rest of the Reggae world.
Dancehall greats featured include; Trevor Sax, Jah Screechie, Levi Roots, Tippa Irie, Snr San, Jah Prento, Blacka Dread, Daddy Kernal, Philip Levi, Echo Minott, and Chris Peckings. available for viewing for the next month here on Holy Roller.
In memory of Smiley Culture, one of the UK ‘s Finest Pioneer MC Lyricists.
I consider myself educated. Thank you
nuff respect. I really enjoyed watching this. Brought back some memories!
Fantastic documentary, from the footage to the interviews and of course the music. This really deserves a wider audience. Looking forward to part two, keep up the good work!
Love the musical knowledge, vibes & sentiment. This film is from the heart I can feel it
Hi Ig,i just saw your film via femi’s post and loved it.in the mid 70′s i was runnning record shops locally,and coming to london to buy stock.i got to know a bunch of people and there was one guy at daddy kool,tony (who ran a sound called silver camel) who cut me some dubs of people like ijahman,d brown,and gregory.i challenged my loocal sound (castro) to a clash,and,when he’d stopped laughing he accepted.i put up posters round town and called myself “hip-ki-do” the musical intimidator!! castro graciously let me use his set,and i don’t think he knew what was comin’! the havana club was where my lifelong love of sound system culture began,and i’m still good friends with castro’s sons today.your film really brought back the feel of those days..days when “string up” the sound meant just that;winding the bare wires of the speakers and leads together and then binding with insulation tape,and pure valves inna de amplifier dem!big respect star! ima check your site now dude;ironically,i’m more connected with new music now than i was when we knew each other from record and tape days.luv hector
big ups to everyone entering the dance!! thanks for the feedback!
Hey Clifton… – Definitely a Sankofa moment, less we forget… Brought back memories and I learnt a lot, felt a lot, looking forward to part 2 hope there will be more.
Thanks, take care
yes great days thank you dj smedley east london
@ hector
there was an old school reggea record label named silver camel, which released artist’s like tristram palmer, is that label connected to the silver camel sound system which i admit i had not heard of til you mentioned it.
another obscure record label with sound system connects was the Soferno B label
heavy like lead!!! brings back memories!!!
Ruff!
Great documumentary, learned a lot. Was doing sound system myself in the early 80′s. We all copied the Saxon crew, they were a great inspiration to us. Looking forward to part 2.
Peace
Had many great times over the years listening to these sounds. Saxon and Coxsone were undeniably real sound troopers/ foot soldiers back in the days.
You had to work like a mofo to be on top of your game then, by lifting and transporting some heavy ass boxes, amps, record box all hours. Had to have savy to make the connections to get equipment built, dub cut, venue secured, box bwoys help the whole nine…
Big ups and respect to the soundsystems of yesteryear from the one’s in your community to the nationwide ones, too many to mention.
Soundsystem insn’t the cd wallet carrying weaklings beating their chest like Tarzan and shooting pure hype at the mouth…Done dat!
Excellent! Can’t wait for the second part.
Loved this, can’t wait for Part 2. Gonna let my son watch this, he loves music (16 years old) and needs educating
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[...] Roller proudly presents more heat from Shottsman TWO BIG SOUND, Part One: Seven Nights a Week is ready for viewing for a limited time. TWO BIG SOUND revisits the ‘platinum era’ of the UK sound system in which [...]
Nice film…
What a refreshing documentary on the two biggest rivalires in sound business ever in england I can’t wait for the second part of the this documentary shame never heard from musclehead festus or lloydie coxsone those days will never come back london had some very good m’c as well as saxon m’c daddy horseman daddy willie tony ranks snowman gt as well in birmingham you had pato banton adminal jerry macka b from wolverhampton.sound systems in the uk standards have dropped even saxon and coxsone comebacks has’nt been the same as they was in the eighties
Superb… brings back memories. I was never a lyricist, but in my teens I thought I could pick up a mic. In reality, I was rubbish….but one thing I’ll always remember, was a period in my life, when I thought Smiley Culture was by far the best MC that we had in this country. He invented more styles and had lyrics to burn more than anyone else of his generation… but most people at school, saw it different… the names that they banded around was Levi (without a doubt), Champian (or Champion), Tipper Irie, Rusty, Daddy Willie and Sandy (don’t mention Daddy Freddy in this, even I was better than him). There are two tapes that I had, which featured just Asher, Smiley and Levi on Saxon, I still treasure them.. Smiley Culture (R.I.P) took it to another level.. check out Lyrics Grandad and G Whizz..different class. Willie Major – unsung hero too
cheers Eric for the vivid reminder of the golden age i know exactly what tape your’re talking about.
Levi, Asher, Smiley, with the mans chatting on that amazing version of “the answer” with Bunny lie lie
singing I don’t want to change your mind, i don’t want to stop from loving you, my all time favorite dub
from Saxon Studio, Daddy Kernal said that dub got destroyed at a venue, where the water dripped down
from the roof on to the asetate.
Here is an attempt at the Gee Wizz lyrics
R.I.P Smiley Culture
Gee wIzz jah tell me what kind of times are these.
Ingland so cold all mi feel ah ice breeze
More time seh it come een like it’s below nought degreese.
Mi ave fi tek caution wit mi cyar put in anti freeze.
Mi nuh wah wake up in di marnin try fi start it and it seize
man make money, honeys made by the beez
(can’t remember the rest, think it went something like..)
What mashing up di country pure venerial desease
now satan have a new one and it name herpes
you can get it from close contact or by kissing with ease
but gee wizz jah tell me what kind of times are these.
This was a wicked watch, thanks for the big effort…when’s Part 2 coming along? Can’t wait…
Any more info on Part2? will there be a part3? thanks for sharing on here, great project….
[...] (typeof(addthis_share) == "undefined"){ addthis_share = [];}Great documentary about Saxon Studio Sound and the legendary Sir Coxsone. This film is a ruff cut history lesson with [...]
great work , looking forward to part 2 , us know how we can help .