Before there were Instagram / photo filters, there was the
#Art department at Island Records who created the album cover for the Toots and
the Maytals 1972 album Funky Kingston.Using
the ‘cartoon’ effect, the designer depicted the group against a minimalist
backdrop in Jamaica.This classic album
peaked at #164 on the Billboard 200 chart and was voted 11th best
album of 1975.The album was so popular,
it was re-released in the US in 1975 on Mango Records!
The vibes are turned up (((LOUD))) in the studio right now,
as I hold a reasoning with Roland
McDermott of Born Rollin Productions!
Some have heard the name because of the recent promotion of Iba Mahr.Others know the name because of the amount of
work Rollin has done with several artists.Others still know the name because they want to know why the Princess
Gone ‘rollin!’
The year was 2000 when Roland produced the riddim Adrenalin Rush (“Wine and Roses” by
Anthony B, “When” by Junior Kelly featuring Igena and “Princess Gone” by Jah
Mason).The riddim, recorded live at Tuff Gong Studio’s in Kingston,
featured the musicianship of Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace on Drums, Rohan Garden
on Riddim Guitar, Strickland Stone (Dubtonic Kru) on Bass, Mikey Fletcher on
Acoustic Guitar, Obeah on Keyboards as well as Christopher Birch on Keyboards.The riddim was mixed by Shane C. Brown!That was the beginning of history!
Of the riddim Rollin says “I feel great about the success of
the riddim and the Jah Mason song Princess Gone.It didn’t hit in Jamaica at first, it
actually hit in Barbados and Trinidad and overseas.Within Jamaica, Irie FM was giving the riddim
a lot of love.Jocks like Ron Mushcette, Mighty Mike,
Elise Kelly and Sunshine were playing it and giving it strength!”
Of the single Princess Gone Rollin says “I had given the
riddim to Jah Mason from before so
he could vibes to the riddim.It was a
Sunday when he came to the studio to record.As Sandy Davis said ‘red light,’ Jah Mason began to record, and the
whole song, everything you hear, was recorded in one take and it was done on
reel to reel – analog, not digital.As
soon as Jah Mason finished recording, he looked at us and said, that is a hit
song.”
That my friend was Roland McDermott’s first riddim he ever
produced and the hits keep coming!
Today, we throw it back with Roland McDermott and the chune “Princess
Gone” performed by Jah Mason,
taken from the album The Saga Bed
produced by Roland!
Aaliyah was the Princess and the world was her Castle.The most beloved R&B star left this earth
too soon, but not before she rocked our boat in song – literally.
Aaliyah’s cover of Marvin Gaye’s classic, “Got to Give it
Up” was a classic in its own right, and featured the rap vocals of Slick Rick.Taken from her album One in a Million which
peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top R&B / Hip Hop Albums for 1997 and sold
millions of copies worldwide.Billboard
named the album as one of the top 100 for the 90’s and today I’m naming it and
the song “Got to Give it Up” as my Throwback of the week!
Originally written by Marvin Gaye, and produced by Vincent
"V.H." Herbert & Craig King, the song is ripe with 1970’s funk and
a super phattt synthesizer riff adding extra juice to this already saucy track.Catch the Throwback replay.P.S.You have to love Marvin Gaye’s appearance in the video too! >>>
