Greetings

Every once in a while I come across reggae music related material that I 
feel many of you would enjoy given that most of you are pure music fans (in 
addition to being pop mavens). As such,
the "Who Cork the Dance?" blog has a wealth of material that many of you 
would find interesting.

Basically, two big time Jamaican dance-tape collectors have decided to make 
their historic tapes (from cassettes) available to the general public to 
enjoy. If you have never been to a Jamaican dance, well this is the best way 
to experience reggae music. At a dance, the selector picks the record 
(usually a 7" or 12" single), plays the vocal side, then flips to the dub 
version and the resident dj or singer rides the dub with a vocal. This is 
how most Jamaican artists get their start in the music business. If the 
crowd responds to the dj or singer, then he continues. If the crowd does not 
respond, then he is off the mic!

Anyway, the blog has great information about the dances that one can hear 
and it tells you a little bit regarding the sound system that is featured. 
For example, one of the sounds that is featured is Virgo Hi Fi...and this is 
how they describe one of the dances:

*Session Five: -- Virgo Hi Fi Up Park Camp, Kingston 1980 --
*Featuring: General Echo, Lone Ranger, Barrington Levy, Sammy Dread, Welton 
Irie...
*Operator: Tony Virgo...

*This tape has Stereophonic Hi Fi main man General Echo guesting on the 
Virgo sound in the Up *Park Camp area. The General is the star as usual and 
he and Ranger in a slack combination on "Old *Broom" have the crowd calling 
for more. "Mellow Canary" Barrington Levy runs through a nice *medley of his 
hits and Sammy Dread and Welton Irie add to the vibes of this enjoyable 
dance.


By the way, who are these tapes obtained? Well, "tape-men" come to the dance 
with their portable cassette players and set up the player somewhere in the 
dance and just press "record". There is a little bit of a "science" as to 
how to set up your portable so that you can get the best sound on the 
cassette. During my youth in San Diego, when I use to go to some of the 
Jamaican dances that were held during the early 80s, I would show up with my 
portable and had trouble finding an empty place on the floor or a ledge 
because of all the other cassette-men!

http://whocorkthedance.blogspot.com/

Well, here is my public service announcement for the month. If you have ever 
been curious about what a Jamaican dance is like..enjoy the blog..I am

gabriel