No such thing as blue beat


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It was only a couple of years ago that i discovered there was no such style of music as Blue beat, now before you shout "yeh there is" i too was under the misconception that the type of music coming from Jamaica in the early 60's was called that, Wrong! it is actually Ska, according to at least one JA legend, it gets its name from the noise the guitar makes as the plectrum is stroked upwards over the strings.

Why do/did we all think it was called Blue beat? simple, the name of one of the record labels bringing this music to our ears, and very popular at the time for that type of music was called.................................you guessed it Blue Beat. Simple really.................so why did it take me so long to suss that out?

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Blue beat was a name given to Jamaican rhythm & blues and ska music in the United Kingdom in the early and mid 1960s.

The name of the music genre came from Blue Beat Records, one of the main record labels of the time. Blue Beat Records was a part of the Melodisc label, which specialised in Calypso and Mento music. Melodisc was formed in London, England in 1947, with strong ties to the West Indies. The Blue Beat label released around 425 records, and is particularly known for Prince Buster's song "Al Capone." Many Blue Beat recordings were played alongside soul music in dance clubs such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester. The music was associated with the mod subculture.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Blue beat was a name given to Jamaican rhythm & blues and ska music in the United Kingdom in the early and mid 1960s.

The name of the music genre came from Blue Beat Records, one of the main record labels of the time. Blue Beat Records was a part of the Melodisc label, which specialised in Calypso and Mento music. Melodisc was formed in London, England in 1947, with strong ties to the West Indies. The Blue Beat label released around 425 records, and is particularly known for Prince Buster's song "Al Capone." Many Blue Beat recordings were played alongside soul music in dance clubs such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester. The music was associated with the mod subculture.

Thats what i said Mick! However as i mention, we got hold of the wrong end of the stick back then re what the actual music was/is.

Wilkpedia have stated what most folk believe it to be, and bear in mind, it gives you the power to edit on there,so some misinformed individual can post wrong info! and, as weve seen before re Dale Wintons birthplace etc, t'internet isnt always right!

Ask any Jamaican person of a certain age if theres a type of music called bluebeat, and, if hes knowledgeable about music, he will say no, its called Ska.

There was a programme on the telly a couple of years ago, about reggae, and how it came to be so popular via the "sound systems" back then, and there was a guy, possibly Toots, or Lee Perry, pointing out what i originally said, No such ting as bluebeat, the name of the label just became what was used to describe ska, i suppose like when we say, im going to Hoover up...using the name that is known to all, but should actually be, im going to vacuum up..........

I totally agree about ska being played alongside soul and motown, remember Phoenix city by Rolando Al (phonso) and King of Kings byJimmy Cliff, great tunes!

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And the British refered to Ska as Bluebeat, so despite it being taken from the record label, it was a term in general use here if not in Jamaica.

And lee Perry (Upsetters) was THE PIONEER (not as in Long Shot!) of Reggae music in this country. I think he died recently?

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I think I have Pheonix City on the CRAB label?

Without digging it out, wasnt it on the green and yellow Dr Bird label?

And yes i believe Lee "Scratch" Perry did die recently. A sad day for ..erm.........lets say Jamaican music!

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  • 3 months later...
  • 9 months later...
Without digging it out, wasnt it on the green and yellow Dr Bird label?

And yes i believe Lee "Scratch" Perry did die recently. A sad day for ..erm.........lets say Jamaican music!

Lee 'Scratch' Perry is still alive.

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  • 1 month later...

As an old MOD of the 60's era, let me throw in my opinion..I was at the first and the last gig Prince Buster played in the UK and also used to be a drummer in various bands playing all the clubs in the West end of London, and had the peasure of sitting inone night with Prince Buster.

Blue Beat, as you say isnt a genre but I believe it stands up on its own right...just as Motown was on the Motown label (I KNOW ITS TAMLA MOTOWN before someone starts to slate me) everyone refers to Motown..but its the motown sound, simply soul...Thats why in the 60's we referred to Ska as Blue Beat, because it was the biggest selling label and all the most popular (or at least the most played in the clubs) sounds was resorded on it in the early years.

I know we have Dice, Wildbells, Melodisc and even Prince Busters own label..called Prince Buster but so did we have Stax with soul, but we only remember Motown.

So all in all, I think Blue Beat was a special sound and stands as a genre as does Motown..well thats what I think...I reckon there are a lot more peopl eout there also taht would think the same..play a Blue Beat disc andthen another make, you see the difference inproduction sound.

Anyone rememebr Dandy ??? I came across one of his old records in my loft last weekend. I will have to put it on my web page to sell..must be worth a few quid.

post-1318-1204859176_thumb.jpg

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Hello and welcome

Yes I remember Dandy, one of the lesser known artists from the Trojan stable.

I can't make out what the single is in your post but this one came immediately to mind.

02d9_1.jpg

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Spot on Modness, (great name btw) but what I meant in the header,was that for ages, most lovers of that genre of music, mistakenly called it Bluebeat not ska. Good analogy with Motown I have to say, in fact, even now I get asked to "Play some Motown...you know.......like Build Me Up Buttercup" !!!!!!!!! ffs!

In fact, at the time I went to school with a Jamaican boy, and i was saying how good Bluebeat was, and he said he'd never heard of it, and only when I mentioned some of the acts of the day, did he realise what i was on about. (Strange in hindsight he never actually told me what the style of music was though!

As for Dandy, one of his most popular tracks was Rudy, A Message To You, covered in the 80's by The Specials (or Special AKA whatever they were at that time)

Regards clubs then Modness, which ones did you go to, Dungeon, Brit Beachcomber? We might well have been there at the same time!

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  • 8 years later...

Straying off a little bit. There was a record shop on Goldsmith Street just round the corner from the County Hotel where you could get most of the 'Blue Beat' singles plus many more Ska labels.

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