Big Youth releases double CD in England

Over the summer, Big Youth, through his Negus Nagast label, did a double album release in England: Hit The Road Jack and Natty Cultural Dread, put out together. The official proceedings took place at the Blackgrate Ballroom in West Green, North London, on August 21.

The full-length sets had been released previously. Among the songs on Hit The Road Jack are Wake Up Everybody, Ten Against One, The Way of the Light, Touch Me in the Morning and Keep Your Dread.

Natty Cultural Dread, which Big Youth said was never released in Jamaica, includes Wolf In Sheep's Clothing, Hell Is For Heroes, Every Nigger Is A Star, I Love The Way You Love and The Day I Laid My Eyes On You.

The albums are being distributed through Rod's. Looking ahead, Big Youth said, "I want to take it to VP or one of those people." He said that in the early days of his recording career, he did not know about mechanical rights and royalties. At one point, he said, "Me did just get disgusted" and he stopped releasing records for a while as he was "not getting any returns".

Electrifying time

There were also performances in Spain and Italy, Big Youth saying that he performed at the Rototom Festival, closing after Romaine Virgo and then Bob Andy. "It was an electrifying time, just as in the south of France the month before," he said.

There was also the show in Italy, the country where Rototom Sunsplash was held before the switch to Spain this year. "Is some diehard people in Italy keep it," Big Youth said. Everton Blender was also on that event.

Among Big Youth's standout albums is the landmark Screaming Target, released in 1972. It marked the arrival of a standout in the second generation of deejays, and, in addition to the title track, presented Tippertone Rock, Solomon a Gunday, Concrete Jungle, The Killer and I Am All Right.

Big Youth also performed on the mid-August Stur-Gav dance in tribute to Sugar Minott at Mas Camp, Oxford Road, New Kingston.

-M.C.