The Roots Reggae Library brings to you Reggae music in unique collections. This edition features the discography of the African Brothers, a group that does not have a big name in the industry but is extremely interesting.
The African Brothers is a group of three singers from Kingston Jamaica. Although few people now know who they were, the musicians individually are quite known in the Reggae industry. They are Lincoln Minott, also known as Sugar Minott. Winston Morris who is Tony Tuff. The third is Derrick Howard, known as Eric Bubbles. Dessie "Roots" Young was in it too, but not for very long. They recorded quite a number of singles which has been bundled into an album. Much later on they were brought back together with some additional musicians to create a second album.
African Brothers - Want Some Freedom
01. Lead Us Father
02. Torturing
03. Mystery Of Nature
04. Want Some Freedom
05. Practice What You Preach
06. Gimme African Love
07. Things And Time
08. Hold Tight
09. Just Can't Please The World
10. Righteous Kingdom
11. Party Night
12. A Still Tongue
13. Youths Of Today
14. King Son
15. Run For Your Life
16. No Cup, No Brock
17. Behold I Live
18. Forward Down A Channel One
Most of the songs on this album were recorded for different producers but are now featured together on an album that has been labelled to be from the year 1976. Some tunes were recorded as early as 1970. Around 1977 the African Brothers stopped recording together and their members pursued solo careers. The album starts with a wicked tune called 'Lead Us Father', recorded for Micron Music. We hear Biblical texts such as "Remember in Egypt we were in bondage, pharaoh won't let us go, father worked miracles, sent him some plagues to free us all don't you know" and "while we were travelling, we all got so hungry, all were in an angry mood, father made manna from heaven above, providing us all with food". In 'Torturing' we hear "today you come knocking at his door, but he won't let you in, he says you are full of sin, and might contaminate him". "He says you are the last person he would speak to in this world, yes, he says he won't let emotion rule his reasoning, and although he feels something for you baby he won't indulge in sin, oh no". 'Mystery Of Nature' had been recorded as early as 1970. A very nice bass line starting prior to "what makes the sun shine so bright". The song was recorded for Rupie Edwards. They are persistent singing "we got to pay the price, we got to sacrifice" because they 'Want Some Freedom'. This is also the name that has been given to the album. Not only do they want freedom but they also want people to 'Practice What You Preach' and to "be an example to those who teach". "You really don't know what life is all about" is their warning, and that way you will lead people astray. They recorded this song under the name The Original African Brothers. A very mellow 'Gimme African Love' follows. A very slow Reggae tune where they chant for black love. The last part of the song is slightly dub. Some tracks that are originally on this album are full dub tracks of the songs already there. They have been removed. The record of 'Things And Time' originally has a false start, which has also been removed. What is left is a nice Roots Reggae track. 'Hold Tight' had been quite a bit of a hit in its time. "Let no one lead you astray, the good Lord we all must obey, let no one lead you the wrong way", as we should only be led by the father. The sung was recorded with Clive Chin. If you think this track sounds old then listen to 'Just Can't Please The World' as it ranks even higher up the list in that respect. On the album the song is called 'Just Can't Please' but the name is taken that was printed on the single. From here onward all songs may lack perfection in audio quality. These songs can still be quite enjoyable to listen to. Take 'Righteous Kingdom', which is a beautiful song. "We live in a world of sorrow, just wishing for a better tomorrow". The song 'Party Night' was first recorded under the name Chosen One's. It was also a hit in Jamaica, but to be honest I prefer the song that comes next, 'A Still Tongue'. 'A Still Tongue' was made together with the Soul Syndicate and has a lot of rhythm and vibe. They sing "cock mouth kill cock" like The Congos. And "what must be said must be said". I like 'Youths Of Today' very much as well. The youths "love to fight, Lord, fight for their rights". "Some people got to keep them down, and youths don't like clean up the ground". Normally their are no more songs on the album than 'King Son'. They as how long it will take before redemption will come. After that follow four singles that I have added to this album. 'Run For Your Life' is one of the best songs from the African Brothers. "How many men have died in war, without knowing what they are fighting for" is a great line. "How many men in war do fall, with guns and bombs their foes destroy them all". 'No Cup No Brock' was the only single they recorded for Coxsone Dodd. They sing these wisdoms. like "no milk, no spill" and "no love, no lies". You can find the song on Studio One Varieties. There are various spellings of the words "broke", such as "brook" or "broke". Here it is written as it was pritten on the vinyl record. 'Behold I Live' was cut for C. Hanna and we hear that there has been a voice from Ethiopia and we hear about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 'Forward Down A Channel One' closes of the album, where they sing that they sing their little song. We've listened to an elaborate album with many collected singles between 1970 and 1977.
African Brothers - Mysterious Nature
01. Free Like A Bird
02. If There Is A Will
03. Weep And Mourn
04. Tell Me Why
05. Give Thanks And Praises
06. Hey Girl
07. All Night
08. No Need To Wonder
09. It Shouldn't Be Like That
10. Couldn't Make It
11. Mysterious Nature
12. Fun Time
After many many years Zenah Music, a French label, decided to bring the African Brothers back together with some additional help of Tristan Palma and Ken Bob. Derrick Howard is not on the album. We should be free to walk the streets at night, and frankly free from all other things like hostility, misery and war. 'Free Like A Bird'. Be able to go anywhere without a permit, to cross all boundaries. Free from stress as well. There will be a way 'If There Is A Way'. This is in the Holy Book. "Hard work is the key to success and whatever you do, try do your best". Then "the rocks themselves will be running, trying to find a hiding place" in 'Weep And Mourn', where the sinner man has got to change his ways. There is a little bit less music in 'Tell Me Why', if you know what I mean. You can hear Ken Bob sing background vocals quite clearly. 'Give Thanks And Praise' to everything you do, and "you've got to give thanks for life". Temperature is rising, and so is the blood pressure and sugar. 'Hey Girl', she is told everything she can anticipate. A lot of sensual touching and caressing. The chorus with the trumpet is quite nice. It's funny how they sing "all night" in the song 'Hey Girl' and then follow up with a song 'All Night'. Although they sing that there should be dancing to the Reggae music, there is not a whole lot of music to be danced to. We do have to realize that we are listening to music that was recorded some 34 years after these guys started first recording music. The piano begins 'No Need To Wonder'. "No need to wonder, no need to ponder, about all that is happening". They sing about the book of Revelation, Satan, "rumours of War on the land", and "nations fighting against nation". Further into dub-like music we hear that 'It Shouldn't Be Like That'. "Why aren't we rightly paid for the work that we do". And like Peter Tosh once sang, "why won't they give onto Ceasar that which is for Ceasar, and give onto Jah that which is for Jah. "If it wasn't for the love he showed", talking about the love of Jah, 'Couldn't Make It'. Without Jah the African Brothers would be nowhere. I am not a big fan of changing the name of a song. Once it has been originally established as a song, and it is recorded again, I prefer to stick to the original title. Only in certain occasions this has been overruled, such as with The Wailers. In this case, the new album is called after the renamed song, 'Mysterious Nature'. The lyrics of the song are the same as 'Mystery Of Nature' on Want Some Freedom. The music is quite different. 'Fun Time' is ending up the album with a positive vibe. On the album is written that "This album is livicated to His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile I Selassie I Jah Rastafari with all thoughts and prayers belonging to Him."
Original Date Of Publishing: February 2017
Studio Albums
««««« (1976) Want Some Freedom
««««« (2004) Mysterious Nature
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