Founded in 1975, The Revolutionaries were primarily the house band of the famous Channel One Studios founded by Joseph ‘Jo Jo’ Hoo Kim in the Jamaican capital Kingston. The band was led by Lowell »Sly« Dunbar on drums and Bertram »Ranchie« McLeans on bass. »Ranchie« was later replaced by »Robbie« Shakespeare. The Revolutionaries’ rhythm section changed reggae, their style, called »Rockers«, was more aggressive, more mechanical and emphasised the off-beat. When we think of reggae today, we have the »Rockers« style in our ears.
Grass roots
In 1980 they recorded »Black Ash Dub«, with Sly & Robbie as rhythm section, completely produced and written by Jah Thomas, mixed by Prince Jammy and The Scientist. Big names in reggae. 10 tracks can be heard on it with exemplary names such as ‘Marijuana’, ‘L.S.D.’, ‘Cocaine’, connoisseurs of cultivated weed consumption will be familiar with »Lamb’s Bread«, »Acapulco Gold« or »Rizla«. So only »high«lights on it. The album was originally released on Sanctuary Records and will be re-issued on 7 March 2025 on Jamdung, a sub-label of Cinedelic. A red vinyl edition limited to 100 copies will be available exclusively from HHV Records.
