Double 12" Spin #15 =Meditations & Mighty Diamonds=
The fifteenth installment of Double 12" Spin highlights two vocal harmony groups that have been integral to the Jamaican reggae scene for many years. These groups often emerged from the challenging conditions of Kingston's ghettos, offering a musical escape from poverty and hardship. Typically consisting of three members, these groups frequently sang about the hardships of ghetto life while also exploring romantic themes. Two such groups, The Meditations and The Mighty Diamonds, are featured in this edition.The Meditations kick off this edition with their single Carpenter Re-Build. This vocal trio, consisting of Danny Clarke, Winston Watson, and Ansel Cridland, first appeared on the music scene in 1976 with the hit song Woman Is Like A Shadow. Under the guidance of producer Roy Cousins, they achieved further success with the disco mix of Stranger In Love, while Dobby Dobson produced two albums. In 1983, The Meditations released the critically acclaimed album No More Friend, produced by Linval Thompson with powerful backing from the Roots Radics. The title track became a hit, and the album enjoyed widespread success. Following the release of No More Friend, the group gradually disbanded, though they managed to release three more albums. Earlier this year, Danny Clarke, one of the founding members, sadly passed away. The song Carpenter Re-Build, also known as Having Fun, was included on the album No More Friend. This track showcases The Meditations' exceptional vocal harmonies. The B-side of the 12-inch single features a deejay version by Lee Van Cliff, a popular figure in the deejay scene during the early 1980s, named after the actor Lee Van Cleef. Lee Van Cliff was a highly sought-after artist during the first half of the 1980s, but his career was tragically cut short in 1987 when he was murdered in Brooklyn, New York. A. Mighty Diamonds - Heads Of Government B. Unknown - Version Label: Reggae The second 12-inch platter features The Mighty Diamonds. Founded in 1969 by Donald 'Tabby' Shaw, Fitzroy 'Bunny' Simpson, and Lloyd 'Judge' Ferguson, the vocal trio achieved their breakthrough in the mid-1970s with the Channel One-produced tracks Country Living, Hey Girl, and Right Time. The success of these singles led to the release of their debut album, Right Time, in 1976, which propelled them to international recognition. Until well into the 1990s, The Mighty Diamonds continued to release albums for producers like Donovan Germain and Delroy Wright, and toured extensively around the world. Unfortunately, 2022 marked a tragic year for the group. Lead singer Tabby was fatally shot, followed by the passing of Bunny the following day at a Kingston hospital. The 12-inch single titled Heads Of Government was first introduced to the market in 1980 and has since been reissued multiple times under various labels. The song was also featured on the 1982 album sharing the same title. On the reverse side, listeners can enjoy the instrumental version, which unfortunately does not incorporate a lot of dub elements. This particular release came out under the Reggae label which was a sub-label of Donovan Germain's Penthouse Records, who was also the producer for this project. Read the full article
