Fabulous!!!

Good day friends, it's such a nice day today. Weather is good although its a little bit hot outside. This week ,we give you the original "Voice of the People" - Cecil Bustamente Campbell aka Prince Buster (born May 28, 1938). I only found out a couple of months ago that The Prince is also a Muslim by faith and goes by the name of Muhammed Yusef Ali. There is a picture of the prince and Muhammad Ali included on the sleeve of the cd when the Ali visited Jamaica during the sixties. The Prince joined The Nation of Islam after meeting Ali while on tour in England in '64. Prince Buster is one of the prominent figures in the history of Ska and Rocksteady together with Duke Reid, Coxsone Dodd and the Jamaican superband The Skatalites.

He was recruited by Coxsone Dodd as a security and bouncer against "dancehall crashers" for his fledging musical business during the early years of the sound system wars in Kingston. Riots by loyal fans of a particular sound system usually erupts or parties could become rough. Prince was a successful amateur boxer in his teens and his boxing skills were quite handy in controlling the crowd of dancers. In 1960 ,he produced a record for the Folkes Brothers' "Oh Carolina" and was an instant hit in Jamaica. Buster's Early recording were released in the UK through Bluebeat and helped in developing the sound of Ska. During that time also were the birth of the British Mods, together with Modern Jazz and R&b there were also a healthy doze of Jamaican imports circulating in the underground Mod scene thus making Prince Buster popular among the original mods. Buster was active in the Jamaican music scene throughout the ska and rocksteady years but when reggae took a turn to Rasatafarianism, he distanced himself from the new music because of his religion and gracefully bowed out of the Jamaican Music scene.

Prince Buster was once again in the limelight through the British Ska Movement known as 2 Tone in 1979. The North London Invaders was one of the bands that was influenced by Buster. They were trying to change their name because another band has the same name. One of them suggested "Madness" since it is one of the title of the song in their set. Everyone agreed and the name stuck since then. Madness recorded their first single "The Prince" as a tribute to "the man who set the beat". Another Buster single that they've recorded is "One step Beyond" and released their first full lenght album with the same title in 1979. Buster was also a guest performer on Madness' first reunion concert "Madstock" held at Finsbury Park in 1992.

Prince Buster now lives in Miami, Florida. He has performed in a couple of festivals and a few shows over the past few years including The Legends of Ska, Boss Sounds Reggae festival and The Jools Holland Show.

The featured cd is a compilation of Prince Busters' greatest hits. I remember that I heard this album when "Neighbors" was just starting. We used to hang out on a friends burger joint called "Mc Tintoys" and every time we go there, ska was always blasting in his stereo.

I have also included a video of Prince Buster and Suggs of Madness performing the finale on one episode of The Jools Holland Show.



The compilation includes 24 tacks of scorching ska and rocksteady. You will also notice the development of ska from the more R&B sounding "Madness" to the definitive ska drop and sound of "Al Capone", rocksteady in the form of the Rudeboy bashing "Judge Dread" and sexual innuendos in "Rough Rider" and "Big Five". The Brownbeat All Stars has also taken cues from The Prince. The Myra Ruaro composition "Lampungan" was inspired by "Rough Rider", the words are taken on a woman's point of view regarding foreplay and sex.

Now, ladies and gentlemen we bring you "the man who set the beat", "the rough rider from Orange St." - Prince Buster!

Madness

Al Capone
Wash Wash
Godson
It's Burkes Law
10 Commandments
Blackhead Chineman
30 Pieces of Silver
Hard Man Fe Dead
Earthquake
Judge Dread
Ghost Dance
Take It Easy
Too Hot
My Girl
This is a Hold up
Shaking Up Orange Street
Big Five
Rough Rider
Wreck a Pumpum
Julie on my Mind
Phaoroah's House Crash
Tie the Donkey's Tail
24 Finger

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