News: On-U Sound reissue Singers & Players’ – “War Of Words”


Whether it be The Clash covering  ‘Police & Thieves’, DJ Don Letts  spinning reggae at the Roxy or Steel Pulse opening for The Stranglers, dub reggae has  been associated with the punk rock scene, in the UK, USA and beyond, since at least as far back as 1977. The influence, and shared experiences (for starters punks and rastas were both seen as social, and to a certain extent, musical outcasts) are well documented. Despite initial reservations – apparently Jnr. Murvin claimed The Clash has destroyed his song – it was almost inevitable that the two tribes would unite, not only as the anti-racist movement ‘Rock Against Racism’, but also on disc as collaborators, influencing and infiltrating each other’s scene…

Originally released in 1981 via the 99Records label, ‘Singers & Players : War of Words’, featuring Bim Sheman on lead vocals, a combination of top Jamaican deejays, and musicians –  Prince Far I and Jah Woosh, and band members from the Arabs and Roots Radics – playing alongside some of the foremost London punk / post-punk luminaries – The Clash, Ari Up (The Slits) and Keith Levene (PiL) – proves to be a valuable document of the times, showing how the intrinsic link between Jamaican dub and punk transcends beyond mere influence and shared dance halls.

Good news is that this crucial recording is set to be re-released next month and will swiftly be followed by a 10” pressing ‘War Of Version’ featuring previously unreleased tracks from the War Of Words studio sessions; including the never before heard, Calling Over The Distant Sea,  by Prince Far I. Both the album and the EP have been produced by On-U stalwart Adrian Sherwood, and both have been re-mastered and re-cut at Dubplates & Mastering Berlin to ensure the bass is as deep as is physically possible.

Singers & Players: War Of Words

Label: On-U Sound

Release Date: 21 August 2015

Cat No.: ONULP5

UPC: 5 060263 721321

Format: LP + download card

 

Pre-order the album here.

War Of Words LP tracklist:

 

Side A

  1.  Devious Woman
  2.  Quanté Jubila
  3.  Sit & Wonder
  4.  Fit To Survive

 

Side B

  1.  Reaching The Bad Man
  2.  World Of Dispensation
  3.  91 Vibration

 

War Of Version EP tracklist:

Side A

01.   Calling Over The Distant Sea (ft. Prince Far I)

  1.  Devious Dub

Side B

03.   Bad Man Dub

  1.  Don’t Be Greedy (ft. Jah Woosh)

 

The full On-U Sound back catalogue has recently been made available. For more information visit the website and label shop.

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