Charlie Chaplin- Fire Burn Them Below (1984) and Que Dem (1985)

Until all human
stop thinking corruption
have good meditation
conscious vibration
know that we are one nation
natty dread:
I tell you there shall be war.

Strictly culture, strictly roots. Charlie Chaplin was driven artistically by lifting up the sufferers and smashing down Babylon (much like his namesake, actually), and he paid for his dedication by never having a proper hit in Jamaica. Coming of age in an era of election riots and political turmoil, an overstimulated youth preferred mediocre slackness to superb roots. Don't get me wrong- I enjoy the slackness as much as anyone, but there is no justice in a world where albums like these languish in the out-of-print netherworld. I was actually surprised to find that no one else in the blog world had dropped them already.

These are records you come back to again and again, though they are different. 'Fire' is generally more experimental, with less familiar riddims, more dub fuckery, and a looser, more improvisational style. It also has a great take on Michael Jackson's Thriller. 'Que Dem' is tighter lyrically and production-wise, and runs almost exclusively on classic Studio One riddims (Shank I Shek, Real Rock, Mad Mad, etc.), perhaps two strategies designed to appeal to a broader audience after "Fire" failed to blow up. Both records are great.

George Phang at the Mantrols

Enjoy!


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[Original Liner Notes]

[Fire Burn Them Below: 1984]
PRODUCED & ARRANGED BY GEORGE PHANG

MUSICIANS
ALL TRACKS PLAYED BY BLACK ROOTS
EXCEPT "TALKING PEGEON" WITH SLY DUNBAR & ROBBIE SHAKESPEAR [sic]

ENGINEERS: M. RILEY, SOLJIE & R. THOMAS

RECORDED AT DYNAMIC SOUNDS & CHANNEL 1 STUDIOS

SIDE ONE
1. FIRE BURN THEM BELOW
2. LEARN TO READ
3. YOU GOT TO BE TRUE
4. KILLER

SIDE TWO
1. DANCE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
2. TALKING PEGEON
3. THERE IS A GREEN HILL
4. DROP OFF A SHAPE

[Que Dem: 1985]
PRODUCED & ARRANGED BY GEORGE PHANG

MUSICIANS
SLY DUNBAR, ROBBIE SHAKESPEARE, WILLIE LINDO, ROBERT LYNN & SKULLY

ENGINEERS: RUDDY THOMAS & SOLJIE HAMILTON

RECORDED AT DYNAMIC SOUNDS & CHANNEL ONE

SIDE ONE
1. DJ A DANCE
2. EXPLOITING
3. NOW A DAYS
4. PRETTY GAL
5. COCO DEALA BROWN

SIDE TWO
1. UNFAIR
2. DIET ROCK
3. QUE DEM
4. FOOD MAN ROCK