© SaXon Studio International
                 Foreword
The copyright to the lyrics and compositions quoted in this short biography vests with the
originators and artists who originally penned them. Many thanks to SaXon Studio
International for their co-operation and permission to re-produce pictures in this short
biography.

Memories don't leave like people do,

they always stay with you!!!

© SaXon Studio International

                           KING SAX
ON STUDIO INTERNATIONAL

Legendary Dancehall Supa System
The SaXon Studio International sound system, dominated the reggae dancehall
throughout the 80's and mid 90's both nationally in the UK and internationally all over
the world. SaXon brought overseas recognition to the dancehall scene in the UK and
promoted many artists including, Papa Levi, Smiley Culture, Asher Senator, Maxi
Priest, Tippa Irie, Daddy Rusty, Senior San, Junior San, Ultimate, Deadly
Ranks, Double O, Miss Irie (rip), Daddy Colonel, Rankin Prince, Roger Robin,
Mickey Mclean, Sugar Merchant, B-Candy, Mickey General, Multi-blind,
Dangeryouth, Richie Ranks, Danny Coxsone, Neville Morrison, Simmy Ranks,
Peter King, JD Walker, Ranking Coley, Mikey Dupa plus many more besides.
Many of the artists secured International fame and recognition in their own right.
There was no sound-system that could stand in the way of the mighty SaXon owned
by Selector Lloyd Francis alias Musclehead and managed by Dennis Rowe
('D'Rowe) as the best singers and MC's crowded the sound. The sound was always at
its best when operated by Trevor (Sax) Ranks, with Musclehead,ET flinging down
selection. Minimuscle, Mixers Trevor, Henry (Digital Prento) Equaliser and later
Mikey Boops made sure that the music selection; sound engineering and mix set the
standard, which the SaXon MC's and singers expected. We should never forget the
contribution here from Daddy Worzel (rip) from driving the sound van to setting up
the sound system in the dance.
To the best of my knowledge, SaXon was not fueled by income from narcotics and
was the best loved sound system amongst the dancehall massives creating Roadblocs
wherever they performed, leaving other sound owners jealous and envious of the killa
SaXon duplates and their fearsome MC's.
Hip hop artists and reggae superstars like Beenie Man, Yellowman, Papa San, Lt
Stichie, Buju Banton, General Trees, Papa Toyan, Peter Metro, Lecturer,
Supercat, Nicodemus, Squiddley Ranks, Pato Banton, Junior Reid, Half Pint,
Macka B, Charlie Chaplin, Beenie Man, Welton Irie, Johnny Ringo, Bunny
General, Shinehead, etc were influenced by the SaXon MC's as well as sound
systems like Sir Coxsone Outernational, Fatman, Java, Unity, Frontline Sound,
Young Lion, Stereoclassic, Rapattak, Observer, Radics, Gemi-Magic, Taurus,
Maverick, Now Generation, Sovereign, Nasty Rockers, King Tubby's, Prophesy,
Jah Shakka, Luv Injection, Ghetto-Tone, Black Scorpio, Volcano, Stereo-1,
Afrique, Downbeat, Jack Ruby, Black Scorpio, Cosmic, Metromedia, Stonelove,
Stur Gav, Jamdown Rockers, Gemini, Creation, Jungle Man, Duke Alloy, King
Addis, Bodyguard, Kebra Negus, V-Rocket, Nuclear Atomic, Killamanjaro
......etc. SaXon completed a magnificent history by winning the sound system world
cup clash in 1994.
SaXon (UK undisputed #1 sound) played Third World (NYC's Champion 90's Area in
Brooklyn) in 1985. This clash between the USA and UK opened up New York as avenue for international sound clashes
 This clash was held nearly two decades ago and is still talked about today.
SaXon MC's were signed by major record labels, Island records signing up Maxi
Priest and the talented squadron leader Papa Levi, who became the 1st UK based
reggae artist to reach the top of the Jamaican reggae charts with his hit tune, 'Mi God
Mi King', this hit tune simultaneously being No 1 in the UK reggae charts. The other
MC's (Tippa Irie, Daddy Colonel, Senior Sandy, Daddy Rusty and Sugar
Merchant) were signed by Greensleeves on their UK Bubblers label specially created
for SaXon, which produced and recorded the live dancehall session, 'Coughing Up
Fire' in 1984. Despite this it's very surprising that this amazing academy of talent and
application has not received the true recognition and reward it deserves, especially in
the case of the 'squadron leader' Papa Levi.
After Maxi Priest, Roger Robin was the second most important singing talent to
emerge from SaXon. He was only 11 when he first took the mic on the sound. By the
time he was twenty he had developed a singing style that many would say was
'stolen' from Maxi, but the dancehall massive new from early out how 'Lumberjack
Roger' used to sound. In fact many would argue that Roger was actually the better
singer and a much more talented songwriter. Whatever the case I loved them both.
Roger's single "More Love" topped the UK reggae charts in 1990. In 1993 his
"Undiluted" album - which includes a 'Fist Full of Dollars" - received the "Best
British Reggae Album" award.
Sound
eflections from the Archive
'Yes wi cum bac agen on a trip down memory lane
wi kno tings hav fi change but bring wi bac di Gud Ol Days cah wi sing seh,
wi fi moov wid di times cyaan mek dem leave us behine
wi kno tings afi change but gi wi bac di Gud Ol Days'
Tippa Irie and Pato Banton
I use to go around the local house blues scene in Birmingham mostly on a Friday
night after work. Now and again we would hear some half decent MC's and good
music. Nuff yard tunes were coming in and we would check out the latest tunes down
at Don Christies record shop in the Bull Ring on Saturday afternoons, then checkout
sessions at Barker St, St Peters Road or Balsall Heath (Sodom) where the big bank
holiday special sound Duke Alloy use to play, owned by Bujum and operated by
Grubby Banton. These were the days before Wayne (Glamour) Irie use to operate
the set.
We then started to hear about a young upcoming Birmingham sound called Upfront
Hifi run by Zeb-I (Carl Baxter). Upfront use to play party style in flats but it was
madness and sometimes felt dangerous, if you ever managed to get in, it felt like you
would never get out. Eventually the sound system moved to ram out the bigger
dancehalls like Oaklands and would draw the Biggest crowds to their dance. We
didn't realise at the time that most of the lyrics were pirated off the 1981 Reggae
Sunsplash tape, especially Peter Metro's Calypso Calypso. But it was all good fun
and the vibes were always mellow with nuff girls following the sound. These were
the days when the Johnny Dollar, Feel Like Jumping, Taxi, The Whip, Baby be true
Barry Roots, etc riddims ran the dancehall. One night in an Upfront v Skippy and
Lippy dance a dread came in near the end of the session his name was Macka B and
he mashed up the dance with some wicked lyrics. Macka B promised not to be late
for the next clash dance and encouraged us not to miss it. Every one talked about the
forthcoming clash for weeks and I duly arrived at the next clash in Oaklands. Skippy
and Lippy kicked off early and Macka B continued where he left off brandishing
killer lyrics, the crowd was going mad and Upfront's crown (Birmingham No.1) was
slipping. All of a sudden some men rushed the Upfront set like they were looking to
fight, then another dread jumped on the Taxi rhythm Upfront had selected, his name
was Pato Banton. The crowd was then entertained by a lyric fi lyric show down.
Macka B got my vote for doing a lyric in French, German and Spanish like.........
'Seh Blak man ina Ingland seh dem speak patois,
it soun inglish but a lickle sweeter,
ear de french man dat a une, deux, trois' etc …….continuing in Spanish and
German.
I left feeling that the best MC I had ever heard was Macka B, not only was
Macka wicked lyrically, but his personality was based on his faith (a humble and
conscientious Rastaman), which made him even more likeable. To this day I don't
believe a word of slackness has ever left his mouth.
Not too long after I started to hear about a young 17yr old MC called Tippa Irie,
everybody was saying he was from SaXon and that he was amazing. The first tape Igot to hear him on was a copy of the DSYC DJ Jamboree live LP in London. I didn't realise at the time that it was a King Tubby's set until my close brethren
'H' lent me
the LP, where Tippa and General Slater (aka Slarter! later on) ran the show. General
Slater stole it for me I thought he was the most complete MC for the time. I did recall
another MC doing;
'de date a Friday 28 di munt a January,
wi in de new year call 83,
mi cum a Tulse Hill fi di DJ Jamboree
in case me neva mention fi mi name a Levi
clear di boogu out yu nose soh yu can breed easy
tek di wax outta yu ears pay attenshun tu mi
cah now mi a go present connection a di MC........' but more of him later.
For me it was still all about Tippa and Slater they seemed born to chat. I promised
myself that I would go and listen to this rising young talent and SaXon whenever thy
appeared in Birmingham. The time eventually came around the summer of '83 when
SaXon played at the Botanical Gardens Harborne Birmingham, against Radics owned
and operated by Dolphus. There was literally no place to park around the Botanical
Gardens, to this day I wonder what the police thought was going on inside. This was
my first experience (would not be my last) of what would later be described as a Road
bloc, with cars parked at every angle into any available space! Dolphus enlisted
Macka B and Pato to help in the clash alongside Nigga Judah, CP and Boasty Peter
from Jungleman. The dance was wicked every MC was on form, but the SaXon MC's
carried the dance, they had more unity and had lyrics in abundance ('Miss Rowe a
strikly 7-up a weh mi sip' or 'tree di hard way as yu can see', etc). Tippa was wicked,
Macka B and Colonel seemed to be in a competition to see who could roll their
tongue the best. I left the dance with nuff memories and one name on my mind to tell
my friends, PHILIP 'PAPA' LEVI he was just something else, totally at ease,
composed and full of invention. Lyrically and personality wise he was from another
planet. From that day to this only Lieutenant Stichie, Papa San and Professor Nuts
in my opinion are in the same class and possess the same overall ability for complex lyrical invention..
 As wicked lyrical poet and dancehall bubbler Tippa Irie runs them
all close, as does Junior Sandy, Macka B and Smiley and Asher in their early days.
All are technically advanced and gifted bordering on the genius!
Key memories in the dance apart from the lyrics were the number of Hitachi stereo
radio cassettes - ghetto blasters if you must (Walkman's not yet created…lol) in a
long line high on the ridge of the back wall behind the Radics sound system, and the
way the wooden dance floor shook when everyone started to dance jockey move,
shoulder move and to Marcia Griffiths feel like jumping!! SaXon had to re-position
the sound amps and deck to stop the records jumping. I've only linked Dolphus 1 or 2
times since this dance, I'm sure he is relating this story to his Grandchildren right now
wherever he is, as well as the shock the gave Saxon at Oaklands when Radics dropped
a dubplate, 'anything SaXon do Radics do it better'. SaXon got them back in the
clash at Lewisham Boys Club when Radics went into the lions den without Pato and
Macka B. SaXon gave them a mauling, Radics later described as the worst sound
ever to visit London. All Dolphus could do to dim the pain was sit behind his sound under some strong liquor!!

Not long after around this 1st around Dec '83 some close friends of mine (Andrea and
Marcia) went to Oaklands to see the SaXon v Jungleman sound clash, the talk of the town was that Jungleman (like Radics and many sounds to follow)  experienced total annihilation by the Lewisham super system,
 My friends told me that Macka B and
Pato were old time style and that the SaXon MC's had moved the standard much
further on. Jungleman never played out much after that dance becoming Now
Generation in future years. The 39 Massive's Boasy Peter, CP and Judah never forgot
the memory of that beating, fast forward to the clash at Somerfield community centre
Winson Green between SaXon and Now Generation 1987 when Ghetto-sacs and
some other men rushed the SaXon set! From then on I never missed any SaXon
dance anywhere in the Midlands area, (from Nottingham – Northampton). For me the
superstar dream team of Senior San, Daddy Rusty, Daddy Colonel, Junior San,
Papa Levi and Tipper Irie were just unbelievable!! They revolutionised the MC
business in the UK and the rest of the world with their fast styles and technically
complicated single topic lyrics which could bore hole in any riddim. No one else was
doing this at the time. Their lyrics reaching Jamaica and being pirated (copied) by the
likes of Yellowman (Levi's Jah mi fear), Charlie Chaplain (Jah mi fear), Welton Irie
(Levi's '84 Shan), if not the lyrics the style like Beenie Man's 1000 gwal ('84 Shan),
or Peter Metro's life mud up (when Levi chat dancehall get shotup) etc.

The tape to have around this time was the SaXon v Ghetto-tone dance Coliseum
Suite when Ghetto-tone never turned up, everyone wanted the tape. The tape is
awesome full of lyrics from beginning to end. From Levi's Gran to Tippa's most
famous Arsenal supporter and Colonels 'Gran dis a di counteraction', Tippa's lyric;
It name Jam Rasta no dis yah session a fi jam
Rasta kno dis yah session a fi jam
Rasta kno dis yah session a fi jam
Is i man Mr Irie at di microphone stan
In case yuh neva kno i am a lyric bantan
a me originate if i was a rich man
I want all u people hear dem style and fashion
An as a MC I got my own opinion
I prefa Daddy Colonel to Duty Desmon
I prefa Daddy Buro to di one Yellowman
I prefa Nicodemus to di one call Toyan
I prefa Johnny Ringo to im partna Welton
I prefa Philip Levi to Daddy Champion (record jumps!)
Cah mi prefa Philip Levi to Daddy Champion
Seh Smiley and Asha a wi companion
Dem chat reality dem dow'n chat friction
Di one Willie Major upcomin mike man
To mi a feel im av di most 'O' inna dis yah land
Trevor operator hol im balls inna im an
An Dennis always cuss im how im cum from Taiwan
moving unto Micky who's an impotent man
Di only blakman me no hair hav a suntan
Seh Bung bellyBailey always chat di cockney trong
An inna fi im tro'ses im hav a bag a san
Seh lumberjack Roger a di one who sing song…………….Genius!
In those though I had passed my driving test I never had a car, I would never worry
how I would get back from the dance, just as long as I could make it there was all that
mattered to me. The return journey was usually down to the first train back to
Birmingham or night service bus pass and foot. Looking back I can't remember how
I use to reach some of the places I did. I remember one night after SaXon played
Bojangles in Bilston. SaXon had Earl 16 live round the set ('Batman and Robin
skank wid Papa Levi tonite') and Levi mash up the dance with 'rip down session'. At
the end of the dance me and some Radics MC's (Kernal Valentine and Lieutenant
Mellow) and Sugar Merchant all arrived at the local train station at the same time and
all we did on the platform and on the journey back to Birmingham was to talk about
Levi's lyric, especially the part when he said,
'Tuesday night mi nyaim a Indian curry
an Lard yu shud a ear me flash it like a Indian
…Oyah Oyah Oyah Oyah'....Wicked!
About some time around 1985 GT (Grantley Haynes) and Pato started to promote
dances at the Henry's Night club Bilston, this was a big step from the five-star
promotions crew (Big T and Massive) who felt they had Handsworth and SaXon
under lock and key, especially as Big T and D Rowe were family. Some of the fivestar
promotions didn't always come off where SaXon was concerned and it reached a
point for me where I would not go in the dance unless I could see Muscleheads
Stag/Merc parked outside. GT and Pato seemed honest and approachable so there
was a big shift towards their promotions. At the same time GT started to manage
Tippa after his tune 'Hello Darlin' became a big hit in the UK charts. As a result
Tippa and Pato started to do more stage shows together, we liked to see them 'up
there' but I never wanted Tippa to leave SaXon, that's where he made me and the rest
of the dancehall massive feel good. There was a rumour one time that GT was trying
to steer Tippa way from the dancehall, I asked D Rowe about this one time but I leave
you to guess what he said!
One night there was a promotion for the long awaited MC clash of the giants between
Macka B & Pato v Tippa & Levi. Everyone was looking forward to it. It would settle
the issue concerning who really was the best MC. I never thought that Pato would get
past the first round against Tippa & Levi but Macka B had some wicked lyrics, so I
thought he would be much harder to tame. The night came and a coach and been
organised to take people from Balsall Heath (Sodom) to the dance. When I got on the
coach if my memory serves me well Pato and GT were guiding people on (checking
tickets) and Pato said he was ready for it. When got to the club we just breezed
straight in no hassle and I went straight to the front. Every body was waiting with
great anticipation for the clash to start. After a while nothing seemed to be happening
and for the first time it occurred to me that I had not yet seen Tippa or Levi. GT then
came to the front of the stage using his handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face,
and then he quelled the noise of the crowd and said;
'crowd a peeple mi friten fi tell oonuh seh Levi an Tippa doh de ya'
At first everyone was going mad shouting Fix! Set-up! Money-back! GT then said
they would run the show as Macka B and Pato were there, whilst everyone was upset
we kind of see with him as he was saying it wasn't his fault. Macka B saved the night
with some wicked lyrics, like;
Mi cool mi cool mi cool mi nuh worry mi nuh worry mi nuh worry miself
Mi unda level level level level level vibe Lard
Mi cool mi cool mi cool mi nuh worry mi nuh worry mi nuh worry miself
Mi unda level level level level level vibe
Operator change di music put it pon di oda side
Pon di riddim mi a bubble an a sekkle an a cool an a sekkle an a
ride……unbelievably fast!
When he buried Admiral Jerry after Jerry had done a very nasty lyric about women
(everybody booed Jerry). I can't remember the full of the lyric but at the end said in a
very final judgement like voice;
'don't worry slackness chanter you won't be alone
Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher they will keep you at home'.
The crowed went mad, it was wicked. I never reached home till around 3 in the
morning and had to get up for work, I was tired all day.

Another night at the same club Levi and Tippa were the entertainment in between the
Birmingham MC competition between Fancy Fitzty, Kernal Valentine, Zodman and
Lieutenant Mellow. The fact that Zodman won was like the sideshow, the level of
professionalism showed by Levi and Tippa on stage was something to be seen and
Henry Prento gave them a wicked mix, taking over from Dolphus who had mixed for
the Birmingham MC's.
A little while later at the Maximillian Club in Birmingham (I still have the video!).
The clash of the giants took place. Trevor Sax was on the mix of the Master Blaster
sound (now Luv Injection). Although Levi arrived late on, he didn't get to chat as
Ghetto-sacs (him again) mashed up the dance and stopped the Blaster selector from
putting on a riddim for Levi. I have to admit that the night belonged to Pato he was a
revelation, kind of showing that he could mix it in the First Division (Premier League
not yet invented…lol). His lyrics was the freshest and the most inventive, especially
in his 'mi nuh trouble nuh-one, nuh-one shouldn't trouble mi' lyric, when he said,
'one time Radics play SaXon a London City,
mi neva di go cah Dolfus neva did treet me properly,
so me stay a mi yard a watch di late movie.
Next day as mi wake up mi get a SP,
Tippa did a boast seh im wud a beat me.
Me neva get worried me neva get jumpy
cah mi no nuff rispek is due onto me,
not jus only me but also Macka B
cos he's a gentle man with manners and a boss MC,
de both a we praise God di almighty
and wi read wi bible frequently
any way mek me get back to Philip Levi
and the ugly bwoy name Tippa Irie…
me don't trouble no-one, no-one shouldn't trouble me'. Wicked!
Although I knew it was going to be very difficult for Macka and Pato to live with
career destroying MC's like Levi and Tippa, especially when thinking of the lyrics
that MC's like Daddy IP, Lesi Lyrics, Bubbler Ranks, Youthy General, Dirty Desi,
Daddy Willie, Mr Palmer, Nigga Jimmy of the Coxsone, Ghetto-tone and Young
Lion, sounds had to face. The real surprise of the night was that Macka B got brushed
up from early out by Tippa; he claimed he didn't know it was a clash dance until he
heard it the night before on the Radio WM Des Mitchell show. Pato's determination
made sure he never faced any social embarrassment; although overall his lyrics were
the best on night we were all disappointed not to hear Levi, especially when we could
see him standing around the set.
Another memory I have is from the Big House (Handsworth Leisure Centre) when
SaXon played against Maverick sound from Leeds and Master Blaster from
Birmingham. There was only Levi and Colonel but the dance was wicked.
Musclehead ran some ruff Mikey General riddims the whole night, alongside Prince
Junior, King Kong and Sugar Merchant. Levi did his Militancy and president botha
lyric and a wicked combination with the Colonel;

© SaXon Studio International
'tu much lyric wi afi gi sum away,
heres one fi yu San
heres one fi yu Tip,
heres one fi yu San
heres one fi yu Tip,
seckle Trevor Rank no boda bite up yu top lip
Muscle silectin Digit a mix it
dis harmonising it sound fantastic,
Levi and de Colonel is lyrically fully quip,
sink nuff DJ like the ship call Titanic
more versatile dan Inspector Gadget
ribbi ribbi bung bung ribbit tittyt titty tit
dis ya stile a sting an shock an dis ya
style a hit a kick,
obliterate the dubplate exterminate the plastik
dis is wat wi wan tu be known tu de Public
put down microfone if yu is a mechanic
cah microfone it nuh carry nuh dipstick…….'
Wicked! I never left the dance until the sounds locked off.
My close brethren 'H' moved to London just behind Kennington Oval. Daddy IP
(RIP) lived below him in the same block of flats. We didn't chat much at first but
when he find out that I knew he was Cosxone MC then he would speak, he didn't like
it when we use to say that SaXon better dem though. Sad he lost his life the way he
did. 'H' later bought a flat on Southwell Road off Coldharbour Lane and nearly every
weekend I was down there visiting, and I would take in whatever big dance was going
(Mellon Road, Battersea Park, Clapham Park, Notting Hill etc). Sometimes we would
even drive from London to catch up with the sound like when SaXon played Coxsone
and Unity at Central Club Reading 1987. SaXon had some wicked Leroy Gibbons
and Admiral Tibbet, Coxsone had Stichie and Shabba on some wicked riddims.
When they played Tenafly on dub-special doing Ruffneck Fashion it mashed up the
dance. But the dance was spoiled at the end when things got heated after Deadly
touched Tenafly with a lyric about seeing him in the West-End 'a wear gwal frock'.
This clash followed the bashing SaXon had earlier given Coxsone in Leeds and
Blacka was back behind the controls, 'suh yuh kno it jus kudn't end deh soh!
The 1987 clash dance in Chapletown Leeds against Coxsone was amazing until it get
shott up! Levi mashed up the dance with his, 'keepin a dance dun a washington' and
Roger Robin singing 'society'. Muscle's selections were wicked, 5 slices of
Emmanuel Road and the 'Dallas' dubplate are my key memories of the dance, aside
from having to jump a wall to get out the dance when everyone scattered and dived
for cover from Billy the Kid! SaXon totally outplayed Coxsone. Some of my
bredrens who love Coxsone said on the night that they would never take them in again
unless Blacka was behind the sound!
Tenafly alongside Topcat, Prento Youth, Bikey and Fathead were the best Coxsone
MC's. Daddy Freddy had too much head top (made up on the spot) lyrics for me.
Although it must be said Freddy was an exciting vibes out DJ just like the DJ's from
home, he would always jump and go mad round the sound. I did love Fathead's,
© SaXon Studio International
'carpenta style capenta style', one bab bad lyric. Tenafly (human teletext) had
wicked inventions to but later on started to do too much headtop stuff when doing
combinations with Freddy ('cum lik-a Freddy get tu im'). His 'World Cup crazy' and
'boom shukkle shukkle seh dem loose a Shuttle' lyric in Clapham Common 1986 was
brilliant. Tenafly just didn't have a forceful personality more 'tan soh back' and so
never ran his sound like the SaXon guys without being pushed by Blacka or Gappy
Dread. Gappy and Musichead would always be shouting 'a who rule'? To get him to
front the sound more. I have to say in partnership with Stevie Culture or Danny
Chemist on the mix Tenafly was wicked!
To me Deadly Ranks wasn't blessed with the same magic as the other SaXon MC's.
But he shocked me once when he did a spin on the Senior San ('vibes in a de dance
gettin higher, su cum Musclehead rubadub yuh desire') and Tippa Irie ('Nyah was a
man from moa Kintyre, evry day im git up im a labba labba labba) with; 'Tell u bout
Richard Pryor who juck heroin an im kin ketch a fire', about his best lyric for me.
My brethren 'H' had a cousin (Wilo) who was the best friend of Coxones upcoming
selector Roger aka Musichead, before the big dances in London against Coxsone,
Roger and I would always discuss the outcome. He would tell Wilo and I about all
the specials that Blacka had prepared specially to deal with SaXon, but I would
always declare that 'my' sound would come through regardless. From about 1987
after every SaXon v Coxsone dance I would get a tape of the Coxsone side within a
week of the dance. Wilo would always get a copy from Jeh'sus or Musichead.
Musichead would say 'mek Ronnie see ow wi angle dem'. This continued right up to
the early 1990's when Blacka got the former Duke Alloy engineer Ray to build new
amps for Coxsone, the old Coxsone valve amplifier had had its day. I remember the
night of the Tyson v Bruno fight in 1989 at MFM Club Northampton, Coxsone had
some wicked specials with Frankie Paul and Dennis Brown and hurt SaXon on the
night. Tenafly also had the right lyric for the occasion, as we all rushed out the dance
to listen to the fight on the radio in the car, when we came back in Tenafly flashed the
following lyric as the news reached the Coxsone sound, 'Mike Tyson a de dan, a de
dan, Tyson a de dan im a di King champion'. I had to admit it was Coxsone's night
from beginning to end; they killed SaXon with their Dennis Brown and Frankie Paul
dub plates, especially 'Coxsone a di lick'. The only answer SaXon had was Senior
San, he saved SaXon from a serious battering!
Another time when I was in London I gave Minimuscle a call and he told me to come
and visit him in Malpas Road. My brethren 'H'and I went to visit Minimuscle and
Mrs Francis fed us and treated us nice while we looked at photo albums and talked
about SaXon. Minimuscle made sure I left we plenty slices of the mighty sound
system on cassette tape.
I followed SaXon come snow, rain or shine all over the country Coventry, Leeds,
Liverpool, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester, Bilston, Notting Hill, Leicester,
Northampton, etc. A bredren of mine Earl (Sixteen!) was 'in a it tu' with me
everywhere SaXon played.
Many times we would link up with individual members of the SaXon family like
Worzel, Levi, Junior San, Cookie. Worzel would always spar with Hugh
© SaXon Studio International
Johnson when SaXon played in Birmingham and he use to let us know the latest news
and the next big dances when we link up. I use to buck Cookie at nuff dance, on night
after a failed clash in Coventry against Unity, SaXon kept a dance in a nearby flat in
the Hillfields district of the town when I reach the dance Cookie was controlling the
door, when I asked him how much to come in he just said, 'yu a SaXon soldier yu nuh
a fi pay'.
Although every MC loved the sound, none loved the sound more than Colonel. There
was a time for about 3 years non-stop where every dance I went to, Colonel would be
there to defend his sound. Colonel was the perfect foil for MC combinations. He
linked well because of great timing and awareness, like on the dub special with Levi
and Tippa, 'luv oonuh bad' in 1988. One night in 1986 SaXon played Observer in
Oaklands, and the dance was like a memory daze session with tunes going back to the
days of Lewisham Boys club and Moonshot Club Depford. Colonel set the pace in
the dance bringing the other MC's in and he front the sound Bad! Senior San and
Junior San did some wicked lyrics on the night.
'Dis a champion bubbler mek yu waistline roll, and cruise we a cruise', by Senior San
mashed up the dance.
Then Junior San followed him with, 'reggae and soul lard wat a dis in a Lundon wi
spread the dancehall disease'. Musclehead fling down some Bad Nitty Gritty and
Pinchers riddim. Tippa reached the dance late and the dancehall niceness just kept on
flowing to the end.
Simmy Ranks (Human Bible!) had some fantastically long lyrics, but you had to
listen carefully to catch hold of his substance beyond his lyrical style, 'Bible Runins'
is a good example as is 'mi ha' fi run fi mi life ina coldswet'.
I have to make a special mention of my mic man ina inglan (said in the voice of the
Colonel). Junior San was a lyrical genius just like Levi and Smiley Culture, his
lyrics complex and inventive, I use to love hearing him chat, he was a conscious
youth as well. I use to feel if anyone was going to take over from Levi in the lyrical
sense it would be Junior San (don't think anyone could beat Levi in other aspect).
Not surprising then that Papa San from yard mentioned San Junior in his lyric DJ
Business. I have many favourite lyrics from Junior San like;
'cumon leh me tell u yu wats nu, Junior Sandy No2,
cumon leh me tell u wats new, spin a row, farm a line, scabby hi, scooby doo,
that's the bran nu patton an stile from Ovacliff road 22,
crowd a people undastan me crowd a people ketch dis clu theres not one but two
young Sandy's here to rock the revanu……….'
But my favourite lyric from Junior San was;
'Sandy jus a rivit Junior Sandy jus a rite-a,
Sandy jus a rivit Jinior Sandy jus a rite,
Sandy jus a rivit Junior Sandy jus a rite,
Sandy jus a rivit Junior Sandy jus a rite,
name is Junior Sandy an I'm sweeta dan a candy
jus like Papa Sandy mi cyan rivit an a rite.
Trevor Ranking mix it mi seh Trevor Ranking mix it,
long wid Digital an Junior Sandy pon di mic,
weda yu from Birmingham
weda yu from Nottingham
weda yu be blak or mi she weda yu be wite,
gatha roun de system wan u listen to de ri-ddim
if yu ar a pankoot moov out of my site,
nuff rispec to Dennis Rowe and Miss P from de radio an
Ooh Ahh Ahh Freddy hol tite.
Rock an cum in for yu foot dem clean
me nuh care if yu wearin pepy jean
cos de mor der is we making sure wi jus be-ing polite.
Irie im and sting an Daddy Rusty im a shock-a
Levi is the King and Junior Sandy jus a bite,
munny it soh funny but to sum it sweet like honey
but to mi well don't forget mi at de ending of de nite'………….
I could give you more but Mr Sandiford would sue me!
To be a SaXon MC you had to be totally original with your own chatting style and
inventions. Though I use to love when the MC's jumped on a style like Smileys,
'coot a coot soup a soup car a car and a train is a train', Asher Sennator's, 'Asha
kno evryting bout de car', Tippa Irie's, 'I'm a lyric maker' and Colonels, 'it's a
boom is a killa it's a masterpiece, sour milk weh mek yoghurt, sour milk weh mek
cheese,' or 'im not a DJ not an MC I'm a lyric banton' and Levi's, 'notch a notch
soup a soup an a coot is a coot' or 'if yuh wah mi an yuh need mi duh not loaf little
sista.' No Saxon MC typified originality more to me than Rusty! Rusty wasn't into
the fast chat thing, but some of his lyrics were wicked. One night at Oaklands in 1985
against Stereoclassic, Rusty torn down the dance with;
Ow mi cook a food ow mi mek a sweetpot
O mi cook a food ow mi mek a sweetpot
Earli Sundeh morning Mama wake mi up
Gi mi two poun a rice in a di pot fi look up
Me left di good grain tek de bad one dem up
Wen mi dun wash de rice mi put di peas in de pot
Hour an a half longtime fi cook dat
Wen it draw down mi add cream cokenat
Onion thyme it nuh need no carrat…………Daddy Rusty chat different from the rest!
'Do yuh rememba di skool days wen', 'moped bike moped bike a di new style', and
'one day pass a mi one day pass, nuh one zone ah nuh two zone fi mi pass legal it a
tree zone' are further examples of Rusty's individuality..Late 80's early 90's
 ET start select fi di sound and I liked how it played, peer old tune, some
new specials  all, more like a disco than a sound. We use to hear that Levi was
going to leave and chat for Java with Joe 90, not sure if this is true or rumour but
that's what they use to say. SaXon never played the same and didn't seem as
professional more like a juggling thing, however once Trevor got hold of the reigns,
SaXon started to come good again and once Muscle was back in action the sound was
fit to take on the new juggling sound systems. Around this time too I was in
Guernsey in the Channel Islands after leaving Birmingham University. There were
only a handful of black men on the entire Island. At a local record shop a man was
telling me about a reggae artist who would be visiting the Island with his band, I ran
through every artist I could think but he just kept saying, 'no not him.' He kept
saying the artist was a reggae rapper, Tenafly I said, 'no not him and so on'. Then he
said the rapper had a hit in the UK charts with 'hello' something. Tippa Irie? I said.
'Yes Bingo' was the reply. I went to the airport o meet them when they arrived.
Tippa Irie, Mickey Tuff, Lester Davis and the rest of the crew. I had just come back
from Jamaica so I had plenty of white rum, so I cooked some curry mutton and rice
and made some carrot juice for the crew. We reasoned until it was time for them to
go and sound check and do the show. It was a great weekend.
I have so many memories and got so much entertainment from those days. SaXon
was the most loved sound, because they were not a war-mongering, just a bunch of
talented youths who would stand their ground. When the heat was turned up in the
dance no sound could live with their MC's. The only sound in the world that would
be a match for them lyrically would be Cosmic sound with Papa San and Bunny
General and Stereo-one with Lieutenant Stichie, Ricky Stereo and Daddy Blue.
Legendary clashes against Cosxone and Young Lion prove the case in point, SaXon
had the most talent and the sound with the best personality so they were always the
peoples Champion.
I very rarely visit the dancehall scene anymore too much responsibility to joke with,
and secondly of the madness that has over taken the dancehall scene, control has been
handed over to the 'pi pi bad bwoys'. I took in a 2004 session in Digbeth in
Birmingham, my first dance in about 10 years. It was good to see those guys again,
they all still look so young and the ability still there, watching them live round the set
delivering their lyrics felt lie it use to be, much better than the music juggling scene of
the talent less which runs the dancehall now. It seems to me that their talent was
deserving of much greater reward, both in financial and recognition terms. In my day
they kept nuff man sane 'yuh betta beleeve dat!' as we had something special to look
forward every time a SaXon dance came round. On social commentary and a cultural
level they passed on as much as any University Lecturer has ever taught me about
pollution chemistry and analytical techniques! The SaXon MC's mastered the art of
complex lyrics and invention long ago, it now seems that it's all about the message'
just like Tippa's 'a de shotta dem dweet' lyric in 25th anniversary reunion dance
Bedford, he had the whole dancehall in his hand because he was dealing with reality,
a reality that he had sadly come to experience in his own life. As I see it they have
become true artists, operating at the highest level in the vocation they chose to follow.
Some may never know what SaXon really meant to the dancehall massive but just
take a trip down memory lane and listen to the mighty SaXon Sound in full dancehall
effect, 'dun talk'!
Of the 250+ SaXon tapes, CD's and records I have (many where I was in the dance),
my top ten all time SaXon sessions are;
1. Philip Levi v Lesley Lyric – 'yu can hav de trophy I'll take the cash' (some say
Lesley was a good MC but Levi buried Lesley so badly that his career was effectively
© SaXon Studio International
over from this point, no one would ever take him seriously after this. Curiously
enough with a PhD in hand he's taken very seriously as a visiting lecturer by
Goldsmiths College).
2. SaXon v Ghetto-tone (Ghetto-tone never turned up, but those lyrics from Tippa,
Colonel and Levi are still firm in the memory today and had everyone talking about
them for years – even in very recent times.)
3. SaXon v Surge Shepherds Bush 1983 (this tape was a favourite for everyone,
amazing atmosphere). 'Tree di hardway as yuh cwan see'. This dance was where Saxon
ran the Bunny li li dub on the real rock riddim 'give me the dub plate mek mi mash dem
down'. How many years after did Addis copy it???
4. SaXon 'coughing up fire' live LP (Lickwood!! what more can I say?)
5. SaXon v Stereoclassic Oaklands Birmingham 1985 (Never seen so much
condensation run from the ceiling, the atmosphere inside was just like those dances
we always wanted to be part of, especially when Muscle dropped Tonto Irie on the
sleng teng riddim. Trevor Sax said, 'Cookie, D-Rowe mi nuh no if a SP or ruma but
di man dem seh, police dem seh, dem tink a bomb plant in yah soh', I said 'a weh im
seh bomb plant'? Hugh Johnson said, 'si di bomb deh, a Saxon an dem a let arf'!
Pride of place amongst my tape collection.
6. SaXon v Young Lion Part 1 (Mr Palmer, Nigger Jimmy and Daddy Willie
couldn't manage Levi)
7. SaXon v Coxsone Leeds 1987 (Up until gun shot pop ina de dance, SaXon did
have it, key memories Roger Robin singing Society and Levi chatting about keeping a
session down a Washington, after Musclehead fling down five slices of Emmanuel
Road, you should have seen the look pon Festus face)
8. SaXon v Luv Injection 1992 UK cup clash (SaXon lick off the head of the
juggling champion. Trevor Sax said, 'dem neva see a soun bill suh farse, 'Leroy dan
Smart said, 'the victory is mine'. Luv Injection selector King Zukie, 'jus hol im ears
and squeeze im hed like im kudn't tek nuh more'.
9. SaXon v Third World Tilden Ballroom New York (or World Third should I say!)
10. SaXon v Coxsone v Taurus St Matthews Church Brixton 1988 (Tippa run di set
wicked de night an big up him sound). B Candy's 'the meaning of life', Tippa and
Rusty's combination, 'neegle eye' plus the Barrington Levy specials was wicked too.
Barrington Levy and Peter Metro live on Coxsone was the only thing that saved them.
Tippa show Tenafly how to front a sound. When dance done Musichead and I reason
about it and he had to admit that SaXon was ruff in the dance).
SaXon v King Addis v Kebra Negus v Stereophonic 1994 World Cup clash Milton
Keynes (Many would have this as there No 1, but this only told me what I already
knew from 19 long-time!)
© SaXon Studio International
Sound bytes
To much lyric wi a fi gi sum away eh to much lyric wi a fi gi sum away heres won fi
yu San heres wan fi yu Tip seckle Trevor Rank nuh boda bite up yu top lip Muscle
selecting Digit a mix it...... yu can hav the trophy l'll take the cash.... i am a most
faitful arsenal supporter.... dis ya champion bubbler mek yu wase line roll... short
smart 5ft 4in in evry word, born in 1967 November the 23rd.... mi born 1965 the
month call june, grow up concious from mi lef mi moda woom.... reggae and soul lord
wat a dis in a londun we spread di dancehall disease..... ow mi cook a food ow mi mek
a sweet pot.... three di hard way as yu can see, yes is I Colonel T and I Tippa Irie and
last but not least I Pupa Levi.... SaXon dun wid the trubling and strugling is time fi di
entatainin.... fatbelly fatbelly ras like me tek weh tree gwal from tippa irie..... mi keep
uskankingfreakingbodpoppingbellymovingjockygroovingcoolanddeadlywaterpumping
all on yu toe new design strikly mine sweater dan vintage wine.... All my people
should know that its crucial in this time, all my friends all around they taking coke
and getting high...... The vibes corner hear me now..... Wah dat dem a lick...... jah
woman jah man dis a di 84 shan..... bonnie and clyde born in america, di bota dem
was to wanted gansta....... I guess some people wonder why do the church bells ring
and inside do the people sings of love and happiness tr la la tra la la ..... shuufle up di
deck and put di king pon top, irie a sting papa levi a shock, due to the fact we av di
lyrical knack, tear down tennament maisonette and flat...... Miss Rowe! strictly seven
up a weh me sip...... Jah Jah a go slarta president botha, down in a africa pople
getting massikah african broda an african sista..... PAPA LEVI, DADDY
COLONEL, SENIOR SANDY, TIPPA IRIE, MAXIE PRIEST, ASHER
SENATOR, SMILEY CULTURE, JUNIOR SANDY, MISS IRIE(rip), ROGER
ROBIN, MIKEY McLEAN, B CANDY, NEVILLE MORRISON, PETER KING,
MIKEY DUPA, SUGAR MERCHANT, RANKIN PRINCE, DANNY COXSONE,
MIKEY GENERAL, DEADLY RANKS, DOUBLE O, DADDY RUSTY, D-ROWE,
MUSCLEHEAD, MINI-MUSCLE, TREVOR SACS, WORZEL(rip), ULTIMATE,
JD WALKER, MULTIBLIND, HENRY PRENTO, ET, MIKEY BOOPS,...... Thanks
for the memories.
Rispek same way to all Childa St and Lee High Road Massive. Rispek SaXon family
Levi Levite Capone, Fari, Lloydie Palmer-Jackson, Cookie(rip), Paul Rowe!! Miss
Rowe 22 still ah click!!
© SaXon Studio International
SaXon Links:
http://www.daintycrew.com/saxon.htm
http://www.theiceberg.com/artist/28690/papa_levi.html
http://www.tippairie.com/media.html
http://www.daintycrew.com/tippairie.htm
http://www.mcsrecords.force9.co.uk/Saxon.htm
http://www.a1entertainments.com/saxon_studio.htm
http://www.greensleeves.net/bio/biogsaxon.html
http://www.fctp.co.uk/papalevi.asp
http://www.gfm.org.uk/simmmey_ranks.htm
http://www.rayx.freeserve.co.uk/Saxon.htm
http://www.maxipriest.com/
http://www.reggaemovement.com/Artists/maxipriest.htm
http://www.reggaezine.co.uk/philiplevi.html
http://www.stonetigerentertainmentgroup.com/mikeybio2.html
http://www.claat.com (register log in and check out the downloads, 'coughing up fire'
is on there)
http://www.vibes3000.com/
SAXON 12"S
SAX 001 Tippa Irie - Request The Pretty Gal // Come Test Me
Produced by L. Francis
SAX 002 Tenor Fly - Spark Plug Body // Senior San - Crackhead
Produced by L. Francis
SAX 003 Richie Stephens - Coming Back For More // Mix 2
Produced by L. Francis
1994
SAX 004 Luciano - Programme Fi Kill
1994
SAX 005 Papa Levi - Bare As You Dare // Clean Under Pants
Produced by Musclehead
1994
SAX 006 Top Cat - Pirate Radio Station / Mafia & Fluxy - Safari Riddim // Top Cat -
Over You Body / Jazwad - Watajazz
Produced by Dillie & Musclehead
1994
SAX 007 Luciano/Chuckleberry - Cool It Off
SAX 008 Nico Jr. - Dapper Dapper / Mafia & Fluxy - Sunshine Rydim // Nico Jr. - I
Feel Nice / Jazwad - Watajazz
Produced by Dillie & Musclehead
© SaXon Studio International
1994
SAX 009 Bigsy Banton - Reggae Music We Want // Jazwad - Version
Produced by Dillie & Musclehead
1994
SAX 010 Senior Sandy - Nowhere To Go / Mafia & Fluxy - Version // Senior Sandy -
It's Getting Worse / Jazwad - Version
Produced by Dillie & Musclehead
1994
SAX 011 Tony Curtis - Ready For Love // Mafia & Fluxy - Version
Produced by Stingray & Dillie
1994
SAX 012 Ian Sweetness - Love You Forever // Mix 2
Produced by Dillie & Stingray
1994
SAX 013 Roger Robin - I'll Give Yu More // Roger Robin & Tippa Irie - God Gi We
Love
Produced by Dillie & Stingray
1994
SAX 014 Sweetie Irie - Weekend Come // Mafia & Fluxy - Weekend Dub
Produced by Dillie & Musclehead
1994
SAX 015 Dennis Brown/Saxon - Whip Dem
SAX 016 Jack Radics - Heart Skip A Beat // Jack Radics & Chukki Star - Heart Skip
A Beat
Produced by Dillie & Musclehead
1994
SAX 017 Peter Hunnigale - Baby Please, Acapella // Mix 2, PA Mix
Produced by Musclehead
1994
SAX 018 Jack Radics - Nobody But You // Dancehall Mix
Produced by Musclehead
1994
SAX 019 Chuckleberry - Bad Man
SAX 020 Lukie D - I Won't Let You Go // Mix 2
Produced by Musclehead
1994
SAX 021 Ninja Ford - No Dash It Weh // Computer Paul - Guava Jelly
© SaXon Studio International
Produced by Musclehead
1994
SAX 022 Terry Ganzie - Fire Burning
SAX 023 Frisco Kid - Yu A Boom // Computer Paul - Guava Jelly
Produced by Musclehead & Dillie
1994
SAX 024 Frankie Paul - Tasty Love // Dancehall Mix
Produced by Musclehead & Dillie
1995
SAX 025 Neville Morrison - You're Gonna Leave // Dancehall Mix, PA Mix
Produced by Musclehead & Dillie
1995
SAX 026 Roger Robin - Your Choice // Dancehall Mix, PA Mix
Produced by Musclehead & Dillie
1995
SAX 027 Dennis Brown - Keep It Up
1995
SAX 028 Dennis Brown & Roger Robin - Keep It Burning
1995
SAX 029 Nerious Joseph - Wonderful Feeling
SAX 030 Peter Hunnigale - Crazy Love // Dance Mix, PA Mix
Produced by Musclehead
1995
SAX 031 Dennis Brown - Rainbow Country
1995
SAX 032 Dennis Brown & Peter Hunnigale - Cupid, Dancehall Mix // Cupid Mix 2,
PA Mix
Produced by Musclehead
1995
SAX 033 Gregory Isaacs - Universal Tribulation / If You Don't Love Me // Mafia &
Fluxy - Version
Produced by Musclehead
1995
SAX 034 John Junior - Candlelight Dinner
SAX 035 Peter Hunnigale - Out In The Country
1996
© SaXon Studio International
SAX 036 Nerious Joseph - Shouldn't Touch It, PA Mix // Bad Boy, Mix 2
Produced by Musclehead
1995
SAX 037 Leroy Sibbles - Pure Problems, Mix 2 // Bonito Star - Forget I Was A G,
Mix 2
Produced by Musclehead & Dillie
1995
SAX 038
SAX 039 Nerious Joseph - Giving All My Time
SAX 040 Roger Robin - Show Me The Way
1996
SAX 041 Mikey Spice - Jah Never Fail I Yet, Mix 2 // Rub A Dub Mix, PA Mix
Produced by Musclehead
1996
SAX 042 Peter Hunnigale - Thank You Lord, Mix 2 // Thank You Lord (Rub A Dub
Mix)
Produced by Musclehead
1996
SAX 043 Dennis Brown - Feeling The Spirit, Mix 2 // My Time (Version)
Produced by Musclehead
1996
SAX 044 Mikey Spice - Tell Me Why // Hold On
Produced by Musclehead
1996
SAX 045 Don Campbell - Find Me A Lover, Rub A Dub Mix // Jazzwad, Fish,
Winston Sax - Version, PA Mix
1996
SAX 046 Mikey Spice - Tell Me Why
Produced by Musclehead
1996
SAX 047 Don Campbell - Find Me A Lover
1996
SAX 048 Lloyd Brown - We Need A Revolution
1996
SAX 049 Frankie Paul - Africa // Tell Me What You Like
1996
© SaXon Studio International
SAX 050 Sylvia Tella & Jack Radics - Searching For The One / Mix 2 / Version
Produced by Musclehead
1996
SAX 051
SAX 052
SAX 053
SAX 054 Lloyd Brown - Real Love // Dennis Brown - Rocky Love
1997
SAX 055 Frankie Paul - You Inspired Me // Woo-Hah
1997
SAX 056 Don Campbell - You Can Get It / Jazwad & Fish Brown - You Can Get It /
You Can Get It (Horns Mix) / Find Me A Lover
1997
SAX 057 Roger Robin - Calling // Something Real
1997
SAX 058 Peter Hunnigale - Be 4 Ever
1997
SAX 059
SAX 060 Don Campbell - Give Thanks
1997
SAX 061 Sanchez - You Are Everything
1997
SAX 062 Richie Davis - Bonito Star - Waiting So Long // Praise His Name
1998
SAX 063 Nerious Joseph - She Left Me Crying // Jack Radics - Find A Way
1997
SAX 064 Chukki Star - Mark Ah The Beast // Yout Dem Anthem
1998
SAX 065 Roger Robin - Unity // My Meditation
1998
SAX 066 Frankie Paul - Diamond & Pearl // I'm Ready
1998
© SaXon Studio International
SAX 067 Sylvia Tella - Sexy Loverman // Sylvia Tella & Frankie Paul - Feel Good
1998
SAX 068 Sanchez - Some Of Them About // You Are Everything
1999
SAX 069 Lloyd Brown - Lessons
1999
SAX 070 Chukki Star - Sweet Meditations
1999
SAX 071 Roger Robin - Hide & Flee
1999
SHF 005 B. Candy - Meaning Of Life
1989
SAX ??? Junior Delgado - Time To Work
1986
SAX ??? Senior Sandy - Public Enemy Number One // Part 2
1987
SAX ??? Sir Lloyd feat. Neville Morrison - I Wanna Make Love
1995
SAX ??? Peter Hunnigale - Sorry
1995
SAX ??? Tenor Fly - I Get My Kicks
1995
SAX ??? Sylvia Tella - Jamaican Land
1996
SAX ??? Chuckie Star & Frankie Paul - Unity
1996
SAX ??? Lloyd Brown - Night Shift
1996
SAX ??? Peter Hunnigale - Dem A Gwan // Woman
1997
© SaXon Studio International
SAX ??? Bounty Killer - Eagle & The Hawk
1998
SAX ??? Don Campbell - Sweet Jamaica // Mother
1998
© SaXon Studio International
SAXON ALBUMS
SAXLP 001 Various Artistes - Saxon Studio Presents Dancehall Specials Volume 1
Tracks: Look You In The Eye (Don Campbell) / Saxon To The Top (Leroy Sibbles) /
Sound Boy Crazy (Freddie McGregor) / Run For Your Life (Abyssinians) / Worries
In The Dance (Frankie Paul) / It's So Good (Ernest Wilson) / Don In The Dancehall
(Aswad) / Saxon I Love You (Sanchez) / Stalk Of Sensimenia (Michael Rose) / Kill A
Sound In The Rain (Tamlins) / No No No (Dawn Penn) / Turn Off Dem Sound Deh
(Cocoa Tea)
Produced by L. 'Musclehead' Francis & T 'Mini Muscle' Francis
1994
SAXLP 002 Various - Best Of Saxon
Tracks: I'll Give You More (Roger Robin) / Programme Fi Kill (Luciano) / Weekend
Come (Sweetie Irie) / Crack Head (Senior Sandy) / Here I Come (Sugar Black) / Baby
Please (Peter Hunnigale) / Love Yu Forever (Ian Sweetness) / Comin Back For Me
(Richie Stephens) / Hear Skip A Beat (Jack Radics) / Fire Burning (Terry Ganzie) /
Request The Gal Pickney (Tippa Irie) / If Yu Got Love (Norberth Clarke & Sugar
Black)
Produced by Musclehead, Dillie, Stingray
Engineered by Peter Chemist, Culture Lee, Bobby Digital, Speedy
1995
SAXLP 003 Various - Best Of Saxon Volume 2
Tracks: Taste Love (Frankie Paul) / Your Choice (Roger Robin) / No Dash It Weh
(Ninja Ford) / Try Nuh Do Dat (Starkey Banton) / Cupid (Dennis Brown & Peter
Hunnigale) / I Can't Stand It (Delroy Wilson & President Brown) / Nobody But Yu
(Jack Radics) / Keep It Up (Dennis Brown) / Yu A Boom (Frisco Kid) / De Love A
Money (Dolamite) / Baby I Love Yu (Alton Ellis) / Part Time Love (John Junior)
Produced by Musclehead, Dillie
Engineered by Culture Lee, Dellie, Speedy, Peter Chemist, Peter Hunnigale
1995
SAXLP 004 Dennis Brown - You Got The Best Of Me
Tracks: You Got The Best Of Me / My Time / Rainbow Country / Live It Up /
Passion Of Love / Wolf And Leopards / Equal Rights / Don't Want To Lose Your
Love / You Don't Love Me / Rocky Road
Produced by Musclehead, Dillie
1996
SAXLP 005 Various - Best Of Saxon Volume 3
Tracks: Jah Never Fail I (Mikey Spice) / Crazy Love (Peter Hunnigale) / Pure
Problem (Leroy Sibbles) / Universal Tribulation (Gregory Isaacs) / Shouldn't Touch It
(Nerious Joseph) / Stiff Necked Fool (President Brown & Jack Radics) / Show Me
The Way (Roger Robin) / Rainbow Country (Dennis Brown) / Nah Go Home (Leroy
Sibbles) / Woman (Peter Hunnigale) / Tell Me What You Like (Frankie Paul) / Rude
Boy Face (John Junior)
Produced by Musclehead, Dillie
1996
© SaXon Studio International
SAXLP 006 Frankie Paul - I'm Ready
1997
SAXLP 007 Various - Best Of Saxon Volume 4
Tracks: Programme Fi Kill (Remix) (Luciano) / We Need A Revolution (Lloyd
Brown) / Find Me A Lover (Don Campbell) / Jamaica Land (Sylvia Tella) / She Left
Me Crying (Nerious Joseph) / Tell Me Why (Mikey Spice) / Come Back For Me
(Remix) (Richie Stephens) / Night Shift (Lloyd Brown) / Brothers & Sisters (Sylvia
Tella) / You Can Get It (Don Campbell) / Calling (Roger Robin) / Unity (Frankie Paul
& Chukki Star)
Produced by Musclehead
1997
SAXLP 008 Peter Hunnigale - Genuine
Tracks: Thank You Lord / B 4 Ever / You Got Me / Cupid (With Dennis Brown) /
Heart Of The City / Pretty Woman / Out In The Country / Baby Please / Genuine / My
Baby / Dem A Gwan / Life Is What You Make It / Find A Better Way / Mix Up /
Crazy Love / Give Me Your Love / Woman / Good Loving / Ghetto Living / B 4 Ever
(Soul Mix)
1997
SAXLP 009 Various - Best Of Saxon Volume 5
Tracks: Diamonds & Pearls (Frankie Paul) / Sexy Lover Man (Sylvia Tella) / Real
Love (Lloyd Brown) / All Nations (Roger Robin) / You Are Everything (Sanchez) /
We Need More Love (Nerious Joseph) / Jealous Kind (Tyrone Taylor) / Feeling Good
(Frankie Paul & Sylvia Tella) / Black Bird (Lloyd Brown) / What About Us (Bonito
Star) / Praise His Name (Richie Davis) / Give Thanks (Don Campbell) / My
Meditation (Roger Robin) / No Problem (Lorna Asher) / I Can't Stand It (Richie
Davis) / Stop Your Hurting (Jack Radics) / Youth Dem Anthem (Chukki Star) / Unity
(Roger Robin) / Mark A De Beast (Chukki Star) / I Know Jah (Sweetie Irie)
1998
SAXLP 010 Soul Immigrants - Healthy Vibe For A Mood World
1998
SAXLP ??? Frankie Paul - Rejoice
1997
SAXLP ??? Lloyd Brown - Rhyme & Reason
1998
© SaXon Studio International
Reggae Chart History
February 4, 1984
Pre-release
1. Philip Levi - Mi God Mi King - Bad Breed
2. Al Campbell - Bad Boy - Dynamic
3. Johnny Osbourne - Fire Down Below - Jammys
4. Larry Marshall - Throw Me Corn - Studio 1
5. Delroy Wilson - Run Run - Studio 1
6. Lui Lepki - Gun Man Move - Volcano
7. Freddy McKay - Trickster Loving - Volcano
8. Horace Andy - Fever - Volcano
9. Heptones - Baby - Studio 1
10. Delroy Wilson - Won't You Come Home - Studio 1
Disco 45
1. Natural Touch - Gimme Good Loving - Nevil King
2. Maxi Priest And Philip Levi - Sensi, Mi God Mi King - Bad Breed
3. Don Carlos - Heart And Soul - Micron
4. Papa Face/Bionic Rona - To The Bump - Fashion
5. Hugh Porter - Feel The Feeling - Intense
6. Gregory Isaacs - Addicted To You - African Museum
7. Dennis Brown - Time And Place - Clock Tower
8. Jennifer Lara/Delroy Wilson - Island In The Stream - Londisc
9. Boris Gardener - Guilty - Palmer
10. Michael Palmer - Ghetto Dance - Greensleeves
May 26, 1984
Disco 45
1. Smiley Culture - Cockney Translation - Arthur Daley Intl
2. Paul Blake And Blood Fire - Rub A Dub Soldier - Review
3. Bob Marley And The Wailers - One Love - Island
4. Trevor Walters - Stuck On You - I&S
5. Gregory Isaacs - Love Is Magic - Diamond C International
6. Sugar Minott - I Wanna Give You My Love - M&M
7. Natural Touch - That Funny Feelin' - MK Records
8. Pad Anthony - Champion Bubbler - Greensleeves
9. Fenton Smith - Boom It Up - Fashion
10. Sandra Reid - Feel So Good - Sir George
January 12, 1985
Pre-release
1. Al Campbell - One Beer Bad Boy - Rocky 1
2. Johnny Osborne - One Rub A Dub For The Road - Top Ranking
© SaXon Studio International
3. Michael Palmer - One More Youth Get Shot - SCOM
4. Puddy Roots - Champiom Bubbler (Medley) - Black Solidarity
5. Frankie Paul - Annie Go Rope In Margaret - Black Roots
6. Sugar Minott - You Got The Love - Parks
7. Al Campbell - Talk About Love - Powerhouse
8. Mighty Diamonds - Fight It Out There - ET Records
9. Burning Spear - A The Force - Burning Spear
10. Puddy Roots - Stray Away Girl - Fantastique
Disco 45
1. Maxi Priest - Should I? - Level Vibes
2. Barrington Levy - Here I Come - Inner Light
3. Smiley Culture - Police Officer - Fashion
4. Aswad - Need Your Love - Island
5. Winston Reedy - Baby Love - Inner Light
6. Paula - Jazzy Lady - Rock And Groove
7. Papa Levi - Big And Broad - Island
8. Sandra Reis - We Belong Together - Sir George
9. Dennis Brown - The Right Fight - Yvonne Special
10. Dennis Brown - It's Magic - Greensleeves
Albums
1. Saxon (live) - Coughing Up Fire - Greensleeves
2. Frankie Paul - Pass The Tu Sheng Peng - Greensleeves
3. Sugar Minott - Herb Man Hustling - Black Roots
4. Frankie Paul - Just Be My Lady - Joe Gibbs
5. Freddie McGregor - Across The Border - RAS
6. Dennis Brown - Love's Got A Hold On Me - Joe Gibbs
7. Ini Kamoze - Statement - Island
8. Aswad - Rebel Souls - Island
9. Half Pint - One In A Million - Greensleeves
10. Asher Senator And Johnny Ringo - JA To UK MC Clash - Fashion
Compiled by Hawkeye Records, 2a Craven Park Road, London NW10
July 13, 1985
Albums
1. Maxi Priest And Caution - You're Safe - 10
2. Sugar Minott - The Artist - L&M
3. Johnny Osbourne - Rub A Dub Soldier - Jammys
4. Gregory Isaacs - Easy - Tads
5. Dennis Brown And Horace Andy - Reggae Super Stars Meet - Striker Lee
6. Sugar Minott - The Leader Of The Pack - Striker Lee
7. Michael Palmer - Pull It Up Now - Greensleeves
8. Sly And Robbie - Dub Experience - Island
9. Leroy Smart - Live Up Roots Children - Sticker
10. Ijahman Levy - Lily Of The Valley - Tree Roots
© SaXon Studio International
March 22, 1986
Disco
1. Tippa Irie - Hello Darling - UK Bubblers
2 Nitty Gritty - Used To Be My Lover - Uptempo
3. King Kong - Legal - Greensleeves
4. Al Campbell - Can't Hold Me - Unity
5. Ijahman - Moulding - Jahmani
6. Little Clarkie - Selector Him Good - Jah Tubbys
7. Audrey Hall - One Dance Won't Do - Germain
8. Jean Adebambo - Pain - Now
9. Bob Marley - Natural Mystic - Daddy Kool
10. Bim Sherman - Stop That Train - On-U Sound
January 31, 1987
Disco
1. Maxi Priest - Crazy Love - 10
2. The Administrators - Hand Clapping Foot Stomping Music - Groove And A
Quarter
3. Winsome And Nerious Joseph - Rock With Me Baby - Fine Style
4. The Natural Ites - Lately - Realistic
5. Barbara Jones - Please Mr Please - Charm
6. Debbie Glasgow - Knight In Shining Armour - UK Bubblers
7. King Kong - Ring Up My Number - Unity
8. Pinchers - Agony - Live And Love
9. Barry Boom - Come Follow Me - On Top
10. Peter Hunnigale - Fool For You - Street Vibes
Albums
1. Maxi Priest - Intentions - 10
2. Sandra Cross - Country Living - Ariwa
3. Andrew Paul And Mikey General - Sound Boy Burial - Digikal
4. Sugar Minott And Gregory Isaacs - Double Dose - Greensleeves
5. Asher Senator - Born To Chat - Fashion
6. The Ethiopians - Original Hit Sound - Trojan
7. Junior Delgado - Ragamuffin Year - Island
8. Ruddy Thomas - I Don't Want To Lose You - World Enterprise
9. The Investigators - First Case - Inner City/Private Eye
10. Super Black - We Ready For Them - Live And Love
April 11, 1987
Disco
1. Maxi Priest - Let Me Know/I Dream - 10
2. Winsome - Home Breaker - Fine Style
3. Little John - Yes Mama - Live And Love
4. Nerious Joseph - No One Night Stand - Fine Style
5. Aswad - Hooked On You/Gimme The Dub - Simba
© SaXon Studio International
6. Pinchers - Agony - Live And Love
7. Alton Ellis & Augustus Pablo - Too Late To Turn Back Now - Randys
8. Mikey General - Kuff'n Dem/Parring P - Digikal
9. Ernest Wilson - Promise Me - Techniques
10. Joseph Cotton - No Touch The Style - Fashion
Compiled by Dub Vendor, 274 Lavender Hill, London SW11
SaXon are Available For All functions Contact:
Muscle Head 07950 171 2960
07860 223 626

SAXON STUDIO INTERNATIONAL

Saxon studio started playing out as a party set back in 1976, playing at local parties weddings and small functions in their community of Lewisham, South East London.

Throughout the years to follow Saxon  became and was internationally known as the Number one U.K Sound System who was in a class of there own with there Dubplates and worldwide renowned artiste's feared by sound systems and DJ's from all over the Globe.

Circa 1982 they had a dance called  'DJ Jamboree' held in Lewisham, That dance was the start of new things to come for Saxon, people were coming from all over to see this sound perform. The entertainers grew and grew if one left then two more would approach us for a chance to be on the sound.

The first artist to emerge on Saxon was Papa Levi then came Maxi Priest Followed by Smiley Culture, all of whom had No:1 hit records and were all signed to Major record labels.

In 1984 Saxon sound was given a record label by Greensleeve's Chris Blackwell to use to promote the Saxon Singers and DJ's this label was called The 'UK Bubblers' Signed to this label were Saxon's Tippa Irie, Daddy Colonel, Daddy Sandy and Daddy Rusty.

In November of that year they recorded their first live LP called 'Coughing Up Fire' which turned out to be a great success for the sound system and their DJ's.

By This time DJ Papa Levi had already reached the Number 1 Spot in the English and Jamaican Reggae charts, with his record 'Mi God Mi King' and still to this day he is the only UK artist to have reached poll Position in Jamaica, and the first UK act to perform on Reggae Sunsplash.                                                                                               Also in that year and years to come Saxon had to face hard competition from other Sounds from all over the country. Like: Java, Unity, Coxsone, Volcano, Young Lion, Fatman, Ghetto Tone, Taurus, & Viking. {To Name a Few}

In 1985 Saxon stepped up the pace by being the 1st sound from the UK to do a full tour of the USA this caused a lot of anger from their UK counterparts. The tour was a great accomplishment and gained them worldwide recognition. This tour led to more international duties i.e. Jamaica, France, Germany, Bermuda, Sweden, Zimbabwe, Israel & Holland.

In 1985. Maxi Recorded His 1st LP 'You're Safe' In 1987 Maxi made the connection with Sly and Robbie and the self titled "Maxi Priest" album hit the charts internationally. This album contained the cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" which received heavy airplay world-wide.

In the year of 1986 Tippa Irie's 'Hello Darling' Reached into the Top Ten of the UK Pop Charts. This then led Tippa to become Europe's 1st international reggae act which then led Saxon to a more dates in Europe and onto Television programs.  

Whilst things were looking up for Saxon Things were even better for Smiley Culture he had two UK pop entry's 'Police Officer' and 'Cockney Translation' the latter of which went straight to number one. This opened many doors for Smiley, He received a television contract to make a TV show called 'Club Mix' On Channel 4.

Over the years sound systems changed, with the introduction of pirate/Community radio stations and radio DJ's. Many of the sound systems dropped out of the game this led to the opening of the Juggling style of playing were you would have five radio presenters and their records playing in the clubs and no sound system would be needed. This was also the downfall of Live Entertainment in the dancehalls.  

Many sound systems had to keep up with this fast pace and had to change to match the new trend. Saxon stayed into the game but this time without the DJ's.This New format took some time to get used too, but the die hard Saxon fans stayed with them.

September 12th Saxon were requested to play in Birmingham For the 1992 UK SOUND CUP CLASH which included 'Luv Injection', 'V-Rocket', & 'Stereo Phonic'.Saxon came through this ordeal with cup in hand to retain their undisputed title as the UK's Number 1 Sound.

In March of the following year there was a lot of controversy about Saxon when they lost the World Sound Cup Clash in Edmonton's Roller Express,to Body Guard from Jamaica.

However Saxon never gave up, This only made them stronger to continue to prove themselves the real champions. And in April 1994 they had the chance to prove it once again, when they were invited to the Sanctuary in Milton Keynes to battle for the W

orld Sound Cup.

This time Saxon's opponents were 'Kebra Negus, 'King Addis' and the 1993 cup holders 'Body Guard'. After a very hard combat Saxon came through unscaved to win the 1994 World Sound Cup.

Saxon Sound have reached the pinnacle of their trade and are still revered as the Number 1 Sound system in the eyes and hearts of many.

Saxon are still touring the globe and have been the 1st choice sound of many performing artistes when they are doing stage shows as they still command a full following wherever they go.

Saxon Makes a special effort to give their everlasting fans some old skool music live on the sound with the singers and DJ's plus any Touring acts from JA And UK, At the NottingHill Carnival, West London every year.

Saxon Studio has just recently completed a tour over the xmas and new year season period of Germany Holland and Israel.

Saxon International Sound

Internationally known and integral in terms of the sound system business in the UK, Saxon International Sound are a sound that fears no other. They clash, they juggle and more recently they have also diversified into other musical genres by bringing in some younger members to the sound, but overall, they are a force to be reckoned with and are aiming on taking the sound business to the next level. Daintycrew.com were able to catch up with Trevor Sax to find out all about where Saxon started from and where they are heading for the future.

Saxon is made up of many members including Trevor Sax, Musclehead,ET, Mini Muscle, Mikey Boops, Colonel, Sandy, Levy, Rusty, Roger Robin, Henry Sax, Tippa Irie, H "and the entourage goes on and on". Ultimately, the forefront members are Musclehead (owner and selector), Mini Muscle (selector/MC), Trevor Sax (selector/MC) and John Peckus (MC).

Dennis Rowe, Lloyd Saxon and Musclehead started the sound way back in 1976. Trevor Sax joined the sound in 1980 and the name of the sound came about from an amplifier, "They used to build amplifiers back in the day called Saxon and they got the name from them". Saxon wasn't always the sound's name though, "The Sound's first name was Imperial Rockers because the style of music then was Steppas. They didn't like the name so it was changed in 1978 to Saxon coz we were like warriors in those days. Saxon's a warrior name".

Since Saxon has been through so many DJs, Daintycrew.com wondered whether it was a characteristic that so many have cut their teeth on Saxon. Trevor was quick to refute this, "Not really. I think because the moods have changed, they just move on. We set a trend as far as the DJs in England are concerned in that three quarters (3/4) went on to be successful DJs and singers like Maxi Priest and Tippa Irie. They went on to do greater things".

So, how did Trevor get into the business? "I had a great love of de business from when I was small coz my father owned a sound. My grandmother and mother told me from when I was 2 or 3 years old, I used to stand up on boxes and play my father's sound. So, I think I got it from him and his father was a music man, so it must be in the genes".

..> ..>

Photo provided courtesy of MCS Records Photographer Mykey Simpson

Born in Wandsworth in London, Trevor grew up in England until he was 10 years old and then went to Jamaica on holiday. He recalled, "I loved it so much, I stayed on for another 8 years". After this time, Trevor came back to England, but was not too keen on staying here until he reached 21 and on a trip back to England, he met up with Saxon at a dance in Lewisham, South-East London.

Touring is a big thing for Saxon and they seem to be regularly out of the country. At the time of interview, they had just come back from New York and had also touched Miami. Trevor said, "For the last year we have been constantly on tour. We stopped playing out here for a while because the dances in London weren't the same as they used to be and gun surround it. If there's too much killings and things going on in a dance, they do not blame it on the individual, they blame it on the sound and it gives a stigma to the sound. So, we kind of said 'let's take a break and let's go into the recording studio' and we put our energy into recording artists like Lloyd Brown, Sanchez, Chukki Starr and the late Delroy Wilson. We released a coupla tunes and then we turned back and said it's time to get back into Dancehall. So, most of our dances are now based in foreign".

Saxon was know as a clash sound in the past and Daintycrew.com wondered whether there was anyone specific that proved to be a difficult opponent for Saxon. Trevor was adamant, "We never fear no-one. Everything was like a walkover. As the years come on, I would say the hardest one was King Addies. After we won it in London, about a month before Bermuda (Easter Weekend 31st March 1994), and I played a tune by Johnny Clarke and Bunny Lye-Lye and Baby Face went back and cut the tune, but he never had the Bunny Lye-Lye part. I had said if he can play back the tune with the 2 artists in it, then I can give him some ratings, but he only had the 1 artist. The crowd only heard the tape and only just realised Addies could not play that piece from that night, but it wasn't really a clash that night (Bermuda)".

Now, most people were wondering why Saxon did not represent the UK in the World Cup Clash of 2001. Instead King Tubbys flew the UK flag and there were rumours abound that Saxon basically out-priced themselves. Daintycrew.com as ever decided to ask the question that nobody else would, did Saxon out price themselves for World Clash? To listen to Trevor's response, click on the Real Player panel now, otherwise read on...

"We've been asked to play at a lot of clashes, but promoters don't want to pay the money and dubplates are expensive commodities now. The artists dem want £500-£600 (500-600 GBP) and Shabba, they want £1000 (1000 GBP) a tune! Now, when you tell a promoter that all right for a clash we want £15, 000 (15,000 GBP), they look and they laugh. They see it on their side to make money, but we've got a reputation... Everybody knows Saxon is the number 1 sound. They (Irish & Chin) wanted to turn round and give us £5000 (5000 GBP) and that don't even take you to Jamaica on a good plane! So, it was not really worth it. We run this as a business and it's an expensive business".

Trevor went on to explain that everybody that works on Saxon gets paid including the box boys as each of them have families to feed and responsibilities to deal with. He also stated, "Saxon is not supported by drugs money".

It is a very apparent fact that UK clashes are not being held as much as before and we wondered whether Trevor had an opinion on this, "Simply because this is a conservative country. The amount of shootings and killings that's been happening over the last 8 years, it's taken it's toll in Britain and the police have all reasons to shut down a dance when they feel like it coz of the violence that's happening in the dancehalls. We've been in touch with the police federation and asked them if they can secure dances, but the price they want is too much".

At the time of interview there was a UK cup clash held in Nottingham that featured Mighty Crown from Japan who took the title. Realistically, this was not a UK sound cup clash, "I think a UK clash should be done the same way it was in '93... The people who are keeping it nowadays are just in it for the money - to get quick money. This dance in Nottingham, Valerie V-Rocket asked us to play, but she was paying some stupid money to pay the Japanese some big money. We're from here and it wasn't on. We've worked hard to get where we are. We played every night for 10/12 years straight".

In terms of UK clash sounds, there are not that many that count as far as Trevor's concerned, "It's like a premiership. You have 1st division, 2nd division, etc. 1st division sounds with sound systems I'd say now are V-Rocket, Luv Injection and some sounds out in the country. Aquarius, Asha World... all these little juggling sounds, although they're not clash. Jamaican sounds dominate their lives, like Stone Love".

An ultimate sound clash line-up for Trevor would include Stone Love, Saxon, Jaro, Mighty Crown, Judgement and Downbeat. Of Downbeat, Trevor said, "They're my ultimate sound for Studio One and foundation".

Times change and Saxon is also a juggling sound these days as well as clash (if the price is right). Trevor said, "These days we are juggling, but we try to keep the momentum of rub-a-dub and foundation. We'll juggle coz we got Mikey Boops who does that and John Peckus. They will go with Mini Muscle. Lloyd's younger sons now have a part of Saxon and play House and Garage".

Notting Hill carnival is well known in and around the UK as well as internationally. Saxon has had a residency at the carnival since around 1980/1981 and they plan to continue it into the future. Musclehead is now on the carnival committee and the aim is to try and get sponsorship as they "don't get paid to do carnival, but... sound systems make carnival what it is".

Not content to just stick with sound business, Saxon also has a record label called Saxon International Music. They cover production and also have some artists signed to the label. Trevor told us, "We try to do everything up to peak. We're British and we keep our standards". There are 4 new rhythms on the label. At the time of interview the Teaser was due out in September 2002, soon to be followed by the Matrix II. The latter was more on a dancehall vibe whereas the Teaser was for the singers.

Being a veteran clash sound, Saxon's dub box is deep and it's Musclehead, Trevor and Mikey Boops that come up with dub ideas. Trevor's favourite dub is 'Babylon's Burning Down' by Sizzla.

In terms of the Reggae music industry, Trevor would "like to see proper sound systems back in London and have a music federation for sound systems. We really need one now. The sound system is needed to boost original Reggae. Club and dancehall is 2 different thing".

Violence has been marring dancehalls for a while now and it's obvious that it has affected the culture deeply. Trevor was vocal on this, "It's a no-go! Violence and dancehall and reggae don't mix. Foreigners have come here with an attitude and they're in wars in Jamaica with other gangs and they come to England, see their rival in a dance, go home, get their piece and come back and shoot them in the dance. Reggae music is in a bad way in England".

On a more positive note, a lot of people ask for Saxon cassettes or audio and Trevor is currently working on that, so all you fans stay tuned as he has got around 8000 cassettes that he is copying to mini disk so he can then burn them to CD.

For the future, Saxon will be doing more touring and after having done a stint in Gambia, they are considering moving some of the sound system out there. Saxon already has a football team named after them in Gambia as well as a fan club set up out there. Trevor reckoned that there's "more energy needed in Africa".

Militancy/Baby Mother (Jah Records JRW02 1986)

Militancy maybe shows more optimism with the record company being prepared to stump up for a picture sleeve. The back cover credits the Trouble Some Band as:

<p>Drums - Patrick (Treco) Augustus
Bass - Polean
Guitar - Jerry Lions
Congas - ZEBUL Zebulan
Keyboard - Sargent Pepper
Percussion - Treco/Jerry Lions/Zebulan
Prod/Arr by Patrick (Treco) Augustus and Papa Levi

Patrick Augustus aka Treco seems like the label head and is probably better known now as the author of the X-Press book Babyfather and its subsequent BBC TV Series.

Sgt Pepper seems like a real cornerstone of 80s UK reggae, having recorded extensively for Mad Professor and Jah Shaka. (Indeed the first release on Ariwa records was Sgt Pepper's Come Back Again 12?). He is also the brother of singer Sandra Cross and the late Victor Cross.

"Take of your jeans and take off your suit
And buy a pair of black army boots
Militancy this a miltancy
Imagine Papa Levi in a full khaki"

The tune itself has the same sort of mad kinetic energy as a good jungle track - except with proper horns and drums and bass. It's all done at breakneck speed (for reggae) and Levi is at his absolute best chatting fast style over the top. The lyrics (in as much as I have been able to decipher them) seem to focus on an end-times battle between 100 rastas and 200 babylonians. The rastas may not have numbers on their side, but they do play Sugar Minott and Nitty Gritty out of a huge ghetto blaster. After their victory the dreads "cark up de foot in de diamond socks" and "drink ribena out of the box".

The release proves that Levi could make it on his own, without major label support - indeed this is one of his best tracks.

Hill Top/In The Hills (Jah Records JRW003)

"Hill Top" is based on Joseph Cotton's "No Touch The Style" which was one of the first songs to use the Punaany riddim back in 1987. Cotton has been recording as Jah Walton since the 70s (and was also a traffic cop!), but this release on Fashion is a definite highlight of his catalogue.

"No Touch the Style" is a duet with (an uncredited) Janet Lee Davis in which Joseph despairs of his woman and Janet can't quite believe him and asks him to repeat himself:

"What I am doing with a woman like Sue?""A woman like who?"

"A woman like Sue. She give me carrot juice mixed with special brew"

"Seh she give you carrot juice mixed with special brew?"

"She give me carrot juice mixed with special brew
Then she get up from morning and give me no tea
Then she lock up me house - throw away me key
Mash up me settee and me one TV"

"You mean the colour TV weh you go truss pon HP?"

"Hill Top" is a similarly structured duet between to blokes (both of which may be played by Levi) which catalogues the misdeeds of various women and is hugely gossipy in flavour. Someone called Michelle comes in for particular stick because of her affections for the various Saxon MCs, for example:

"Me know a little girl by the name of Michelle
Have four men and every one she give hell
In a nuff different man flat that girl dwell
She go from one to one like a damn jezebel
Love Daddy Sandy but she prefer Colonel
Love Tippa Irie and Rusty as well.
De face look criss and her body look swell
When she walk her batty sing like a damn church bell
How much man draw water in your well?"

Ram Jam Capitalism/Me Love Sess (Treco TRE004)

This seems to have come out as both a 7? and 12?. The a-side is allegedly a dig at David "Ram Jam" Rodigan:

"The boy a put himself in a de position
For capitalise upon the black nation"

Levi counterposes white people profiting from reggae with black independence:

"What we need now is organisaton
and conscious man like Louis Farrakhan
to take control of the situation"

No doubt this won him few friends, but I doubt that was the intention. The Farrakhan reference is interesting and suggests a more catholic (small 'c') attitude to black consciousness - beyond the "pure" rastafari of the 70s and early 80s. Perhaps by the time this record was released the Nation of Islam was more prominent in terms of radicalising black youth - it certainly had a huge role in hip hop.

Indeed, Levi expands on his views in this interview with the UK section of the NOI:

"I am pro Black in my thinking, in my actions and I try my best to support my own people, you know. It is not that I am opposing any other nation, but I feel that I must stand for my own first and then if I am able to, I will stretch out my hand to help others, but self first. So first and foremost Papa Levi sees himself as an African descendant, not a European, even though I was born here in this part of the world. I see myself as an African stolen from abroad, you know." […]

"I love the Nation of Islam. I love the message of Elijah Muhammad and Minister Farrakhan is a present day mentor. Even if you do not agree with everything he says, we must give Min. Farrakhan credit because he does not have to put himself in the position that he is in. We need more strong Black men to stand up like this. I have to say to Min. Farrakhan, 'Respect due.'"

It's not known what the notoriously puritan NOI made of the b-side with its "You love sess - bawl out YES!" chorus.

Both sides of this single show a move towards a more ragga feel.

Levi's first LP, Trouble in Africa was released on Jah Records and he has subsequently made a number of albums for Mad Professor's Ariwa label. I'll try to write about those some other time, along with any other singles I happen to pick up between now and then.

It's always worth remembering that Levi's records, as brilliant as they are, were always a pale shadow of his performances as an MC on Saxon Studio International. Live chatting is by its very nature much more ephemeral, of the moment and harder to catalogue, so I shall leave you with an mp3 of the man to speak for itself. This is edited down from a clash with Unity Sound circa 1982, I think in North London. It features snatches of Daddy Colonel and Tippa also, but is primarily Papa Levi, Saxon's "squadron leader" ruling the roost over some great riddims.