tappa zukie: m.p.l.a.

If any album could conjure up the revolutionary spirit of Jamaica in the mid-1970s, Tapper Zukie's invincible M.P.L.A. set would surely be a fighting contender. The coming together of great rhythms and meaningful lyrics in a time of unrest in the country seemed to have made the album all the more urgent and relevant. As time would tell, it would also prove to be a lasting success, not only with the hard core reggae fans but also their punk counterparts, who embraced its militant themes and crossed the album over to a whole new audience. Tapper Zukie (b. David Sinclair, Kingston, Jamaica) had already returned from a trip to London, England by the mid-'70s, initially sent with help from his parents, brother Blackbeard and producer Bunny "Striker" Lee to get him out of trouble on the streets of Kingston, Jamaica. He had performed some live shows in London and made some recordings for Larry Lawrence, who produced his debut Jump And Twist. He returned to Jamaica in 1974 to work with Bunny Lee. His frustration over Bunny Lee's reluctance to record him led him cutting "Judge I Oh Lord" for producer Lloydie Slim. Bunny Lee finally recorded "Natty Dread Don't Cry." The eight rhythms and a further two from Jo Jo Hookim and Ossie Hibbert, alongside some free studio time at King Tubby's Studio would result in the M.P.L.A. album. The rhythm provided by Jo Jo Hookim was a Channel One studio cut by The Revolutionaires based on Little Richards' "Freedom Blues." The Ossie Hibbert rhythm again cut at Channel One based on The Royals' "Pick Up the Rockers" would provide the backdrop to Tapper's "Pick Up the Rockers." These and the remaining Bunny Lee rhythms, were all cut in a one-hour session at King Tubby's Studio. "Don't Get Crazy" was cut on a rhythm based on the Joe Frazier rhythm to Tony Brevett's "Don't Get Weary." "Go De Natty" was cut on Cornell Campbell's "Please Be True," originally a cut to Alexander Henry's "Please Be True." "Stop the Gun Shooting" runs over Horace Andy's "Skylarking." "Ital Pot" was cut on Johnny Clarke's version of Burning Spear's "Creation Rebel." "Marcus" sees Tapper professing over Johnny Clarke's "Poor Marcus." "Chalice to Chalice" pulls on Johnny Clarke's "Give Me a Love," "Don't Deal with Babylon" answers Junior Ross And The Spears' "Babylon Fall" and "Freedom" rides on the great rhythm of Junior Ross And The Spears' "Liberty." An outstanding and timeless album cut by one of Jamaica's finest DJs and producers, the mighty Tapper Zukie.