Linton Kwesi Johnson

Acquired the LP in the early 80's at the recommendation of a friend from Senegal (Senegambia then). In the 90s made a cassette copy of the album & wore out the title track on the drive in to work every day; it's phenomenal. Deeply appreciate LKJ, Dennis Bovell, & whoever made it available on CD. . . keep it alive & morphing with the tech, OK?

From memory:

We're the forces of viktry and we're comin' right through
We're the forces of viktry now whatcha gonna do. . .
Dressed in red and feelin' dread
Dressed in green and feelin' mean
Dressed in purple and dressed in yella
Dressed in blue and we're comin' right through. . .

The instrumental behind & beyond lifts your mind into eternal sky while never forsaking the earth of your manifestation. As another European poet expressed it earlier in the last millenia (likewise with sublime instrumental):

Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen
Durch des Himmels pracht'gen Plan
Laufet, Bruder eure Bahn,
Freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen!

This is LKJ's second album, by far his best, and it is reggae like you've never heard it before: It avoids many of the cliches of the genre and charters new territory for music in general. It features LKJ's distinctive deep, mournful voice, reciting his poems over wonderfully complex and layered productions. Each song ends with extended jams, full of heavy dub-style effects and very elegant lead guitar work. The lyrics are primarily about battling racism in England, continuing his theme from his first recording, Dread Beat and Blood. Each song is a gem to be listened to over and over. This is meditative, deep music, filled with tension and menace, but has an intelligence and hypnotic mood that is very rewarding.

The only reason its not an inside the parker is because its just too damn difficult to match or surpass Dread Beat an Blood, Linton's stunning debut and statement of intention. Mind you its not easy finding a dud on this album. Kicking off with Want Fi Goh Rave, you immediately realise that LKJ's got himself a seriously tight set of musicians behind him, bass, horns and drums interlocked and funneling LKJ's message of "mi life ghat no meanin, just livin witout feelin". The strength of message continues with It Noh Funny, a poem about youth running wild in no certain direction, with no certain destination. Linton hits the heights with Sonny Lettah, just his voice and a wearisome bassline narrating a tale of police harassment gone wrong.
In the end, you've got striking poetry with a tight roots reggae beat that leads you to inspiring, conscious, often times dramatic, music. Linton followed this up with Bass Culture and the man did not let anyone down. To come up with three masterstrokes in the span of 5 years can be accomplished by very few. Within reggae music, it's almost unheard of.

The quality of the arrangements and the way it's played equates with the best in jazz, I cannot think of any other reggae album deserving such a compliment but this could be due my non-extensive knowledge of this music (I only have about 80 reggae albums)

One of the greatest poets of our time, he also happens to be a tremendous reggae artist. He has a master guitar player and lays down some classic tunes on this, his finest recording. A must have for anyone who enjoys reggae. Fight dem bak, down de road are 2 totally unique songs that defy classification.

This is one of my favorite recordings of all times.

Not too much to add to previous reviews, except that this is arguably the best urban reggae-dub ever recorded. Unlike LKJ's Island output, which leaned too much towards sunny, upbeat lilting rhythms for my taste, this one throbs with menace, raw anger, and the pulse of the concrete jungle. Only one complaint: this reissue CD excludes the "All We Doin' is Defendin'" dub, which appeared on the original Virgin 12" single; a dub that will break your spine.

Listen to the man called Linton Kwesie Johnson, because he's got a lot to say and he is saying it in a hard dubwize style! LKJ doesn't sing, and he doesn't rap, he is a poet from the city of London and he recites his poems over some of the hardest dub riddims ever laid down. The Legendary Dennis "Blackbeard" Bovell and his band is responsible for this monumentum of black music that will thrill you to the bones, I guarantee! This is the sound of the crying sufferer: Hard reality of today comes through your speakers as Linton introduces you to the blackman's suffering in modern day babylon. As heavy as the basslines are LKJ's accusations against the police, government, and the sufferers themselves. Although he is not a Rasta this is a Black Consciousness Reggae Album from the first degree. It is the 2nd track called five night of bleeding that made me hooked on reggae and especially dub. This happened back then in 1981 and this album is still among my favorites! Dread beat and blood is Linton's debut album, I consider it his best. You can find his music in several collections that consist of only essential albums. It is one of the first in the genre that is now know as "dub poetry". Like U Roy is to be considered the godfather of toast, Linton Kwesie Johnson must be credited as the godfather of dub poetry. Dread Beat And Blood: consider this to be your next purchase!

This two disc collection contains every track from all four of LKJ's Island albums exactly as they appeared on the original LP's with two exceptions: "Di Black Petty Booswah" from the "Bass Culture" LP and "Di Eagle An' Di Bear" from "Making History" appear in 12 inch extended versions. One reviewer from Brazil erroneously wrote that the collection is brought down by no less than 15 remixes that are "not the artists music but remixes produced by the label." Nonsense! What Island Records chose to do with this collection was to insert the tracks from LKJ's masterpiece "LKJ In Dub" (his 3rd Island album) immediately after the corresponding vocal tracks from the two previous albums ("Forces Of Victory" and "Bass Culture") and I find that the discs flow beautifully in this manner. They are NOT remixes but the original tracks from "LKJ In Dub." One can easily re-sequence the albums with their cd player's remote control if one wishes to hear the albums in their original running order (thereby restoring "LKJ In Dub" as a separate album) but I would recommend listening to the running order as it appears here the first time through, as the dubs are really fascinating to hear immediately after their vocal counterparts. Of course, hearing "LKJ In Dub" straight through is also a great listening experience, which is why I burned a cd-r of those tunes for blasting in the car. And how else are you going to get LKJ's long out-of-print final Island album "Making History" on cd without paying a fortune, if not by buying this anthology? Buy it, crank it and enjoy!

While the dub style originated and was perfected in Jamaica with Augustus Pablo and King Tubby, it's hard to argue that Linton Kwesi Johnson and Dennis Bovell and John Kpaiye hit a peak with LKJ in Dub. This CD gives each vocal song next to its dub version. This material continues to amaze, musically and lyrically. In an odd way, if Thelonious Sphere Monk wrote vocals and did them to his best songs, they would be like this. Linton is a Woody Guthrie.

I've dug LKJ for 15 years and this album nicely summarizes why. Powerful storytelling backed by an unstoppable reggae/jazzy sound. These are songs that only grow better with age--perhaps the definition of a classic. While I tend to agree with another reviewer who said that those listeners who don't especially appreciate version may find some of the dub cuts a bit redundant (maybe these folks are not smoking enough), for my money having the dub tracks alongside the A-sides simply creates a broader, deeper understanding of the poet and his poetry. Truly an album where the lyrics and melodies buttress one another in ways that never detract from the elegance and conviction of the songwriter.

It really doesn't get any better than this.

This is one cd set that I play at least once a day. Every song is great! I've been a long-time reggae fan but only had one LKJ album, LKJ In Dub. This album gives me it all, showing the growth of LKJ's poetry over time. All the tracks on this collection are great though I especially like It Noh Funny, Sonny' Lettah (Anti-Sus Poem), Di Eagle and Di Bear, Lorraine, and Wat About Di Workin' Claas? For my money, a reggae album without the dubs isn't worth it.

Linton K Johnson is great. I love his music and believe he is one of the greatest reggae artists. So, I was very pleased when I found this compilation at Amazon because I did not have any LKJ albums on CD. I thought a 2 cd's compilation would give me the very best of LKJ. And in fact, it did. But, and that is the problem, it also gave me a lot of remixes or dubs, it really does not matter how you call it, that are not the artists music but remixes produced by the label. If you like remixes go for it. But if you don't, then forget about it. The 2 cds have more than 15 remixes out of 35 songs ! It is one original song, one remix: it is so boring ! The remixes have no lyrics only a few phrases with delay effects or something, you know, the stuff they do with remixes. Buy LKJ but do not buy this issue.In my opinion it was very unfair from the label to issue such an album. I got something very different than what I expected. I understand now why the artist himself severed his relationship with Island. Thanks, Sérgio.

This album has been in my life since 1980, and it keeps coming back. It is simple, but unbelievable. Great sound. These are the tracks that the Dennis Bovell band put behind LKJ's poems, but without the poems. Straight reggae backing tracks, sculpted a little and edited interestingly, but without ruining the beauty of the sounds themselves. Now, I really enjoy his albums with all the poetry a lot. But I came to them through this. Even when his poems are angry and bleak, there's a sense of uplift to them, and this record helps explain why that is. Fun, fun stuff.

LKJ's album "LKJ in Dub" is my number 1 all-time favorite dub album. It is uplifting, with memorable horn arrangements and melodies. Tired of the dubmaster vs. dubmaster cd's that all sound similar? Can't tell one dub song from another? This cd is for you! Yes, the songs on this album share a common style and sound, but it is not the typical echo-chamber/reverb drenched jam sessions. These works are coherent and arranged.
I wish they had added bonus tracks, as the album is relatively short. Perhaps the price should be lower given the short length. If you love dub, don't let this prevent you from getting a copy of this cd! It is said that the best acts play one song too few, not one song too many. This cd is perfect as is. Enjoy and Peace to all.

Possibly one of the most influential uk dub
albums of all time. LKJ is the dub of the classic 'forces of victory' & 'bass culture' by Linton Kwesi Johnson: dub poet. For those familiar with LKJ, if you dont already
own this album, you owe it to yourself to hear it at least once in your life. For those who don't, welcome to the era of dub poetry, LKJ and prehaps
Mutabarku are the biggest and best known exponents of the style - check LKJ's 'If I was a top notch poet' for more on dub poetry. It is hard to pick a favourite on this album it really is start to finish top dub, that said the dub of 'sonnys letter' always has a place in our hearts, 'peach dub' and 'shocking dub' are also classics. 'Nuff said! Get it.

The way Linton Kwesi Johnson mixes thoughtful socially conscious lyrics with traditional reggae beats and then blends in jazz instrumentation all to a hypnotic effect -- well, his middle name might as well be "Krasi". And I mean "crazy good"! Its never boring and always adventurous, reminiscent of the way Bob Marley could get your toes tapping and your head bobbing all the while he was singing about the oppression of his people. This is an amazing CD and probably my favorite of his. Not a mediocre song on it. A real treat. The more you listen, the more you hear.

To listen to the music alone, one would expect the lyrics to be something along the lines of love on a beach, birds singing in the spring, and other such sweet nothings. But no, LKJ is a dub poet, which means his leanings are distinctly political and most definitely on the serious tip. Not that you could understand everything he's trying to lay on you through the Jamaican patois, but when you hear the names Ceauscescu and Honeker you know he's not talking about a walk in the park.

To listen to the music, though, he might as well be walking through the park with not a care in the world nor a thought heavier than the delicate breeze at his back. It's a weird thing, much like Morrissey, over bouncy Smith's melodies, rapturing about the heavenly nature of being flattened along with his lover (of unknown persuasion, of course) by a double decker bus.

But unlike the British, Jamaicans know how to have fun even on the political pulpit (I take that back - If you've ever watched the House of Commons on C-Span, you know the Brits can rip it up white whigs and all, and that the Prime Minister can cap with the best of `em). The rich uplifting sounds of an LBJ production attest to the spirit of the islands, the heavy rolling beats clearing a path for the rollicking frollicking tropical medley of flutes, trumpets, and trombones. The result is an album best taken on a sunny day with a few fruity rum drinks on the side.

If you like reggae with the heavy beats - Steel Pulse and Black Uhuru come to mind - and the multitextured melodies of west African world beat music, buy it.

Johnson is a "dub poet", so don't expect the lilting sweetness of much popular reggae - his songs come with a message, and his lyrics transcend the genre.
That said, this is a wonderful album filled with great songs that still sound fresh and relevant 25 years later. Buy it.

I bought this album in college when I was exploring the reggae world. I had explored the mainstream bands from Jamaica - Marley, Tosh and Cliff. I started exploring offbeat reggae and would occasionally pick up some gems. This album was very different. I found myself enjoying his style the more I listened to it. Johnson is equally a Poet and a Musician. He speaks more than he sings. However, the band he has is quite good. He has a really good deep voice as well. I was intrigued enough by his music/poetry to go see him live at UC Berkeley campus. I don't remember much about it though. It wasn't a bad show bad as I recall. I don't remember his band being nearly as good live, as on the studio album. It was probably a different band. He was very political and fit right in at Berkeley.

There are a couple of standout songs on the album. The song "Inglan is a Bitch" is good and Loraine is excellent. The rest of the album is pleasant enough.

If you're into poetry, I believe this album is a worthy purchase. If you're a reggae fan, I would consider this a bit on the fringes. If you would like to explore this artist, this would have to be one of his best efforts. If you're not into reggae or poetry - skip it.

One of the essential albums for anyone who's into reggae. Period.

yeah, this is some nice *$#! with Linton mixing up a more mellow tone throughout the album.

its definitely not as militant as his first two discs, but that doesn't make it better/worse. As always, the lyrics/poems are top-nahtch... Street 66 has a couple of dreads fixing for a fight with the fuzz, and the final tune moves beyond the dub roots to embrace free jazz... definitely a winner.

If you already know LKJ, you'll love this disc...if you don't start with the anthology double disc which has all of these tracks + 2 other albums, dub cuts and great liner notes.

Dread Beat An' Blood is a once in a lifetime record. It is not well known because its subject matter is very dark -- an explicit depiction of government supported racism and police brutality in 1970s England from the view of a person who witnessed and was subject to it. It is a miracle this record is still available.

The reggae music that accompanies Linton Johnson's lyrics is some of the best that has ever been performed in the genre. I first heard this record in 1984 as a reggae DJ at a college station and today, 16 years later, the words and music are still relevant and fresh. Most overtly "political" music quickly gets old and outdated with time. Somehow, LKJ and his musical collaborators concocted these songs so that they have not aged with time. How they did this, I don't know, but they did it.

I cannot recommend this record too highly.

L.K.J., or, Linton Kwesi Johnson, is a Jamaican vocalist/dub poet. When he started doing 'dub poetry' there was no such term: he is an originater, not a follower. He taught at Oxford University which may get in the way of his 'street cred' but shouldn't. He talks politics, he talks trials and tribulations of British West Indians, he talks about all kinds of stuff in a compelling and thought provoking way, listen, and you will be seduced. The music backing his singing and speaking is uncompromisingly great reggae. L.K.J. is not for intellectuals only: you can put his records on when you're stoned and need some solid reggae grooves to accompany you on your trip. I am a fan of artists such as Augusttus Pablo, King Tubby, Lee Perry, the Scientist, the Mad Professor, Prince Far-I, Tappa Zuki, U-Roy, Bob Marley, the Wailers, the Skatellites, Roland Alphonso, Leslie Kong [a producer], and et cetera... I'm dropping all these names so the reader will realize that my recomendation is not naive, I know good music when I hear it and you MUST hear Linton Kwesi Johnson. He is one of our culture gods. He'll move you and shake you. ALL his releases are good. It's 3 o'clock in the morning as I write this and I'm neither too bushy tailed nor bright eyed. I was browsing around on the net and I came across this LKJ album with no reveiws and I thought I'd do the world a favour and recommend LKJ to whoever may come across this 'review' because really his records are very cool, quite righteous, and goodgoodgood. You have nothing to lose by buying a any lkj product that comes your way. I'll make one specific suggestion and that is that you do whatever it takes to hear his '[Dem A] Black Petty Bourgeois'. The friggin' horns on that tune are amazing [HOLY AGGROVATORS!]and everything else also falls right into line, the bass, the drums, the guitar, A MASTERPEICE.

L.K.J., or, Linton Kwesi Johnson, is a Jamaican vocalist/dub poet. When he started doing 'dub poetry' there was no such term: he is an originater, not a follower. He taught at Oxford University which may get in the way of his 'street cred' but shouldn't. He talks politics, he talks trials and tribulations of British West Indians, he talks about all kinds of stuff in a compelling and thought provoking way, listen, and you will be seduced. The music backing his singing and speaking is uncompromisingly great reggae. L.K.J. is not for intellectuals only: you can put his records on when you're stoned and need some solid reggae grooves to accompany you on your trip. I am a fan of artists such as Augusttus Pablo, King Tubby, Lee Perry, the Scientist, the Mad Professor, Prince Far-I, Tappa Zuki, U-Roy, Bob Marley, the Wailers, the Skatellites, Roland Alphonso, Leslie Kong [a producer], and et cetera... I'm dropping all these names so the reader will realize that my recomendation is not naive, I know good music when I hear it and you MUST hear Linton Kwesi Johnson. He is one of our culture gods. He'll move you and shake you. ALL his releases are good. It's 3 o'clock in the morning as I write this and I'm neither too bushy tailed nor bright eyed. I was browsing around on the net and I came across this LKJ album with no reveiws and I thought I'd do the world a favour and recommend LKJ to whoever may come across this 'review' because really his records are very cool, quite righteous, and goodgoodgood. You have nothing to lose by buying a any lkj product that comes your way. I'll make one specific suggestion and that is that you do whatever it takes to hear his '[Dem A] Black Petty Bourgeois'. The friggin' horns on that tune are amazing [HOLY AGGROVATORS!]and everything else also falls right into line, the bass, the drums, the guitar, A MASTERPEICE.

Dread Beat An' Blood is a once in a lifetime record. It is not well known because its subject matter is very dark -- an explicit depiction of government supported racism and police brutality in 1970s England from the view of a person who witnessed and was subject to it. It is a miracle this record is still available.

The reggae music that accompanies Linton Johnson's lyrics is some of the best that has ever been performed in the genre. I first heard this record in 1984 as a reggae DJ at a college station and today, 16 years later, the words and music are still relevant and fresh. Most overtly "political" music quickly gets old and outdated with time. Somehow, LKJ and his musical collaborators concocted these songs so that they have not aged with time. How they did this, I don't know, but they did it.

I cannot recommend this record too highly.

L.K.J., or, Linton Kwesi Johnson, is a Jamaican vocalist/dub poet. When he started doing 'dub poetry' there was no such term: he is an originater, not a follower. He taught at Oxford University which may get in the way of his 'street cred' but shouldn't. He talks politics, he talks trials and tribulations of British West Indians, he talks about all kinds of stuff in a compelling and thought provoking way, listen, and you will be seduced. The music backing his singing and speaking is uncompromisingly great reggae. L.K.J. is not for intellectuals only: you can put his records on when you're stoned and need some solid reggae grooves to accompany you on your trip. I am a fan of artists such as Augusttus Pablo, King Tubby, Lee Perry, the Scientist, the Mad Professor, Prince Far-I, Tappa Zuki, U-Roy, Bob Marley, the Wailers, the Skatellites, Roland Alphonso, Leslie Kong [a producer], and et cetera... I'm dropping all these names so the reader will realize that my recomendation is not naive, I know good music when I hear it and you MUST hear Linton Kwesi Johnson. He is one of our culture gods. He'll move you and shake you. ALL his releases are good. It's 3 o'clock in the morning as I write this and I'm neither too bushy tailed nor bright eyed. I was browsing around on the net and I came across this LKJ album with no reveiws and I thought I'd do the world a favour and recommend LKJ to whoever may come across this 'review' because really his records are very cool, quite righteous, and goodgoodgood. You have nothing to lose by buying a any lkj product that comes your way. I'll make one specific suggestion and that is that you do whatever it takes to hear his '[Dem A] Black Petty Bourgeois'. The friggin' horns on that tune are amazing [HOLY AGGROVATORS!]and everything else also falls right into line, the bass, the drums, the guitar, A MASTERPEICE.

L.K.J., or, Linton Kwesi Johnson, is a Jamaican vocalist/dub poet. When he started doing 'dub poetry' there was no such term: he is an originater, not a follower. He taught at Oxford University which may get in the way of his 'street cred' but shouldn't. He talks politics, he talks trials and tribulations of British West Indians, he talks about all kinds of stuff in a compelling and thought provoking way, listen, and you will be seduced. The music backing his singing and speaking is uncompromisingly great reggae. L.K.J. is not for intellectuals only: you can put his records on when you're stoned and need some solid reggae grooves to accompany you on your trip. I am a fan of artists such as Augusttus Pablo, King Tubby, Lee Perry, the Scientist, the Mad Professor, Prince Far-I, Tappa Zuki, U-Roy, Bob Marley, the Wailers, the Skatellites, Roland Alphonso, Leslie Kong [a producer], and et cetera... I'm dropping all these names so the reader will realize that my recomendation is not naive, I know good music when I hear it and you MUST hear Linton Kwesi Johnson. He is one of our culture gods. He'll move you and shake you. ALL his releases are good. It's 3 o'clock in the morning as I write this and I'm neither too bushy tailed nor bright eyed. I was browsing around on the net and I came across this LKJ album with no reveiws and I thought I'd do the world a favour and recommend LKJ to whoever may come across this 'review' because really his records are very cool, quite righteous, and goodgoodgood. You have nothing to lose by buying a any lkj product that comes your way. I'll make one specific suggestion and that is that you do whatever it takes to hear his '[Dem A] Black Petty Bourgeois'. The friggin' horns on that tune are amazing [HOLY AGGROVATORS!]and everything else also falls right into line, the bass, the drums, the guitar, A MASTERPEICE.

If you understand the spoken British/Jamaican accent--with political and social relevance, to the extreme, then this is a record for you. This recording represents a part of the reggae world which should be honored in a Reggae Hall-of-Fame. The music is of roots-Reggae caliber with non-religious lyrics. Even the most Rastafarian-oriented roots listener would have to admit that Linton Kwesi Johnson's very soul is heard from his very breath on this timeless record of his live performance.

I bought this on vinyl years ago just for "Wat About Di Working Claas?" and discovered many more great tracks. My favorites are the last 3 tracks - "Wat About Di Working Claas?" goes right into "Di Great Insohreckshan" and then into "Making History." The Dub Band really fires up and delivers an incredible, tight, driving performance. Killer stuff, and socially conscious. Being a white, conservative yuppie I always felt a bit funny blasting this at full volume in my BMW, but it is just too good not to.

I watched a performance of most of these cuts by Linton Kwesi Johnson (LKJ) with Dennis Bovell and the Dub Band in 1989 at a small club in Portland, Maine; and had the chance to interview Linton Kwesi Johnson just prior to the show. During our pleasant but intense chat, he recommended I read Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Dubois, whom he cited as one of his major influences while growing up.

While the musical form played behind LKJ's lyrics is reggae-based, it is far from the "sunny" island-style reggae. LKJ's songs are explicit and disturbing stories of police beatings, trumped-up arrests, assassinations and firebombings of Jamaican, Haitian and African citizens of Great Britain, where he lives. LKJ does not sing, but speaks in a Jamaican-Black British patois adapted from Jamaican DJ pioneers such as Big Youth, U-Roy and I-Roy. These performances, from a mid 1980s concert in London, are a musical tour de force for Dennis Bovell (bass) and his band, which includes a full horn section, playing their butts off.

This CD captures LKJ and his band at their peak and is an excellent introduction to Linton Kwesi Johnson's recorded works and writing. For those familiar with Bob Marley, if you like the song "War" you will like this. Inspirational, unsettling and essential listening for those who desire far more than audio wallpaper.