Aswad
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Aswad |
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Aswad ("Black" in Arabic) are a long-lasting British reggae group, noted for adding strong R&B and soul influences to the reggae sound. They have been performing since the mid-1970s, having released a total of 21 albums.
History
As naturalized children of immigrants from the Caribbean, in the aftermath of World War II, the children were moved to London. They attended a local high school near Ladbroke Grove.
The original members of Aswad were Brinsley Forde, George Oban, Angus "Drummie Zeb" Gaye, and Donald Griffiths. Courtney Hemmings was a frequent contributor in the 1970s, including joining most of the members of Aswad as the backing band of Burning Spear's 1977 Live album, recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London. Other contributors included Vin Gordon, Bongo Levi, and Karl Pitterson.[1]
They became one the UK's top reggae bands with songs, typical of the time, about the oppression of black youth, such as "Three Babylon" and "It's Not Our Wish", and the powerful jazz-influenced instrumental "Warrior Charge" (full versions of these available on the Showcase album).
Aswad gained a wider audience with the New Chapter album (1981). "Love Fire" gained wide recognition when it was used as the backing rhythm for Dennis Brown's "Promised Land".
Among Aswad's catalogue of hits is "Don't Turn Around", a UK no.1 pop hit in 1988, originally recorded by Tina Turner as a B-side to her "Typical Male" single. They followed this up with UK #11 hit "Give A Little Love", and a reggae flavoured rendition of "Best of My Love", first popularized and written by The Eagles. In 1989, they contributed the single, "Set Them Free" to the Greenpeace Rainbow Warriors album. In the same year they performed together with Sir Cliff Richard the song "Share A Dream" recorded the previous year, at Wembley Stadium as part of The Event (16 and 17 June, 1989). Their next hit, "Shine", was released in 1994. Another track was the upbeat 1998 remake of The Police's "Invisible Sun", performed with Sting.
The band also hold the distinction of having played with each one of the ex-Wailers.
The band has toured extensively, playing in diverse locations from London's Royal Albert Hall and Montego Bay's Reggae Sunsplash, to gigs in West Africa, Israel and Japan.[2]
Aswad released their most recent material in 2009 with the album City Lock. They released singles "What Is Love?" and "Do That Thing" in the same year.[3]
Band members
- Martin Augustine aka "Tatta" - Lead guitar
- Brinsley Forde aka "Dan" (born 16 October 1952, Guyana) - Vocals, Rhythm guitar
- Drummie Zeb aka Angus Gaye (born 1959, London, United Kingdom) - Vocals, drums
- Donald Griffiths (born 1954, Jamaica)
- Jimmy Neath aka "J-Slice" (born 1964, Manchester, United Kingdom) - Trumpet
- Jimmy Haynes aka "Senyah" - Lead guitar, Acoustic guitar
- Clifton Morrison aka "Bigga" - Vocals, keyboards, Melodica
- George Oban - Left in 1980 - Bass guitar
- Tony Gad - real name Dennis Anthony Robinson, born 11 November 1957, London. Joined in 1980 - Vocals, Bass guitar
Additional musicians
Keyboard players
- Courtney Hemmings
- Bubblers
- Michael Martin - also performed with the Spice Girls and Vanessa-Mae
Horn Section
Drums and percussion
- Lion - Prerry Melius - drummer
Production work
- Ace of Base remix of "Don't Turn Around" (#10 hit in the UK)
- Vanessa Mae - "Classical Gas" (Top 30 hit in UK)
- Janet Kay - "Missing You"
Discography
Albums
- 1976: Aswad - Mango Records
- 1978: Hulet - Mango Records
- 1981: New Chapter - Columbia Records
- 1981: Showcase - Mango Records
- 1982: A New Chapter of Dub - Mango Records
- 1982: Not Satisfied - Columbia Records UK #50
- 1983: Live and Direct - Island Records UK #57
- 1984: Rebel Souls - Island Records UK #48
- 1986: To the Top - Simba UK #71
- 1988: Jah Shaka Meets Aswad in Addis Ababa Studio - Jah Shaka
- 1988: Distant Thunder - Mango Records UK #10
- 1988: Renaissance - 20 Crucial Tracks - Stylus UK #52
- 1989: Aswad: Crucial Tracks
- 1990: Next to You - Alex
- 1990: Too Wicked - Mango Records UK #51
- 1993: Firesticks - Alex
- 1994: Rise and Shine - Bubblin' Records UK #38
- 1995: Rise and Shine Again! - Mesa
- 1995: Dub: The Next Frontier - Mesa
- 1995: Greatest Hits - Bubblin' Records UK #20
- 1997: Big Up - Atlantic Records
- 1997: The BBC Sessions
- 1999: Roots Revival - Ark 21
- 2001: 25 Live: 25th Anniversary
- 2002: Cool Summer Reggae - Universal Music TV UK #54
- 2009: City Lock - Bubblin' Records UK #63
Singles
- 1984 (Mar): Chasing for the Breeze - Island Records UK #51[4]
- 1984 (Oct): 54-46 (Was My Number) - Island Records UK #70
- 1988 (Feb): Don't Turn Around - Mango Records UK #1
- 1988 (May): Give a Little Love - Mango Records UK #11
- 1988 (Sep): Set Them Free - Mango Records UK #70
- 1989 (Apr): Beauty's Only Skin Deep - Mango Records UK #31
- 1989 (Jul): On and On - Mango Records UK #25
- 1990 (Aug): Next to You - Mango Records UK #24
- 1990 (Nov): Smile - Mango Records UK #53
- 1991 (Mar): Too Wicked (EP) - Mango Records UK #61
- 1993 (Jul): How Long - Mango Records UK #31
- 1993 (Oct): Dancehall Mood - Bubblin' Records UK #48
- 1994 (Jun): Shine - Bubblin' Records UK #5
- 1994 (Sep): Warriors - Bubblin' Records UK #33
- 1995 (Feb): You're No Good - Bubblin' Records UK #35
- 1995 (Aug): If I Was - Bubblin' Records UK #58
- 2002 (Aug): Shy Guy - Universal TV UK #62
See also
References
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
- ^ Aswadband.com
- ^ Aswadband.com/index
- ^ Roberts, David. Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums. Guinness World Records Ltd 17th edition (2004), p. 32 ISBN 0851121993