Under the Influence: Doves' Jimi Goodwin
As Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin prepares to strike out on his own with Odulek, the noted dub disciple preaches on ten treasured riddims
1. Jackie Mittoo – A Big Car (1970)
Jackie Mittoo was the keyboard player in The Skatalites and was also the musical director of Clement Coxone Dodd’s legendary Studio One Records in Jamaica. I first heard this on a Stones Throw Records live podcast by Beat Junkie DJ J Rocc. He played Give Me a Little Sign by Owen Gray – another classic – and then mixed into this. It worked so well, genius mixing! This is a beautiful swirling Hammond number. It’s so spiritual!
2. The Slickers – Johnny Too Bad (1972)
'Walking down the road with a pistol at your waist, Johnny you're too bad.' You have to mess up bad to spoil an opening line like that. I first heard this on the soundtrack to the film The Harder They Come. One of the great outlaw songs.
3. Lynton Kwesi Johnson – Sonny’s Lettah [Anti Sus Poem] (1979)
Recited in the form of a letter from a son to his mother, explaining how while defending his little brother from the bullying of racist police they’ve ended up in prison. A brilliant plot device and way to tell a story in song. Lynton Kwesi Johnson is a fantastic, gifted poet.
4. Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari – Four Hundred Years (1973)
'Four hundred years of colonial rape...' Another heavy opening line. This is a powerful, stark lesson in colonialism. Heavy Rasta Niyabinghi drumming and elements of jazz in the bass, trombones and saxophone. This is folk music, Jamaican style.
5. The Dubwood Allstars – Under Dubwood (2012)
Straight out o’ Northenden, South Manchester – back a' yard! This is inspired Garageband dub. King Tubby meets Dylan Thomas and Richard Burton under the Dubwood tree. Only me and a handful of people know who the Dubwood Allstars actually are, and I ain't tellin!
6. Michigan and Smiley – Diseases (1982)
Based on the classic Alton Ellis mad mad mad rhythm used on so many great records. I love the way reggae reinvents and appropriates grooves for new times. This is classic dancehall from the early 1980s. The lyrics are hilarious – a confusion of bible quotes and rampant sexism. It’s all just playful wordplay though and mostly tongue-in-cheek, I think?!
7. Dillinger – Cocaine in My Brain (1978)
I heard this when I was about 12 and it blew me away. It sounds dangerous. All of the songs I've picked here seem to have powerful, brilliant lyrics. 'Hey Jim! Jim! Just a minute y’all! No matter how I treat my guests, they always like my kitchen best.' Yes!
8. John Holt – Ali Baba (1973)
Oh boy – this groove spawned so many crazy versions, including the Dubwood Allstars above. The Ali Baba riddim! The King Tubby meets Augustus Pablo dub that spawned 'em all, including Dr. Alimentado and Jah Stitch’s I Killed the Barber – a mythical joke war against Kingston Barbers who were after rastas' hair. It’s so joyous and playful and free.
9. Prince Far I – Bedward the Flying Preacher (2003)
Adrian Sherwood’s On U Sound Label put out this fantastic cut on dub supergroup Singers & Players' album Staggering Heights. Deep dark dub based on the the true story of a Jamaican preacher called Alexander Bedward. This sounds so mystical and otherworldly to me.
10. Beres Hammond – I Could Beat Myself [Real Rock Riddim] (1994)
From the opening 'Ooh lord, I'm hurting,' this is aching, soulful stuff. Beres Hammond with this dancehall classic playing over the real rock riddim.
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