PART 1 (24 mn. 45 s.) : INTRO by Daweed - Spéciale PENTHOUSE label Part 1 (The Rocksteady Revival)
Pour commencer cette session, Daweed rendait hommage à Donovan Germain dont on fêtait l'anniversaire le 7 mars dernier en revenant sur le label qu'il lançait à la fin des années 80, le label Penthouse, label qui va vite cumuler les productions à succès ds les années 90...
Il n'en était pas à ses débuts au moment de lancer ce label, pour rappel, voici la biographie de Donovan Germain tiré du site dont vs trouverez le lien plus bas sur cette page :
Donovan Germain (Executive Producer)
The beginnings of the musical adventure
Donovan Germain was born on March 7, 1952 in Kingston, Jamaica.
He relocated to New York in 1970 to study accounting. He graduated from New York Community College, taking a job at a Wall Street stock brokerage firm as a junior accountant while simultaneously running a Brooklyn reggae record shop he had purchased named Keith's Records. In 1975, Germain began distributing records for several jamaican producers including Gussie Clarke, Lloyd Campbell or Sonia Pottinger.
The firsts productions
In 1978, Donovan Germain made his first tentative forays into production with the help of Lloyd Campbell under Spiderman label with Joy White’s "Love Is A Message" and Ronnie Davis "Equality & Justice".
He founded his first label Revolutionnary Sounds the same year, working regularly in the Channel One and Tuff Gong studios where he produced most notably The Tamlins (they gave him his 1st hit "Don't Break Your Promise" in 1979), the Cultural Roots (“Mr Boss Man” in 1980, a true label anthem), the Mighty Diamonds, the female singers Joy White and Audrey Hall and The Revolutionaries. He developed two subsidiary labels in parallel - Rub-a-Dub and Reggae - in the early 80's in order to distribute some of his productions in the USA and United Kingdom.
His 2nd label Germain Records started in 1985 and enabled him to become brilliantly familiar with the lovers rock digital productions amongst others with Audrey Hall “One Dance Can Do" in 1985 and Freddie McGregor "Just Want to Be Lonely" in 1987.
Germain spent much of the 80s travelling between Jamaica, USA and England for his productions. He progressively gave up roots productions and turned to digital riddims.
Beginnings of Penthouse Records
Germain moved back to Kingston to open his own Penthouse studio on the top floor of a building on Slipe Road in 1988 (hence the name Penthouse). He produced his first big hit on Penthouse Records "Chaka On The Move" by Chaka Demus in 1989, the 1st of many.
Germain delevops an international music approach, characterised particularly by a faultless sound quality, which gives him a wider distribution of his productions. This approach enabled some local beginner artists like Wayne Wonder, Buju Banton, Tony Rebel, Cutty Ranks, Sanchez, Thriller U and Mad Cobra to get an international recognition and to experienced artists like Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths or Nana McLean to be back in the limelight.
A recognizable sophisticated sound
Penthouse Records ruled over the dancehall during the 90s and the 2000s thanks to a recognizable sophisticated sound. Penthouse became renowned all over the world for the quality of its productions and equipments. Many labels used Penthouse studio to record their artists.
Talented and creative riddims makers like brothers Dave and Tony Kelly, Andre "Rookie" Tyrell or Steven "Lenky" Marsden took benefit from their passage in Penthouse's studio to acquire experience and a recognition enabling them to create their own labels. Other engineers like Michael "Coolie" Cooper, Steven Stanley, Andrew Thomas or Gary Jackson also participated to elaborate this sophisticated sound.
Germain carried on with his distributor’s business activities first of all of his own productions then of those of other labels. He created 3 subsidiary labels of Penthouse Records - Riddim International, Suite 56 then www.germainmusic.com - to distribute some of his productions.
The quality of its productions quickly enabled him to achieve an impressive number of hit singles and to become one of the most important labels of the modern era.
Riddims and artists which made a mark in reggae history
Like the others jamaican producers, Germain updated classic riddims.
He realized, in particular, brilliant relicks of Studio One riddims : “A Love I Can Feel”, “Always Together”, “Answer/Never Let Go”, “College Rock”, “Darker Shade Of Black”, “Feeling Soul”, “Freedom Blue / MPLA”, “General”, “Heavy Rock”, “Land Of Love”, “Lecturer”, “Love Me Always”, “Movie Star", “Nanny Goat”, “Pure Sorrow”, “Swing Easy”, “Things & Time”, “Things Come Up To Bump”, “You'll Never Know”.
He also “recut” some Bob Marley riddims : “Forever Loving Jah”, “Heathen”, “Soul Rebel”, “Thank You Lord”, “Time Will Tell”.
However he did not content himseff with modernising classic riddims. He produced original riddims like “Dickie” (1992), “Falling In Love”(1992), “If Loving Was A Crime” (1993), “Champion” (1994), “Cannabis Vibes” (1997), “Warriors Don't Cry” (1997), “Love Dem Bad” (1997), “Up Close & Personnal” (1997), “Extortioners” (2000) or “Automatic” (2008).
The label is also well know thanks to great combinations between artists like Wayne Wonder & Buju Banton (“Massa God World A Run”, “Bonafide Love”…), Beres Hammond & Buju Banton (“ Who Say”, “Pull It Up”…) or Marcia Griffiths & Cutty Ranks ( “Really Together”, “Half Idiot”…).
As a sign of recognition and confidence, Germain has built long term relationships with a lot of famous artists like Buju Banton (he was his manager during 18 years) Beres Hammond, Tony Rebel, Marcia Griffiths, Sanchez, Richie Stephens, Thriller U Jack Radics with whom he stills records and this from the Penthouse beginnings.
Present and future
Germain opened his new high tech studio on Ballater Avenue in 2006. He works nowadays with a team of upcoming artists such as Romain Virgo (2007 Digicel Rising Stars winner), Torch, Shuga (2009 Digicel Rising Stars winner), Exco Levi (2012 Reggae Recording of the year Canada) or Dalton Harris (youngest Digicel Rising Stars winner in 2010).
Speciale PENTHOUSE Part 1 : The Rocksteady Revival (new millenium) !!!
Playlist :
ANTHONY JOHNSON - CULTURAL VIBES Special
WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME TO CRY RIDDIM - TORCH - YOU DESERVE MORE - PENTHOUSE
WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME TO CRY RIDDIM - FIRE HOUSE CREW - PENTHOUSE
SOME LIKE IT HOT RIDDIM - FREDDIE MC GREGOR & ASSASSIN - YOUTH WELL COLD - PENTHOUSE
SOME LIKE IT HOT RIDDIM - MAFIA & FLUXY - PENTHOUSE
SOME LIKE IT HOT RIDDIM - QUEEN IFRICA - WHAT IS LIFE - PENTHOUSE
SOME LIKE IT HOT RIDDIM - NIKKIE BURT - MAKE YOUR MOVE - PENTHOUSE
SOME LIKE IT HOT RIDDIM - TONY REBEL - NEVER GET ME DOWN - PENTHOUSE
BUJU & BERES - PULL IT UP REMIX - PENTHOUSE
BUJU & BERES - PULL IT UP - PENTHOUSE
PART 2 (1 h. 02 mn. 11 s.) : Lokal Connexion Session (Set 06) alongside Selectress LN, MC Vybrate (Mix Session Spéciale Woman)
6ème édition de notre rubrique mensuelle "Lokal Connexion" proposée et animée en Direct par LN Selecta et Vybrate. Une rubrique pr revenir sur les productions du nveau millénaire, sur les dernières nouveautés Yardies mais aussi sur les dernières productions 100% locales, de Montpellier aux Iles du monde entier, sans oublier l'Invité Spécial : chaque mois, un nvel artiste de la région viendra vous présenter son travail en Vivant et en Direct dans les studios de la Radio !!!
Mix Session (spéciale Woman) by LN & Vybrate : CHECK IT OUT !!!
Playlist :
Non Disponible / Not Availabled
PART 3 (32 mn. 18 s.) : LOKAL CONNEXION Session (Set 06) alongside Selectress LN, MC Vybrate & Special Guest LINZA (Interview & Freestyle)
Suite et fin de la "Lokal Connexion" avec comme à chaque fois pour finir l'Interview et le Freestyle de l'invité spécial, à savoir ce soir là LINZA !!! Interview par Vybrate + Freestyle !!!
Playlist :
LINZA Interview & Freestyle (=> start @ 3 mn. 50 s.) !!!
PART 4 (1 h. 57 mn. 01 s.) : OUTRO by Daweed - Spéciale PENTHOUSE Label Part 2 (90's Reggae DanceHall)
On finissait la soirée comme on avait commencé donc, en revenant sur le label Penthouse (100% vinyl) inna 90's Reggae DanceHall Style...
90's Dancehall outta PENTHOUSE's Studios... VIBES !!!
Playlist :
ED ROBINSON - RUDE BOY DONT DIS DUB - PENTHOUSE
ED ROBINSON - RUDE BOY DONT DIS - PENTHOUSE
TIGER - NO COME FI SKIN UP - PENTHOUSE
TIGER - NO COME FI SKIN UP DUB - PENTHOUSE
GARNETT SILK - LION HEART - PENTHOUSE
GENERAL DEGREE - GIVE THKS & PRAISES - PENTHOUSE
ROP IN RIDDIM - GARNETT SILK - A MAN IS JUST A MAN - PENTHOUSE
ROP IN RIDDIM - BUJU BANTON - WHY BUJU LOVES YOU - PENTHOUSE
ROP IN RIDDIM - BUJU BANTON & TONY REBEL - A SO - PENTHOUSE
ROP IN RIDDIM - LT STICHIE - ENVY - PENTHOUSE
RUN DOWN DI WORLD RIDDIM - COBRA - BAD BOY REMIX - PENTHOUSE
RUN DOWN DI WORLD RIDDIM - COBRA - BAD BOY - PENTHOUSE
RUN DOWN DI WORLD RIDDIM - TONY REBEL - THE HERB - PENTHOUSE
TONY REBEL - CHATTY CHATTY - PENTHOUSE
TONY REBEL - CHATTY CHATTY DUB - PENTHOUSE
TONY REBEL - FRESH VEGETABLE - PENTHOUSE
GARNETT SILK & TONY REBEL - CHRISTIAN SOLDIER - PENTHOUSE
TAXI RIDDIM - TONY REBEL - FRESH DJ - PENTHOUSE
BUJU BANTON - JUNGLE TO BACK A WALL - PENTHOUSE
DRIFTER RIDDIM - TIGER - ROUGH RANKING TIGER - PENTHOUSE
DRIFTER RIDDIM - TIGER DUB - PENTHOUSE
TONIGHT RIDDIM - TONY REBEL - IT CANT WORK REMIX - PENTHOUSE
TONIGHT RIDDIM - TONY REBEL - IT CANT WORK - PENTHOUSE
TONIGHT RIDDIM - BERES & BUJU - LITTLE MORE TIME - PENTHOUSE
CHAMPION RIDDIM - TWIGGY - TOO LATE - PENTHOUSE
CHAMPION RIDDIM - TWIGGY - TOO LATE - PENTHOUSE
CHAMPION RIDDIM - SWEET C - NATTY DREAD - PENTHOUSE
CHAMPION RIDDIM - BUJU BANTON - CHAMPION REMIX - PENTHOUSE
CHAMPION RIDDIM - BUJU BANTON - CHAMPION - PENTHOUSE
CHAMPION RIDDIM - SPRAGGA BENZ - MOVING UP THE LINE - PENTHOUSE
PUNAANY RIDDIM - PENTHOUSE
NIGGER MICKEY - TING DEH DUB - PENTHOUSE
NIGGER MICKEY - TING DEH - PENTHOUSE
TERRY GANZIE - HEAVY LIKE LEAD REMIX - PENTHOUSE
TERRY GANZIE - HEAVY LIKE LEAD - PENTHOUSE
GODFATHER THEME - PENTHOUSE
A.R.P. - CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE - MAFIA & FLUXY REMIX - PENTHOUSE
MIGRAINE RIDDIM - CHRISTOPHER BIRCH - PENTHOUSE
MIGRAINE RIDDIM - RED RAT - FRIDAY - PENTHOUSE
MIGRAINE RIDDIM - HAWKEYE - THANKS FOR LIFE - PENTHOUSE
MIGRAINE RIDDIM - NIKKI BURT - HORNY - PENTHOUSE
MIGRAINE RIDDIM - CHRISTOPHER BIRCH - PENTHOUSE
