The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots reggae group, famous for their close harmonies and promotion of the Rastafari movement in their lyrics. The vocal trio was originally formed in 1968 by Bernard Collins
and Donald Manning. Their first song was "Satta Massagana", which was strongly influenced by Carlton Manning's "Happy Land". "Satta Massagana" is a Rastafarian hymn sung partly in the Ethiopian Amharic language. They recruited a third vocalist, who was still at school and often unable to attend rehearsals; he was soon replaced by Donald's brother Lynford Manning, who like Donald had previously been a member of their brother Carlton Manning's group Carlton and The Shoes.
Few groups better captured the heart and soul of roots reggae than the Abyssinians; the vocal trio's heavenly close harmonies, dark melodies, and Rastafarian themes, all delivered with a deep
spiritual feeling, were instrumental in defining and refining the genre. Bernard Collins and Donald Manning were longtime friends, and neither initially planned a career in music. That all changed one night in 1968, when during a creative burst, the pair composed "Satta Massa Gana" (also spelled "Satta Amassa Gana"). Proof of their Rastafarian devotion is found in the title, which is Amharic for "give thanks and praise", Amharic being the language of Ethiopia.
[This is one of those legendary reggae albums that's easier to admire than enjoy. There's no doubt
of its importance: if you had to pick the five most influential Rasta anthems of the 1970s (and Jah knows there have been few if any since then), the title track of this album would be one of them.
So, most likely, would "Declaration of Rights," which has been remade in countless different versions.
And the Abyssinians themselves are a fine vocal trio. If they're not as sweet-sounding as the Mighty Diamonds, and not as tight and compelling as the Heptones, they do have a fierce and intense spirituality that is pretty compelling in its own right. But all that said, this is an album that takes some time and adjustment to enjoy. For one thing, every single song is taken at exactly the same tempo.
Reggae is a music that is built on subtle differentiation (or, as philistines and Babylonians might say, it
all tends to sound the same), and that means that it's important to sow a little variety wherever you can. It's also true that the group's spiritual intensity sometimes leads the harmonies to, shall we say, wander in the wilderness a bit. But the deep religious conviction of the songs and singers, as well as that unchanging, loping, serene groove, will begin to draw you in after a few listens.
By Rick Anderson]
STUDIO ALBUMS
1976 : Satta Massagana - Jam Sounds (reissued 1988 on Clinch, 1993, 2007 on Heartbeat, also released as Satta and Forward on to Zion)
1978 : Arise - Tuff Gong/Virgin/Clinch
1998 : Reunion - Artists Only
The Abyssinians – Satta Massagana
Label: Heartbeat Records – HEARTBEAT 11661-7838-2
Format: CD, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue 2006
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: Reggae
Style: Reggae, Roots Reggae
TRACKS
01. Declaration Of Rights 3:26
02. The Good Lord 3:25
03. Forward Unto Zion 3:46
04. Know Jah Today 2:56
05. Abendigo 3:33
06. Y Mas Gan 3:49
07. Black Man's Strain 2:45
08. Satta Massagana 3:29
09. I And I 3:34
10. African Race 2:53
11. Leggo Beast 3:10
12. Peculiar Number 4:00
13. There Is No End 3:22
15. Jerusalem 2:17
16. Leggo Beast Dub 2:58
17. Abendigo (Extended Mix) 5:57
18. Poor Jason Whyte (Extended Mix) 4:18
Bass – Leroy Sibbles (tracks: 15), Robbie Shakespeare, Val Douglas
Drums – Fil Calender (tracks: 15), Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, Mikey "Boo" Richards, Sly Dunbar
Flute – Clive Hunt
Guitar – Carlton Manning (tracks: 18), Earl "Chinna" Smith, Eric Frater (tracks: 15), Micky Chung
Horns – Felix "Headley" Bennett (tracks: 15), Clive Hunt, Jerome Francique, Llewellyn Chang, Vin Gordon (tracks: 15)
Keyboards – Clive Hunt, Geoffrey Chung, Pablove Black (tracks: 18), Tyrone Downie
Piano – Richard Ace (tracks: 15)
Lead Vocals [Lead Voice], Harmony Vocals [High Harmony] – Lynford Manning
Lead Vocals [Lead Voice], Harmony Vocals [Low And High Harmony] – Donald Manning
Lead Vocals [Lead Voice], Harmony Vocals [Low Harmony] – Bernard Collins
Producer – The Abyssinians
Remastered By [Digital Recording] – Dr. Toby Mountain
Remix – Chris Wilson (tracks: 11 to 14)
Vocals [Vocal Overdub] – Bernard Collins (tracks: 15)
Vocals [Voices] – Carlton Manning (tracks: 15), Donald Manning (tracks: 15), Lynford Manning (tracks: 15)
The Satta Massagana album (tracks 1-10) recorded at Harry J. Studio and Joe Gibbs Studio, Kingston, Jamaica.
"Leggo Beast", "Peculiar Number", "Reason Time" and "There Is No End" recorded at Federal Records, Kingston, Jamaica. Remixed from original eight track master tapes at Fletcher Road.
"Poor Jason Whyte" recorded at Federal Records.
"Jerusalem" recorded at Studio One, 13 Brentford Road, Kingston, Jamaica.
"Leggo Beast Dub" previously unreleased on CD.
"Poor Jason White (Extended Mix)" and "Abendigo (Extended Mix)" previously unreleased.
Ευχαριστώ πολύ. I've never heard this before
ReplyDeleteWow thanks for all the Seeds. "The 13th Floor Elevators" (I would change it--they get so little recognition)
ReplyDeleteNicely indeed. Thank you.
ReplyDelete