Prince Far I – Pre Records – 1980

Flyer for Ashanti Roy and Far I showcase at Picketts Lock Centre, Edmonton, London, N9 – 11/07/81

The mighty Prince Far I, in collaberation with Congo Ashanti Roy, Wailing Soul and Naggo Morris in this showcase LP from 1980 on Charisma Records Pre imprint.

I have loads of Prince Far I original vinyl here at Penguin Towers, and I was going to upload the ‘Psalms For I’ or the ‘Dub Encounter Vol 3’ LP (both LPs mentioned in Steve Barkers text below) but decided on this release instead as I am sure this LP is slightly rarer to get hold of. So maybe a new listening experience to a lot of the KYPP public out there. Also this LP has the track MIGHTY RULER / JAH DO THAT within the grooves, so wins hands down anyhow!

More Prince Far I at some point though no doubt.

The seventies is the decade recalled as the golden age of roots reggae, primarily due to the fact that during these years many legendary artists came to prominence. Amongst those singers, DJs, vocal groups, musicians and producers perhaps the best-loved by the UK audience was the man known as Prince Far I – not so much a DJ in the classic style, but more a chanter of words.

Prince Far I was born Michael James Williams in Spanish Town, Jamaica in 1945. Growing up in the Waterhouse area of Kingston he attended dances MC’d by the early Djs who would become his inspiration. With confidence and experience he assumed the role of lead DJ with the Sir Mike the Musical Dragon Sound System. It has often been written that his early DJ name, King Cry Cry, was derived form either the pleading nature of his delivery or the righteous content of his lyrics. The actual explanation of the “nom de mic” is much more prosaic. The Prince had a strange habit of breaking out in uncontrollable sobbing on becoming angry!

Bunny Lee first recorded Far I in the early 70’s with a tune called “The Great Booga Wooga”. He went on to cut tunes for Coxsone, notably “Natty Farmyard” and a version of “Queen of the Minstrel”. In 1973 the Cordell’s “Simpleton” appeared on the Lion label, with the flip being a strange half-sung half-chanted version by the Prince entitled “Simpleton Skank”. In 1974 he voiced “Let Jah arise” for Enos McLeod at King Tubbys, and it is Enos who can be credited with renaming the DJ as Prince Far I. After some self-productions which appeared on Pete Weston’s Micron outlet, Prince Far I hit a period which included two of reggae’s greatest DJ albums. Firstly the “Psalms for I” collection, a straight chant of bible word, produced by Lloydie Slim and Micron on top of a set of ultra-tough rhythms from Striker Lee and Scratch. This album found Far I totally into his own style, distinct from all other DJs, primal yet righteous — the real “voice of thunder”. For some reason people remember Far I as a huge man, a gentle giant. On the contrary, he was quite slight — five foot nine inches. His physical build tends to be purely, but remarkably, conjured up from the sound of his awesome voice (and also perhaps his ability to enclose large amounts of bushweed within his fist!) The second landmark album was “Under Heavy Manners” for producer Joe Gibbs, engineered by Erroll Thompson. It contained the Prince’s first big Jamaican hit single, “Heavy Manners”, on the rhythm of Naggo Morris’ “Su Su Pon Rasta”. The 45 had caught the times with its earlier release during the high tension of the Jamaican state of emergency in the mid 70’s. The set also included an almighty version of “Deck of Cards” — a lyric to which the Prince would often return.

In 1976 Prince Far I set up his own label in Jamaica — Cry Tuff, with the sub-title Wisdom Man. Suffice to say at this stage that one Cry Tuff single, “No more war”, was a version of the Little Roy original “Tribal War”. Cry Tuff issued Far I’s productions in Jamaica. His UK business ran through the fledgling label Hit Run, created by Adrian Sherwood. This arrangement was almost one of master and pupil, as the Arabs/Roots Radics became Dub Syndicate with Sherwood learning the studio craft as both producer and engineer. The rhythm tracks were laid in Jamaica by Style Scott & Co, the mix and overdubs taken care of in London — creating a tradition which continues to this day. With albums also out on Virgin and Trojan Far I was a regular visitor to the UK in the late seventies becoming a firm favourite within the synergy that sparked between punk and reggae.

“Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter III” by Prince Far I and the Arabs was originally released in the UK by that most avuncular of record shop proprietors Keith Stone of Daddy Kool. The whole affair was racked out in rapid studio time, conforming with the can-do ethics of the time — not to mention the lack of cash. The set features super-heavy deliveries by the Prince, pre-ambient doodlings and quirky noises from David Toop and Steve Beresford, and backing vocals from the Slit axis of Ari Up together with Viv Goldman and Elizabeth Archer. The album is important for those concerned with the history of reggae in the UK. It marked the handing on of the producer’s baton from Far I to Sherwood, soon to launch On U Sound at a time when many critics considered reggae to be a finished force.

Prince Far I, a man to grace any style with wisdom, a chanter to quake the walls of the city, a preacher to strike fear in the weakheart, humble in the garden and proud in the city, was shot dead in Jamaica, September 15, 1983, one year short of his 40th birthday.

Steve Barker – On the Wire

Special Request for Steve below

No More War

War Is Over

31 comments

Nic
August 3, 2008 at 11:14 am

Thanks again, Pengy: I’ve never had a copy of this, so I’m really looking forward to it…
I love the timbre of Far I’s voice and the confident delivery…

It’s going on as soon as my better half finishes listening to ‘The Archers’ omnibus…
😉
Stewart
August 3, 2008 at 12:44 pm

You’re very knowledgeable, Pengy! I still think “the synergy” between punk and reggae is interesting; for me, the golden age of reggae is inextricable from Rastafarianism, and in many, many ways Rastafarianism is the antithesis of everything punk stood for (in my opinion), particularly in its attitude towards women and homosexuals, its belief in Jah, its bowing down to rich dictator Haile Selassie (or to give him his full title, “His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings of Ethiopia and Elect of God”), and its belief in repatriation to Africa… Strange bedfellows, really, when you think about it 🙂
Penguin • Post Author •
August 3, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Definately true Stewey, but I think it started off with quite a basic thought, from the punks at least, of oppression by the plod (and general public) in the areas of inner cities where punks and rastas both survived (not lived!) in the mid – late 1970’s. This I think was the spark that mixed up both cultures a little bit.
Joe Strummer, Lydon, Bob Marley (for one song), The Roxy club with Don Letts, and the Four Aces in Dalston strengthend the bond somewhat of course.
Herb would also be a factor as perhaps punkers would probably have to go to ‘black’ areas to get this stuff as opposed to speed and pills.
The ‘Rasta teachings’ were read up by punks much later on I think. Do not think many punks in 1977 would have known of Leonard Howell’s Pinnacle commune or Marcus Garvey’s thoughts on Black Liberation, let alone where Ethiopia was on a map of Africa.
Stewart
August 3, 2008 at 1:15 pm

Seen! 🙂
Steve
August 3, 2008 at 2:55 pm

If you’ve got it (silly question!), would you be able to post War is Over (Natty Dread Come Over) one day? I would love to hear that again.
Penguin • Post Author •
August 3, 2008 at 5:51 pm

Steve uploaded that single for you and added to the Far I post right NOW.
Steve
August 3, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Wow!!! Cheers Penguin!
DubMatrix
August 4, 2008 at 2:19 pm

Hello Penguin, since you have loads of Prince Far I original vinyl there at Penguin Towers is it possible to send me a list of what you have? I’m always on the lookout for new additions to my site / collection.

Kind regards, DubMatrix
Penguin • Post Author •
August 4, 2008 at 2:38 pm

They are not for sale Dub Matrix mate!
DubMatrix
August 4, 2008 at 2:45 pm

Hahaha, I wasn’t refering as to buying anything, because I know most people wouldn’t be willing to sell anything. Just curious if you have something that I’ve never seen / heard of (regarding Prince Far I).
Penguin • Post Author •
August 4, 2008 at 6:34 pm

With respect to your request, I am not really happy to list what records I have by any artist on this site or privately as I do not have that much time, looking after a little boy, working full time, plus I work on four smaller sites other than KYPP. I would be worried that after the list you or anyone else may start asking me for private CDRs or whatever, and other browsers may start asking me about other artists material I have on whatever genre. Suffice to say I have all the stuff that was generally available (if you entered reggae stores) going up to the mid / late 1980s. That includes Trojan and Virgin Frontline LPs plus the Joe Gibbs stuff. The Psalms and various Dub Encounters are quite rare but you no doubt will have a load of those LPs anyway. Rare ones will go up on the site dont worry about that. Dub To Africa on Hitrun Records is one of the scarcer LPs I own, but widely available on CD nowadays. For now try searching for HITRUN in the search functions. There are some FAR I productions on 12″ uploaded in Febuary this year. Also some ONU Sound FAR I 10″s are up if you search for them.
Sorry to disappoint you.
Stewart
August 4, 2008 at 8:45 pm

Ooooo, can you do me a CDR? Just the singles would be ok…
Penguin • Post Author •
August 4, 2008 at 9:05 pm

Get back in yer hole Stewart…I’ll give you such a spanking. You will not be able to sit down for a fortnight!
Nic
August 5, 2008 at 1:20 am

Don’t say that, Penguin – you’ll only encourage him…
Carl
August 5, 2008 at 11:23 am

Come on Penguin…its a smoke screen, you just dont want to admit that you own everything that Abrasive Wheels ever made lol !!!

*stomps off round room in 20 hole doc’s!! *
Stewart
August 5, 2008 at 6:06 pm

*winks* (yes, that said ‘winks’)
Stewart
August 5, 2008 at 9:02 pm

PS Haven’t had time to listen to the above album yet, but re the single I think ‘Survival’ (off the album ‘Umkhonto We Sizwe’) is a far better track than ‘No More War’ (or ‘Stop The War’ on ‘Umkhonto etc’) but that’s just personal taste I guess. It seems to – ahem – ‘reference’ The Valentines’ ‘Blam Blam Fever’ which although I only heard for the first time relatively recently is now one of my all-time favourite songs!
devotionalhooligan
August 8, 2008 at 9:29 pm

just checked this out,followed by the on-u discoplates…. a few hours of pure bliss…more reggae is good with me.cheers.peace.x
dan i
August 10, 2008 at 11:15 am

Great to see you are able to upload again penguin, and even better to see some more of the great Prince Far I on the site. But my computer is complaining that it cannot get the tunes from the host site – i dont understand but i dont like it!

Bless for trying

dan i
johng
August 10, 2008 at 7:21 pm

thanks for this-great stuff,glad kypp is all sorted again,my old computer died along with a large amount of mp3 downloads so am trying to find all those old tunes again,best get on with the searching then.
chin chin.
Jah Pork Pie
August 12, 2008 at 1:36 pm

No one but you and I, say the bells of Prince Far-I.

Fantastic!
johng
August 12, 2008 at 8:31 pm

i found the film ‘babylon’ online for anyone interested,featuring shaka sound system amongst others,make sure java is installed to view
http://joox.net/cat/2/id/5603
Stewart
August 13, 2008 at 6:49 pm

That’s great! Very evocative of the times too! I see they’re bringing out a completely remastered version of the DVD in October or thereabouts – remind me nearer the time please! 🙂
Penguin • Post Author •
August 13, 2008 at 6:57 pm

Stewey, Babylon is rereleased in October mate, couple of months. Just reminding you. Where you in the film at all?
Stewart
August 13, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Lol! I was, actually – I played one of Brinsley Forde’s dreadlocks. They didn’t dare cut me out for religious and cultural reasons, but they hid me inside his tam instead… Bastards. I’M A SECRET FILM SUPERSTAR!!!!
john
August 13, 2008 at 8:53 pm

i’d not seen it for 20 odd years and didnt realise how funny it was,forgot mel smith as the owner of the garage was in it.any ideas where in london it was filmed ?spent half the film spotting old makes of car.
wasnt brinsley forde in the double deckers kids tv show?
Nic
August 14, 2008 at 9:15 am

Good to see ‘Babylon’ is getting a domestic release: I replaced my VHS a few years ago with the version released in Italy by RaroVideo (who put out the essential 2 DVDs of Derek Jarman’s early Super 8 films)…
Top quality soundtrack…

There’s a special showing of it at the BFI on September 11 to celebrate the DVD release…

I’m not sure where exactly it was filmed – South London, obviously, but other than that…Pengy?

Yes, Mr Forde was in ‘The Double Deckers’ – classic Saturday morning fare…
He also had a role in the strange-but-interesting ‘Leo the Last’ (1970) by John Boorman (as did Porkpie from ‘Desmonds’), filmed in Ladbroke Grove…
john
August 14, 2008 at 9:23 am

i’d forgot how derelict some parts of london looked,almost like a warzone,doubt its still like that?
johng
August 15, 2008 at 9:24 am

congratulations on your recent promotion penguin
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1495503.stm
Penguin • Post Author •
August 16, 2008 at 12:16 am

Thank you Johng, glad you saw my five minutes of fame online…
John Eden
August 18, 2008 at 11:03 am

Nic – mainly filmed in Deptford/Lewisham/Peckham I think.
http://uncarved.org/dub/babylon/filming.html