The Revolutionaries
The Revolutionaries was a Jamaican reggae band.
Career
Set up in 1975 as the house band of the Channel One Studios owned by Joseph Hoo Kim, The Revolutionaries with Sly Dunbar on drums and Bertram "Ranchie" McLean on bass, created the new "rockers" style that would change the whole Jamaican sound. Beside Sly, many musicians played in the band: Robbie Shakespeare on bass, JoJo Hookim, Bertram McLean, and Radcliffe "Dougie" Bryan on guitar, Ossie Hibbert, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson, Robbie Lyn or Ansel Collins on keyboards, Uziah "Sticky" Thompson, Noel "Scully" Simms on percussion, Tommy McCook, Herman Marquis on saxophone, Bobby Ellis on trumpet and Vin Gordon on trombone.
In 1976, The Revolutionaries attained further respect from the Sound System and dub fraternity when they recorded a track named after author Alex Haley's character, Kunta Kinte, which would become one of reggae music's most recognisable riddims and which for many years was only played by selected sound systems on dubplate. The track Kunta Kinte was based on an earlier tune, Beware Of Your Enemies, released from Jamaica's Channel One. The 1976 dub version released by The Revolutionaries became a sound system anthem for many years on dubplate, and also inspired a UK version produced by Mad Professor in 1981. It has also inspired Drum and Bass and jungle covers, and was consistently played by Jah Shaka.
The band played on numerous dub albums and recorded as a backing band for artists like B.B. Seaton, Carl Malcolm, Black Uhuru, Culture, Prince Alla, Leroy Smart, Gregory Isaacs, John Holt, The Heptones, Mighty Diamonds, I-Roy, Tapper Zukie, Trinity, U Brown, Errol Scorcher, Serge Gainsbourg among others.
Discography
The Revolutionaries
Revival Dub Roots Now - 1976 - Well ChargeRevolutionary Sounds - 1976 - Channel One/Well ChargeSounds Vol 2 - 1979 - BallisticVital Dub Well Charged - 1976 - VirginDread At The Controls - 1978 - HawkeyeDub Expression - 1978 - High NoteEarthquake Dub - 1978 - Joe GibbsJonkanoo Dub - 1978 - Cha ChaReaction In Dub - 1978 - Cha ChaSentimental Dub - 1978 - GermainTop Ranking Dub - 1978 - RootsmanBurning Dub - 1979 - Burning VibrationsDub Out Her Blouse & Skirt - 1979 - GermainDutch Man Dub - 1979 - Burning VibrationsGoldmine Dub - 1979 - GreensleevesOutlaw Dub - 1979 - TrojanDawn Of Creation - SagittariusDub Plate Specials At Channel One - Jamaican RecordingsGreen Bay Dub - 1979 - Burning VibrationsMedley Dub - High NotePhase One Dubwise Vol 1 & 2 - SprintSatta Dub Strictly Roots - Well ChargeDial M For Murder In Dub Style - 1980 - ExpressI Came, I Saw, I Conquered - 1980 - Channel One
Compilations
Channel One - Maxfield Avenue Breakdown - Dub & Instrumentals - 1974-1979 - Pressure Sounds Revival - 1973-1976 - Cha Cha Roots Man Dub - 1979 - GG'sChannel One Revisited Dub - Top Beat Macca Rootsman Dub - Jamaican Gold The Rough Guide to Dub - World Music Network
Agrovators Meets The Revolutioners At Channel One Studios - 1977 - Third WorldRockers Almighty Dub - 1979 - ClocktowerAgrovators Meet Revolutionaries Part II - Micron
Others
Kunta Kinte - 1976 - Channel OneGuerilla Dub - 1978 - Burning SoundsThe Revolutionaries & We The People Band - Revolutionary Dub - 1976 - TrenchtownBobby Ellis And The Professionals Meet The Revolutionaries - Black Unity - 1977 - Third WorldDerrick Harriott & The Revolutionaries - Reggae Chart Busters Seventies Style - 1977 - CrystalSly & The Revolutionaries - Don't Underestimate The Force, The Force Is Within You - 1977 - J&LSly & The Revolutionaries - Go Deh Wid Riddim - 1977 - CrystalSly & The Revolutionaries With Jah Thomas - Black Ash Dub - 1980 - TrojanErrol Scorcher & The Revolutionaries - Rasta Fire - 1978 - BallisticOssie Hibbert & The Revolutionaries - Satisfaction In Dub - 1978 - Live & LovePancho Alphonso & The Revolutionaries - Never Get To Zion - 1978 - Trojan