Track Listing

1. Bass Culture
2. Street 66
3. Reggae Fi Peach
4. Di Black Petty Booshwah
5. Inglan Is A Bitch
6. Loraine
7. Reggae Sounds
8. Two Sides Of Silence

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11602 in Music
• Released on: 2007-12-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 30 minutes

Customer Reviews

Obscure classic from the master of "Dub Poetry"
Look no further if you're interests fall off the beaten trails. Linton Kwesi Johnson is a poet, who, all at once, blends confrontational, satirical, sophisticated, angry, passionate, political, and proud lyrics with Dennis Bovell's Dub Band. The result is a challenging mix of socio-political topics spashed over Caribbean-influenced music. The style has been labeled "Dub Poetry."

For years, LKJ was a journalist and poet, who took his passion for writing to the next level. Because of his love of words & language, through music he began challenging the black struggle in England (circa late-'70's). Lyrically, LKJ's music is heavy on patois, which keeps the listener on the backs of his/her heels; it is always challenging in this way.

The music's no slouch either. Dennis Bovell's Dub Band is the perfect backdrop for LKJ's heavy-handed issues. Defiant/politically conscious lyrics perfectly balanced with musical contributions from a great reggae backing troupe.

BASS CULTURE (released in 1980) is an acquired taste, but it is a challenging album well worth seeking out! Most reggae fans will find this album a breath of fresh air, especially compared to much of today's reggae offerings.

Also check out LKJ's fine albums: DREAD BEAT AN' BLOOD, MAKING HISTORY, and LKJ IN DUB (Volumes 1-3).

I Was Walking In The Rain
Dennis Bovell's production on Bass Culture is outstanding, maybe not up there with Making History, but still above and beyond the call of genius. This is my favourite LKJ record though, for the lyrics as much as the sound:

Shock-black bubble-doun beat bouncing
rock-wise tumble-doun sound music
bass history is a moving
is a hurting black story.



And the lyrics to track 5, but you'll have to buy a copy of the Penguin Classics "Mi Revalueshanary Fren" for that. Cos all I've got here to quote (in poem format) from is EA Markham's "Hinterland" (recommended, for what it's worth), which along with above excerp has an LKJ interview that has stayed in my mind for ages:

LKJ: ...I'm withdrawing from public [musical] performances on the stage...

Mervyn Morris: Is there a particular activity...which will keep you going in terms of income?

LKJ: No. It's a big step I've taken. I have a little savings that could tide me over for a couple of months. After that I don't know where I'm going to earn my bread and butter from, but I'll have to find something. And I'm not a proud fellow, I can do anything.



... eh, yeh and Dennis Bovell - ****ing genius. Scottish indie bands take note - Bovell produced/mixed "Flesh Of My Flesh" by Orange Juice.


Bass Culture is a classic and no mistake. Track 6 "Loraine" is a valuable counterpoint to track 5, a rainwashed epic.

The album "More Time" from 1999 is well worth a listen too. Its title track should be the national anthem. Which nation? Any nation. It is the antithesis of middle management evil, which is fine by me.



"Now memories slowly drift on by, like grey clouds against a sombre winter sky, and all our yesterdays are now become the Springtime of our days"

So simple yet so incredible
LKJ was a British Black Panther member, working as an accountant, studying sociology and publishing poems. He's the inventor of dub poetry, which he uses in this album to describe the poor life conditions of inmigrants. His personal dub formula will be present in the following album too, but this is the one started it all. Simple and powerful. Check out Gil Scott-Heron if you like this one.