Michael Baxter | Jah Stones - Take I Outa Captive / Version & Burning Sun / Version - Scorpio Records @mickeypenguin | Uploaded May 2022 | Updated October 2024, 2 hours ago.
These two 7" records (two DJ cuts and two versions) uploaded tonight share the same rhythm track, and were both released on Bim Sherman's record label Scorpio sometime between 1975 and 1977 (not sure about the year). The original vocal cut was Bim Sherman's 'Valley Of Tears' and another vocal was 'Chancery Lane' also by Bim Sherman...
I knew Bim very well.
Bim visited Southern Studios and Southern Record Distributors often, a couple of times a month over many years.
We went to cafe's to eat together. I was a visitor to his home in Turnpike Lane, North London. I was present at his rare live performances that were organised in London.
I was also, inevitably, present at his funeral in New Southgate, and later that afternoon, present at the African - Caribbean Centre in Hornsey for the celebration of his life.
I employed his teenage son at Southern Record Distributors for a short time after Bim's passing.
I have many fond memories of Bim. His gentle personality, his humour, and the many live performances that I attended. Two of the live performances, one at The Sir George Robey in Finsbury Park, and one at the Islington Powerhaus were both special in a deeply personal way for me. As a gentleman I will not name either of the ladies on this YouTube post!
These fond memories will never leave my psyche.
And course I have a fondness for his sweet vocal style showcased on his large back catalogue of music recorded for various Jamaican record labels, and for Adrian Sherwood's Hit Run and ONU Sound record labels.
Bim Sherman album highlights include:
'Love Forever' originally released on Tribesman Records.
'Across The Red Sea' originally released on ON U Sound records, and his work with the ON U Sound All Stars - Singers And Players.
'Lovers Leap Showcase' originally released on Scorpio Records.
Not only was Bim a wonderful singer, he also had some time to pay for and produce sessions for eventual release on his own Scorpio record label. Among the artists he recorded (other than himself) were U Brown, Dennis Brown and a handful of songs by Jah Stones, which were released as 7" singles between 1975 and 1977.
There is only a snippet of information I can find on Jah Stone, and that information can be found in the book; Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae by Colin Larkin. Helpfully this same information was posted onto the allmusic website, so I cut and pasted it and placed it below.
After working as a DJ on a variety of sound systems, Gladstone Fisher recorded as Jah Stone with Bim Sherman.
In 1975 Sherman inaugurated his own Scorpio label and due to financial restraints, was forced to employ Jah Stone to deliver two separate chants over the same rhythm track; 'Take I Outa Captive' and 'Burning Sun'. The association with Sherman led to the dancehall favourites ‘Fat Ting’ and ‘Burning Sun’.
His notoriety led to work with producer Alvin ‘GG’ Ranglin, who featured the DJ in combination with Freddie McKay on his remake of ‘Picture On The Wall’ and the solo hit ‘Ten Ton Woman’.
He was also employed on the Sonia Pottinger production of ‘Baby Love’ by the reactivated vocal group the Sensations.
In 1978 Jah Stone recorded for Doctor Alimantado, the sessions producing the assertive ‘Militant Dread’.
In 1978 Jah Stone recorded a session with Tony Shabazz, voicing his lyrics over some of Shabazz's old Winston Jarrett (and the Righteous Flames) backing tracks, resulting in the release of ‘War’ and ‘Kaya’, both of which were later featured on the debut album; The Messiah, released in 1978 on Gorgon Records. Winston Jarrett himself was a joint producer for this album, and many of the great musicians of the time were featured, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespear, Gladstone Anderson, Ansell Collins, Tommy McCook, Bobby Ellis, and others. Notable album tracks included the admonishing ‘Sergeant Black’, the bizarre ‘Kung Fu Ballet’ and the chauvinistic ‘Irie Lickle Filly’.
In 1980 a further album was released; The General, again with sessions recorded by Tony Shabazz.
Sadly, the album signalled his swan song, and in spite of this and his work with a number of Jamaican producers, Jah Stone is usually only recalled as the DJ who recorded with Bim Sherman.
These two 7" records (two DJ cuts and two versions) uploaded tonight share the same rhythm track, and were both released on Bim Sherman's record label Scorpio sometime between 1975 and 1977 (not sure about the year). The original vocal cut was Bim Sherman's 'Valley Of Tears' and another vocal was 'Chancery Lane' also by Bim Sherman...
I knew Bim very well.
Bim visited Southern Studios and Southern Record Distributors often, a couple of times a month over many years.
We went to cafe's to eat together. I was a visitor to his home in Turnpike Lane, North London. I was present at his rare live performances that were organised in London.
I was also, inevitably, present at his funeral in New Southgate, and later that afternoon, present at the African - Caribbean Centre in Hornsey for the celebration of his life.
I employed his teenage son at Southern Record Distributors for a short time after Bim's passing.
I have many fond memories of Bim. His gentle personality, his humour, and the many live performances that I attended. Two of the live performances, one at The Sir George Robey in Finsbury Park, and one at the Islington Powerhaus were both special in a deeply personal way for me. As a gentleman I will not name either of the ladies on this YouTube post!
These fond memories will never leave my psyche.
And course I have a fondness for his sweet vocal style showcased on his large back catalogue of music recorded for various Jamaican record labels, and for Adrian Sherwood's Hit Run and ONU Sound record labels.
Bim Sherman album highlights include:
'Love Forever' originally released on Tribesman Records.
'Across The Red Sea' originally released on ON U Sound records, and his work with the ON U Sound All Stars - Singers And Players.
'Lovers Leap Showcase' originally released on Scorpio Records.
Not only was Bim a wonderful singer, he also had some time to pay for and produce sessions for eventual release on his own Scorpio record label. Among the artists he recorded (other than himself) were U Brown, Dennis Brown and a handful of songs by Jah Stones, which were released as 7" singles between 1975 and 1977.
There is only a snippet of information I can find on Jah Stone, and that information can be found in the book; Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae by Colin Larkin. Helpfully this same information was posted onto the allmusic website, so I cut and pasted it and placed it below.
After working as a DJ on a variety of sound systems, Gladstone Fisher recorded as Jah Stone with Bim Sherman.
In 1975 Sherman inaugurated his own Scorpio label and due to financial restraints, was forced to employ Jah Stone to deliver two separate chants over the same rhythm track; 'Take I Outa Captive' and 'Burning Sun'. The association with Sherman led to the dancehall favourites ‘Fat Ting’ and ‘Burning Sun’.
His notoriety led to work with producer Alvin ‘GG’ Ranglin, who featured the DJ in combination with Freddie McKay on his remake of ‘Picture On The Wall’ and the solo hit ‘Ten Ton Woman’.
He was also employed on the Sonia Pottinger production of ‘Baby Love’ by the reactivated vocal group the Sensations.
In 1978 Jah Stone recorded for Doctor Alimantado, the sessions producing the assertive ‘Militant Dread’.
In 1978 Jah Stone recorded a session with Tony Shabazz, voicing his lyrics over some of Shabazz's old Winston Jarrett (and the Righteous Flames) backing tracks, resulting in the release of ‘War’ and ‘Kaya’, both of which were later featured on the debut album; The Messiah, released in 1978 on Gorgon Records. Winston Jarrett himself was a joint producer for this album, and many of the great musicians of the time were featured, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespear, Gladstone Anderson, Ansell Collins, Tommy McCook, Bobby Ellis, and others. Notable album tracks included the admonishing ‘Sergeant Black’, the bizarre ‘Kung Fu Ballet’ and the chauvinistic ‘Irie Lickle Filly’.
In 1980 a further album was released; The General, again with sessions recorded by Tony Shabazz.
Sadly, the album signalled his swan song, and in spite of this and his work with a number of Jamaican producers, Jah Stone is usually only recalled as the DJ who recorded with Bim Sherman.
