S.o.t.D. - Move – Ministry

Move – Ministry

Really surprised by this. For many years I had known this tune from Keith LeBlanc’s 1989 Stranger Than Fiction album, and also from Tackhead’s M.O.V.E. It certainly has that very distinctive On-U-Sound sound. Then I belatedly hear this for the first time. So I’m guessing this is an outtake from the production work Adrian Sherwood did for 1986’ Twitch.

It kicks ass, no matter what the progeny of this song is.

S.o.t.D. - Stormy Weather – Fats Comet

Stormy Weather – Fats Comet

Or...Tackhead in another guise. The vocals are sampled from a version of the song done in the 1930s by Bert Ambrose and His Orchestra with vocals by Sam Browne

S.o.t.D. - Delgado Riddim – Deedar Zaman, Adrian Sherwood & Skip McDonald

Delgado Riddim – Deedar Zaman, Adrian Sherwood & Skip McDonald

Deedar Zaman is unknown to me, but Skip McDonald and Adrian Sherwood I’m a huge fan of, and have been for a long time.

S.o.t.D. - Don’t Blow Your Top (Adrian Sherwood Mix) – KMFDM

Don’t Blow Your Top (Adrian Sherwood Mix) – KMFDM

Never a huge fan of these guys, but liked them enough. Sherwood on the other hand, to quote one of KMFDM’s songs, godlike.

S.o.t.D. - The Value of Nothing – Flux

The Value of Nothing – Flux

The unmistakeable sound of Adrian Sherwood, and the members of African Head Charge and Dub Syndicate helping to flesh out his ideas.

S.o.t.D. - Eugenic Device – Creation Rebel & The New Age Steppers

Eugenic Device – Creation Rebel & The New Age Steppers

Classic from 1981. 

S.o.t.D. - Night Train – Lee “Scratch” Perry & Dub Syndicate

Night Train  – Lee “Scratch” Perry & Dub Syndicate

A slightly different version from the one I played yesterday.

S.o.t.D. - Night Train – Dub Syndicate

Night Train – Dub Syndicate

Just learned Style Scott was killed at 58. Loved Dub Syndicate live. I’ll always cherish that night. Classic sound of Adrian Sherwood and On-U-Sound in this. His production is what drew me to dub.

S.o.t.D. - Over The Shoulder – Ministry

Over The Shoulder – Ministry

There was a video show from Cleveland that was on in the middle of the night when I was younger. Used to watch it because they had some interesting stuff on there. New Model Army, Cabaret Voltaire, and this video. I was already listening to Twitch, and loving it - partly because of the fact that Adrian Sherwood was the producer. (Previous to Twitch, Ministry was forgettable fluff.) Hadn’t seen the video for this though. Loved Al’s hair.

S.o.t.D. - Move – Keith LeBlanc

Move – Keith LeBlanc

There is also a version of this by Tackhead called M.O.V.E. 

One of the greatest drummers ever.

S.o.t.D. - Addiction (Second Dose) – Skinny Puppy

Addiction (Second Dose) – Skinny Puppy

The original was good, but when Adrian Sherwood was done it was great.

S.o.t.D. - Nothing Is Not Done – Flux

Nothing Is Not Done – Flux

I never paid much attention to Flux Of Pink Indians, because I wasn’t ever into that whole Crass punk thing. But when they transformed into Flux and got Adrian Sherwood to produce the album Uncarved Block, and got members of African Head Charge and Dub Syndicate to play on it, holy moly, did I sit up and take notice. Everything Sherwood touched became gold in my eyes, and this record was no exception.

S.o.t.D. - You Drummers Listen Good – Keith LeBlanc

You Drummers Listen Good – Keith LeBlanc

If money was no object and I wanted to put together a group of musicians to get all the track ideas I have in my head out, Keith Leblanc would be the first person I would call up for drumming duties.

S.o.t.D. - Mind At The End Of The Tether – Tackhead

Mind At The End Of The Tether – Tackhead 

The equivalent of a sonic grenade going off in my brain when I first heard the On-U-Sound sound.

S.o.t.D. - The Game – Tackhead

The Game – Tackhead
The Game (instrumental version) – Tackhead 

Mentioned Keith LeBlanc yesterday. Lots of stuff on On-U-Sound completely rocked my world back in the mid-80s, but this one in particular was so eargasmically good. The first concert I went to in a licensed venue, was the Tackhead/Fats Comet/Mark Stewart and the Maffia/Gary Clail/On-U-Sound tour that came to RPM in Toronto. It still ranks as one of the very best live shows I’ve ever been to. Awe inspiring concert from start to finish. The first note was that opening guitar riff from The Game. 3½ hours later, Keith LeBlanc drumming the entire show, everyone was spent. Easily my favourite drummer ever. What I wouldn’t give to relive that concert.

S.o.t.D. - Rockchester – Fats Comet

Rockchester – Fats Comet

If I had to list a favourite producer, it would probably be Adrian Sherwood. There have always been certain labels I would happily buy anything from. 4AD, Factory, Ninja Tune and On-U-Sound come to mind. The first concert I went to (well, legally in a place that served alcohol anyway) was the Tackhead/Fats Comet/Mark Stewart and the Maffia/Gary Clail/On-U-Sound tour that came to RPM in Toronto. It still ranks as one of the very best live shows I’ve ever been to. 3½ hours of dubby-funky-industrial goodness, with the incredible Mr. Keith LeBlanc laying down a killer beat the whole time. From the first chord of Tackhead’s The Game to the final note - mindblowing. Stuff like Fats Comet really broadened my mind to a lot of different stuff.