K SPECIAL
Misty in Roots - People Unite - 50th Anniversary 1974-2024 - The Complete Albums & Singles - Super Deluxe Edition Box Set [2024] (10xCDs)
In celebration of 50 years since Misty in Roots first formed in Southall, London in 1974 and 45 years since the release of their legendary debut album 'Live at the Counter Eurovision 79' in 1979, here is the very first comprehensive box set of their best work, including every single (7" and 12" mixes), every B-side (including dub versions), all 5 studio albums, live recordings and John Peel sessions, spread across 10 sensational discs.
In the first of a new series of compilations of bands championed by John Peel (see the October 24th post): http://butterboycompilations.blogspot.com/2024/10/k-special-john-peel-soundtrack-of-our.html he first introduced Misty in Roots to the world when he played their debut single 'Oh Wicked Man' on the 25th of October 1978.
https://peel.fandom.com/wiki/Misty_In_Roots
Misty in Roots are a British roots reggae band formed in Southall, London, in the mid 1970s. Their first album was 1979's 'Live at the Counter Eurovision', a record full of Rastafarian songs. The Counter Eurovision, held in Brussels, was organised as an alternative to the cheesy and conservative pop of the established Eurovision proper - a 'bread and circuses’ extravaganza in the eyes of many on the left. The album was championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, helping to bring roots reggae to a white audience. At this early stage, the band was a collective with five lead singers and various musicians, though by the time of the second album proper the band had slimmed down to just three members. Along with Steel Pulse, Aswad, Matumbi, Cimarons and Black Slate, Misty in Roots were one of the most popular British reggae bands of the late 1970s.
Following their debut, Misty in Roots released four studio albums through the 1980s. The band had two BBC Radio 1 "In Concert" appearances in 1983 and 1985. They were invited to play in Zimbabwe in 1982 in recognition of their support for the independence movement, and were the first reggae band to tour South Africa, Poland, and Russia. After a break from recording in the next decade the band returned with a new mini-album Roots Controller in 2002 and continue to play concerts as of 2024.
In 1979 Clarence Baker, a member of the collective, was severely beaten and injured by the London Metropolitan Police's SPG unit during a protest in Southall against a National Front march. The punk band The Ruts, who were partners of and had their debut single released by the People Unite co-operative, honoured him in their song 'Jah War' which was released as a single and on their album The Crack the same year.
With a career spanning five decades, Misty in Roots are one of England’s finest reggae groups. The band was one of the most powerful live reggae acts to emerge from 1970s London, and they were a major force in the Rock Against Racism movement.
By 1978 Misty in Roots began to develop their own orthodox roots reggae sound. Their powerful lyrics inspired by the economic decline, a growing awareness of their African culture and a spiritual awakening inspired tracks as 'Ghetto of the City', 'Sodom and Gomorrah' and 'Mankind' all off which can be found on the band's first album 'Live at the Counter Eurovision 79'.
During the period 1977/78 the political situation in the U.K. was a breaking point. Black consciousness was at its peak and racism roamed the streets of London. Unemployment was affecting both black and white youths and through this depression a new musical alliance was born, young white youths totally fed up with the status quo turned to playing punk music whilst at the same time identifying strongly with the British reggae acts as Misty in Roots, Steel Pulse and Aswad. With the coming of the ‘Rock against Racism’ movement the musical fight-back had begun and for the first time black and white musicians were playing together on the same platform bringing about a totally new concept in musical awareness.
Misty in Roots one of the most powerful live reggae acts to have come out of London and noted for their powerful roots reggae sound and uncompromising lyrical vibrations, became the major force in Rock Against Racism, playing more concerts than any other band in the movement. This opened up a whole new audience for the band who quickly developed a very strong cross over audience, playing with acts such as Tom Robinson, The Ruts, The Specials and Elvis Costello.
Despite Misty in Roots' huge success as a live act the band did not release their first album until 1979. The album 'Live at the Counter Eurovision 79', which was recorded live in Belgium during the band's 1978 tour, is today still proclaimed by many critics as the best live reggae album of all time. Misty in Roots followed 'Live at the Counter Eurovision 79' with a string of limited edition singles such as 'Oh Wicked Man', 'Six One Penny', 'See Them Ah Come', and 'Salvation'.
The band’s second album 'Wise and Foolish' released in 1981 took on a more mellow, jazzy and soulful tone.
By 1982 Misty in Roots was a force to be reckoned with but because of their determination to remain independent the band took a major step into Africa spending nine months in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The period spent in Africa had a major impact on the development of Misty in Roots following two albums 'Earth' and 'Musi-O-Tunya', both of which were directly inspired by the band’s experiences in Africa.
'Earth' released in 1983 was a moving musical documentation of the devastation caused to mother Earth by mankind because of greed, cruelty and ignorance. The album consists of classic tracks as 'Follow Fashion', 'Earth', 'Poor and Needy', 'Own Them Control Them', and 'Servant to Jah'.
'Musi-O-Tunya' released in 1985 was a reflection of the band’s love for Africa. Musi-O-Tunya (The smoke that thunders) is a beautiful place where Zimbabwe and Zambia meet and the great Zambezi river gives up all its might to form one of the most beautiful sights of Southern Africa. The falls Musi-O-Tunya are known in English as Victoria Falls.
During 1987 Misty in Roots took their first trip to West Africa, the spiritual home of their ancestors, it was indeed a pleasant experience to set foot in the region after four hundred years in exile.
1989 saw the beginning of a friendship between Misty in Roots and Kaz Records which resulted in the release of the album 'Forward' which saw Misty in Roots reach the heights once again.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_in_Roots
Misty in Roots - One of Radio One DJ John Peel’s favourite groups of the early 1980s resulting in frequent appearances on his show - a privilege only normally given to white rock bands.
Their first long player 'Live at the Counter Eurovision 79' (much loved by John Peel, who frequently listed it among his favourite LPs) spent four months in the 'Black Music' magazine reggae LP chart late in 1980, rising to number 6 in October of that year. Voted seventh best reggae band in the 'Black Music' magazine readers poll of 1980. 'This is among the top three British reggae albums ever recorded'. Quote from Chris May reviewing 'Live at the Counter Eurovision 79' in 'Black Music' magazine November 1980.
If all of this makes you think Misty In Roots were something special, you would be right.
Recorded at the Cirque Royal, Brussels on March 31 and April 1 1979 'Live at the Counter Eurovision 79' was astounding on two counts. First, tough UK roots reggae was a rare bird. Most 'discriminating' Jamaican music collectors, DJ's et all viewed British recorded music by the likes of Aswad, Steel Pulse and Delroy Washington as very much a poor relation of its Caribbean mother, so a whole LP chock full of uncompromising lyrics fuelled by solid musicianship had them dropping into their Parker Knolls with shock. Then to be able to capture the very essence of the live performances with all the strength and vibrancy intact was the second miracle.
Misty In Roots strength as performers pre-dated the first hot vinyl offering by quite a few years.
Forming around 1974 in Southall, Middlesex on the fringe of greater London, the group heard the reggae sounds of then. It was a time of new ideas, old ideologies rediscovered and a realisation that coloured skins did not equate second class. Bob Marley and the Wailers were teaching the world of `Natty Dread` while the Burning Spear resurrected the great leader Marcus Garvey. Countless other voices from the Kingston ghettos were crying out their messages of life, hope and sufferation. Misty in Roots collective creativity absorbed this new life and turned it into their own style of roots reggae.
Misty in Roots soon became known as a no nonsense rasta reggae band rocking audiences in colleges, open-air outdoor concerts and at benefit gigs for various good causes, such as Rock Against Racism. Through these performances they became well known within the punk circle. Rasta and punk, both disenchanted with life, high unemployment and disillusioned with the destructive government policies of the time became unlikely allies on stage. The same urgency for change existed in both camps although musically very different, both expressed the same needs. The well known punk band The Ruts had a release on Misty in Roots label 'People Unite' in the late 70s as if to reinforce the ties between the two cultures.
As people of colour Misty in Roots roots lay in Africa. The birthplace of the stolen slave, the motherland whose calling for repatriation Marcus Garvey had heard half a century before reggae music had existed to bring awareness to the wandering wanderers. The black flame of Rastafari and its new Messiah HIM Emperor Haille Selassie was alive and exciting the depressed ghetto people with the greatest need of mankind - hope. Hope for a better day, hope for a better world and hope no more people would die in needless violence in Africa, in Jamaica, in America and in England too. Misty in Roots music reflected these things. Painting pictures of the hapless slave with his back split open by the wicked whip, of the homeland of Africa, of the harsh realities of life, and most importantly pointed an accusing finger at wrong doers the world over. Maybe they didn’t have the sunshine of the Caribbean in their hearts but they had the chill of the English winter to replace it.
This was not a replicant roots reggae group copying their Jamaican counterparts; this was reality Great Britain wise, as seen, digested and recounted by people experiencing race hatred among the tower blocks of concrete and the choking, roaring arterial roads that cut through the inner city decay of London.
Major record labels began to show an interest in Misty in Roots. They were collecting reggae acts at the time with the hope of finding another pot of gold, as Marley was doing for Island, only to drop them a few years later when none were found with the Midas touch.
Misty in Roots preferred to form their own cooperative label, People Unite, providing a place for all to come, to reason, to create, and to compose. From this melting pot rose one of their first studio recordings, the double A side 12" single 'Richman' / 'Salvation'. The single and tracks from the Live at the Counter album gained play on local radio, both pirate and BBC Radio London`s reggae programme Roots Rockers hosted by Tony Williams and a new young presenter, David Rodigan.
The gigs alongside white punk bands and the tireless touring both UK and abroad had paid dividends with a very mixed race audience eagerly awaiting Misty in Roots vinyl out put sending the LP high into the reggae charts.
Encouraged, work began on a fresh album which arrived in 1981 entitled 'Wise and Foolish' containing new material and studio cuts of some of the tracks on Live at the Counter. A powerful album dedicated on the inner sleeve by Misty in Roots to '..the freedom of Africa and all the oppressed peoples throughout the world'.
After much touring throughout England, Europe and farther afield and two years further down the road 'Earth' was slipped out. Recorded at the PAS Recording Studio, West Germany, it made no difference to the sound as Misty in Roots were Misty in Roots where-ever they laid their musical hat. Strong songs complimented by burning musicianship were the order of the day.
In the early 80s Misty in Roots were completely in time with their Jamaican counterparts as the black awareness and sense of history swept through African descendants the world over. Slowly as the decade rolled on the musical taste in Jamaica became more self gratifying and materialistic. Losing its cultural identity to end up as 'dance hall' music, lost in a mire of praises to drink, drugs, guns and sex. Much like their cousins in America who were experiencing the aggressive 'gangsta rapper' phenomenon. Few preachers could be heard above the boastful chatter of the latest five-minute wonder DJ in JA by the middle of the decade.
In 1985 'Musi-O-Tunya', the smoke that thunders, the Victoria Falls to give it its western name, was released after Misty in Roots return from extensive touring of Africa. Their strongest set yet, upholding the roots tradition forgotten by many of their Jamaican counterparts, with social comment to the fore and many praises to the most high and their spiritual motherland in abundance. The whole album was their most fulfilled and complete.
The final chapter in the history of Misty in Roots came in 1989 after a length of silence with the emergence of ‘Forward’ for the independent Kaz Records which came resplendent in a colourful gatefold sleeve. With a bright horn section and a sprightly feel Misty in Roots had come a long way from the dense murky sound of the late 70s - but the message was undiluted. Tracks such as ‘Hawks on the Street’ and ‘The Midas Touch’ carried on the tales of greed and injustice just as Misty in Roots always had done.
In 1997 the Guardian newspaper asked John Peel to list his top 20 albums. Although no such list could ever be definitive, the albums he chose from a cross-section of eras and genres do include many of the DJ's long-time favourites. One notable absentee is The Fall, who were presumably excluded from consideration.
In 2005, Guardian writer Jon Dennis dug out the list and analysed what the records may have meant to Peel. Although the albums are numbered in the article, it is not known if this indicates an order of preference. On other occasions, for example, Peel cited the Misty in Roots album 'Live at the Counter Eurovision 79' as his favourite.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/oct/12/johnpeel.popandrock
So, for the first time ever, Misty in Roots' complete discography is presented here all in one place in this magnificent 10CD box set.
The albums featured in this collection are:
CD01: Singles Collection 1978-1980 (2005)
CD02: Singles Collection 1980-1986 (2005)
CD03: Live at the Counter Eurovision 79 (1979)
CD04: Misty Over Sweden (1979)
CD05: Wise and Foolish (1981)
CD06: Earth (1983)
CD07: Musi-O-Tunya (1985)
CD08: Forward (1989)
CD09: The John Peel Sessions (2024 Expanded Edition) (1995)
CD10: Roots Controller (2002)
Enjoy!
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Track lists
CD01
01 Misty in Roots - Oh Wicked Man 3:03
02 Misty in Roots - Oh Wicked Man Version 3:12
03 Misty in Roots - Six One Penny 3:41
04 Misty in Roots - Six One Penny DJ Cut 3:18
05 Misty in Roots - Jah Jah Bless Africa 3:23
06 Misty in Roots - Jah Jah Bless Africa Part Two 3:29
07 Misty in Roots - Zapatta 3:41
08 Misty in Roots - Viva Zapatta 3:48
09 Misty in Roots - See Them Ah Come 5:30
10 Misty in Roots - How Long Jah 7:00
11 Misty in Roots - Rich Man 8:28
12 Misty in Roots - Salvation 8:32
13 Misty in Roots - Peace and Love 6:41
14 Misty in Roots - Bail Out 7:31
CD02
01 Misty in Roots - Poor and Needy 11:27
02 Misty in Roots - Follow Fashion 10:11
03 Misty in Roots - Wandering Wanderer 6:58
04 Misty in Roots - Cry Out for Peace 5:40
05 Misty in Roots - Cry Out for Peace (Ver) 5:55
06 Misty in Roots - Own Them Control Them 4:47
07 Misty in Roots - Own Them Control Them (Ver) 4:23
08 Misty in Roots - Peace and Love (45 Edit) 3:30
09 Misty in Roots - Bail Out (45 Edit) 3:56
10 Misty in Roots - Poor and Needy (45 Edit) 4:35
11 Misty in Roots - Follow Fashion (45 Edit) 5:13
12 Misty in Roots - Own Them Control Them (Ver. 2) 4:59
CD03
01 Misty in Roots - Introduction 0:54
02 Misty in Roots - Mankind 4:17
03 Misty in Roots - Ghetto of the City 6:36
04 Misty in Roots - How Long Jah 5:53
05 Misty in Roots - Oh Wicked Man 4:15
06 Misty in Roots - Judas Iscariot 3:38
07 Misty in Roots - See Them Ah Come 6:06
08 Misty in Roots - Sodom and Gomorrah 6:38
CD04
01 Misty in Roots - Misty Jaming 2:26
02 Misty in Roots - Judas Iscariot 4:54
03 Misty in Roots - Time's Getting Harder 4:33
04 Misty in Roots - See Them Ah Come 6:21
05 Misty in Roots - Ghetto of the City 4:54
06 Misty in Roots - Oh Wicked Man 4:05
07 Misty in Roots - Mankind 5:18
08 Misty in Roots - Sodom and Gomorrah 5:55
CD05
01 Misty in Roots - Bail Out 8:35
02 Misty in Roots - City Blues 3:33
03 Misty in Roots - Wise and Foolish 4:06
04 Misty in Roots - Live Up 5:11
05 Misty in Roots - Life Boat 2:47
06 Misty in Roots - Slavery Days 4:15
07 Misty in Roots - Jah Bless Africa 3:30
08 Misty in Roots - Peace and Love 6:47
CD06
01 Misty in Roots - Follow Fashion 6:15
02 Misty in Roots - Own Them Control Them 4:20
03 Misty in Roots - Earth 4:33
04 Misty in Roots - New Day 4:36
05 Misty in Roots - Poor and Needy 5:39
06 Misty in Roots - Servant to Jah 6:27
07 Misty in Roots - Persecution 5:34
08 Misty in Roots - Dreadful Dread 5:19
CD07
01 Misty in Roots - No Love 4:53
02 Misty in Roots - Food, Clothes and Shelter 4:21
03 Misty in Roots - West Livity 3:51
04 Misty in Roots - Ireation 5:23
05 Misty in Roots - Economical Slavery 4:23
06 Misty in Roots - Musi-O-Tunya 5:07
07 Misty in Roots - Horizon 4:10
08 Misty in Roots - Praises 4:12
CD08
01 Misty in Roots - Festa 3:38
02 Misty in Roots - The Midas Touch 4:50
03 Misty in Roots - Hawks on the Street 5:02
04 Misty in Roots - Save a Thought 3:53
05 Misty in Roots - Forward 4:58
06 Misty in Roots - Jah See Jah Know 6:06
07 Misty in Roots - Envy Us 5:11
08 Misty in Roots - Look Before You Leap 3:59
09 Misty in Roots - Feelings 4:42
10 Misty in Roots - SInners 4:36
CD09
01 Misty in Roots - Oh Wicked Man (John Peel Show, 13 June 1979) 3:31
02 Misty in Roots - Rich Man (John Peel Show, 13 June 1979) 4:36
03 Misty in Roots - Salvation (John Peel Show, 13 June 1979) 5:17
04 Misty in Roots - Babylon's Falling (John Peel Show, 13 June 1979) 5:58
05 Misty in Roots - True Rasta Man (John Peel Show, 06 December 1979) 4:16
06 Misty in Roots - Judgement Coming on the Land (John Peel Show, 06 December 1979) 5:05
07 Misty in Roots - Sodom and Gomorrah (John Peel Show, 06 December 1979) 4:44
08 Misty in Roots - Bail Out (John Peel Show, 29 September 1980) 4:31
09 Misty in Roots - Wise and Foolish (John Peel Show, 29 September 1980) 4:56
10 Misty in Roots - Live Up Jah Life (John Peel Show, 01 June 1981) 2:46
11 Misty in Roots - Lifeboat (John Peel Show, 01 June 1981) 2:43
12 Misty in Roots - Africa (John Peel Show, 01 June 1981) 4:09
13 Misty in Roots - New Day (John Peel Show, 03 January 1983) 5:14
14 Misty in Roots - Can't Stand It No More (John Peel Show, 03 January 1983) 5:38
15 Misty in Roots - Earth (John Peel Show, 03 January 1983) 4:24
16 Misty in Roots - West Livity (John Peel Show, 29 February 1984) 3:50
17 Misty in Roots - Wandering Wanderer (John Peel Show, 29 February 1984) 3:41
18 Misty in Roots - Own Them Control Them (John Peel Show, 20 May 1986) 4:18
CD10
01 Misty in Roots - True Rasta 5:29
02 Misty in Roots - Cover Up 5:46
03 Misty in Roots - How Long Jah 4:44
04 Misty in Roots - Almighty (The Way) 4:15
05 Misty in Roots - Dance Hall Babylon 5:42
06 Misty in Roots - On the Road 5:15
07 Misty in Roots - Follow Fashion 6:14
08 Misty in Roots - Ireation 5:17
09 Misty in Roots - New Day 4:37
10 Misty in Roots - Dreadful Dread 5:21
11 Misty in Roots - Musi-O-Tunya 5:08
12 Misty in Roots - Mankind (Live) 4:38
13 Misty in Roots - Ghetto of the City (Live) 6:31
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