Thursday, February 5, 2009

SOULFUL STRUT



"The Sound Dimension were the second most important musical group at Studio One Records (after The Skatalites) and in the late 1960s created the funkiest reggae known to mankind.

Featuring a classic line-up that included Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Sibbles, Cedric Brooks, Vin Gordon (A/K/A Don Drummond Jnr), Ernest Ranglin, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace and more, The Sound Dimension literally invented the sound of Reggae with their unique style. During this period they played on hundreds of hits at Studio One with Jamaica's finest vocalists such as Alton Ellis, John Holt, Larry Marshall, Cornell Campbell, Dennis Brown, Horace Andy, The Heptones, Bob Andy, Marcia Griffiths, Freddie McGregor - to name a few.

The name Sound Dimension came from an echo-box machine that Sir Coxsone Dodd bought in England whilst on tour in 1967 with Jackie Mittoo and The Soul Vendors (on one gig they were even supported by Jimi Hendrix!). On returning to Jamaica, the new in-house band were christened The Sound Dimension, and the distinctive double-time echo on the guitar and keyboards that they created has become at the heart of all Reggae music ever since..."

Below, their take on Young Holt Unlimited's classic "Soulful Strut."

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