The Mighty Diamonds
Encyclopedia
Mighty Diamonds are a Jamaica
n harmony trio, recording roots reggae
with a strong Rastafari
an influence. The group, which comprised Donald "Tabby" Shaw, Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson, and Lloyd "Judge" Ferguson, was formed in 1969, and remains together as of 2010. They are best-known for their 1976 debut album Right Time
produced by Joseph Hoo Kim
, and the 1979 release Deeper Roots.
Their first hit singles "Country Living" and "Hey Girl" were recorded and released by the Channel One
label. Two of their greatest songs are "Go Seek Your Rights" and "I Need A Roof" both from the mid 1970s. The latter was remixed in a techno style in the mid 1990s.
"Pass the Koutchie", written by Leroy Sibbles
and Jackie Mittoo
, became an international hit twice, when first released (on their 1981 album Changes), and again when it was covered
by Musical Youth
and released as "Pass the Dutchie
".
Shaw, Ferguson and Simpson have produced
over forty album
s in their long career.
MINI-ALBUMS and REMIX ALBUMS
COLLABORATIONS AND MORE
COMPILATIONS
LIVE
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n harmony trio, recording roots reggae
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
with a strong Rastafari
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
an influence. The group, which comprised Donald "Tabby" Shaw, Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson, and Lloyd "Judge" Ferguson, was formed in 1969, and remains together as of 2010. They are best-known for their 1976 debut album Right Time
Right Time
Right Time is the 1976 studio album debut of influential reggae band the Mighty Diamonds. The album, released by Virgin Records after they signed the Mighty Diamonds following a search for talent in Jamaica, is critically regarded as a reggae classic, a landmark in the roots reggae subgenre...
produced by Joseph Hoo Kim
Joseph Hoo Kim
-Career:Shortly after the Jamaican government banned gaming machines in the early 1970s, Joe Joe Hookim and his brother Ernest, abandoned their jobs as machine operators, and jumped into the music business. By 1973, the Hookims had opened their own studio, Channel One, with Joe Joe as its hands-on...
, and the 1979 release Deeper Roots.
Their first hit singles "Country Living" and "Hey Girl" were recorded and released by the Channel One
Channel One Studios
Channel One is a recording studio in Maxfield Avenue, West Kingston, Jamaica. The studio was built by the Hoo Kim brothers in 1972, and has had a profound influence on the development of reggae music....
label. Two of their greatest songs are "Go Seek Your Rights" and "I Need A Roof" both from the mid 1970s. The latter was remixed in a techno style in the mid 1990s.
"Pass the Koutchie", written by Leroy Sibbles
Leroy Sibbles
Leroy Sibbles is a Jamaican-Canadian reggae musician. He was the lead singer for The Heptones in the 1960s and 1970s.In addition to his work with The Heptones, Sibbles was a session bassist and arranger at Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd's Jamaica Recording and Publishing Studio and the associated Studio...
and Jackie Mittoo
Jackie Mittoo
Jackie Mittoo was a Jamaican keyboardist, songwriter and musical director. He was a founding member of The Skatalites and was a mentor to many younger performers, primarily through his work as musical director for the Studio One record label.-Biography:He was born Donat Roy Mittoo in Browns Town,...
, became an international hit twice, when first released (on their 1981 album Changes), and again when it was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Musical Youth
Musical Youth
Musical Youth are a British reggae band. The group originally formed in 1979 at Duddeston Manor School in Birmingham, UK. They are best remembered for their successful 1982 Grammy-nominated single, "Pass the Dutchie". The group featured two sets of brothers, Kelvin and Michael Grant, plus Junior...
and released as "Pass the Dutchie
Pass the Dutchie
"Pass the Dutchie" was a song recorded by the British group Musical Youth from their 1982 album The Youth of Today. It was a major hit, holding the number one position on the UK singles charts for three weeks in September and October 1982.-Background:...
".
Shaw, Ferguson and Simpson have produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
over forty album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s in their long career.
Discography
- 1976 - Right TimeRight TimeRight Time is the 1976 studio album debut of influential reggae band the Mighty Diamonds. The album, released by Virgin Records after they signed the Mighty Diamonds following a search for talent in Jamaica, is critically regarded as a reggae classic, a landmark in the roots reggae subgenre...
(also issued under a different title When The Right Time Come (I Need A Roof)) - 1977 - Ice On Fire
- 1978 - Stand Up To Your Judgment
- 1978 - Planet Earth
- 1978 - Planet Mars Dub
- 1979 - Deeper Roots
- 1979 - Deeper Roots Dub
- 1979 - Tell Me What's Wrong
- 1981 - Changes (also released under the title of Indestructible, with two different songs, in 1981)
- 1981 - Dubwise (six dub versions from Changes and four other dubs)
- 1981 - Reggae Street
- 1982 - The Roots Is There
- 1983 - Leaders Of Black Countrys (Showcase Album)
- 1985 - Struggling
- 1986 - If You Looking For Trouble
- 1987 - The Real Enemy
- 1988 - Never Get Weary
- 1988 - Get Ready
- 1990 - Jam Session
- 1991 - Tour The World (contains five new songs and five old songs)
- 1991 - Patience
- 1992 - The Moment Of Truth
- 1993 - Bust Out
- 1993 - Paint It Red
- 1994 - Speak The Truth
- 1996 - Heads Of Government (re-issue of the 1983 mini-album, plus compilation of singles produced by Donovan Germain in the 80's)
- 2001 - Rise Up
- 2006 - Thugs In The Streets
- 2008 - Inna De Yard (classic songs performed acoustic with nyabinghi drums)
MINI-ALBUMS and REMIX ALBUMS
- 1983 - Backstage (six extended mixes of that area)
- 1983 - Heads Of Government (mini-album) (two new tracks and four old) (re-issued in 1996 with bonus tracks)
- 1984 - Kouchie Vibes (seven extended mixes of that area)
- 1986 - Pass The Kouchie (ten remixes of that area)
COLLABORATIONS AND MORE
- 1976 - Vital Dub Strictly Rockers (aka: Vital Dub – Well Charged) (included five dub versions from the Right Time album
- 1979 - Disco Showcase (Leroy Smart feat. The Mighty Diamonds)
- 1979 - Trinity Meet The Mighty Diamonds
- 1998 - Right Time Rockers (The Lost Album) (recorded in 1976) (U-Roy deejaying on the riddims from the Right Time album)
COMPILATIONS
- 1981 - Vital Selection (1976–1979)
- 1990 - Go Seek Your Rights (1976–1979)
- 1994 - Works
- 19XX - From The Foundation (The Mighty Diamonds & The Tamlins) (nine songs from The Mighty Diamonds) (possible release date: 1996)
- 1996 - Maximum Replay
- 1997 - The Best Of The Mighty Diamonds: 20 Hits (1978–1979) (contains two full studio albums: Stand Up To Your Judgement and Tell Me What's Wrong)
- 1997 - RAS Portrait (1993–1994)
- 1997 - Mighty Diamonds And Don Carlos & Gold – Meet At Channel One (1976) (includes the complete albumRight TimeRight TimeRight Time is the 1976 studio album debut of influential reggae band the Mighty Diamonds. The album, released by Virgin Records after they signed the Mighty Diamonds following a search for talent in Jamaica, is critically regarded as a reggae classic, a landmark in the roots reggae subgenre...
) - 1998 - Right Time Come (1976 + 1978) (includes the complete albumRight TimeRight TimeRight Time is the 1976 studio album debut of influential reggae band the Mighty Diamonds. The album, released by Virgin Records after they signed the Mighty Diamonds following a search for talent in Jamaica, is critically regarded as a reggae classic, a landmark in the roots reggae subgenre...
and nine songs from 1978) - 2000 - The Classics Recordings Of Jamaica's Finest Vocal Trio
- 2001 - Everlasting: 30th Anniversary
- 2001 - Kings Of Reggae (1993–1994)
- 2001 - Unconquerable
- 2003 - Revolution
- 2004 - Best Of The Mighty Diamonds (1986 + 1991) (features two albums: Pass The Kouchie and Tour The World)
- 2009 - Reggae Legend (1987–1993) (4-CD boxset that contains the four albums issued on Greensleeves: The Real Enemy, Get Ready, Live In Europe and Bust Out)
LIVE
- 1985 - Live In Tokyo
- 1989 - Live In Europe
- 1994 - Live At Reggae Sunsplash (recorded in August 1982) (eight songs from Mighty Diamonds and seven songs from Mutabaruka)
- 2001 - The Best Of Reggae Live (Frankie Paul & Mighty Diamonds)
- 2002 - Live In Europe: Nice, France (recorded in 1997)
External links
- The Mighty Diamonds website - plays a sample of "Right Time"
- Detailed discography on NiceUp.com
- Detailed discography on ReggaeDiscography.blogspot.com
- http://www.oomgallery.netPhotographs of Mighty Diamonds in BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
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