Dreadlocks in the moonlight

Posted on by

Dread at the mower controlsThis week I rediscovered on the web a right old gem of a mix I used to own on cassette years ago. It’s a recording off a Mikey Dread radio show from JBC, Jamaica around Christmas 1978. It’s a classic and includes some right old corkers. It’s available from the excellent “Who Cork the Dance” website. Scroll down (past the Barry Brown and I-Roy tributes) to “Dread at the controls – Tribute to Mikey ‘Dread’ Campbell” and download away. One to listen to while thumbing through those seed catalogues!

12 thoughts on “Dreadlocks in the moonlight”

    • I reckon you did too as I’m sure I got it on a trip down to London but can’t remember exactly where. Do you know anything about a tape that was available around the same time called “Abadare rockers” which was a reggae cassette compiled by Don Letts or possibly John Lydon?

      (Joly printed my first fanzine Ded Yampy at Better Badges in the early 80’s!)

      Reply ↓

      • Did you ever get a reply to your query about Abadare Rockers? I had that cassette too and it was stolen from me. Would love another copy.

      • Hi Deborah, I’m sure Joly told us knew the chap who done it and it was discussed on a facebook group and I’m sure one of the facts were it had been named after a road in West London. I’ve tried looking and I can’t find the discussion anywhere. If anything ever comes up about it again I will get back to you. It isn’t even mentioned on the web anywhere. All the best Pete

  4. Hello. I am sure you won’t remember, but I wrote to you in September 2020 about a compact casette (remember them?) called Abadare Rockers. After many years of loss I have just found this cassette in an old box of things from the loft. I managed to resurrect a walkman and am listening to it now. It’s still amazing after all these years. Dread at the control!!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Deborah,

      Good to hear from you and I remember researching about it when you first contacted us as myself and my punk mates in Coventry had that tape too alongside the DBC tapes.

      I just found this about said tape from Michael Williams. (By the way his story of DBC – The Dread Broadcasting Company below is great)https://www.mhwilliams.co.uk/

      “Firstly ‘Aberdare Rockers’ was a compilation made in my flat mid 70s, can’t remember who compiled it, could have been ‘Nightdoctor’ founder Charles Wood, my brother or Joly MacFie. Joly and I did Better Badges and were reggae fanatics and so duplicated this compilation, to as one did in those days turn people on. It was thought of as a regular underground release but no just a compilation made in the heady days of the 70s amidst ganja fueled evenings pre punk.”

      If you ever digitise it or put it up on Mixcloud do let us know as I would love to hear it again.

      All the best and have a great 2024!

      Pete

      Reply ↓

      • Dear Pete, thanks so much. Very interesting. I am trying to find a machine that digitises compact cassettes. We had one, but we can’t find it at present. I will let you know as soon as Aberdare Rockers is available in digital format. I should add though that the recording on my cassette is now not the best quality, being over 40 years old! You have a great 2024 too, and keep up the great work with Weeds Up to Me Knees. Debby

      • Hi Debby,

        Brilliant stuff! If you ever fancy sending us a pic of the Aberdare Rockers cover/tape we’ll even blog it up! Onedeckpete at gee mail dot com

        Don’t worry we’ve a few old bootleg cassettes here so we understand about the possible quality. This is one from our collection and is sadly in mono but has some great tunes on it:

        Cheers for the kind words about the blog too.

        Did you ever hear these Mikey Dread recordings?

        Reggae and radio, what a combination

        All the best

        Pete

Leave a comment