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KING SPORTY

Emotional Rescue's vital Konduko reissue series sadly comes to an end here with a look at the label's final years. In those days it moved away from reggae, disco and boogie towards an enduring electro sound that had a vast and lasting impact on the Miami scene. The biggest tune from that time was when Noel Williams linked with local songwriter Lawrence Dermer aka Der Mer for the track reissued here. 'Fall Out' soon became a hit with its driving electro-funk rhythms. The original sits next to the later Fresh '86" mix as well as a NAD disco mix from Dan Tyler, best known as one of the Idjut Boys. It's an irresistible package of body-popping electro with hooks for days.

STAFF COMMENTS

Mine says: The seemingly endless excavation of King Sporty by Emotional Rescue continues in earnest with "Fall Out" from 1986 nicely bolstered with a remix from Dan Idjuts under his NAD alias.

TRACK LISTING

"Fall Out"
"Fall Out" (Fresh '86)
"Fall Out" (NAD Discomix)

King Sporty / The Extra Funk Factory

Fantasy - Incl. Jonny Rock Remix

The last of the Konduko series from Emotional Rescue arrives now and quite possibly it is the best of the lot from Noel Williams. His 'Fantasy' saw him work with Larry Dermer aka Der Mer on what is an effective and catchy electro jam that operates at the higher end of the tempo chart with some classic vocoder vocal action to really make it pop. Despite being released originally in 1984 this one still bangs with its emulated TR-808 beats and nagging melodies. The instrumental heightens that and then the Jonny Rock Discomix shuts down with long-form rework that shows why the DJ, editor and all-round amiable bloke is so well regarded.

STAFF COMMENTS

Mine says: Just when you thought Emotional Rescue had mined all the King Sporty gold they go an unearth a fresh seam! Jonny Rock's on hand to add to its karat, very nice!

TRACK LISTING

Fantasy
Fantasy (Instrumental)
Fantasy (Jonny Rock Discomix)

King Sporty is something of a chameleonic artists, not that many people know. He started out int he 70s making reggae and soul 7"s, then moved into disco, boogie, hip-hop and electro 12"s during the 80s, and then when house music hit in the 90s he evolved once more. This new drop from Emotional Rescue takes a tune from that late era. 'Computer Music' is four to the floor with electro influences and a lazy break that pull you in deep. Far-sighted chords bring a serene sense of cosmic majesty while a filtered vocal adds space age vibes. A dub is included as well as the Universal Cave Discomix by the Philadelphia DJ and production crew. A retro-future EP indeed

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: King Sporty did an amazing job of traversing disco, hip-hop, house, electro and cosmic camps. "Computer Age" definitely lands in the electro category, but retains all the soul and human touches that would become familiar with this pivotal producer.

TRACK LISTING

Computer Age (Club Mix)
Computer Age (Dub Mix)
Computer Age (Universal Cave Discomix)

King Sporty / Fashion Funktion

Sun Country - Incl. 40 Thieves Remix

Here comes Emotional Rescue and Konduko's last in their series of Noel Williams/King Sporty reissues, this time looking at later electro productions and the hip-hop/boogie influenced 'Sun Country'. Vocals and co-production come from Williams' long-time partner Betty Wright and as well as a vocal and instrumental mix there's a longform remix by Bay Area disco dub stalwarts, 40 Thieves.

By this point in his career, the godfather of Miami Bass had travelled a long way from his Jamaican roots in reggae and soul, paying homage to the warm climbs of the Sunshine State and laying down a much copied template using the TR-808 drum machine create the electronic emulations of the breakbeat, claps accenting the backbeat and trademark low frequencies shaking the floorboards. The instrumental stretches the arrangement, emphasising the interplay between electronics, bass, vocal samples, scratching and fx, the voice transformed into a percussive element in its own right. The flip sees 40 Thieves flexing their understated understanding of electro funk, making for a rounded, generation-jumping package.

TRACK LISTING

Sun Country
Sun Country (Instrumental)
Sun Country (40 Thieves Disco Mix)

The Konduko 7" series ends with the 4th and possibly best single with Noel Williams aka King Sporty's cover version of Bob Marley's "Them Belly Full", here released as "Dance To The Music".

First released on the Natty Dread album of 1974, it was Marley's first album working away from Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer and was a spiritually charged political and social statement, also featuring classics "No Women, No Cry", "Lively Up Yourself" and "Rebel Music".

As an associate and friend from their Studio One days, William's version makes sense, in the tradition of covers throughout reggae's history. Appearing a year late, the 1975 single came in Jamaican and US pressings, a nod to Konduko's roots, having started in Kingston before the move to Miami in the earlier part of the decade.

A warning against allowing the poor to go hungry, with the prophetic 'a hungry mob is an angry mob', the cover includes a lot of the Miami feel Sporty was incorporating. With instrumentation again from the Ocean Liners KC And Sunshine backing band, the horns and guitar raise the soul, with counter keys, Part 1 is a straight vocal, while Part 2 is close to a Version but more than an instrumental and in its title, shows its funk and soul background too. A perfect end to the series, the uplifting tracking belies the powerful message, bringing the Miami swing to the JA groove once more. 


STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: More from King Sporty's early period with a riotous cover of Bob Marley's "Them Belly Full". One of two releases on Konduko this week - both essential collectors items and strong relics of reggae-crossover history.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Dance To The Music (part 1)
Side 2
1. Dance To The Music (part 2) 

The second 7" in the Konduko series reissues this mega-rarity, Noel Williams aka King Sporty's own version of Bob Marley's Concrete Jungle. The connection between Marley and Williams was long-standing, both living in the tenements of West Kingston and gaining their musical foundations as part of the Studio One, that would reach fruition when they later co-wrote Buffalo Soldier together.

Clement Dodd's organisation was more than a label, running a sound system, studio, pressing plant and its own distribution. As Deejay on the system and later releasing his debut single on the label, William's learnt his craft, taking this knowledge to Miami and replicating much - expanding the Konduko label to encompass studio, plant and distribution.

First recorded with Lee Perry, Marley's 1971 original was famously rerecorded for The Wailers move to Island Records and their 1973 album, Catch A Fire. Here, a rare Williams' vocal is backed with horns atop a reggae-funk groove. The songs message of struggle is universal and everlasting, even with a touch of Miami swing.

This is backed by Young Girl, a single in its own right, from the same period. A rocksteady, breakbeat shuffle bely the songs roots in late 60s soul, with a powerful counterpoint vocal from wife and partner, Betty Wright. A collector's item itself, together they are essential.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: One of two King Sporty 7"s in this week. Hard to pick a favourite - they're both killer. And so nice to see his pre-disco evolution from Jamaica, to Miami and with more reggae focussed stylings from what would flavour his later discography. The Bob Marley and Lee Perry connection also makes these two 7"s highly desirable.

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Concrete Jungle 
Side 2
1. Young Girl


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