Micron Compilation - Every Mouth Must Be Fed

'Micron Music Presents' puts the focus on a label that was extremely important both as a label and as a business. Micron allowed many producers and artists a creative opening that would otherwise have been denied to them.

"Conference at Waterhouse your destination King Tubby's studio" intones Jah Stitch at the beginning of the album over a tough version of the 'Satta Dread' rhythm.

The Micron label is perhaps not as instantly well known as some of its more celebrated counterparts but any half decent reggae collection will have more than a couple of Micron records sitting in it. Production is crisp throughout with Lee Perry, Bunny Lee and Pete Weston (one of the trio that ran the Micron label) at the controls.

As usual we have sourced tracks that offer music fans something a little extra and unearthed some overlooked gems that are not only very rare but also touch the soul. Was there a better singer from Jamaica than Junior Byles ? He's up there with the best and 'Lorna Banana' and 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg' are two of his finest. The super rare track from The Defenders 'Our Rights' is a real roots vocal harmony classic. I Roy, who needs little by way of introduction, was probably the most consistent deejay that Jamaica ever produced and it is his 'Every Mouth Must Be Fed' that gives the album its name.

This is a crackling compilation with all the usual Pressure Sounds graphics, photos, interviews and re-mastered tracks presenting the music at its very best. 'Micron Music Presents' puts the focus on a label that really was important both as a label and as a business; it allowed many producers and artists a creative opening that would otherwise have been denied to them. Enjoy it. It's a fine album.

Tracklist

A1.   Jah Stitch - Conference At Waterhouse.   2:45
A2.   King Tubby's - Conference Version.   2:44
A3.   Junior Byles - Lorna Banana.   2:54
A4.   Pete Weston & The Flames - Revolution Is For The Chinaman.   2:36
A5.   Junior Byles - Straight To Scratch Head (Lorna Banana Version).   2:50

B1.   I Roy - Message From The Top.   2:51
B2.   The Defenders - Our Rights.   3:48
B3.   The Defenders - Our Version.   3:36
B4.   U Roy - The Right To Live.   3:03
B5.   Tommy McCook - Tribute To Muhammed Ali.   3:30

C1.   Joe Higgs - Wages Of Crime.   3:13
C2.   King Tubby's - Wages Of Crime Version.   3:15
C3.   Bobby Ellis - Ska Baby.   3:07
C4.   Bobby Ellis - Ska Version Instrumental.   3:13
C5.   I Roy - Every Mouth Must Be Fed.   3:03

D1.   Junior Byles - Ain't Too Proud To Beg.   2:38
D2.   Junior Byles - Last Of The Love Songs.   2:53
D3.   Blacker Black - Black Organ.   2:10
D4.   I Roy - Mad Mad Hatter.   3:26
D5.   I-Roy - Mad Mad Horn.   3:26

Credits

Alto Saxophone – Herman Marquis
Bass – Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Boris Gardiner, Geoffrey Chung, George "Fully" Fullwood, Clifton "Jackie" Jackson, Robbie Shakespeare
Drums – "Benbow" Creary, Carlton "Santa" Davis, Carlton "Carlie" Barrett, Lloyd "Tin Leg" Adams, Lowell "Sly" Dunbar, Mikey "Boo" Richards
Guitar – Alva "Reggie" Lewis, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Lynford "Hux" Brown, Lorraine "Ronnie Bop" Williams
Keyboards – Glen Adams, Winston "Brubeck" Wright
Lead Guitar – Ernest Ranglin
Percussion – Noel "Scully" Simms, Uziah "Sticky" Thompson
Piano – Gladstone "Gladdy" Anderson, Keith Sterling
Producer – Bunny "Striker" Lee (tracks C1, C2), Pete Weston (tracks A1 to B5, C5, D1 to 5)
Producer, Percussion, Engineer – Lee "Scratch" Perry (tracks C3, C4)
Rhythm Guitar – Robert "Billy" Johnson
Tenor Saxophone – Richard "Dirty Harry" Hall, Tommy McCook
Trombone – Vincent "Don D Junior" Gordon
Trumpet – Bobby Ellis