Thursday, August 25, 2011

Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari


I think I found this three record boxed set at a remaindered record shop in Barking in the 80's. It was released in the Vulcan label in 1974. It's called "Grounation" and by Count Ossie and The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari.

"The foundations of reggae and its association with Rastafarianism were established by drummer, percussionist and vocalist Count Ossie (born: Oswald Williams). Together with his band, the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, Count Ossie combined African-influenced music with the European hymnal tradition to create a unique sound that inspired everyone from Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus and the Skatalites to Bob Marley & the Wailers and Toots & the Maytals.

Count Ossie's earliest inspiration came from rasta elder Brother Job, who introduced him to the philosophies of Rastafarianism. A Nyabinghi drummer from the hills of Jamaica, Count Ossie cut his first singles, including "O'Carolina" and "Chubby," for Prince Buster at the studios of RJR radio. Beginning in 1959, Count Ossie recorded for Sir Coxsone Dodd at Studio One.

Together with music director, tenor saxophone, flute and clarinet player Cedric "I-m" Brooks, Count Ossie formed the Mystic Revelation Of Rastafari. Heavily percussive, the group featured philosopher orator Samuel Clayton, double bass player, poet and vocalist Ras Jose, Ras Jose, Little Bop and Count Ossie's son, Time, on fundae drum, bass drummer and percussionist King Rayo, percussionist and vocalist Bunny, percussionist Moses, baritone saxophone and clarinet player Ras Sam II and trombonist Nambo.

There has been some debate as to the cause of Count Ossie's death in 1976. While some sources claim that he was in an auto accident, others say that he was trampled to death when a crowd panicked at the National Arena."

Read more about Count Ossie HERE.

Tracks are as follows -

1. Ethiopian Serenade
2. Oh Carolina
3. So Long


Count Ossie - Record Two/Side 2

3 comments:

Alex said...

Cheapo Cheapo perhaps ... Bought some classic reggae myself there in the late 80's. Quick bit of trivia - that's the shop where Billy Bragg used to work.

Wastedpapiers said...

It could well have been but this was in the late 70's I think so not sure if Cheapo Cheapo was around then? It may not even have been Barking but West Ham High St. now I come to think of it. Although I did get the train from Stepney to Barking occasionally to root around the record shops there too.

Alex said...

There a
Was a great reggae stall in the Market on West Ham High St. Didn't buy much reggae there as it was full price (lots of pre-release) but they used to underprice their punk stuff.