The Revolutionaries

Biography

The Revolutionaries (sometimes known as "Revolutionaires") was a Jamaican reggae band.

Career

Set up in 1975 as the house band of the Channel One Studios owned by Joseph Hoo Kim, The Revolutionaries with Sly Dunbar on drums and Bertram "Ranchie" McLean on bass, created the new "rockers" style that would change the whole Jamaican sound (from roots reggae to rockers, and be imitated in all other productions). Beside Sly, many musicians played in the band: Robbie Shakespeare on bass, JoJo Hookim, Bertram McLean, and Radcliffe "Dougie" Bryan on guitar, Ossie Hibbert, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson, Robbie Lyn or Ansel Collins on keyboards, Uziah "Sticky" Thompson, Noel "Scully" Simms on percussion, Tommy McCook, Herman Marquis on saxophone, Bobby Ellis on trumpet and Vin Gordon on trombone.
In 1976, The Revolutionaries attained further respect from the Sound System and dub fraternity when they recorded a track named after author Alex Haley's character, Kunta Kinte, which would become one of reggae music's most recognisable riddims and which for many years was only played by selected sound systems on dubplate. The track Kunta Kinte was based on an earlier tune, Beware Of Your Enemies, released from Jamaica's Channel One. The 1976 dub version released by The Revolutionaries became a sound system anthem for many years on dubplate, and also inspired a UK version produced by Mad Professor in 1981. It has also inspired Drum and Bass and jungle covers, and was consistently played by Jah Shaka.
The band played on numerous dub albums and recorded as a backing band for artists like B.B. Seaton, Carl Malcolm, Black Uhuru, Culture, Prince Alla, Leroy Smart, Gregory Isaacs, John Holt, The Heptones, Mighty Diamonds, I-Roy, Tapper Zukie, Trinity, U Brown, Errol Scorcher, Serge Gainsbourg among others.

The Revolutionaries

Revival Dub Roots Now - 1976 - Well Charge
Revolutionary Sounds - 1976 - Channel One/Well Charge
Sounds Vol 2 - 1979 - Ballistic
Vital Dub Well Charged - 1976 - Virgin
Dread At The Controls - 1978 - Hawkeye
Dub Expression - 1978 - High Note
Earthquake Dub - 1978 - Joe Gibbs
Jonkanoo Dub - 1978 - Cha Cha
Reaction In Dub - 1978 - Cha Cha
Sentimental Dub - 1978 - Germain
Top Ranking Dub - 1978 - Rootsman
Burning Dub - 1979 - Burning Vibrations
Dub Out Her Blouse & Skirt - 1979 - Germain
Dutch Man Dub - 1979 - Burning Vibrations
Goldmine Dub - 1979 - Greensleeves
Outlaw Dub - 1979 - Trojan
Dawn Of Creation - Sagittarius
Dub Plate Specials At Channel One - Jamaican Recordings
Green Bay Dub - 1979 - Burning Vibrations
Medley Dub - High Note
Phase One Dubwise Vol 1 & 2 - Sprint
Satta Dub Strictly Roots - Well Charge
Dial M For Murder In Dub Style - 1980 - Express
I Came, I Saw, I Conquered - 1980 - Channel One

Compilations

Channel One - Maxfield Avenue Breakdown - Dub & Instrumentals - 1974-1979 - Pressure Sounds (2000)
Revival - 1973-1976 - Cha Cha (1982)
Roots Man Dub - 1979 - GG's
Channel One Revisited Dub - Top Beat (1995)
Macca Rootsman Dub - Jamaican Gold (1994)
The Rough Guide to Dub - World Music Network (2005)

With The Aggrovators

Agrovators Meets The Revolutioners At Channel One Studios - 1977 - Third World
Rockers Almighty Dub (Dubwise, Rockers, Bass & Drums) - 1979 - Clocktower
Agrovators Meet Revolutionaries Part II - Micron

Others

Kunta Kinte - 1976 - Channel One
Guerilla Dub - 1978 - Burning Sounds
The Revolutionaries & We The People Band - Revolutionary Dub - 1976 - Trenchtown
Bobby Ellis And The Professionals Meet The Revolutionaries - Black Unity - 1977 - Third World
Derrick Harriott & The Revolutionaries - Reggae Chart Busters Seventies Style - 1977 - Crystal
Sly & The Revolutionaries - Don't Underestimate The Force, The Force Is Within You - 1977 - J&L
Sly & The Revolutionaries - Go Deh Wid Riddim - 1977 - Crystal
Sly & The Revolutionaries With Jah Thomas - Black Ash Dub - 1980 - Trojan
Errol Scorcher & The Revolutionaries - Rasta Fire (A Channel One Experience) - 1978 - Ballistic
Ossie Hibbert & The Revolutionaries - Satisfaction In Dub - 1978 - Live & Love
Pancho Alphonso & The Revolutionaries - Never Get To Zion - 1978 - Trojan