Tappa Zukie - Horns Up - Dubbing With Horns [CD]

Format: CD
Catalogue No.: JRCD032
Barcode: 5060135760281
Release Date: 14 Mar 2025
Genre: Reggae Vocal

Tappa Zukie is not only one of Jamaica’s greatest DJ’s, is also a much respected producer and arranger. Looking back through his master tapes we have found a lost release that due to being a worldwide recording artist and the pressures that this carries, it has stayed on his musical shelf and been passed over... until now.

When rhythm was King way back in the 1970’s, the predominant feature of the final mix down would in most cases be the drums and bass. Bringing drums and bass to the fore, the other instruments that create the tunes mood would take a back seat in the mix.  With such fine musicians in the horn sections as Vin Gordon, Deadly ‘Headley’ Bennett and the unstoppable Tommy McCook, it sometimes felt, their services if nothing else were slightly underused.

So one way of rectifying this situation was one that Tappa himself instigated, putting a release together by picking some of his favourite productions that carried classic horn lines alongside those tightly recorded rhythms. Pushing those horn lines up in the mix and so making a feature of some of those touches that although added some colour to the original cut, laid back in the mix to the more Sound System friendly drum and bass cut.

When looking at the music with this approach, some of the other influences that were also in Tappa’s mind can be noticed more. Maybe it’s a Jazzier / Bluesy feel shining through. A strange thing happens that almost takes the song down the avenue of a soundtrack album.  An unreleased film score to accompany an unreleased film.

So sit back and enjoy a lost release that time and place did not find time to see the light of day. As the opening track testifies and in the immortal words of Mr Tappa Zukie himself..  “Your Musical Daddy is back... Horns Up !!!!”

Track listing
A1/1. HORNS UP. 
A2/2. TAKE NINE
A3/3. GOING WEST
A4/4. ROCK THE ROCK
A5/5. 38th UPPER 1st STREET
A6/6. COURSING OIL INNA FIRE
B1/7. NATTY HORNS SHE WANTS
B2/8. WATER PUMP
B3/9.APARTMENT C
B4/10. HIT MAKER
B5/11. MALARIA
B6/12. RAGG
13. 6th AND 3rd STREET*
14.LOVING JAH*
15. PATTA CAT*
*CD Bonus Tracks