A. Natural Ites And The Realistics – Picture On The Wall
B. Natural Ites And The Realistics – Jah Works Mamma
CSA Records – 12CSA 501
This edition features a mix of familiar and new talent: enjoy the sounds of UK legends The Natural Ites, alongside the discovery of Hopeton Junior and Bumper Roots.
Our first disc is a 12-inch single by The Natural Ites, Picture On The Wall. They’re a British reggae band from Nottingham, formed in late 1982. You’ll hear the vocals of Ossie Samms (who later became Ossie Gad), Percy ‘Dread’ McLeod, and Neil Foster, along with their backing band, The Realistics, which featured a changing lineup.
A pivotal moment for The Natural Ites came with their performance on Rockers Roadshow, hosted by the famous Mikey Dread. This exposure led to their 1983 debut single, Picture On The Wall, a song expressing their Rastafarian faith. The track’s profound roots sound resonated deeply, earning it widespread airplay, particularly on John Peel’s programs, and securing its place as a roots classic. It even charted in the UK mainstream. Their second single, Lion Inna Jungle, also enjoyed significant popularity.
In 1985, The Natural Ites released their debut album, Picture On The Wall, named after their breakthrough single. Produced by Johnny White and backed by The Realistics, including key musicians like Lenroy Guiste (bass), Paul Prince (lead guitar), Marcus Hodges and Winston Williams (keyboards), Alton Rickets and Chester Marzink (drums), Albert ‘Eitiko’ Barnes (trumpet), and Hugh Duffus (sax), the album was another success. Two years later, Marvellous followed, with Ossie Gad and Percy ‘Dread’ McLeod handling vocals after Neil Foster’s departure. This album was also produced by Johnny White. Their final album, Naturalites In Ites, arrived in 1989, marking the group’s disbandment. Ossie Gad and Percy ‘Dread’ McLeod then pursued solo careers. While there were discussions of a reunion, these plans never materialized.
This 12-inch release from England’s CSA Records offers a treat for fans, with an extended rendition of Picture On The Wall and a beautifully crafted extended mix of Jah Works Mamma on the B-side.
A. Hopeton Junior – Country Man
B. Bumper Roots – Give The Youth A Chance
Look To Afrika – LTAF 1
Our second 12-inch single features two elusive artists, Hopeton Junior and Bumper Roots, about whom information is scarce. Likely released in the early 1980s, the A-side showcases Hopeton Junior’s Country Man, a fantastic, uptempo roots track with a seamless vocal-to-dub transition. This one demands repeated listens!
Hopeton Junior’s recording career, while impactful, was relatively brief. His initial foray into music was as a deejay, with Knotty Don’t You Give Up and Sit Down & Wonder released on Micron Music Limited in the mid-1970s. The powerful roots tune Whip Down The Wicked Man on Hot Stuff (Total Sounds) in 1976 marked a significant moment. Throughout the following years, he contributed several noteworthy tracks, including Reward on the popular Worries In The Dance riddim from Channel One. However, a full-length album, a missed opportunity given his evident talent, never materialized. His output gradually decreased until the 1990s, after which he disappeared from the music scene. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
On the B-side, we encounter the enigmatic Bumper Roots with Give The Youth A Chance, a track advocating for youth empowerment. While not a chart-topping hit, it’s a compelling listen. Bumper Roots remains shrouded in mystery; according to Discogs, this is only his second known release. The producer, Benjamin Levi (Doctor Levi), is equally elusive, though he has several releases on the Look To Afrika label.
[These tracks were digitized directly from vinyl using a Technics SL-1210MK2 turntable equipped with an Ortofon cartridge. The recordings were captured in 24-bit/96kHz WAV format via SoundForge]