Making History (Linton Kwesi Johnson album)

Last updated

Making History
LKJMakingHistory.jpg
Studio album by
Released1984
StudioStudio 80, 6-8 Emerson Street, Waterloo, London
Genre Dub reggae
Jazz blues
Length33:31
Label Island
Producer Dennis Bovell
Linton Kwesi Johnson chronology
LKJ in Dub
(1980)
Making History
(1984)
LKJ Live in Concert with the Dub Band
(1985)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 8/10 [4]
The Village Voice A [5]

Making History is an album by the dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson. [6] It was released in 1984 on Island Records. [7] It was produced by Dennis Bovell. [8]

Contents

Critical reception

Trouser Press called the album "as vital as any [Johnson and Bovell] had made together." [9] The New York Times wrote: "Dennis Bovell ... has fashioned settings for the poems on Making History that draw their melodies directly from the inflections and intonation of the lines. Most selections sport catchy instrumental melodies that weave in and out of the poetry, making it sound much like song." [8]

NME ranked it number 16 among the "Albums of the Year" for 1984. [10]

Track listing

All tracks written by Linton Kwesi Johnson

  1. "Di Eagle an' di Bear" – 4:14
  2. "Wat About di Working Claas?" – 5:12
  3. "Di Great Insohreckshan" – 4:02
  4. "Making History" – 4:19
  5. "Reggae fi Radni" – 4:24
  6. "Reggae fi Dada" – 4:50
  7. "New Craas Massahkah" – 6:30

Personnel

The Dub Band
Technical

Charts

Album

YearCountryChartPeak positionCitation
1984UK UK Official Album Chart 73 [11]

Related Research Articles

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Linton Kwesi Johnson, also known as LKJ, is a Jamaica-born, British-based dub poet and activist. In 2002 he became the second living poet, and the only black one, to be published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. His performance poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican patois over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with reggae producer/artist Dennis Bovell.

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References

  1. "Making History - Linton Kwesi Johnson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  2. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 657.
  3. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 374–375.
  4. Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 202.
  5. "Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide May 29, 1984". www.robertchristgau.com.
  6. Pareles, Jon (4 May 1984). "Pop and Rock". The New York Times. p. C20.
  7. "Linton Kwesi Johnson | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  8. 1 2 Palmer, Robert (23 May 1984). "THE POP LIFE". The New York Times. p. C24.
  9. "Linton Kwesi Johnson". Trouser Press. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  10. "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME . 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  11. "UK Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2018.