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Artist Profile

Prince Alla

May 10, 1950 ~

“One of the true heroes of Jamaican roots music…” Steve Barrow

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Real name:

Keith Blake

Place of birth:

Jamaica
Kingston
Denham Town

Keith Blake, born Denham Town 10th May 1950, began his musical career in 1967 alongside Milton Henry as one of The Leaders initially recording some rock steady sides with Joe Gibbs(Joel Gibson) who was just starting out in the music business. Keith also recorded in a solo capacity for Joe before recording for Winston Lowe's Tramp label in a new group that included Milton Henry and Roy 'Soft' Palmer before retiring from the music business.

In the seventies the Rastafarian religion became little more than a fashion accessory to a growing number of "commercial locks" but Keith Blake was a committed and true believer of the faith. He was seriously involved in the movement and, from 1969 onwards, became a disciple of the Rasta elder Prince Emmanuel Edwards and lived in Prince Emmanuel's community in Bull Bay for seven years. After being encouraged to return to music making by Bertram Brown, an old friend from Greenwich Town who set up the Freedom Sounds label in 1975, he came to the following insightful conclusion:

"No music is dirty... because is people make it dirty... to the things that it might say or do. But music is righteousness because it's sound, word sound power." Prince Alla

As Prince Alla (and sometimes either Prince Allah or Ras Alla) he now began work on a series of classic recordings for Freedom Sounds that can, to this day, still be used as examples of what 'roots' music should be all about. Prince Alla's records, such the twelve inch 'Cities' and 'Stone' backed with one of King Tubby's greatest ever dub mixes, were uplifting and inspirational. The superb music, from The Soul Syndicate, drove the passionate, declamatory lyrics ever forward. In 1976 Prince Alla recorded the classic 'Bosrah' for Tappa Zukie in Lee Perry's Black Ark studio and followed it up with the solemn 'Funeral' (also cut with Joe Gibbs as 'Naw Go A Them Burial') and the well received 'Heaven Is My Roof' album. Towards the end of the seventies he recorded again for Freedom Sounds and the resulting 'Bucket Bottom' and 'Lot's Wife' maintained the same impeccable standards that he had set in the middle of the decade. Songs such as the chilling 'Their Reward', released on the Dalphin label, further enhanced his standing among people who really knew music.

Never a prolific artist Price Alla recorded sporadically during the eighties and nineties most notably with Carlton Jackson's International label and Earl Chinna Smith's High Times label. Two excellent compilations on Steve Barrow's Blood & Fire outlet 'Only Love Can Conquer 1976 to 1979' and 'I Can Hear The Children Singing 1975 to 1978' introduced Prince Alla to a new generation of music lovers. In 1996 he recorded the 'Jah Children Gather Round' album with London sound system legend Jah Shaka which proved extremely popular with followers of digital roots music and Prince Alla continued to work with other producers in the genre including Gussie P and Jah Warrior. Never wavering from the path of enlightenment Prince Alla's name and music remain as strong as ever...

Sources: Steve Barrow Liner Notes 'Only Love Can Conquer 1976 to 1979' Prince Alla – Blood & Fire BAFCD 014 1996

Label Profile

Freedom Sounds

1975 ~

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Hit title(s)

Only Love Can Conquer - Freedom Sounds

¥1480

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Black Rose - Freedom Sounds

¥700

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Lot's Wife - Freedom Sounds

¥700

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Come Ethiopians - Freedom Sounds

¥700

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Bucket Bottom - Freedom Sounds

¥570

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Children Of God - Freedom Sounds

¥700

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Ethiopian Kings - Freedom Sounds

¥570

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Stone - Freedom Sounds

¥700

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Shackles & Chains - Freedom Sounds

¥570

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In The Right Way - Freedom Sounds

¥700

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[All Items] → [LP] → [Roots Reggae] → [Roots Reggae 1970s] → [Prince Alla]

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Prince Alla

Only Love Can Conquer

Freedom Sounds

¥1480 (US$14.45)

Rating:

No.28 at Total Ranking on Jan 16, 2004.

No.7 at Genre Ranking on Sep 16, 2003.

No.4 at Sub Genre Ranking on Sep 16, 2003.

No.15 at Format Ranking on Jan 17, 2004.

Genre:

Roots Reggae

Sub Genre:

Roots Reggae 1970s

Produced by:

Bertram Brown, Anthony McClaren, Prince Alla, R Lightbourne

Approx. year:

1976-1979

Date added:

Mar 17, 2001

Date re-stocked:

Feb 21, 2013

Country:

Jamaica

Catalog number:

LP 5005

Music type:

Roots & Culture

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12 TRACKS :
1)		Stone
2)		I Don't Want To Be Late
3)		Only Love Can Conquer
4)		Sun Is Shining
5)		They Never Love [extended Mix]
6)		Lot's Wife
7)		Bucket Bottom
8)		Mama No Fight
9)		City Without Pay
10)		Lady Deceiver
11)		Youthman In The Ghetto [extended Mix]
12)		Black Rose [with Philip Fraser]

[PRODUCTION] PRODUCED BY: Bertram Brown, Anthony McClaren, Prince Alla, R Lightbourne RECORDED AT: Channel One MIXED BY: King Tubby, Scientist, Ernest Hoo Kim MIXED AT: King Tubby's, Channel One

[MUSICIANS] BACKED BY: Soul Syndicate, Revolutionaries BASS: Fully, Robbie DRUMS: Santa, Max Edwards, Sly LEAD GUITAR: Chinna, Tony Chin KEYBOARDS: Keith Sterling, Gladdy, Jah McKaya SAX: Deadly Headley PERCUSSION: Skully HARMONICA: Jimmy Becker

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