This is your chance to acquire an original and highly sought after dubplate of the tune "Kunte Kinte" complete with haunting flute style intro, ships foghorn and then speedily into a killer roots instrumental. The other cuts include a flanger mix, master tape rewind cut and a cut with interjected rugged vocals calling out the name Kunte Kinte. I bought this dubplate from a man who used to work in a west end (London) record shop and who was 'well connected' in either 1978 or 1979 (can't quite remember which year exactly). A copy (VG+) with only two cuts of this music track sold on ebay for 325 US Dollars in May 2004. A dubplate for those who do not know is a one off recording cut on a master disc cutting lathe into a layer of acetate lacquer coating on top of a flat aluminium disc.

The music on this dubplate is similar to the Channel One tune called "Beware aka Beware of your enemies" by "Creole". However it is a completely different intro and mix.

Side (1)
Cut 1 - Long tape rewind version at intro (3mins 40secs)
Cut 2 - Short tape rewind, vocal chanting, syndrum, bongo mix (4mins 26secs)

Side (2)
Cut 3 - Flanger / echo mix (3mins 08 secs)
Cut 4 - Short tape rewind at intro, raw bare bones mix (4mins 22secs)

For those seriously considering this purchase. I can offer to supply a high quality evaluation copy on CDR for the sum of 50.00 GB Pounds (including p&p worldwide). If you turn out to be the eventual purchaser of this item then I will refund the cost of the CDR against the final transaction price. Click the button below to arrange payment.

There has been much speculation over the years of the origin of this recording.

Kunte Kinte....Provenance

Neil Fraser (Mad Professor) stated on the Blood and Fire message board (Phorum) in August 2003. - "About the Kunte Kinte origin. To solve the mystery get a copy of Roots, the film based on the Alex Hayley book. The sound track that heavily influence the dub classic is quite clear. Originally recorded by a virtually unknown Battersea group called Black Volts, the track was rough mixed by Paul (Smykle) at Island inspiring countless of versions. Unfortunately it was never released. At that time no one wanted to know about such instrumentals,for years only Jah Shaka and some sounds from the country like Wasifa, Nyashanti were playing that track. As usual, the stone that the builder refused..... "

Other posters on the B&F phorum namely Russ D and Danai both concur that this tune might have been mixed by Paul Smykle and or Terry Barham during their time at Island Studio's and therefore might be able to throw more light on its origination. Their comments made recollecting conversations with people in the industry they had discussed it with over the years.

Click here to hear a real audio snippet of the intro as found on the Jah Warrior website (not taken from this actual dubplate but you will get an idea of the recording)

by the way - It's not a real flute Ray

Additional information for those interested
Jah Warrior - Top Ten baddest roots dubplates of all time
Number 31 in the Jah Shaka top 100 dubplate charts

Click below to...
View my other auctions
Visit my Web Page
send me email: auctioneer@freeuk.com