Mighty Diamonds
Mighty Diamonds are a Jamaican harmony trio, recording roots reggae with a strong Rastafarian influence. The group, which comprised Donald "Tabby" Shaw, Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson, and Lloyd "Judge" Ferguson, was formed in 1969, and remains together as of 2010. They are best-known for their 1976 debut album Right Time produced by Joseph Hoo Kim, and the 1979 release Deeper Roots.
Their first hit singles "Country Living" and "Hey Girl" were recorded and released by the Channel One label. Two of their greatest songs are "Go Seek Your Rights" and "I Need A Roof" both from the mid 1970s. The latter was remixed in a techno style in the mid 1990s.
"Pass the Koutchie", written by Leroy Sibbles and Jackie Mittoo, became an international hit twice, when first released (on their 1981 album Changes),[1] and again when it was covered by Musical Youth and released as "Pass the Dutchie".
Shaw, Ferguson and Simpson have produced over forty albums in their long career.
Discography
- 1976 - Right Time (also issued under a different title When The Right Time Come (I Need A Roof))
- 1977 - Ice On Fire
- 1978 - Stand Up To Your Judgment
- 1978 - Planet Earth
- 1978 - Planet Mars Dub
- 1979 - Deeper Roots
- 1979 - Deeper Roots Dub
- 1979 - Tell Me What's Wrong
- 1981 - Changes (also released under the title of Indestructible, with two different songs, in 1981)
- 1981 - Dubwise (six dub versions from Changes and four other dubs)
- 1981 - Reggae Street
- 1982 - The Roots Is There
- 1983 - Leaders Of Black Countrys (Showcase Album)
- 1985 - Struggling
- 1986 - If You Looking For Trouble
- 1987 - The Real Enemy
- 1988 - Never Get Weary
- 1988 - Get Ready
- 1990 - Jam Session
- 1991 - Tour The World (contains five new songs and five old songs)
- 1991 - Patience
- 1992 - The Moment Of Truth
- 1993 - Bust Out
- 1993 - Paint It Red
- 1994 - Speak The Truth
- 1996 - Heads Of Government (re-issue of the 1983 mini-album, plus compilation of singles produced by Donovan Germain in the 80's)
- 2001 - Rise Up
- 2006 - Thugs In The Streets
- 2008 - Inna De Yard (classic songs performed acoustic with nyabinghi drums)
MINI-ALBUMS and REMIX ALBUMS
- 1983 - Backstage (six extended mixes of that area)
- 1983 - Heads Of Government (mini-album) (two new tracks and four old) (re-issued in 1996 with bonus tracks)
- 1984 - Kouchie Vibes (seven extended mixes of that area)
- 1986 - Pass The Kouchie (ten remixes of that area)
COLLABORATIONS AND MORE
- 1976 - Vital Dub Strictly Rockers (aka: Vital Dub – Well Charged) (included five dub versions from the Right Time album
- 1979 - Disco Showcase (Leroy Smart feat. The Mighty Diamonds)
- 1979 - Trinity Meet The Mighty Diamonds
- 1998 - Right Time Rockers (The Lost Album) (recorded in 1976) (U-Roy deejaying on the riddims from the Right Time album)
COMPILATIONS
- 1981 - Vital Selection (1976–1979)
- 1990 - Go Seek Your Rights (1976–1979)
- 1994 - Works
- 19XX - From The Foundation (The Mighty Diamonds & The Tamlins) (nine songs from The Mighty Diamonds) (possible release date: 1996)
- 1996 - Maximum Replay
- 1997 - The Best Of The Mighty Diamonds: 20 Hits (1978–1979) (contains two full studio albums: Stand Up To Your Judgement and Tell Me What's Wrong)
- 1997 - RAS Portrait (1993–1994)
- 1997 - Mighty Diamonds And Don Carlos & Gold – Meet At Channel One (1976) (includes the complete albumRight Time)
- 1998 - Right Time Come (1976 + 1978) (includes the complete albumRight Time and nine songs from 1978)
- 2000 - The Classics Recordings Of Jamaica's Finest Vocal Trio
- 2001 - Everlasting: 30th Anniversary
- 2001 - Kings Of Reggae (1993–1994)
- 2001 - Unconquerable
- 2003 - Revolution
- 2004 - Best Of The Mighty Diamonds (1986 + 1991) (features two albums: Pass The Kouchie and Tour The World)
- 2009 - Reggae Legend (1987–1993) (4-CD boxset that contains the four albums issued on Greensleeves: The Real Enemy, Get Ready, Live In Europe and Bust Out)
LIVE
- 1985 - Live In Tokyo
- 1989 - Live In Europe
- 1994 - Live At Reggae Sunsplash (recorded in August 1982) (eight songs from Mighty Diamonds and seven songs from Mutabaruka)
- 2001 - The Best Of Reggae Live (Frankie Paul & Mighty Diamonds)
- 2002 - Live In Europe: Nice, France (recorded in 1997)
References
External links