Is It Because I’m Black Riddim – Studio One, Splash

Is It Because I’m Black produced by Coxsone Dodd, Lloyd Charmers, Augustus Clarke for Studio One, Splash in 1970

Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One, with Lloyd Charmers and Augustus Clarke also credited on the Splash production, anchors this 1970 Is It Because I’m Black riddim set in a tight early roots period. The mix of voices and versions runs from Lloyd Williams’ original Is It Because I’m Black to later cuts by Ken Boothe and Delroy Wilson, with Jackie Mittoo’s Black Organ and the Dub cut Black Foundation adding a more instrumental, organ-led edge. Zoot Simms’ African and the title theme tie the package together with a strong Black consciousness thread, while Studio One’s role in shaping so much of Jamaica’s 1970s sound gives the release real historical weight.

Is It Because I’m Black Riddim Tracklist:

1. Dub – Black Foundation (1973)
2. Delroy Wilson – Is It Because I’m Black (1978)
3. Jackie Mittoo – Black Organ (1972)
4. Ken Boothe – Is It Because I’m Black (1973)
5. Lloyd Williams – Is It Because I’m Black (1970)
6. Zoot Simms – African (African Challenge) (1972)

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