By Howard Campbell—
Black Uhuru founder Duckie Simpson says he has been ‘badly disrespected’ by producer Lloyd ‘King Jammy’ James and VP Records over the release of King Jammy Presents New Sounds Of Freedom, a tribute to the group’s first album.
According to Simpson, he was offered US$500 by VP as proceeds from the set, which he considers a slap in the face. He said he was sent a contract by James in late 2015 which would give him half of the album’s sales. Simpson said he signed the contract but has not earned from James since.
“Him don’t send back a signed contract or nuthin’…I don’t hear gun fire from him,” said Simpson, adding: “I never drink a cold beer from that album yet.”
‘That album’ is Black Sounds of Freedom, which inspired King Jammys Presents. First released in 1977 as Love Crisis, it was remixed and re-released four years later.
King Jammy Presents hears contemporary reggae acts like Alborosie, Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid and Gentleman putting a fresh spin on songs from the original album.
But John McQueeney, senior director of business affairs at VP, said negotiations between the parties are legitimate.
“Mr James and Mr Simpson have signed an agreement regarding the payment of master royalties for the album New Sounds Of Freedom. This fully executed agreement has been sent to Mr Simpson,” McQueeney told strong> Sunday Observer.
According to the website, www.royaltyexchange.com, “With a master recording copyright, a record label seeks to collect royalties from the use of a specific recording of a song. Master royalties are paid to a label when the label’s recording is used in an advertisement, film, television program, streaming service, or other medium.”
But Simpson — who recorded Love Crisis with Michael Rose and Errol Nelson — insists he has never earned from the multiple times James has licensed songs from the original album, especially I Love King Selassie. “Approximately 125 time him put song from di album an’ I don’t see a cent. I think its time now,” said Simpson.
James and Simpson are from Waterhouse in Kingston. Simpson recalls going “all over di place” with James’ sound system before recording for his fledgling label.
Love Crisis is the first album produced by James. He was then known as Prince Jammy, a protege of engineer/producer Osbourne “King Tubbys” Ruddock.
The album was re-released in 1981 when Black Uhuru were taking off internationally through songs like Shine Eye Gal and Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner.
Black Uhuru won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Recording in 1985 for the album Anthem.
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