A journey through sound…

Still on that Clash reggae trip  – another of the great tracks off “London Calling” is The Guns of Brixton.

A bit of Clash bravado, but Paul Simenon contributes a menacing vocal and the bass line is just one of the best. So good it led to….

But not just yet.

First, in the 80s soul/dance sphere, one of the great tracks was Just Be Good to Me by the SOS Band. From 1983, produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, no less.

The twelve inch single version ran to nearly ten minutes.  I’ve included a shorter version here.  It’s almost rock, with the strident rhythms, the chorus – and the cover! But the voice – Mary Davis – is pure soul. It was a disco anthem.

Norman Cook, ace DJ, Fat Boy Slim, took the bass line from “Guns Of Brixton”, the melody from “Just be Good To Me”, threw in a bit of his own dub and rap, and some Ennio Morricone western sounds and came up with the brilliant single Dub Be Good to Me, in 1990, under the name of Beats International. Lindy Layton on vocals. I bought the twelve inch and loved it then, and I love it now!

And then, twenty-odd years later, London rapper and soulboy, Professor Green, took inspiration from “Dub Be Good To Me”, and maybe all three songs, and gave us Just Be Good to Green. Lily Allen on vocals.

The culmination of our journey and a recent hit, so let’s watch the video too.

Four fantastic tunes, one symphony of reggae, rap, soul, dance and pop, spanning 32 years.

Fusion!