The Revolutionaries (sometimes known as "Revolutionaires") was a Jamaican reggae band.
Career
Set up in 1975 as the house band of the Channel One Studios owned by Joseph Hoo Kim, The Revolutionaries with Sly Dunbar on drums and Bertram "Ranchie" McLean on bass, created the new "rockers" style that would change the whole Jamaican sound (from roots reggae to rockers, and be imitated in all other productions). Beside Sly, many musicians played in the band: Robbie Shakespeare on bass, JoJo Hookim, Bertram McLean, and Radcliffe "Dougie" Bryan on guitar, Ossie Hibbert, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson, Robbie Lyn or Ansel Collins on keyboards, Uziah "Sticky" Thompson, Noel "Scully" Simms on percussion, Tommy McCook, Herman Marquis on saxophone, Bobby Ellis on trumpet and Vin Gordon on trombone.
In 1976, they recorded a track named after Kunta Kinte. This would become one of reggae music's most recognisable riddims which for many years was only played by selected sound systems on dubplate.
The band played on numerous dub albums and recorded as a backing band for artists like B.B. Seaton, Black Uhuru, Culture, Prince Alla, Leroy Smart, Gregory Isaacs, John Holt, The Heptones, Mighty Diamonds, I-Roy, Tapper Zukie, Trinity, U Brown, Errol Scorcher, Serge Gainsbourg among others.
Discography
The Revolutionaries
Revival Dub Roots Now - 1976 - Well Charge
Revolutionary Sounds - 1976 - Channel One/Well Charge
Sounds Vol 2 - 1979 - Ballistic
Vital Dub Well Charged - 1976 - Virgin
Dread At The Controls - 1978 - Hawkeye
Dub Expression - 1978 - High Note
Earthquake Dub - 1978 - Joe Gibbs
Jonkanoo Dub - 1978 - Cha Cha
Reaction In Dub - 1978 - Cha Cha
Sentimental Dub - 1978 - Germain
Top Ranking Dub - 1978 - Rootsman
Burning Dub - 1979 - Burning Vibrations
Dub Out Her Blouse & Skirt - 1979 - Germain
Dutch Man Dub - 1979 - Burning Vibrations
Goldmine Dub - 1979 - Greensleeves
Outlaw Dub - 1979 - Trojan
Dawn Of Creation - Sagittarius
Dub Plate Specials At Channel One - Jamaican Recordings
Green Bay Dub - 1979 - Burning Vibrations
Medley Dub - High Note
Phase One Dubwise Vol 1 & 2 - Sprint
Satta Dub Strictly Roots - Well Charge
Dial M For Murder In Dub Style - 1980 - Express
I Came, I Saw, I Conquered - 1980 - Channel One
Compilations
Channel One - Maxfield Avenue Breakdown - Dub & Instrumentals - 1974-1979 - Pressure Sounds (2000) Revival - 1973-1976 - Cha Cha (1982) Roots Man Dub - 1979 - GG's Channel One Revisited Dub - Top Beat (1995) Macca Rootsman Dub - Jamaican Gold (1994) The Rough Guide to Dub - World Music Network (2005)
With The Aggrovators
Agrovators Meets The Revolutioners At Channel One Studios - 1977 - Third World
Rockers Almighty Dub (Dubwise, Rockers, Bass & Drums) - 1979 - Clocktower
Agrovators Meet Revolutionaries Part II - Micron
Others
Kunta Kinte - 1976 - Channel One
Guerilla Dub - 1978 - Burning Sounds
The Revolutionaries & We The People Band - Revolutionary Dub - 1976 - Trenchtown
Bobby Ellis And The Professionals Meet The Revolutionaries - Black Unity - 1977 - Third World Derrick Harriott & The Revolutionaries - Reggae Chart Busters Seventies Style - 1977 - Crystal Sly & The Revolutionaries - Don't Underestimate The Force, The Force Is Within You - 1977 - J&L Sly & The Revolutionaries - Go Deh Wid Riddim - 1977 - Crystal Sly & The Revolutionaries With Jah Thomas - Black Ash Dub - 1980 - Trojan Errol Scorcher & The Revolutionaries - Rasta Fire (A Channel One Experience) - 1978 - Ballistic Ossie Hibbert & The Revolutionaries - Satisfaction In Dub - 1978 - Live & Love Pancho Alphonso & The Revolutionaries - Never Get To Zion - 1978 - Trojan