At the gig last Saturday night by Cheapskates a man was asking the dj (Clash fan Gary Waugh) if he had a song called Dem A Sus by Harlem Spirit. I'd not heard of it. Harlem Spirit were a Moss Side based reggae band in the 1970s and 80s. Dem A Sus, released in 1980, is a comment on and protest against the Sus laws which enabled the police to stop and search anyone under suspicion. This law was used disproportionately against young black men especially in areas like Moss Side, home to much of Manchester's Afro-Caribbean community. This is a fine piece of British roots reggae.
Dem A Sus (In The Moss)
Never heard this song before. It's fantastic and as you said, a fine piece of British roots reggae. Thank you for it.
ReplyDeletevery good indeed but you made my day pointing toward the beefheart tune on the AW mix. What a tune. My head is very gickered today and this is going me a glow
ReplyDeleteThat Beef heart song is great. There's a decent Mercury Rev cover too.
ReplyDeleteSwiss Adam
Excellent find. Thanks for sharing this one.
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