Uprising: The Soundtrack

 Do you know what it means to have a revolution? - The music of an Uprising

You can listen to the whole soundtrack on this playlist.

Recently, the BBC released a three-part documentary by Steve McQueen: Uprising. A heart-breaking piece on the 1981 New Cross Fire and subsequent insurrection towards the state who failed to properly investigate the event.

I can’t recommend the documentary enough. I was familiar with the incident as Akala mentions it in his book Natives (a must-read!) but I hadn’t seen it portrayed in such a powerful and emotive way before.

The documentary really puts you in front of those directly affected by the fire. They talk of the state of Britain at the time (the vile overt racism, the prevalence of the National Front and the pervasiveness of the NF in state agencies such as the Police Force). They also talk of the characters at the party, the camaraderie between the different families in the black community. And, they talk about the vibes at the party, how the music made them feel.

The soundtrack throughout the documentary inspired me. It enabled me to empathise with the subjects of the documentary. The songs were provocative. They transported me back in time. 

Reggae music is a voice for the vulnerable, a voice for the unheard and a medium to facilitate unity. I feel the soundtrack represents that and I love reggae music. 

Particularly, it made me think of the first generation British born Jamaicans in England. These were the songs they listened to growing up. Dennis Brown was their Drake (blasphemous in some circles, I know!)

I wanted to share this soundtrack as I couldn’t find it all in one place and there’s lessons to be learned in the music for the new listeners and there’s an opportunity for the those who want to reconnect with their teenage-hood.

For any audiophiles out there - these tracks are stone cold classics and I guarantee there’s at least one in there you will fall in love with.

For the activists out there, the soundtrack will speak to you on a deeper level - as it did me. Take for example, 13 Dead (Nothing Said) by Johnny Osbourne and Sir Collins & His Mind Sweepers - United We Stand. Sir Collins was a soundman in London who lost his son in the fire. This wasn’t just music for fun, this was creativity in the face of grief.

When I spoke to Michael La Rose, son of  John La Rose (Chair of the New Cross Massacre Action Committee (NCMAC) and member of The Alliance) he mentioned that during the marches, sound systems were used because if you couldn’t get to the march physically, you could hear the sound system, the vibration and the messages they were trying to convey. Michael said:

“Sound systems all over the country responded to the New Cross Massacre in January 1981. They were an important part of the New Cross Massacre Action Committee (NCMAC) campaign for justice. Sound systems publicised the latest information updates from the weekly Monday NCMAC assembly. There were many dances to raise money for the New Cross Fire Fund to assist the injured and parents of the dead. The sound systems and the music they played were also important in mobilising people for the Black Peoples Day of Action organised by NCMAC on Monday 2nd March 1981. The Black Peoples Day of Action demonstration had a 14 mile route through London from New Cross to Hyde Park crossing at Blackfriars Bridge and passing through the home of British newspapers at Fleet Street with over 20,000 people. Several recording artistes with personal connections with the victims or the campaign made music. Some turned this music in to chants used in meetings, pickets, vigils up and down the country and on the Black Peoples Day of Action 

Note; In total 14 young people died as a result of the New Cross Massacre Fire. 39 were known to be injured many are still mentally scarred.”

Michael La Rose (member of the Alliance in 1981)

*To record this soundtrack, I used Shazam and a little help from those who know the music a little better than me. If you notice that I’ve misattributed a song, please let me know and I will add it on.

Episode 1

Matumbi - Bluebeat & Ska https://youtu.be/8S55JtIaApM

Phillip Bailey - Children of the Ghetto https://youtu.be/W5xg6gOLmXs

Bob Marley - Concrete Jungle https://youtu.be/aNzQL3MQDkE

George McCrae - Rock Your Baby https://youtu.be/1QvvByvbwLk

Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music https://youtu.be/MDZsNksbw2Q

Junior Murvin - Police & Thieves https://youtu.be/lwMNgbEl3io

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Get Up Stand Up https://youtu.be/CwIdvOTzvqc

Steel Pulse - Ku Klux Klan https://youtu.be/KWZuDD3SYeU

Victor Romeo Evans - At The Club https://youtu.be/xFJI6Z2bzL8

Dennis Brown - Someone Special https://youtu.be/LJ7jfiuKbyE

Jean Adebambo - Paradise https://youtu.be/lWlHbwf1l4g

Wailing Souls - Kingdom Rise Kingdom Fall https://youtu.be/YXSHSe9VyS0

What stands out to me is the matter of fact subject of the first few songs. They’re incredibly descriptive of the time in which they were made and make for mental visuals for the listener.

You’ll notice in the second half of the list, we enter the rub-a-dub section - selectors Steve Collins, Gerry Francis and Wayne Haynes were setting the mood!

Episode 2

Johnny Osbourne - 13 Dead (Nothing Said) https://youtu.be/w5faPxNfVWA

Randy Crawford - One Day I’ll Fly Away https://youtu.be/tH2rgPqi8Ag

Track 8 from this album: Sir Collins & His Mind Sweepers - United We Stand https://youtu.be/rnusSHI6itc?t=1492 (24:52)

Sir Collins and His Mind Sweepers made an album on the New Cross Fire. It is linked above if you’d like to explore the music further.

Episode 2 was sombre. It depicts the fire, the fatalities and the pain. I feel that’s represented in the soundtrack. People are left asking questions of the government, who don’t seem to want to respond. Then the people unite in their grief and stand up for what they believe in: justice.

Episode 3

Bob Marley - Could You Be Loved? https://youtu.be/pOm4MYha9jg

Sugar Minott - Frontline (Line Dub) https://youtu.be/T2GlyEuPH9Y

Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse https://youtu.be/X7h3iUhTPZM

Prince Alla - Youth Man https://youtu.be/02Q7OqeJTk0

Dennis Brown - Revolution https://youtu.be/EQ_Lq49Gmmo

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Slave Driver https://youtu.be/f470knkUgEU

Linton Kwesi Johnson - Di Great Insohreckshan https://youtu.be/CFE1kwB2Yvo

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Redemption Song https://youtu.be/yv5xonFSC4c

Episode 3 is the people fighting for justice. An inspiring, powerful soundtrack that made me proud of the generation before me; grateful for their sacrifices and zeal; in awe of their courage.

Michael also wanted to highlight these songs below:

1. Roy Rankin & Raymond Naptali - New Cross Fire https://youtu.be/1gx1bgOlZcg

2. Linton Kwesi Johnson - New Craas Massahkah https://youtu.be/FUMYAqAlAXA 

"Linton Kwesi Johnson was a member of Race Today and the Alliance group who played an important role in the NCMAC."

3. Benjamin Zephaniah - 13 Dead https://youtu.be/Zn0CyckPBBo

4. Mad Professor & Jah Shaka - Gautrey Road Style https://youtu.be/1Z4LRFW0YjY 

"Mad Professor of Ariwa Records and the Jah Shaka Sound System had strong connections in the New Cross area."

You’ll note, 1981 was a year for uprisings in many communities across England. People were frustrated with the government and their corrupt enforcers. This was their way of letting it be known. 

We’ve been here before, see the Macpherson Report in response to the racist killing of Stephen Lawrence. See more recently, the intersections of race and class with Grenfell Tower and the resultant cladding scandal. Time and time again, the state haven’t taken the lead when they were supposed to help and they have left the most vulnerable out to fend for themselves. 

The system isn’t broken, that is the system.

You can listen to the whole soundtrack on this playlist.

Questions from me:

How many more of these events will we see on our screen in the future? 

How will the lens of TV be applied to these monumental events? 

What would feature in your soundtrack to any of these events? 

Post your suggestions below in the comments section.  

Thanks to Michael La Rose of New Beacon Books for his contributions. 

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One Brick An Hour is a blog by Kahvan in reference to "Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour." from James Clear. Read more to learn about the bricks I continue to add to my Rome.