~ King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown - August Pablo & Elvis Presley`s -The Sun Sessions, are two fine albums. They are raw, un-contained & still totally fresh, even today. They are unique & beautiful in their own way, yet there is an intrinsic connection that ties these two brilliant albums together & one, that until today, I had never noticed before.
Had someone told me that Elvis Presley could be compared to August Pablo I would have laughed at them. But today I have come to realize that there is much truth in this statement. For if one plays these two albums back to back what one finds is a wealth of profound depth & unbridled passion, pretty much unparalleled anywhere else on Jay Strongman`s amazing list of `great records to hear before you die`. ( Check it out, if you dare ! ) The depth of these two albums is so vast that they are intimidating within their ability to transform the listeners focus from average to a heightened level of awareness. This is rare because it shows how much these two musicians believed in themselves right from the beginning. And, how through a massive level of awareness within their music & capability they have been able to assist their listeners in embracing a potentially better state of mind for themselves.
At the time, Presley & Pablo`s record company budget was so minimal that both artists had to work hard at providing a better, quicker, more finely tuned way to harness their music than a lot of their more professionally managed counterparts. As Sun & King Tubby did not have the money to allow their performers a decent level of artistic freedom the artists were forced to dig much deeper to draw upon their art. Within a short period of time too. Obviously, lesser musicians would have found serious problems with progressive music having been forced into such a disfigured work environment, & pushed to deliver. But because Presley & Pablo had something else that only a few possess they made a success of it.
To do this Presley & Pablo functioned at a much thinner density than would normally be required. Then the early intervention of quality Producers enabled them to procure their intrinsic talents. Thereby eventually reaping the fruits of their labour. This harnessed a productive working alliance between the two which inspired both parties to go onto produce a lifetime of profoundly good music together. Where would we be without, That`s Alright Mama, Baby Lets Play House or Each One Dub ? The answer is short; much less.
No artist wants to be reminded of how good their earlier work was, bu tin the case of Presley & Pablo it is relevant to ponder this for a moment. At the beginning, both artists were not given the freedom of space & time they really wanted. This in turn drove them into a mental corner & they produced bodies of profoundly good work. Certainly in the case of Elvis, had he been stifled geographically then his output would certainly have been consistent. Here was an artist, as he matured, who`s potential for more grew continuously. Pablo, on the other hand, channeled his energy through other acts. Either way, both artists eased up the pressure on themselves & slowly descended within themselves musically as they aged.
The point I am making here is not that Elvis Presley & August Pablo`s music is the same, that could not be further from the truth & it would also be missing the point. The poignancy here is that the depth of passion within each of these incredible artists has only been brought about by another person far-sighted vision & ultimate kindness which inspired them to really pull out their gold. These Producers inspired their artists to be the best they could be, within a short period of time too, & it worked. It is because of this that the two albums are so intrinsically linked & inspirational.
For me, the two albums are the work of geniuses & although this has been recognzied many times over, it is nevertheless important for me that I make the link personally, simply because I have always been inspired by both these albums. Therefore trough my own maturity & appreciation of musical sense & value I can now understand this profound link between the two artists. This is why they have been able to give the world so much joy & passion, even after they have left us.
Perhaps somebody more esoterically-minded might suggest that these two artists have their musical foundations linked astrologically. But, I would have little or no opinion on that, other than to say that maybe they have a point ?
