All Topics  
Compass Point All Stars

 

   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link






 

Compass Point All Stars



 
 
The Compass Point phenomenon is meant to be to reggae-based pop/rock music of the 80s, what Nashville was to country music, or the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, also known as The Swampers, are a group of American soul, R&B, and country studio musicians based in the Alabama town of Muscle Shoals....
 was to soul and R&B in the 60s. It all started with Compass Point Studios
Compass Point Studios

Compass Point Studios is a famous recording studio located in Bahamas. It was founded in 1977 by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, and producer of Bob Marley....
 built in 1977 in Nassau (Bahamas), by visionary Chris Blackwell
Chris Blackwell

Chris Blackwell is the founder of Island Records. Born in London to an Ireland father and a Costa Rican-born Sephardic Jewish mother, Blackwell spent his childhood in Jamaica....
, founder of Island Records
Island Records

Island Records was a record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. It was based in England for many years, but is now owned by Universal Music Group and is operated in the United States through The Island Def Jam Music Group and in the UK through Island Records Group ....
. The core of what would later be called the Compass Point All Stars, stricto sensu, was a recording band that Blackwell put together in 1980, based on jamaïcan (reggae) foundation shaped around legendary combo Sly & Robbie Sly Dunbar
Sly Dunbar

Lowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar was born on 10 May 1952, in Kingston, Jamaica, Jamaica.Working together with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly and Robbie are considered one of the world's premier rhythm sections for their work in the field of reggae....
 (drums), Robbie Shakespeare (bass), joined by Mikey Chung
Mikey Chung

Born Michael Chung, Mikey Chung is a keyboard instrument, guitar and percussion player, arrangement and record producer of Music of Jamaica.As a member of Word, Sound and Power he backed Peter Tosh on Mystic Man....
 (guitar) and Sticky Uzzaiah Thompson (percussion), with british rock flavour brought by Barry Reynolds (guitar, of Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull is an award-winning England singer, songwriter, actor and diarist whose career spans over four decades. Her early work in pop and rock music in the 1960s was overshadowed by her struggle with drug abuse in the 1970s....
's Broken English
Broken English

Broken English is a 1979 album by singer Marianne Faithfull. It is often cited as Faithfull's definitive recording; Faithfull herself describes it in her autobiography as "the masterpiece"....
 fame), spiced up by synth-dominated keyboards from french-african Wally Badarou
Wally Badarou

Wally Badarou is a musician from Benin.A synthesizer specialist, Badarou is best known as the longtime associate of the United Kingdom band Level 42, known for its blend of funk, pop music, soul music and rock music....
  (of burgeoning Level 42
Level 42

Level 42 is an England pop rock and jazz-funk music band who had a number of worldwide and UK hits during the 1980s and 1990s. The band gained fame for its high-calibre musicianship - especially that of Mark King , whose percussive Slapping guitar technique provided the driving groove of many of the band's hits....
), and Tyrone Downie
Tyrone Downie

Tyrone Downie is a keyboardist/pianist. He played with The Wailers Band and has also played with Peter Tosh, Tom Tom Club, Burning Spear and Sly & Robbie. He currently resides in France. ...
 later (keyboards of The Wailers
The Wailers

The Wailers may refer to*The Original Wailers, the reggae backing band of Bob Marley, consisting of Junior Marvin, Al Anderson and Earl "Wya" Lindo....
 fame).






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Compass Point All Stars'
Start a new discussion about 'Compass Point All Stars'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The Compass Point phenomenon is meant to be to reggae-based pop/rock music of the 80s, what Nashville was to country music, or the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, also known as The Swampers, are a group of American soul, R&B, and country studio musicians based in the Alabama town of Muscle Shoals....
 was to soul and R&B in the 60s. It all started with Compass Point Studios
Compass Point Studios

Compass Point Studios is a famous recording studio located in Bahamas. It was founded in 1977 by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, and producer of Bob Marley....
 built in 1977 in Nassau (Bahamas), by visionary Chris Blackwell
Chris Blackwell

Chris Blackwell is the founder of Island Records. Born in London to an Ireland father and a Costa Rican-born Sephardic Jewish mother, Blackwell spent his childhood in Jamaica....
, founder of Island Records
Island Records

Island Records was a record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. It was based in England for many years, but is now owned by Universal Music Group and is operated in the United States through The Island Def Jam Music Group and in the UK through Island Records Group ....
. The core of what would later be called the Compass Point All Stars, stricto sensu, was a recording band that Blackwell put together in 1980, based on jamaïcan (reggae) foundation shaped around legendary combo Sly & Robbie Sly Dunbar
Sly Dunbar

Lowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar was born on 10 May 1952, in Kingston, Jamaica, Jamaica.Working together with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly and Robbie are considered one of the world's premier rhythm sections for their work in the field of reggae....
 (drums), Robbie Shakespeare (bass), joined by Mikey Chung
Mikey Chung

Born Michael Chung, Mikey Chung is a keyboard instrument, guitar and percussion player, arrangement and record producer of Music of Jamaica.As a member of Word, Sound and Power he backed Peter Tosh on Mystic Man....
 (guitar) and Sticky Uzzaiah Thompson (percussion), with british rock flavour brought by Barry Reynolds (guitar, of Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull is an award-winning England singer, songwriter, actor and diarist whose career spans over four decades. Her early work in pop and rock music in the 1960s was overshadowed by her struggle with drug abuse in the 1970s....
's Broken English
Broken English

Broken English is a 1979 album by singer Marianne Faithfull. It is often cited as Faithfull's definitive recording; Faithfull herself describes it in her autobiography as "the masterpiece"....
 fame), spiced up by synth-dominated keyboards from french-african Wally Badarou
Wally Badarou

Wally Badarou is a musician from Benin.A synthesizer specialist, Badarou is best known as the longtime associate of the United Kingdom band Level 42, known for its blend of funk, pop music, soul music and rock music....
  (of burgeoning Level 42
Level 42

Level 42 is an England pop rock and jazz-funk music band who had a number of worldwide and UK hits during the 1980s and 1990s. The band gained fame for its high-calibre musicianship - especially that of Mark King , whose percussive Slapping guitar technique provided the driving groove of many of the band's hits....
), and Tyrone Downie
Tyrone Downie

Tyrone Downie is a keyboardist/pianist. He played with The Wailers Band and has also played with Peter Tosh, Tom Tom Club, Burning Spear and Sly & Robbie. He currently resides in France. ...
 later (keyboards of The Wailers
The Wailers

The Wailers may refer to*The Original Wailers, the reggae backing band of Bob Marley, consisting of Junior Marvin, Al Anderson and Earl "Wya" Lindo....
 fame). Together, under Blackwell's direction in person, and building on co-producer Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin

Alex Sadkin is best remembered as a record producer in the early 1980s, but actually got his start in the music industry as a saxophone for the Las Olas Brass in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
's skills at engineering and mixing, the recording band managed to deliver a highly praised and distinct sound, for what are today viewed as seminal albums by Grace Jones
Grace Jones

Grace Jones is a Jamaican?United States singer, Model , and actor....
 and Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker

John Robert "Joe" Cocker OBE is an England rock /blues singer who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty human voice and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles....
, right from the begining .

Another early prestigious resident of the era was Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer may refer to:*Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer VC DFC & Bar, , British bomber pilot killed in World War II*Robert Palmer , U.S. music writer and blues producer; author of Deep Blues...
, who augmented the CPAS sound on Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker

John Robert "Joe" Cocker OBE is an England rock /blues singer who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty human voice and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles....
's project. Sly & Robbie went on to use some of the CPAS for Black Uhuru
Black Uhuru

Black Uhuru, formed by Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, is a Jamaican reggae band probably best known for their hits "Shine Eye Gal", "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", "Sinsemilla", "Solidarity", and Grammy winner "What Is Life?"....
 and Gwen Guthrie
Gwen Guthrie

Gwen Guthrie was an United States singer and songwriter, who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Madonna , among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E....
 projects, eventually adding Darryl Thompson and Monte Brown (guitars) to the core of the band. The stars would eventually be encompassing all Compass Point resident stars of the era, most notably Chris Franz (drums) and Tina Weymouth
Tina Weymouth

Martina Mich?le "Tina" Weymouth is an United States musician, best known as a founding member and bassist of the influential New_Wave_music group Talking Heads and its side project Tom Tom Club ....
 (bass) of Talking Heads
Talking Heads

Talking Heads was an American rock music rock band formed in 1974 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison....
 fame. Together with co-producer Steven Stanley
Steven Stanley

Steven J. C. Stanley , is a music of Jamaica Audio engineering, record producer and keyboardist who has worked in the reggae, dub music and rock music genres since 1975, most notably with Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and Black Uhuru....
 engineering and mixing, they would start Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club

Tom Tom Club is an United States New Wave music band founded in 1980 by spouses and Talking Heads alumni Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz....
. Brit engineer Andy Lyden came to work on Badarou's solo project, and turned into a resident engineer too. The core of CPAS resided in a condominium called Tip-Top, at top of the hill behind the studio. It was a highly productive body by then, even appealing to business giants such as the godfather of soul James Brown
James Brown

James Joseph Brown, Jr. was an United States entertainer. He is recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing....
 himself.

A little musical community was born, the Compass Point All Stars. . The CPAS label would eventually extend throughout the 80's to anything either originating from Compass Point Studios
Compass Point Studios

Compass Point Studios is a famous recording studio located in Bahamas. It was founded in 1977 by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, and producer of Bob Marley....
, remixes by Larry Levan
Larry Levan

Larry Levan was a Disk jockey who spun discs at the New York City night club Paradise Garage. The club has been described as the prototype of the modern dance club, because it was entirely focused on dancing, and was the first to put the DJ at the center of attention....
 and François K Kevorkian included, or somewhat related to what went on over there, from resident or non-resident artists, regardless of genre and sonic identity, starting back from The B-52s. This largo sensu acception has been displayed on compilations such as Funky Nassau/The Compass Point Story/1980-1986 released by Strut Records, incorporating works by Chaz Jankel, Cristina
Cristina (singer)

Cristina Monet-Palaci , known professionally as Cristina, is a singer and writer, best known for her No Wave recordings made for Ze Records around 1980 in New York....
, Will Powers
Will Powers

Will Powers was the stage name used by celebrity photographer, Lynn Goldsmith, when she created a self help comedy music album. The album, entitled Dancing for Mental Health, uses affirmations set to music to poke fun at the self help entrepeners who "build the listener's inner self and encourage personal growth through the thoug...
, Guy Cuevas, along with extensive interviews by David Katz
David Katz

David Katz is a music journalist, photographer, A&R consultant, disc jockey and reggae historian, raised in the US but long resident in Britain....
. Hard rock acts such as AC/DC
AC/DC

AC/DC are an Australian rock music rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Malcolm Young and Angus Young. Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock, and considered pioneers of heavy metal music, they have always classified their music as "rock and roll"....
 and Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music band from Leyton, East London, England, formed in 1975. The band is led by founder, bassist and songwriter Steve Harris ....
 made very succesfull recordings at Compass Point, but were never labelled Compass Point All Stars.

Despite the overall excitement for what was produced over there, the experience did not make it pass the early 90's, mainly due to every one's personal agenda. About half of the greatest recordings that took place were hardly planned in detail. Things were done in a constant happening fashion most of the time, for the groove to rule, to the cost of efficiency sometimes. Virtuoso Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin

Alex Sadkin is best remembered as a record producer in the early 1980s, but actually got his start in the music industry as a saxophone for the Las Olas Brass in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
 no longer was, and Blackwell
Chris Blackwell

Chris Blackwell is the founder of Island Records. Born in London to an Ireland father and a Costa Rican-born Sephardic Jewish mother, Blackwell spent his childhood in Jamaica....
's growing interests in other ventures did not allow the momentum to sustain any further. The studio itself went through rough times in the early 90's, only to be succesfully salvaged by producer Terry Manning
Terry Manning

Terry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
 and his wife Sherrie: a long list of prestigious personae, from Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias

Julio Iglesias De la Cueva is a Spain singer who has sold over 300 million albums in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music he is one of the top 10 best selling music artists ever....
, Diana Ross
Diana Ross

Diane Ernestine "Diana" Ross is a recording artist, actress, and entertainer. During the 1960s, she helped shape the Motown Sound as lead singer of The Supremes before leaving for a solo career in the beginning of 1970....
, Celine Dion
Celine Dion

C?line Marie Claudette Dion Order of Canada National Order of Quebec is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actor. Born to a large, impoverished family, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband Ren? Ang?lil mortgaged his home to finance her first record....
, Sade
Sade

Sade can mean:* Sade , an English musical group* Sade Adu, female singer, the frontwoman of the band Sade* Marquis de Sade, the eighteenth century aristocrat, writer and libertine...
 to Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey is an United States singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. She made her recording debut in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and became the first recording artist to have her first five singles top the U.S....
, has kept the studio's spirit high ever since.

In 1987, for Island Records 25th belated anniversary, some of the initial CPAS performed live for the first time, backing Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton

Eric Patrick Clapton Order of the British Empire is an English blues-rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. He is "probably most famous for his mastery of the Stratocaster guitar." Clapton has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Yardbirds, of Cream , and as a solo performer, being the only person to...
 on "I Shot The Sheriff
I Shot the Sheriff

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Bob Marley. The song was first released on The Wailers ' album Burnin' .Eric Clapton recorded a cover version that was included on his album, 461 Ocean Boulevard....
". Mikey Chung
Mikey Chung

Born Michael Chung, Mikey Chung is a keyboard instrument, guitar and percussion player, arrangement and record producer of Music of Jamaica.As a member of Word, Sound and Power he backed Peter Tosh on Mystic Man....
 and Sticky Thompson did not participate. Event took place at Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios

Pinewood Studios is a major United Kingdom film studio situated in Iver, Buckinghamshire. Approximately 20 miles west of Central London on what was the estate of Heatherden Hall, the studios were created in 1934 by Charles Boot and built within 12 months by the Henry Boot Company of Sheffield....
 dubbing stage, UK, of 007 James Bond fame. Video of it has been released as Island 25: Alright Now.

To celebrate Island 50th anniversary, chances are, a genuine CPAS live performance might be scheduled in 2009, date, time and venue yet to be defined.

Discography


Deemed as genuine CPAS work (i.e. involving all initial musicians):

  • Black Uhuru
    Black Uhuru

    Black Uhuru, formed by Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, is a Jamaican reggae band probably best known for their hits "Shine Eye Gal", "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", "Sinsemilla", "Solidarity", and Grammy winner "What Is Life?"....
    : Chill Out
    Chill Out (album)

    Chill Out is a seminal 1990 ambient house concept album by The KLF, portraying a mythical night-time journey up the Gulf Coast of the United States from Texas into Louisiana....
  • Grace Jones
    Grace Jones

    Grace Jones is a Jamaican?United States singer, Model , and actor....
    : Warm Leatherette
    Warm Leatherette (album)

    Warm Leatherette is the fourth studio album by Grace Jones. Released in 1980, Warm Leatherette was the first of three albums produced by Chris Blackwell at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas....
     (feat. "Private Life")
  • Grace Jones
    Grace Jones

    Grace Jones is a Jamaican?United States singer, Model , and actor....
    : Nightclubbing
    Nightclubbing

    Nightclubbing is the fifth studio album by Grace Jones, released in 1981. It is the second of three post-disco albums that Jones made at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas and became Jones' commercial breakthrough and also formed the basis of her groundbreaking concept tour A One Man Show....
     (feat. "Pull Up to the Bumper
    Pull Up to the Bumper

    "Pull Up to the Bumper" was the second single released by Grace Jones from her critically-acclaimed 1981 album Nightclubbing and has since come to be one of Jones' signature song....
    ","I've Seen That Face Before
    I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)

    "I've Seen That Face Before " is the third single from Grace Jones' album Nightclubbing. The song juxtaposes Libertango, an Argentine tango classic, written by bandoneon ?stor Piazzolla and first recorded by the composer himself in 1974, against a reggae arrangement and new lyrics penned by Jones herself and Barry Reynolds, and the so...
    ")
  • Grace Jones
    Grace Jones

    Grace Jones is a Jamaican?United States singer, Model , and actor....
    : Living My Life
    Living My Life (album)

    Living My Life is an album by Grace Jones released in 1982. It was the last of a trilogy of albums that she recorded at the Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas in the early eighties....
     (feat. "My Jamaican Guy
    My Jamaican Guy

    "My Jamaican Guy" was the lead single to Grace Jones' 1982 album Living My Life , her 3rd and last album recorded in the famous Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas....
    ")
  • Gwen Guthrie
    Gwen Guthrie

    Gwen Guthrie was an United States singer and songwriter, who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Madonna , among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E....
    : Gwen Guthrie (feat "It Should've Been You
    It Should've Been You

    It Should've Been You is the title of a number-one R&B single by Teddy Pendergrass. The hit song spent one week at number-one on the US R&B chart....
    ", "Peek-a-Boo
    Peek-a-Boo (song)

    "Peek-a-Boo" is a song by English alternative rock band Siouxsie & the Banshees. It was released in 1988 as the first single from the band's ninth studio album Peepshow ....
    ")
  • Gwen Guthrie
    Gwen Guthrie

    Gwen Guthrie was an United States singer and songwriter, who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Madonna , among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E....
    : Padlock
  • Joe Cocker
    Joe Cocker

    John Robert "Joe" Cocker OBE is an England rock /blues singer who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty human voice and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles....
    : Sheffield Steel
    Sheffield Steel

    For the University Newspaper published under the same name; see The Steel PressSheffield Steel is a 1982 album by Joe Cocker. It was re-released in 2002 with several bonus tracks....
     (feat. "Talking Back to the Night
    Talking Back to the Night

    Talking Back to the Night is the third solo album by blue-eyed soul musician Steve Winwood. Released less than two years after the top-3 hit Arc of a Diver, it failed to see as much success as its predecessor....
    ", "Ruby Lee")
  • Junior Tucker: "Some Guys Have All The Luck"
  • Sly & Robbie: Language Barrier
  • Tom Tom Club
    Tom Tom Club

    Tom Tom Club is an United States New Wave music band founded in 1980 by spouses and Talking Heads alumni Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz....
    : Tom Tom Club
    Tom Tom Club (album)

    Tom Tom Club was Tom Tom Club's 1981 first album and contained the United Kingdom hit singles "Wordy Rappinghood," which reached No. 7 in June 1981; "Genius Of Love," which reached No....
     (feat. "Genius Of Love
    Genius of Love

    "Genius of Love" is a 1981 song by Tom Tom Club from their eponymous debut album, Tom Tom Club ....
    ")
  • Tom Tom Club
    Tom Tom Club

    Tom Tom Club is an United States New Wave music band founded in 1980 by spouses and Talking Heads alumni Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz....
    : Close To The Bone
    Close to the Bone

    Close to the Bone is an album by the Tom Tom Club that was released in 1983. The Club's musicians are Wally Badarou; Tyrone Downie; Chris Frantz; Roddy Frantz; Rupert Hine; Raymond Jones; Steve Scales; Steven Stanley; Alex Weir; and sisters Lani, Laura, and Tina Weymouth....


Produced by (or contributed to by) some CPAS members at Compass Point in the 80s (list is far from complete):

  • Barry Reynolds: I Scare Myself (by Barry with Mickey, Sticky & Wally)
  • Charlélie Couture: Pochette Surprise (with Barry, Mickey, Sticky, Wally & Steven)
  • Gregory Isaacs: Night Nurse
    Night Nurse (album)

    Night Nurse is a 1982 album by Gregory Isaacs.Night Nurse is reggae artist Gregory Isaacs' most well-known album. It contains his primary hit, the sensual, mysterious "Night Nurse" as well as several other notable tracks....
     (with Wally)
  • Gwen Guthrie: Just For You (with Wally)
  • Jimmy Cliff: Give The People What They Want (with Sly, Robbie, Sticky & Wally)
  • John Martyn: Sapphire
    Sapphire

    Sapphire refers to gem varieties of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide , when it is a color other than red, in which case the gem would instead be a ruby....
     (with Barry, Sticky, Andy & Steven)
  • Ian Dury: Lord Upminster
    Lord Upminster

    Lord Upminster is a 1981 album by Ian Dury. It was his first record for Polydor Records and was recorded in The Bahamas with his old writing partner Chas Jankel and famous rhythm duo Sly and Robbie....
     (with Sly, Robbie & Tyrone)
  • Lizzy Mercier Descloux: Mambo Nassau (with Wally & Steven)
  • Mick Jagger: She's The Boss
    She's the Boss

    She's the Boss is the solo album debut by The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and was released in 1985 in music. When The Rolling Stones signed with Columbia Records in 1983, one of the options available to them was for individual projects, and Jagger - ready to spread his wings after recording exclusively with his famous band for tw...
     (with Sly, Robbie & Wally)
  • Robert Palmer: Pride (by Robert)
  • Robert Palmer: Riptide
    Riptide (album)

    Riptide is and album by the British singer Robert Palmer , released in November 1985. It featured his hit single "Addicted to Love " which reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986, helped by a memorable music video....
     (by Robert, with Wally)
  • Talking Heads: Speaking In Tongues (by Chris & Tina, with Wally & Alex)
  • Wally Badarou: Echoes (by Wally, with Andy & Steven)
  • Wally Badarou: Words Of A Mountain (by Wally)
  • Will Powers: Dancing For Mental Health (with Steven)


External Links