Satta Massagana
Encyclopedia
Satta Massagana is a roots reggae
album released by The Abyssinians
officially in 1976. It is widely considered The Abyssinians crowning achievement and a classic roots reggae album.
The title track "Satta Massagana" was a huge hit and has been versioned numerous times by both The Abyssinians and other artists since. It has even been adopted by some Rastafarian groups as a hymn used during services. The song, which translates from the Amharic language as "Give Thanks", was originally recorded for Studio One in 1969, but the label's owner, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd
declined to release it.
in 1975. The first official release occurred in Jamaica in 1976 on Pentrate Label, issued by Clive Hunt and Geoffrey Chung
, and shortly after in the United States
on Jam Sounds.
The following years, 1977 and 1978, saw the album released by three labels under the title Forward On To Zion. The album was released in the United Kingdom
on the UK Klik Chart Sounds and Different labels, as well as on Bernard Collins' own Clinch label. Similarly, Clive Hunt's US-based Azul label released the album under the title Satta. A note on track-listings: the Klik & Different releases reverted to the original tracklisting of the limited pre-release editions which placed the title track as the final track, furthermore, the Azul edition renamed some tracks and did not include "African Race".
The album would see numerous re-releases over the next decade, including in 1988 by Clinch and in 1989 by the Blue Moon label.
In 1993 the album was released on compact disc
for the first time by Heartbeat Records
. This edition included four previously unreleased bonus tracks. And once again in 2007 as a deluxe edition which included four additional bonus tracks.
The title track off the album 'Satta Massagana' was covered by Ethiopian dub outfit Dub Colossus in 2011 and released on Real World Records
.
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
album released by The Abyssinians
The Abyssinians
The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots reggae group, famous for their close harmonies and promotion of the Rastafari movement in their lyrics.-History:...
officially in 1976. It is widely considered The Abyssinians crowning achievement and a classic roots reggae album.
The title track "Satta Massagana" was a huge hit and has been versioned numerous times by both The Abyssinians and other artists since. It has even been adopted by some Rastafarian groups as a hymn used during services. The song, which translates from the Amharic language as "Give Thanks", was originally recorded for Studio One in 1969, but the label's owner, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd
Coxsone Dodd
Clement Seymour "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, CD was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond...
declined to release it.
Release history
The Abyssinians debut album has had a very complex release history. The first unofficial editions, very limited in quantity, were released by Clive HuntClive Hunt
Clive Hunt is a Jamaican reggae multi-instrumentist, arranger, composer and producer.-Biography:...
in 1975. The first official release occurred in Jamaica in 1976 on Pentrate Label, issued by Clive Hunt and Geoffrey Chung
Geoffrey Chung
Geoffrey Chung was a Jamaican musician, recording engineer, and record producer.-Biography:Chung was born in 1950 in Kingston, Jamaica...
, and shortly after in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on Jam Sounds.
The following years, 1977 and 1978, saw the album released by three labels under the title Forward On To Zion. The album was released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on the UK Klik Chart Sounds and Different labels, as well as on Bernard Collins' own Clinch label. Similarly, Clive Hunt's US-based Azul label released the album under the title Satta. A note on track-listings: the Klik & Different releases reverted to the original tracklisting of the limited pre-release editions which placed the title track as the final track, furthermore, the Azul edition renamed some tracks and did not include "African Race".
The album would see numerous re-releases over the next decade, including in 1988 by Clinch and in 1989 by the Blue Moon label.
In 1993 the album was released on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
for the first time by Heartbeat Records
Heartbeat Records
Heartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington , Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music. Founded by reggae music enthusiasts Bill Nowlin and Duncan Brown, the label's first release was a vinyl LP reissue of Linton Kwesi Johnson's Dread Beat an' Blood...
. This edition included four previously unreleased bonus tracks. And once again in 2007 as a deluxe edition which included four additional bonus tracks.
The title track off the album 'Satta Massagana' was covered by Ethiopian dub outfit Dub Colossus in 2011 and released on Real World Records
Real World Records
Real World Records is a record label started in 1989 by Peter Gabriel to record and produce world music.-Overview:The label grew up alongside the success of the WOMAD festivals and Peter Gabriel's exploration of music from other cultures, and helped push world music into the general public's...
.
Side one
- "Declaration of Rights" (B. Collins) – 3:28
- "Good Lord" (D. Manning, M. Planno) – 3:25
- "Forward On To Zion" (B. Collins) – 3:46
- "Know Jah Today" (B. Collins) – 2:56
- "Abendigo" (L. Manning) – 3:33
Side two
- "Y Mas Gan" (L. Manning) – 3:49
- "Black Man's Strain" (B. Collins) – 2:45
- "Satta A Masagana" (B. Collins, D. Manning, L. Manning) – 3:29
- "I And I" (L. Manning) – 3:34
- "African Race" (D. Manning) – 2:53
1993 Heartbeat re-issue
- "Declaration of Rights" (B. Collins) – 3:28
- "The Good Lord" (D. Manning, M. Planno) – 3:25
- "Forward Unto Zion" (B. Collins) – 3:46
- "Know Jah Today" (B. Collins) – 2:56
- "Abendigo" (L. Manning) – 3:33
- "Y Mas Gan" (L. Manning) – 3:49
- "Black Man's Strain" (B. Collins) – 2:45
- "Satta Massagana" (B. Collins, D. Manning, L. Manning) – 3:29
- "I And I" (L. Manning) – 3:34
- "African Race" (D. Manning) – 2:53
- "Leggo Beast" (B. Collins) – 3:10
- "Peculiar Number" (D. Manning) – 4:00
- "Reason Time" (L. Manning) – 2:55
- "There Is No End" (L. Manning) – 3:22
2007 Heartbeat deluxe edition bonus tracks
- "Jerusalem" (D. Manning) – 2:17
- "Leggo Beast Dub" (B. Collins) – 2:58
- "Abendigo (Extended Mix)" (L. Manning) – 5:57
- "Poor Jason Whyte (Extended Mix)" (D. Manning) – 4:18
Personnel
- VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Bernard Collins, Donald Manning, Lynford Manning - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Mikey "Boo" Richards, Leroy "Horsemouth" WallaceLeroy WallaceLeroy "Horsemouth" Wallace is a Jamaican drummer who worked for several years at Studio One, and has worked with numerous reggae artists including The Gladiators, Inner Circle, Prince Far I, Sound Dimension, Gregory Isaacs, Burning Spear, Ijahman Levi and Pierpoljak. He starred as himself in the...
, Sly DunbarSly DunbarLowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar is a drummer.-Biography:Dunbar, whose nickname was reportedly given for his passion for Sly & the Family Stone, launched his musical career while still in his adolescence, playing with a local group, The Yardbrooms, at the age of fifteen... - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Val Douglas, Robbie ShakespeareSly and RobbieSly and Robbie is the prolific Jamaican rhythm section and production team of drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare who joined in the mid 1970s after having established themselves separately in Jamaica as professional musicians... - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Mikey ChungMikey ChungBorn Michael Chung in 1954, Mikey "Mao" Chung is a keyboard, guitar and percussion player, arranger and record producer of Jamaican music.-Biography:...
, Earl "Chinna" Smith - KeyboardMusical keyboardA musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
s - Geoffrey ChungGeoffrey ChungGeoffrey Chung was a Jamaican musician, recording engineer, and record producer.-Biography:Chung was born in 1950 in Kingston, Jamaica...
, Clive HuntClive HuntClive Hunt is a Jamaican reggae multi-instrumentist, arranger, composer and producer.-Biography:...
, Tyrone DownieTyrone DownieTyrone Downie is a Jamaican keyboardist/pianist who is most known for his involvement as a member of Bob Marley and The Wailers. He studied at Kingston College and joined the wailers in the mid-1970s, making his recording début with the band on Rastaman Vibration, having previously been a member of... - HornHorn (instrument)The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
s - Clive Hunt, Jerome Francique, Llewellyn Chang - FluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
- Clive Hunt - Engineer - Bruce Davidson
- Producer - The Abyssinians & Clive Hunt