{"title":"Devon Russell","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"darker-than-blue-6","title":"Darker Than Blue","description":"\u003cp\u003eDeath Is Not The End launch sub-label 333 with a first-time vinyl reissue for the late Devon Russell's Darker Than Blue LP - put together as a tribute to the great Curtis Mayfield. First issued in 1993 but featuring material originally recorded as far back as 1979, the collection includes a cast of prominent players across it's 10 tracks - featuring musical contributions from Sly Dunbar, Aston \"Family Man\" Barrett, Earl \"Wire\" Lindo, Dean Fraser, Bobby Ellis, Leroy \"Horsemouth\" Wallace, Prince Lincoln Thompson and many others - plus production \u0026amp; arrangment from Earl \"Chinna\" Smith, Sly Dunbar \u0026amp; King Tubby's Firehouse Crew alongside Russell himself. Limited to 333 copies.\n\n\"The concept for Darker Than Blue dates back to 1979. Returning from South Amerrica with my partner (in duo Lloyd \u0026amp; Devon) Lloyd Robinson, we did \"Red Bum Ball\" which had been a massive hit in the 60's. It was around this time that Earl Chinna Smith (of The Wailers and Soul Syndicate fame) approached me with the idea of re-making some Curtis Mayfield songs. \"Darker Than Blue\" was the first track we did, followed by \"Move On Up\" in 1981, both of which received great reviews.\n\nOn returning to Jamaica from a UK tour in 1986, my good friend King Tubby had taken on five men from my school of music, from which the Firehouse Crew were born. Within 3 years they had matured to become Jamaica's No.1 instrumental band, winning the Rockers award. Then in the spring of 1990, together we managed to record the album \"Money, Sex \u0026amp; Violence\", during a tour of the UK \u0026amp; France, on which we did Mayfield's \"Give Me Your Love\". The track was played to Steve Barrow who suggested we do more Curtis tracks.\n\nSly Dunbar and I have known each other for as long as I can remember. We grew up in the same hood and used to jam regularly in our youth. I told Sly about the further Mayfield tracks I wanted to do and he agreed that it would be a good idea. So Sly, myself and The Firehouse Crew went to work at the Leggo Studios in Kingston, Jamaica and created the remaining tracks for the Darker Than Blue LP, a tribute to Curtis Mayfield.\n\nWe grew up on the sounds of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions. Everyone in Jamaica loved them. His death was a terrible thing, but while there is life, there is hope.\"\n- Devon Russell, 1994.\n\n333, under license from Prestige Elite Records Ltd.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"333 Records","offers":[{"title":"Tape","offer_id":50395852538187,"sku":"2165141","price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_79d9476c_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726474173"},{"product_id":"darker-than-blue-3","title":"Darker Than Blue","description":"\u003cp\u003eDeath Is Not The End launch sub-label 333 with a first-time vinyl reissue for the late Devon Russell's \u003ci\u003eDarker Than Blue\u003c\/i\u003e LP - put together as a tribute to the great Curtis Mayfield. First issued in 1993 but featuring material originally recorded as far back as 1979, the collection includes a cast of prominent players across it's 10 tracks - including musical contributions from Sly Dunbar, Aston \"Family Man\" Barrett, Earl \"Wire\" Lindo, Dean Fraser, Bobby Ellis, Leroy \"Horsemouth\" Wallace, Prince Lincoln Thompson and many others - plus production \u0026amp; arrangment from Earl \"Chinna\" Smith, Sly Dunbar \u0026amp; King Tubby's Firehouse Crew alongside Russell himself. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"The concept for \u003ci\u003eDarker Than Blue\u003c\/i\u003e dates back to 1979. Returning from South America with my partner (in duo Lloyd \u0026amp; Devon) Lloyd Robinson, we did \"Red Bum Ball\" which had been a massive hit in the 60's. It was around this time that Earl Chinna Smith (of The Wailers and Soul Syndicate fame) approached me with the idea of re-making some Curtis Mayfield songs. \"Darker Than Blue\" was the first track we did, followed by \"Move On Up\" in 1981, both of which received great reviews.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn returning to Jamaica from a UK tour in 1986, my good friend King Tubby had taken on five men from my school of music, from which the Firehouse Crew were born. Within 3 years they had matured to become Jamaica's No.1 instrumental band, winning the Rockers award. Then in the spring of 1990, together we managed to record the album \u003ci\u003eMoney, Sex \u0026amp; Violence\u003c\/i\u003e, during a tour of the UK \u0026amp; France, on which we did Mayfield's \"Give Me Your Love\". The track was played to Steve Barrow who suggested we do more Curtis tracks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSly Dunbar and I have known each other for as long as I can remember. We grew up in the same hood and used to jam regularly in our youth. I told Sly about the further Mayfield tracks I wanted to do and he agreed that it would be a good idea. So Sly, myself and The Firehouse Crew went to work at the Leggo Studios in Kingston, Jamaica and created the remaining tracks for the Darker Than Blue LP, a tribute to Curtis Mayfield.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe grew up on the sounds of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions. Everyone in Jamaica loved them. His death was a terrible thing, but while there is life, there is hope.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"333 Records","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50427446821195,"sku":"2003408","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/cover.ki_1_8fca6936_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726825117"},{"product_id":"move-on-up-darker-than-blue","title":"Move on Up \/ Darker Than Blue","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDINTE sub-label 333 returns with this double A-sided 45, lifting two of the choicest cuts from Devon Russell's LP of Curtis Mayfield cover versions - previously reissued for the first release on the imprint back in 2022, and long since sold out. Originally release in the early 80s on the High Music label, produced by Earl \"Chinna\" Smith with assistance from the great Mutaburaka.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"333 Records","offers":[{"title":"7\" - Black","offer_id":57161025454411,"sku":"R2218-3949","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/cover-1.ki_bc274113-81fa-4a0e-8de8-c98537f689d5.jpg?v=1777531611"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/devon-russell.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}