Making History (album) explained

Making History
Type:	Album
Artist:	Linton Kwesi Johnson
Cover:	LKJMakingHistory.jpg
Released:	1984
Studio:	Studio 80, 6-8 Emerson Street, Waterloo, London
Genre:	Dub reggae Jazz blues
Length:	33:31
Label:	Island
Producer:	Dennis Bovell
Prev Title:	LKJ in Dub
Prev Year:	1980
Next Title:	LKJ Live in Concert with the Dub Band
Next Year:	1985

Making History is an album by the Jamaica-born, British-based dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson.^[1] It was released in 1984 on Island Records.^[2] It was produced by Dennis Bovell.^[3]

Critical reception

Trouser Press called the album "as vital as any [Johnson and Bovell] had made together."^[4] The New York Times wrote: "Dennis Bovell ... has fashioned settings for the poems on Making History that draw their melodies directly from the inflections and intonation of the lines. Most selections sport catchy instrumental melodies that weave in and out of the poetry, making it sound much like song."^[3]

NME ranked it number 16 among the "Albums of the Year" for 1984.^[5]

Track listing

All tracks written by Linton Kwesi Johnson

1. "Di Eagle an' di Bear" – 4:14
2. "Wat About di Working Claas?" – 5:12
3. "Di Great Insohreckshan" – 4:02
4. "Making History" – 4:19
5. "Reggae fi Radni" – 4:24
6. "Reggae fi Dada" – 4:50
7. "New Craas Massahkah" – 6:30

Personnel

• Linton Kwesi Johnson - voice

The Dub Band

• Dennis Bovell – bass, mixing
• Richie Stevens – drums
• John Kpiaye – guitar
• Paget King – keyboards
• Nick Straker – synthesizer
• Patrick Tenyue – trumpet
• Henry "Buttons" Tenyue – trombone
• Geoffrey Scantlebury – percussion
• Tony Utah – other percussion
• Everald Forrest – other percussion

Technical

• Dennis Bovell, Godwin Logie, Martin Rex, Stephen Street – engineers
• Bruno Tilley – artwork
• Peter Ashworth – photography

Charts

Album

Notes and References

1. News: Pareles . Jon . Pop and Rock . The New York Times . 4 May 1984 . C20.
2. Web site: Linton Kwesi Johnson | Biography & History. AllMusic.
3. News: Palmer . Robert . THE POP LIFE . The New York Times . 23 May 1984 . C24.
4. Web site: Linton Kwesi Johnson . Trouser Press . 18 May 2021.
5. Albums and Tracks of the Year . 2016 . . 21 March 2018 .
6. Web site: UK Official Charts . Official Charts Company . March 22, 2018 .