My chosen tune is one that forever changed my path as a lover of reggae music. It is “Loch Ness Monster” by King Horror, released on 7” in January 1970 on the Grape label. Then later that same year on a Trojan various artists LP of the same name.
Little is known about King Horror. Common knowledge traces the vocals on this tune to Jamaican toaster and MC, Lord Davy, with writing and production by Laurel Aitken.
The tune itself is totally bonkers, starting with an ominous sound and screech, with low rough vocals speaking the words “Loch Ness Monster strikes, from the depths of the sea, I come to destroy!” This is followed by a guttural scream that surely makes jaws drop and heads turn in utter disbelief. The riddim then begins, which moves into a lovely upbeat trombone led number to skank to. It shocks you, then settles you, makes you want to dance and laugh as the screams jump in and out throughout the track.
I first heard “Loch Ness Monster” when my old mentor in sound played it to me for the first time. Something clicked, it was like my early love for heavy metal and reggae all mashed together into one song. I thought was impossible but here it was. My mentor called it “Horror Reggae”, a phrase that stuck with me ever since. Unheard of, contradictory to what people perceive as reggae today and it’s over 50 years old!
This song became part of my foundation to becoming a selector, which then led to the creation of Bigbada Boom Sound System. Bigbada Boom’s iconic red scoops are built to look like monster faces, in tribute to this tune and the late Laurel Aitken and King Horror. The sound system also has one purple scoop in dedication to The Upsetter, his organ solo track “Vampire” also featured on the Trojan LP.
Today many reggae tunes involve politics and the message of Jah, which I pay homage to, spreading love, freedom and liberation. However it is nice to tone it down, get less serious and more irie. When things were fun and silly, an aspect of sound system not often seen these days, is one of the pillars that makes Bigbada Boom what it is.
Give thanks, listen to reggae and like the great Laurel Aitken would say, let it “put the boogie in your bones”.
More info:
Bigbada Boom Sound System Facebook
