Project Detail

Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes

Randy's Shopfront ©Ted Bafaloukos

Synopsis

The compelling story of the Chins, the Chinese Jamaican family behind “Studio 17” a legendary recording studio in downtown Kingston, Jamaica. Studio 17 was at the heart of the music revolution that began after Jamaican independence in 1962. In its prime, artists who recorded there included Bob Marley and the Wailers, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Alton Ellis, Carl Malcolm, Jimmy London and many more. But dramatically, during the political turmoil of the late 1970s the Chin family fled to New York and the studio was abandoned. 40 years on, a treasure trove of original studio tapes has been salvaged - revealing unique and stunning recordings from the ‘golden age’ of reggae, many of which were unreleased and have never been heard before. As the tapes are played they give rise to a myriad of wonderful stories and in a highly poignant conclusion, the teenage voice of the late Dennis Brown is beautifully re-recorded with the vocals of a rising teenage star, Holly Stevenson, all magically orchestrated by producer and one time Eurythmics star, Dave Stewart.

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Details

Year: 2019
Type of project: Features
Running time: 86 min
Format: Digital
Director: Mark James
Producer: Mark James, Reshma B
Executive Producer: Waël Kabbani
Editor: Paul Burgess
Screenwriter: Commentary by Mark James
Director of Photography: Chris Morphet
Sound: Adrian Rhodes, Warner De Lane Lea
Composer: Songs by Lord Creator, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Augustus Pablo, Peter Tosh, Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis, Delroy Wilson and many more.
Narrated by: Levi Roots. Featuring interviews with: Jimmy Cliff, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Dave Stewart, Sly Dunbar, Ali Campbell, Earnest Ranglin, Lord Creator, Bunny Lee, King Jammy, Jimmy London, Lester Sterling, Rico Rodriguez, Clive Chin, Pat Chin, Maxi Priest
Image: ©Ted Bafaloukos

Genre

Music Dance

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Widestream Films Ltd

37 Warren Street
London
W1T 6A

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Deborah Sheppard

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