Abyssinians - Satta Massagana

The Abyssinians - Satta Massagana (Heartbeat) CDHB 338







I travel a lot and so I tend to load up my ipod with albums so that I can listen to them on the plane or at airports waiting for a connection. On my last trip home I decided to listen to this old classic album for the first time in many years. You see, this particular album has been released a few times under different covers and with different track listings. A good place to see how this album has evolved over the years the interested reader should check here.

The reason why this album seems to always find an outlet is that it may be as close to a religous experience as one can find in reggae. While reggae music has crossed many borders, for me it will always carry the flag of Rastafari. That is, for me (and many others), reggae music is in large part a musical outlet for glorifying and praising Rastafari. In Satta Massagana, the Abyssinians may have released the first set of songs that could be used as church hymns. From the opening track of Declaration of Rights, through the tracks The Good Lord, Forward Unto Zion, and Know Jah Today, one can easily picture a group of people singing these songs at a Rastafarian mass. It is not just the first few songs or portions of this release that feels that way. In fact, the whole original album consistently maintains that spirit and level of quality. Other notable songs are Abendigo, Y Mas Gan, and the title track and anthem, Satta Massagana. If there ever was a roots reggae music national anthem, Satta Massagana is that song. By the way, Satta Massagana is Amharic for "give thanks".



The Abyssinians are a vocal trio that features the Manning brothers (Donald and Lynford) and Bernard Collins. While not as popular as some of the other great Jamaican trios of the time (e.g., the Mighty Diamonds or the Heptones), the Abyssinians are possibly as influential but with only a fraction of the recorded output of other vocal trios. Aside from the vocal harmonies, the Abyssinians were also much more ' mysterious' than other vocal trios in that they seemed to only release hard roots music. The Abyssinians also dressed differently as they were often seen in pictures in their turbans and robes that expressed and demonstrated their proud African heritage. Adding to the mystique was their brief, yet memorable appearance in the opening scene of the reggae movie, Rockers. It is the Abyssinians who begin to harmonize as the scratchy guitar and various drum beats lay down the rhythm for Satta Massagana.

The backing music is layed down expertly by the likes of Boo Richards, Horsemouth, and Sly Dunbar (drums), Val Douglas and Robbie Shakespeare (Bass), Chinna Smith and Mickie Chung (guitar), Tyrone Downie and Geoffrey Chung (keyboards), and Clive Hunt, a co-producer, on various horn instruments.

Aside from the original album, this release features 8 bonus tracks. This is a classic album and without being too outrageous, I can honestly state that if you do not like this album, then you do not like reggae music. Go buy this and listen to a classic roots reggae masterpiece.