“When I was living in Ithaca, NY a record circulated through me via Matt Goodwin via Elliot Martin (of John Brown’s Body). It was called Packin House and it was a compilation of Little Roy and Friends. I was unaware of Little Roy but definitely ready to go deep into the reggae world and this record took me there.”
“The record was passed to me in a Gregory Isaacs Private Beach Party sleeve, and it would stay that way passed amongst friends. The first track “Hurt Not the Earth” is just the definition of hard-hitting, slow and low reggae with an urgent message. We LOVED that track.
We would slow it down too and made a CD of that slow track, slowed down, to what became kind of a foundational tempo for Giant Panda in the early years. We were fortunate enough to cover this track with Elliot Martin in Oakland recently and it was a big moment for the band.
If this track wasn’t the first cut on the A side of this record, I don’t know how I ever would have heard it, or if it would have hit me as hard. There was something about the nature of procuring this vinyl that made it much more mystical seeming. Passed from friends to friends, in a hidden jacket, obscure singer, pure truth in the sound and message.
Glad to remember this one.”
—James Searl, Bass/Vocals
“One of my first memories playing vinyl was when I discovered Axis: Bold As Love by Jimi Hendrix. It’s still a mystery how that particular record made its way into our limited collection. I believe it was amongst some other records that were in our house, possibly from my older brother or my Dad.”
“My memory is that I only had the vinyl in the sleeve, it was missing the artwork so my first impression was pure music. My brother and I had a Kenwood stereo system with turntable from that era and I remember playing that album continually. Prior to this I had never heard music that sounded this way, the rawness and feedback right alongside the beautiful spacey guitar tones were all brand new to my young ears.
“If 6 was 9,” “Bold As Love,” “Little Wing,” and “Castles Made Of Sand” truly opened my mind to what music could sound like. It’s still my favorite Hendrix record.”
—Dylan Savage, Guitars/Vocals
“Live and Travel” is taken from Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s full-length release Make it Better which is in stores now.
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PHOTO: AARON WINTERS
