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Childhood friends with Augustus Pablo, teenage apprentice to King Tubbys, “Prince” Philip Smart would later move from Kington to New York and establish the most important reggae recording studio in the USA. The very first song produced at HC&F Studios was a crossover hit for the band Monyaka, who’d invested sweat equity into their recording time by helping to construct the Freeport, Long Island studio with their own hands. Over the years, numerous historic recording sessions went down at Smart’s soundlab that helped to spread reggae music into the American pop charts and around the world, as did his weekly radio show on WNYU FM, Get Smart! As friends, family and music lovers mourn the man—who passed away last week—what better time to take a deep dive into the music and reflect on all the works one man in his late 50s could accomplish on earth. Many of Philip Smart’s hardest selections, including Scion Sashay Success futuristic digi-dancehall cut “The Trainer,” are includied on the hard-to-find compilation Five Borough Fire, which is well worth the effort of hunting down on eBay. In one of many tributes that appeared following the tragic news, Clinton Lindsay quotes Sting International saying, Father Phil was “a man who gave so much and asked for nothing.” Make sure to tune into the next episode of the Strictly Boomshots show on RadioLily.com for a musical celebration of the man known affectionately by so many as “Father Phil.” Click Through The Gallery Above To Start The Countdown
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#10 Barrington Levy "Murderer"
Jah Life recorded one of the wickedest selections from Barrington Levy’s extensive catalog at Philip Smart’s HC&F Studios. Father Phil took time to give this hard-chopping version of the Hot Milk riddim a super-heavy Tubby’s style mix, earning the NYC studio an officiall yardcore seal of approval for life.
#9 Super Cat "Don Dada"
The title cut for Cat’s 1992 major-label debut started off as a 12-inch single on the Wild Apache label, produced at HC&F Studios. “We pull all teeth” Uzeet? Dogheart dweet! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J89zj0y4TK0
#8 Shabba Ranks "Mr Loverman" Remix
Once word began to get around that Philip Smart’s HC&F Studios was the place where you could get that authentic Jamaican sound in New York, many big-label reggae and dancehall projects were booked into the soundlab. These including many of Shabba’s biggest hits, including “Housecall” featuring Maxi Priest, and this hip-hop-flavored version of “Mr. Lover Man” featuring Chevelle Franklin, a remix of Gussie Clark’s original (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAPk9UBbY1s#t=69) featuring the late Deborah Glasgow.
#7 Louie Rankin "Typewriter"
Like so many other early attempts to fuse hip-hop and dancehall, this Louie Rankin classic was produced at HC&F studios. Rankin would go on to on-screen fame playing bad bwoy roles in films like “Shottas” and “Belly,” and his gruff-and-gravelly vocals on this track would be endlessly sampled on innumerable club remixes.
#6 Garnet Silk "Retreat Wicked Man"
Garnet Silk was not exactly a frequent visitor to the NYC area during his all-too-short career. But like any major Jamaican artist, he knew where to go hold a vibes while passing through the Tri-State area. During on such visit, Philip Smart recorded this crucial selection by one of reggae’s finest vocalists for his own Tan Yah label.
#5 Sammy Levi "It's A Shame"
Sounding just a bit like Michael Prophet, Sammy Levi made a decent name for himself recording rootsy vocals over dancehall riddims for NYC-based producers like Whitfield “Witty” Henry. He did this remake of The Spinners’ R&B smash at HC&F Studios over a riddim called “On The Wings of Love,” creating a massive hit in the dancehall of BK and beyond.
#4 Dirtsman "Hot This Year"
Papa San’s brother achieved the biggest hit of his tragically short career when he tore of Philip Smart’s turbocharged digital remake of Scrath Perry’s classic “Drum Song” riddim. The aptly titled 1991 Tan Yah Records single “Hot This Year” increased the buzz around this rising dancehall star before his life was cut short by gunfire in 1993—one of a few tragedies that inspired Buju Banton’s “Murderder.”
#3 Shaggy "Mampie"
Shaggy recorded his first hit for Philip Smart’s Tan Yah label when he was still a USMC enlistee on weekend furlough from Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. A humorous satire of plus-size ladies, “Mampie” would go on to become a cut on Shaggy’s major label debut album after “Oh Carolina,” another hit recorded at HC&F, made Shaggy an overnight pop star. He would go on to lay down many of his multiplatinum Grammy-winning culture-shifting hits—from “Big Up” to “Angel”—right there at Father Phil’s studio.
#2 Sister Carol "Black Cinderella"
This Brooklyn based rootical dancehall artist came to prominence when she had a featured role in the Jonathan Demme film “Somthing Wild,” leading to her getting some shine on “The David Letterman Show.” Her debut album and many more were recorded at Philip Smart’s studio—naturally.
#1 Johnny Clarke "None Shall Escape The Judgment"
Back when Philip was a teenage apprentice to King Tubby’s, the Dubmaster gave the youth a chance to produce and mix his own track, with the result being this massive hit for the ragga roots vocalist. From that day on, Smart knew within himself that he could be a producer.
5 comments
Mizz Dee says:
Mar 2, 2014
Absolutely love the musical snapshot and tribute to Philip Smart. Never net him but have very find memories of listening to him on Fridays at the early end of the dual and being pissed when the show was preempted fir a college game! He was a pioneer in NY when many still didn’t know about the sweet sounds of Reggae. Keep up the great work Rob!
Mizz Dee says:
Mar 2, 2014
Sorry for the typos! I meant that I have very fond memories of listening to him at the early part of the radio dial despite not getting a chance to meet him!
Mizz Dee says:
Mar 2, 2014
One more! My compliments to Ms. Reshma B as well.
Tony English says:
Sep 4, 2016
Phillip believed in me from day one,he had me working with him on the radio station and in his recording studio in Freeport Long Island and help me produce my first record and l felt privileged to be with him at the when he made his transition….R.l.P.Prince Phillip.
Dawn Hamilton says:
Sep 6, 2016
Philip Smart was a good friend of mine he had that inviting spirit and love music I miss is laugh and is famous 2words “Yes Bossy”every time he was on the radio he would always give a shout out with encouragements to Rockers Island throughout his entire show and call my brother’s name I will never forget your kindness!!! wish u were still amongst us to run your crazy jokes but God knows best SIP my amazing friend u are miss u were HCF STUDIO