Dread Beat and Blood - ACE065.4

Delivering sound system for a dance event. Johnson’s VO describes this "mobile disco" as having originated in the Caribbean, and being immensely important to the life-style of young black people in Britain. Dancing. Johnson’s VO says that it was reggae DJs who made him realise that poetry wasn’t "just what you read in books", and that spoken poetry reaches far more people than does the written version. Johnson describes how, with his work, the music come from the poetry, while DJs improvise lyrics to an existing backing track. Johnson reciting Madness, madness tight on the heads of the rebels … (Five nights of bleeding) with musicians providing background. Second part of poem recited at Railton Community Centre (without music). The two recitations intercut. Music continues over night scenes in Brixton.