?Lost? recordings make big hit on C.D.

Did you and your date ever take that long romantic walk under the stars over the bridge to Bird’s Isle? Was Rhaburn playing? Or was it the Professionals? And how many of those little green bottles of Charger Beer were strewn around the table when you left? If those images bring back happy memories, then this next story–and its music–are dedicated to you.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
It?s called ?Belize City Boil-Up?, a collection of forty year old music that includes hit tracks from the Lord Rhaburn Combo, Jesus Acosta and the Professionals, Nadia Cattouse and the Harmonettes.

The ageing analogue tapes were unearthed two years ago from the damp confines of a Brooklyn basement, digitally restored in a Boston studio and today after more than a hundred hours of remastering, officially released to the Belizean public.

Gerald ?Lord? Rhaburn, Musician
?I could safely say that a record like that, all Belizeans should get a copy because it?s once in a lifetime you will get all the best bands playing together on one L.P.?

The album garnered rave reviews when it was reintroduced to the U.S. market in late 2005, but closer to home, the classics have Gerald ?Lord? Rhaburn reminiscing for the good old days.

Gerald ?Lord? Rhaburn
?In Belize, we had better bands than we have now. You see, we used to play music to a higher standard, even the march bands in those days when I was a little boy. They had some of the best march bands that you could hear anywhere and from those older musicians, we had learn a lot and then we in turn try to carry on it but we start with a dance style instead.?

?My band was the first band that take that leap to give Belize a sound that now when you hear Belizean bands, you could recognize them anywhere.?

Compton Fairweather, Contemporary Electronic Systems Label
?Of course it brings back many memories, many hours of hard work in mixing, editing and producing. There are several phases to go through a record in those days. Not like today you just have to put it in a computer and copy.?

In its heyday, Contemporary Electronic Systems was the label that recorded all the greats. The man at the controls was Compton Fairweather, who mixed, edited, mastered and produced thousands of vinyl records and their distinctive jackets.

Compton Fairweather
?We had Latin, Caribbean, Reggae and our own indigenous music, brukdown. The albums I did with the Professionals, I always insisted that we had one medley of burkdown, which usually lasted about nine minutes. And the reason for that being at the end of the record because the records quality diminishes as you get nearer to the label.?

?So the brukdown was loud playing and people are dancing they are not listening to it so it was done in that way.?

Ivan Duran, Stonetree Records
?What we are getting today is an improved version of what was released back in the day.?

For local promoter Ivan Duran, Belize City Boil Up tells the story behind Belizean music.

Ivan Duran
?It will bring back those memories to the old folks that enjoyed this music when it was originally released. But most importantly, I hope this album makes the connection with the younger generation, with the younger musicians especially because the value of this music on this C.D., it?s pretty amazing.?

Duran maintains that although most of the songs are not originals, they are clear evidence of local talent.

Ivan Duran
?I would say that most of the songs that were recorded were non-originals but nonetheless, were original in their own way which was the arrangements. They Belizeanized those songs in some way. That is very unique to listen back today and hear those cover songs in a very Belizean way. So I don?t think any of those musicians should be ashamed for covering those songs because in some cases they even sound better than the original recording in the states.?

Janelle Chanona
?Mr. Rhaburn, I sure you realize that a lot of the artists, musicians out there today always complain that nobody supports local music. Looking at what it used to be and what it is now, what would you recommend to save the music industry in Belize. The local music industry??

Gerald ?Lord? Rhaburn
?I would recommend to the musicians, when you compose something and you have your own respective music, if you are composer, then be a composer. Compose the music and the lyrics. You don?t use other people music with your lyrics and say it is your music.?

And along those same lines, today Belizean artists are sending this message to music pirates.

Gerald ?Lord? Rhaburn
?You might not be able to sell anything if you copy the local things because the law no mek for Belize alone. The law da wha international law covering property rights so therefore, stay away from the local composers and the local records.?

Stonetree Reocrds plans to release the entire C.E.S. catalogue of Belizean music recordings, estimated at more than one hundred and fifty-six tracks, over the next two years.