Merger
A short-lived reggae band based in England. The original group included Barry Ford (guitar, vocals), Winston Bennett (guitar, vocals), and Michael Dan (keyboards), Dan left first and Ford and Bennett continued joined by brothers, Tony & Mike Osei (drums & keyboards respectively), Ivor Steadman (bass). The Jamaican/Ghanian line up provided for a wide spectrum of reggae sounds. Merger's debut Exile In Babylon created a stir when released in 1977, critics deemed it too soft core, and felt it catered too much to the pop market. The killer however was that Merger's lyrics rejected repatriation literalism which offended traditional Rastafarians. Merger rejected Marcus Garvey idea that all Blacks return to Babylon or Africa in some songs. This is not to say their first album was not political, it most surely was, and speaks of the injustices perpetrated on Blacks in England, and other countries. A second LP Armageddon Time, released in 1980, and a final Prisoner Of Your Love, came out and then nothing. They never got over the negativity prompted by the message of their first LP, and alienated what would have been their base of fans. Ford went on to record solo, and remained viable for years.
© Andrew Hamilton /TiVo
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Revealed Selected 001 (Mixed)
Kitone, Merger, Revealed Recordings
Dance - Released by Revealed Recordings on 22 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Live At the 'Venue' Victoria 1981
Reggae - Released by Emergency Records - Okra production on 7 Feb 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Boulevard (Jack Trades Late Night Mix)
House - Released by Liftoff Recordings on 20 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Casino Royale
House - Released by INFERIAE Records on 11 Sep 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Quit You (Original Mix)
Dance - Released by Liftoff Recordings on 12 Mar 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Boulevard (FutureGuy Remix)
Dance - Released by Liftoff Recordings on 11 Feb 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Second To Last
Alternative & Indie - Released by Impetus Records on 31 Mar 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Boulevard (Todd Stucky Remix)
Dance - Released by Liftoff Recordings on 17 Dec 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Merger in the Millennium
Reggae - Released by Emergency Records - Okra production on 18 Dec 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Out Of Place
Dance - Released by Sub Religion Records on 29 Oct 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo