Description
An 80s dancehall anthem and a defining symbol of sound clash culture!
Recorded by Clive Bright, aka Tenor Saw, when he was just 19, his signature track "Ring The Alarm" is one of the definitive songs of 1985 Jamaican dancehall. Over Winston Riley's "Stalag" riddim, Tenor Saw delivers a relentless vocal and toasting performance. More than just a dancehall tune, it holds a special place as a "sound clash anthem" that captures the competitive culture of sound systems battling one another.
The "Stalag" riddim behind it is equally important. Originally emerging around 1973, it was an old riddim that had been used by Jamaican DJs for years. In 1985, as digital dancehall evolved at a rapid pace, Winston Riley brought this bass riddim back to the forefront, and Tenor Saw's "Ring The Alarm" became its iconic version. The song also highlights the importance of "riddim culture," in which the same riddim is reused repeatedly in later dancehall music.
The B-side "Skin Out" is Nardo Ranks' version of the same "Stalag" riddim. "Stalag Version" is included as an instrumental, following the structure typical of Jamaican riddim culture: vocal tune → another DJ version → version. In other words, this 12-inch record itself encapsulates the Jamaican musical tradition of enjoying a single riddim through multiple artists and versions.
After making "Ring The Alarm" a major hit, Tenor Saw went on to participate in King Jammy's "Sleng Teng" and other projects, becoming one of the leading figures of early digital dancehall. However, he died in 1988 at the young age of 22, and due to his short career, "Ring The Alarm" remained his definitive signature song. Loved by dancehall, reggae, and dub fans alike, as well as hip-hop and bass music DJs, it is a true classic made for sound systems.
A Tenor Saw– Ring The Alarm
B1 Winston Riley– Stalag Version
B2 Nardo Ranks– Skin Out
