B.B. Seaton - Pharaoh Gone Away / Pharaoh's Dub - Soul Beat / Ohm Records 7" Vinyl

from Ohm Records Inc.

B.B. Seaton - Pharaoh Gone Away / Pharaoh's Dub - Soul Beat / Ohm Records 7" Vinyl

Ohm Records Inc. and Soul Beat Records are proud to present the long-awaited release of Pharaoh Gone Away by B.B. Seaton. Published by Metronome Music (p)(c)1972.

Pharaoh Gone Away was recorded in 1974 at Treasure Isle Studio in Kingston, Jamaica. Backed by the Conscious Minds band, mixed by the legendary Errol Brown, and written, produced & arranged by the Great Harris “B.B.” Seaton. The Conscious Minds featured, the late Maurice Roberts on bass, Derrick Stewart on drums, Joe White on piano, B.B. Seaton on guitar, Ken Boothe on organ, Derrick Hinds on trombone, and Arnold Brackenridge on trumpet.

This is the first ever physical issue available for purchase of one of the rarest and most profound recordings in reggae music history. Pharaoh Gone Away is a powerful and engaging song touching on crucial topics of the period. There was never a commercial pressing for Pharaoh Gone Away, only a pre-release of very limited quantity that is nearly impossible to find. From our understanding, there are fewer than 10 original pre-release copies left in existence.

Pharaoh Gone Away was written by B.B. Seaton in 1972 during the Jamaican general election. Michael Manley came up with an idea of having a musical bandwagon of popular musicians to help his campaign for the People’s National Party. At that time, Hugh Shearer was Jamaica’s Prime Minister representing the Jamaica Labour Party.

The bandwagon was put together by Clancy Eccles with artists including Ken Boothe, Max Romeo, The Inner Circle Band, Delroy Wilson, BB Seaton, The Chosen Few, Bob Marley, and Marcia Griffiths to name a few. In the song’s lyrics there are multiple biblical references with Hugh Shearer intended as Pharaoh and Michael Manley as Joshua. Manley had gone to Ethiopia in 1969 and came back with a rod given to him by His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I. Manley called this The Rod of Correction and it became an influential symbol of that era. During the campaign, Manley’s home was broken into and it was thought to be an attempt in stealing the Rod of Correction. "I know why they broke into my home. But an angel appeared to me in a dream and said, ‘Joshua, let not thy rod out of thy reach.’"

It was an election attended by many Rastafarian and political revolutionaries as Manley promised much reform and also to legalize ganja. He led the PNP to win the election and became Jamaica’s fourth Prime Minister on February 29th, 1972.

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