http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.339&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rssFormed in Jamaica in 1968 by Bernard Collins together with brothers Linford and Donald Manning, the Abyssinians' close three-part harmonies were utterly orthodox, yet profoundly visionary, incorporating plangent minor keys, a leisurely tempo and strong Rastafarian content -- key elements of roots reggae. In early 1969, the trio recorded "Satta Massa Gana" in a session at Sir Coxsone Dodd's legendary Studio One. A Rastafarian hymn sung partly in the ancient Ethiopian tongue of Amharic (its title translates as "give thanks and praise"), the track failed to impress the usually prescient producer, who shelved the masters. Two years later the group bought back the tune, released it on their Clinch label and enjoyed a sustained hit. The Abyssinians went on to release the similarly spiritual "Declaration Of Rights," "Y Mas Gan" and "African Race" through out the early 1970s, but it took until 1976 for them to release their debut album, <I>Forward Unto Zion</I> -- unheard of in the high-turnover world of Jamaican music. Bootlegged in the U.K. to great acclaim, they were snapped up by Virgin, but tensions grew in the band during the recording of the ultimately disappointing <I>Arise</I> (1978) and Linford Manning left the band in 1980. Having toured competing iterations of the group for several years, Collins and Bernard Manning attempted a reconciliation, releasing <I>Reunion</I> in the latter half of the 1990s. However, the goodwill didn't last, the pair split once more and Collins went on to deliver <I>Last Days</I> as Bernard Collins & The Abyssinians. - Jamie DollingRoots Reggaeen720Tue, 1 Dec 2009 04:26:00 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.339&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Formed in Jamaica in 1968 by Bernard Collins together with brothers Linford and Donald Manning, the Abyssinians' close three-part harmonies were utterly orthodox, yet profoundly visionary, incorporating plangent minor keys, a leisurely tempo and strong Rastafarian content -- key elements of roots reggae. In early 1969, the trio recorded "Satta Massa Gana" in a session at Sir Coxsone Dodd's legendary Studio One. A Rastafarian hymn sung partly in the ancient Ethiopian tongue of Amharic (its title translates as "give thanks and praise"), the track failed to impress the usually prescient producer, who shelved the masters. Two years later the group bought back the tune, released it on their Clinch label and enjoyed a sustained hit. The Abyssinians went on to release the similarly spiritual "Declaration Of Rights," "Y Mas Gan" and "African Race" through out the early 1970s, but it took until 1976 for them to release their debut album, <I>Forward Unto Zion</I> -- unheard of in the high-turnover world of Jamaican music. Bootlegged in the U.K. to great acclaim, they were snapped up by Virgin, but tensions grew in the band during the recording of the ultimately disappointing <I>Arise</I> (1978) and Linford Manning left the band in 1980. Having toured competing iterations of the group for several years, Collins and Bernard Manning attempted a reconciliation, releasing <I>Reunion</I> in the latter half of the 1990s. However, the goodwill didn't last, the pair split once more and Collins went on to deliver <I>Last Days</I> as Bernard Collins & The Abyssinians. - Jamie Dolling http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868387&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 1868387 tra.1868387 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Massagana alb.233164 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/7/9/1659773_170x170.jpg 1993-01-01 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Satta Massagana tra.1868387 212000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868387&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868387&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868380&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 1868380 tra.1868380 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Massagana alb.233164 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/7/9/1659773_170x170.jpg 1993-01-01 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Declaration Of Rights tra.1868380 210000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868380&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868380&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868382&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 1868382 tra.1868382 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Massagana alb.233164 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/7/9/1659773_170x170.jpg 1993-01-01 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Forward Unto Zion tra.1868382 228000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868382&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868382&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402809&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402809 tra.402809 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Declaration Of Dub - (new version) tra.402809 217000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402809&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402809&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868384&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 1868384 tra.1868384 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Massagana alb.233164 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/7/9/1659773_170x170.jpg 1993-01-01 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Abendigo tra.1868384 216000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868384&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868384&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868381&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 1868381 tra.1868381 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Massagana alb.233164 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/7/9/1659773_170x170.jpg 1993-01-01 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true The Good Lord tra.1868381 207000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868381&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868381&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868385&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 1868385 tra.1868385 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Massagana alb.233164 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/7/9/1659773_170x170.jpg 1993-01-01 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Y Mas Gan tra.1868385 224000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868385&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868385&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868383&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 1868383 tra.1868383 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Massagana alb.233164 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/7/9/1659773_170x170.jpg 1993-01-01 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Know Jah Today tra.1868383 178000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868383&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868383&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868386&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 1868386 tra.1868386 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Massagana alb.233164 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/7/9/1659773_170x170.jpg 1993-01-01 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Black Man's Strain tra.1868386 167000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868386&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868386&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868390&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 1868390 tra.1868390 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Massagana alb.233164 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/7/9/1659773_170x170.jpg 1993-01-01 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Leggo Beast tra.1868390 192000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868390&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868390&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6453544&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Tue, 4 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 6453544 tra.6453544 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Tree Of Satta alb.6452831 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/2/0/8/678025_170x170.jpg 2004-03-15 00:00:00.0 2003-11-04 00:00:00.0 true Satta Massa Gana tra.6453544 217000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6453544&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6453544&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868391&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 1868391 tra.1868391 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Massagana alb.233164 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/7/9/1659773_170x170.jpg 1993-01-01 00:00:00.0 1976-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Peculiar Number tra.1868391 242000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868391&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1868391&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402813&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402813 tra.402813 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Dub Abendigo tra.402813 179000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402813&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402813&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3059699&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Tue, 14 May 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 3059699 tra.3059699 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Blowin' In The Wind: Reggae Tribute To Bob Dylan alb.317145 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/5/9/0/1130959_170x170.jpg 2002-05-14 00:00:00.0 2002-05-14 00:00:00.0 true Blowin' In The Wind tra.3059699 267000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3059699&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3059699&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402811&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402811 tra.402811 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Zion I tra.402811 226000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402811&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402811&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402812&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402812 tra.402812 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Know Jah Dub tra.402812 187000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402812&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402812&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402821&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402821 tra.402821 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Reasonable Dub tra.402821 177000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402821&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402821&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402810&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402810 tra.402810 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Good Lord Dub tra.402810 191000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402810&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402810&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7576163&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Wed, 1 Jan 1969 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 7576163 tra.7576163 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Dub alb.7568902 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/2/3/733212_170x170.jpg 1969-01-01 00:00:00.0 1969-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Know Jah Dub tra.7576163 205000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7576163&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7576163&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402819&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402819 tra.402819 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Mark Of The Dub tra.402819 191000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402819&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402819&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402820&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402820 tra.402820 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Peculiar Dub tra.402820 172000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402820&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402820&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402814&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402814 tra.402814 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Y Mas Gan Dub tra.402814 206000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402814&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402814&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402818&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402818 tra.402818 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true African Dub tra.402818 122000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402818&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402818&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402822&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Thu, 1 Jan 1998 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 402822 tra.402822 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Declaration Of Dub alb.164252 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/6/9/1659686_170x170.jpg 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 1998-01-01 00:00:00.0 true There Is No End tra.402822 205000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402822&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.402822&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7576162&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss Roots Reggae Wed, 1 Jan 1969 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Abyssinians on Rhapsody Online 7576162 tra.7576162 Abyssinians art.339 0.99 Satta Dub alb.7568902 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/2/3/733212_170x170.jpg 1969-01-01 00:00:00.0 1969-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Good Lord Dub tra.7576162 208000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7576162&variant=play&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7576162&variant=data&rws=%2Fabyssinians%2Ftop-tracks.rss