The following interview, conducted by David Rodigan, was originally broadcast on Kiss FM on Sunday 9th May 1999.

Rodigan: 29 Years ago Jamaicans were waking up to the ultimate protest song, this record was absolutely enormous and still gets the ultimate revival flare up whenever it's played. Niney is in the house...

(Track played: Blood & Fire)

Rodigan: I tell you Niney, when I first heard this record, I couldn't get my money out fast enough, I just thought it was so amazing. What a vibe it must have been, how old were you when you cut that tune, and how did it come about ?

Niney: When I cut that tune there, I was going through some terrible, terrible vibes at that time. It's a long story, the first t'ing to talk about this song is a part of my book, y'know. Is a long history, if I sit down to tell you about how this tune come to me, and how it go and how the end of it go and how it flare off, is around a hundred pages. So right now, the book, when the book come everyone will see.

Rodigan: But in essence, where did you record it and how did you come to record it?

Niney Bunny Lee is always the Boss, and Lee Perry. Have to give thanks to Bunny Lee...Well at the time when Striker was the number 1 man around town, me and Striker hook up, and Striker say well Niney rigbht now you must come beside me, and Lee Perry say the same t'ing, and Beverleys and Joe Gibbs. I was the youngest man out there at them time.

So me become a saleman, with Striker. Because any record around town me could a sell. Bunny Lee hook up with Pama Records in England now so, Bunny Lee decide as the boss say 'you a go run t'ing and you take over the studio now'. Is a man now where him just cool out an give me the runnings.

So at the time start to run things now, 'Too Proud To Beg' (Slim Smith), and the whole a them tune me start to run it. Everybody want me fe work fe them, Joe Gibbs, me a work for him a night time when everybody gone home. Me and Bunny Lee a go have a little fall out now and me ago say 'whatcha now time fe me a leave', and me decide fe leave.

(tracks played Dennis Brown: Wolves & Leopards and Here I Come)

Rodigan: You were the producer, you were there, you created the rhythms, you got Dennis into the studio, what was it like, what was the spirit like?

Niney: Was fun, was fun. Is a different time, because them time there is just musical, everybody just musical. Right now them time there you just do it from your heart, y'know what I mean?

Rodigan: So why is it different now? What do you mean by that?

Niney: You're never looking at the business fe just money at them time there. You decide that when you go a work, you want to do a good work. But now is a different t'ing from them time there. When people go in a studio now all them go in fe count how much money this tune gonna make.

(track played Dennis Brown: Cassandra)

Rodigan: Tell us the drama behind that one Niney.

Niney: Well the drama behind this one, very heavy y'know. Well after the 'Westbound Train' with Dennis we a ride, everything alright, remember Dennis did sick.

Rodigan: Wasn't it TB ? 'Cos he's only got one lung hasn't he.

Niney: Yeah, yeah. He come to me. Before I put out 'Westbound Train', we a come from beach a morning, and when we come up Orange Street him say 'Skipper. me a spit blood y'know'. And me say wha'. We go run test at the hospital, so him did admit.

So him inside now. What really happen is 'Westbound Train' a come now. Me take him out of the hospital around 2 o'clock one night, with him and Big Youth and do this song, 'Ride On' and 'Wild Goose Chase', and give Merritone Blake fe play. So one night when me a listen there now and go up there, is Lloyd Parks and Al Brown me hear a come with one tune, 'Here I Am Baby'. So me just ride the morning and go up the hospital and go a Randy's and book the time, and go back fe Dennis and clap back 'Cassandra'.

It was a fight now between 'Here I Am' and 'Cassandra', and 'Cassandra' go up, and 'Here I Am' go up, and 'Here I Am' come down off a the chart, and 'Cassandra' go up so. A so it go from that now, D Brown a get big, big, big...

(track played Dennis Brown: 'Westbound Train')

Rodigan: Now a tune, I always collapse when I hear the intro to the next record. I-Roy doing his impression of a cockney, er.. (laughs)...I mean what was all this about? Come on, 'Point Blank', it's one of the greatest intro's on record. I-Roy comes to London, studies a few cockneys, and goes back to Jamaica, and has a go at the microphone stand. You must've been on the floor, was it your idea or was it his?

Niney: Well, that's how the business used to go y'know. I- Roy is a very drama-rous guy y'know! Him heavy, him character very...And him always try like, 'I am I-Roy, no guy like me!' y'understand so. The best dressed man in town.

When I-Roy stand up 'round a mic y'know, is like you're getting the real drama. Because is man who use some words sometimes, and you know how him stay already and. Him swift and him nice. Him record always nice and sweet. All when them say 'bwoy, I-Roy is not like, U-Roy and whatever', but, him always have that touch, humourous, is a man who have that charisma.

Rodigan: He'd been an accountant or something, before he come into the music business, a book keeper or accountant. He just seemed like the last thing you expect a recording artist to have been.

Niney: Well, that's why him so heavy, because all accountants is very great y'know. Them know how fe take the figures them make different things y'know! So when I-Roy come in the business, him his the only brain in the business, and the 'ginal.

Sometimes, Striker Lee say 'I-Roy, wha' ya a deal with!' Because sometimes, I-Roy wanna tell you that 'this is not 9 y'know, this is 6' y'know wha' I mean. You have fe open up your eye and say 'I-Roy, come on man', y'know wha' I mean. Was a nice guy though, everybody love I-Roy.

(track played I-Roy: 'Point Blank')

Rodigan: A thing called 'Camp Road Skanking'. Up Park Camp , you don't want to go there. A night in Up Park Camp, no thanks! Not in those days anyway. For those listeners who have got no idea what we're talking about, and this is not a tourist holiday issue here, tell us about Up Park Camp.

Niney: (laughs) Up Park Camp! When you reach that place man, is a serious place you reach. No one want to go to Up Park Camp, 'nuff singer say that. John Holt say I don't want to go a Up Park Camp because I know how serious up there it is.

Rodigan: When they lock you down in there, soldiers don't joke! Michael Rose, how did you find Michael?

Niney: Next one. Well Michael is a nice bredda, but I'm going tell you how I find him. They used to have a talent show, place named Boheama, at Halfway Tree Road. And I never really know him that time, but after the talent show going on, he sing and nothing never happen because is a girl win the talent and t'ing. And I see him stand up in one corner, him look frustrated.

So I say, 'come here now yout', you is a great singer y'know, but a just so it go'. So me say 'check me on 91 Orange Street', and him come. Me have him in the camp for 3 months before me record him. Me tell say fe learn, go a studio, look wha' a g'wan, pick up vibe and learn. Well him feel frustrated, 3 month no record, me say 'just cool man'.

Him start, I don't know, the man start look like Dennis Brown now! Because sometime we a wake up, wait for Dennis Brown, and me a see him up the road a come down. Everybody say, 'Dennis Brown a come deh', but is like Dennis hypnotise him or certain t'ing or y'know. Me just a boom, and carry him a studio and record 'Love Between Us', him sound like Dennis Brown, 'Freedom', him sound like Dennis Brown, one more tune, him sound like Dennis Brown.

So me say, 'yout', watcha. You see this style wha' you have? Nah go put them on street. 'Cos anyway I put them on street, is Dennis Brown gonna get the fame and everyt'ing, 'cos you too much like him.' So one day now , me and Dennis, me a say 'Dennis, you see this little guy ? Me a bust him y'know'. And Dennis say 'yeah?' Me say, 'yeah, Thursday, carry him go a studio'.

Him say you remember a show, you remember a movie wha Sidney Poitier a do? And him say 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner'. And I say well that is your track fe today, that a the title of your song today. And him start the song now and, Dennis Brown deh with him and all of we and, clap the tune. Boom...that was the song that move him off.

(track played Michael Rose: 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner' (original)

This interview is available on my tape trade list