Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes tells the compelling story of the Chins, the Chinese Jamaican family behind recording studio Studio 17.
In the late 1950s Vincent Chin was working for a jukebox company, handling worn-out records all over Jamaica. The used records were usually thrown away, but Vincent had the bright idea to sell them at a reduced price. After setting up Randy's Records with partner Pat Chin, Vincent produced his first record, Independent Jamaica. It became a huge hit and launched Vincent into record production.
Jamaica’s music revolution had begun, and ska was born. The Chins built a studio above Randy's known as Studio 17, creating a fully integrated production and sales outlet.
In its prime, artists who recorded at Studio 17 included Bob Marley and the Wailers, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs and many more. But political turmoil in the late 1970s forced the Chin family to flee Jamaica for New York and the recordings were abandoned.
Vincent and Pat established VP Records (named after the initials of their first names), now the world’s largest independent distributor of reggae music. 40 years on, a treasure trove of original Studio 17 tapes have been salvaged to reveal stunning recordings from the 'golden age' of reggae – many of which were unreleased, and some never heard before. As the tapes are played they give rise to a myriad of wonderful stories told by Clive Chin, Vincent’s son and protege.
Located in downtown Kingston, Studio 17 became a legendary recording studio right at the heart of the music revolution, following Jamaican independence from Great Britain in 1962.
See the film featuring a post-screening Q&A with director Mark James and producer Wael Kabbani.
- Words by
- Joe Harris
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