DESCRIPTION:
Junior B's 'Meditation' and 'Black And White' 12" single, the only record released on the Eastern Sher record label, based in Southall West London.

The record label was named after the sound system of the same name with Amir, the selector for that sound system producing and arranging these tracks.

Amir's partner in sound, Shaf I assume was somewhere around the studio.

The vocalist is Junior B who is also an Indian guy from Southall, and held the microphone for the Eastern Sher Sound System.

Russ from The Disciples and the Boom Shaka Lacka Sound System, mixed the tracks... Two vocals and two dub versions.

The Boom Shaka Lacka Sound System was a sometime sparring partner to the Eastern Sher Sound System in the early 1990's, soundclashing at Eastern Sher's local hall, the Southall Community Centre on several occasions.

Both sound systems clashed at several other venues in and around London on a semi regular basis, as did Joey Jay's and the Manasseh sound systems.

All the London sound systems were pretty much intertwined in those days, of course that would have been the case going through the decades, so not sure why I wrote that!

I was at a few Eastern Sher dances, but one session that stands out was at Fernival Gardens in Hammersmith on the edge of the River Thames. This was an afternoon session in the open air, and hearing this kind of sound system in the sun was quite an experience, similar to listening / witnessing Jah Observer assaulting the bass bins along Ledbury Road at Notting Hill carnival but without the crowds!

I remember the Manasseh Sound system also set up there on a couple of occasions at this beautiful location.

Great stuff.

Sher means 'Lion' in Punjabi in case you wondered.

I found this text on the Brownswood blog written by Mag Mongos, which I thought was a nice piece.

My 'Searching For Sugar Man' moment has always been for Junior B, an Asian roots singer from the early 90′s who was in a sound system called Eastern Sher, playing out of Southall, London.

I had recorded Joey Jay’s Word Sound & Power radio show on Kiss Fm back in the early 90's. I had the cassette tape playing on the journey back home to Bournemouth when this incredible fast paced digital steppers roots tune came blasting through my old beat up black Rover speakers.

One of those 'hairs on the back of your neck' and 'pure buzz feelings' shooting through my body moments.

Really don’t think I actually took it in on the first play due to being too stunned! I had to rewind it straight back to the beginning to let it sink in.

Sink in it did as I don’t think I listen to it any less than ten plus times on the way back. “Jeez one more time, that is insane!” leaning over to push the cassette button in again and again.

What I wasn’t expecting at that time was to be spending the next twenty odd years looking for it on vinyl!

I had managed to pick up a few other records that were featured on that Joey Jay show the following week no problem.

The tremendous 12″ single of Kevin Eastwood's 'Arise' and the sublime album from the Conscious Sounds label called 'Sun and Moon' featuring Tena Stelin.

These two tracks had hit the spot too, it was a big show from Joey Jay that day, but I wanted / needed that Junior B tune.

I tried the classic record shops at the time Daddy Cool, Honest Jons, Dub Shack, Youth Sounds and Dub Vendor but always drew a blank.

Little did I know it was going to be as elusive as it was.

A few years of searching later a 12" turned up called 'Meditation' on the Eastern Sher label with the tune 'Black & White' on the flip.

Like lightning that flew into my record bag.

'Meditation' is absolutely incredible tune.

The vocals are so deep.

Mad Mongos