Strut presents an exclusive release for Record Store Day, an 11-minute previously unreleased version of folk-soul gem Fishman from 1972 by legendary Caribbean funk band The Beginning Of The End.

Unearthed recently from the band’s tape archives, Fishman paints a warm picture of life in Nassau. As The Beginning Of The End’s bandleader Ray Munnings remembers, “There was this guy that would walk through the streets early morning – you’d hear him calling ‘Fishmaaan, Fishmaaan!’ He had the catch, fresh from the boats so you could buy grouper, goggle eye and snapper there on your doorstep. The song is a nice way of remembering that slice of island culture from the early ‘70s.”

This newly unearthed version builds from the 45 version, with the band solo-ing and jamming freely: “it’s great to hear this version after 55 years,” Munnings continues, “we would always stretch out in the studio. We were a tight unit with my two brothers and I at its heart. We just naturally played long during our sessions and it’s great to hear the end part here too – we just started talking together, laughing about cooking up some conk stew!”

This new release features the rediscovered full-length version and the 45 version, originally released as a B-side to Doin’ The Funky Do. It also includes the in-demand full-length edit of the band’s rare groove classic, Funky Nassau built from the Part 1 and Part 2 versions.

Fishman is released on Strut on Record Store Day (21st April 2018) featuring a strong new cover design by Bethany Porteous. All tracks are remastered from the original reel to reel tapes by Peter Beckmann at Technology Works

TRACK LISTING

1. Fishman (Full-Length version)
2. Funky Nassau (Full-Length Edit)
3. Fishman (Original 45 version)

PRODUCT DETAILS

Artist:  The Beginning Of The End
Label:  Strut
Condition:  New 
Genre:  Funk, Soul & Disco
Format:  12" vinyl
Cat Number:  FPL3V
Released:  21 April 2018