Wednesday, March 15, 2023

MATTHEW McANUFF - PROFILE & DISCOGRAPHY

Inna de Yard "Chapter 1" profile: a tribute to Matthew Mc Anuff


Matthew McAnuff  (1986 – 2012) 

Artwork & design: Kouakou 2010  © Makasound 

 Matthew McAnuff on stage in Rouen, France 25.04.2009  
© JYM ‘Livingdrum'

MATTHEW McANUFF - PROFILE & DISCOGRAPHY:

by JYM ‘living drum’

We pay a tribute to the great reggae Legend Matthew Mac Anuff, a young talented composer and singer, who died tragically and dramatically on August 22, 2012. He was 25 years old. 

 Matthew McAnuff on stage at ‘Le Forum’ in Vauréal, France 13.05.2012  
© Henri Séguin

Matthew McAnuff is one of the sons of reggae singer Winston McAnuff. He follows in the footsteps of the latter and begins an artistic journey dedicated to Jah Rastafari. Matthew McAnuff is part of the young talents invited in 2009 on the collective project Inna de Yard, like his brother Rashaun ‘Kush’ McAnuff, Derajah Mamby (surnamed ‘Jah Youth’ by Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith), and percussionnist Alphonso ‘Fonso’ Craig.

    
Matthew McAnuff with Inna de Yard, ‘La Plage Glazart’, Paris 20.07.2010 
© JYM ‘Livingdrum’  

Matthew only released a handful of singles, among them the nyabinghi flavored ‘Be Careful’ (7’’ single / ‘Inna de Yard’ label / Makasound production), released in 2009.  

The very first version of this song has been recorded inna Earl Chinna Smith yard in Kingston in July 2008. Its first release is on the Cd ‘’Earl Chinna Smith & Idrens - Inna De Yard Vol. 2’’.   

Earl Chinna Smith & Idrens vol.2 - CD - Makasound/Soundicate IDYCD010


A few months later, it is released on the A SIDE of a 7’’ single produced by the Makasound label, coupled with Derajah’s great song (which became a hit too !),  ‘Who Yeah Yah’ on the B SIDE. Both tracks were created together with Earl Chinna Smith.


 7’’ single  - Label : Inna de Yard – IDY 45T01 – 2009 

Matthew McAnuff ‘Be Careful’ (A side) - Derajah ‘Who Yeah Yah’ (B side)


Matthew & Derajah (promo picture) Artwork & design: Kouakou 2010  
© Makasound    


Video link - Matthew McAnuff - Be Careful (Official Vidéo)
 


Another live version of ‘Be Careful’ is on the Cd:  "Masters Of Reggae in Acoustic (Live in France)’’ and another different one is on the associated Dvd ‘’live at the Printemps de Bourges" (festival in France) in 2009.   

Masters Of Reggae In Acoustic (Live in France) Cd + Dvd (2010)


Video link - "Inna de Yard All Stars Live In France" Matthew McAnuff – ‘Be Careful’ : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YvCrO9fDv0 
 


Matthew was involved in most of the recordings of the Inna de Yard albums from the series Inna de Yard produced by Makasound.


Another 7’’ single comes out probably early 2009 (?) :  
Jah Mason ‘Jah Protect’ (A side) / Matthew McAnuff ‘Di Herbs’ (B side) 
This title is in a ska rhythm style. Label: Own Mission OWN010.  


Video link - Matthew Mcanuff. DI Herbs : 


Some months later, Matthew record an excellent digital scorcher ‘If You Want War’ (10’’ record / ‘Own Mission’ label OWN 013) :
Matthew McAnuff ‘If You Want War’ (A side) / B High ‘Nawel Melodica’  + Unknow artist ‘If You Want Dub’ (B side) 


Video link - Matthew Mcanuff. If You Want War : 



Another  7’’ single release came out in 2010 :
Anthony B ‘Praise The King’ / Matthew McAnuff  ‘Memory Hills’ 
Label: Rootdown Records – RDM13075-7 
    
                               
Video link - Matthew Mcanuff. Memory Hills :


Matthew Mcanuff’s song ‘Health and Strenght’ is available on the EP ‘TIME RIDDIM’ 
Label : Own Mission – Digital release / March 2011  

Tracklist EP :
Matthew Mcanuff ‘Health and Strenght’ / Luciano ‘The Wicked’/ Chuck Fendah ‘See Deh Deh’/ Own Mission Crew ‘Time Riddim’.

Video link :
Matthew McAnuff - Health & Strength {Time Riddim}


While on tour in Sweden in 2011, the Inna de Yard crew have had an opportunity to go in the 'See & Hear' studios in Uppsala. They could jam with local musicians and singers. It has been a time for 'Inna de Studio' sessions. As a result, two main songs plus instrumental plus dub versions were recorded and finalised on a Cd/maxi EP.

Matthew sings one of the verses in the song ‘Really & Truly’.  He also takes part of the chorus voices in the song ‘Free Up The Herb’. Both tracks are released on the maxi single CD: ‘See and Hear proudly presents Inna de Yard’ 
Both tracks are released on the maxi single CD: ‘See and Hear proudly presents Inna de Yard’ 

Format: CD, Maxi-Single, Cardboard sleeve Label: See & Hear, Sweden, 2011


The first famous hit ‘Be Careful’ is amplified in France in 2011, with the release of ‘Brainwash’. Matthew McAnuff is wonderful on this ‘electro reggae’ track produced by the French artist Tom Fire.
 
                  
Tom Fire ‘Brainwash’ - CD, EP, CD Promo (Chapter Two FIRE0511/1) + Digital release.  


Video link - TOM FIRE - Brainwash (feat. Matthew Mc Anuff) - OFFICIAL VIDEO : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJuqdLiIVOc


It is also included 4th track on the Tom Fire’s new album called ‘The Revenge’ (2011)
                                            
Tom Fire ‘The Revenge’ 
CD promo (Chapter Two FIRE0511/2)
CD album Chapter Two 3249632 + Digital release

Once the May 2012 French tour is over, Matthew returns to Jamaica to prepare his first album. Unfortunately, he is dragged into a brawl on August 22, 2012. He dies, hit by several stab wounds. 

Press article August 25, 2012  © Jamaica Observer  


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Good Life’ (feat. Matthew McAnuff) :
Album Soul Sindikate & Dub Trooper Kingston / Nouméa –
Label : Patch Work Production – PWP120701  (2Cd album, digisleeve - 2012)

Video link:
Soul Sindikate & Dub Trooper – ‘Good Life’ (feat. Matthew McAnuff) :


Tom Fire is in charge of the final mix of the sessions done at Harry J Studio with Roots Radics and Sticky Thompson shortly before his death. Another friend of the family, Fixi adds some touches of his accordion on some tracks. 

Matthew McAnuff came from a musical family. His father is Winston McAnuff and his brother, Rashaun “Kush” McAnuff, was a driving force in The Uprising Roots Band. His father has produced most of the album, which also includes talents such as Style Scott and Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace on drums, Dwight Pickney on guitar, and Cedric Myton of The Congos on backing vocals.

'Be Careful' is a logical choice for an album title and the set collects 13 tracks, of which only two have been previously released (‘Be Careful’ and ‘Brainwash’).
Roots reggae is the formula, and a cover version of Hugh Mundell’s ethereal ‘Book of Life’ is included : this is definitively a GREAT roots reggae album !

A true tribute album made with all due respect to this new tragic figure of reggae. ‘Be Careful’ was released in July 2013. 

                    
CD promo / CD - Chapter Two 3279792 -  Release date: 15.07.2013    
                                                         

 ‘Be Careful’ album credits list                

.2013 Matthew McAnuff - Be Careful - 
(Original Press):
Tracklist:
1) Jah Bless. 2) Midnight Rolling. 3) No Segregation. 4) Make Up Stories. 5) A Little Way Different. 6) Trod On. 7) African Chanting. 8) Book Of Life. 9) Move Out Of Babylon. 10) No Run. 11) I Know. 12) Be Careful. 13) Brainwash (Tom Fire)
( Label : Chapter Two 3279792 - CD Promo / CD - 2013)



Some more songs with featuring or song by Matthew McAnuff are:

‘Good Life’ (feat. Matthew McAnuff) : 
Album Soul Sindikate & Dub Trooper Kingston / Nouméa – 
Label : Patch Work Production – PWP120701  (2Cd album, digisleeve - 2012)



Video link - Soul Sindikate & Dub Trooper – ‘Good Life’ (feat. Matthew McAnuff) :


Matthew Mcanuff’s song ‘Say Mi Worthless’ appeared on : 
Various Artists – Real Music Vol 2 - (Digital relase - 2018) : 
 
                    
Video link : Matthew Mcanuff ‘Say Mi Worthless’ 


A ‘remix’ release by Marshall Neeko :

Matthew McAnuff - Be Careful Remix - (Dub with Melodica)
Various Artists - Remix Mi Dis Volume 6 (2020) - Digital release on Bandcamp





Summary of Matthew McAnuff’s discography :

1/ Album :

BE CAREFUL - CD promo / CD - Chapter Two 3279792 -  Release date: 15.07.2013   
 

2/ EPs :

IF YOU WANT WAR - 10’’ record / ‘Own Mission’ label OWN 013 - 2010
HEALTH AND STRENGHT – TIME RIDDIM compilation / ‘Own Mission’ label - 2011


3/ Singles :

BE CAREFUL     -  Label : Inna de Yard – IDY 45T01 - 2009
DI HERBS           - Label : Own Mission OWN010       - 2009
MEMORY HILLS - Label: Rootdown Records – RDM13075-7 - 2010 


4/  Involvement in Inna de Yard

Matthew was involved in most of the recordings of the 10 Inna de Yard albums from the series ‘Inna de Yard’ produced by Makasound.

BE CAREFUL is part of the albums :

Earl Chinna Smith & Idrens vol.2 - CD 
Label :Makasound/Soundicate IDYCD010 (2008)

Masters Of Reggae In Acoustic (Live in France) Cd + Dvd (2010) 
Label: Inna De Yard/Makasound 


FREE UP THE HERBS / REALLY & TRULY : Matthew sings in the 2 tracks. 
See and Hear proudly presents Inna de Yard’ - Label: See & Hear, Sweden, 2011


5/ Featurings & 1 song on a compilation

BRAINWASH – Tom Fire feat. Matthew McAnuff – (2011)
CD, EP, CD Promo (Chapter Two FIRE0511/1) + Digital release
CD album promo (Chapter Two FIRE0511/2)
CD album Chapter Two 3249632 + Digital release

GOOD LIFE -  Soul Sindikate & Dub Trooper feat. Matthew McAnuff – (2012)
2CD Album ‘Kingston / Nouméa’ (Patch Work Production PWP120701 

SAY MI WORTHLESS - Various Artists – Real Music Vol 2 - (Digital relase - 2018) 


Video link :  
Reggae legend Matthew McAnuff Rehearsals with Inna de Yard Allstars 

Matthew McAnuff singing 'Be Careful' & 'Book of Life' by Hugh Mundell Inna De Yard at Rehearsals featuring; the Congo, Chinna, Kiddus I, Bongo Joe, Uprising Roots Band & More) :  




May Matthew rest in peace, and may his father Winston, his mother, his sister Nadia, his brothers Ishmel and Kush, and all the members of his family and friends find the strength to overcome the pain.

Matthew McAnuff on stage at ‘Le Forum’ in Vauréal, Fance 13.05.2012  © Henri Séguin

 Live at Cabaret Sauvage 26.04.2009 (no photo credit for this one)


    Rest In Peace, Matthew, you stay forever in our  heart



New Video

Matthew McAnuff with Inna de Yard - "Festival sur les pointes" 27 mai 2012

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This page is written by......

Page and discography written by JYM Livingdrum & Marco Weststar
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