Reggae Sunsplash 2 - DVD -

This is a DVD "Video" from Columbia and features stage performances from: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, and Third World. All of the concert footage was taken in 1979, Montego Bay, Jamaica. You're basically watching a VHS recorded on to a DVD. It's almost two hours long and the little interviews and street shots of everyday life in Jamaica keep the show moving. There are some great interviews explaining Rastafari and the Reggae movement of the time. The short interview with Burning Spear is great and his performance of "Call on You" is the musical highlight for me. There's also a nice scene of two ganjamen sitting pon the hillside of plants and talking of the situation of the people and the love of Ganja. Kind of old school, but a good DVD to watch with some of our favorite roots artists. My copy has some Japanese writing on it and the interviews have Japanese subtitles, but the credits for the production staff seem to be German names. All of the Interviews and narration are in English.

The Red Sea : Augustus Pablo

This is an interesting Augustus Pablo album featuring mostly early workings with Herman Chin Loy on the Aquarius label from 1970 - 1973. The Red Sea features that original rockers sound we all love from the early seventies. It has classics like "East of the River Nile" and "The Red Sea". My favorite tracks on this one are #2 (Iggy Iggy), with it's slow and easy melody, #5 (Song of the East), and #14 (Darker Shade of Red) which features a mean horn section that commands your attention. Most of the tracks were recorded at Randy's Kingston Jamaica and feature legendary instrumental talents like Santa Davis, Familyman Barrett, Bobby Ellis, and Tommy McCook. Many of the songs on this one have a deejay intro that runs well in to the track. A brief liner note write-up on the works of Pablo written by Paul Coote rounds out this album. My copy of this CD was released through the Black Solidarity label more recently. I'm a huge Augustus Pablo fan and I'm constantly searching for new tracks and lost versions. Let me know what your favorite songs and discs are ...........

Spear Burning : Burning Spear

This is a great disc with a nice, thick booklet that tells the story of Winston Rodney (aka Burning Spear). I consider this CD kind of a "best of ...." disc from the seventies with crucial tracks like Travelling w/ Version (#1+2). Most tracks are followed by a version or rare 12" mix, witch makes this set strong and to the point. Burning Spear is one of the heaviest roots pioneers of the seventies and you can feel it in tracks like The Prophet (#15) and title track Spear Burning (#9) followed by it's potent "Jomo" version. My copy of this disc is from Pressure Sounds in 2000. The only time I've seen Burning Spear in concert was at the OC Fairgrounds in 2005 with Yellowman and Third World. It was a fantastic show, but The Spear was the strongest performance of the night and a pleasure to behold on stage. I look forward to seeing him again.

The Best of PABLO GAD

If you've never heard of Pablo Gad you should pick up this album and give yourself a nice surprise. Pablo Gad is an underground reggae great that started recording in England, late in the 1970's. Being talented as both singer and deejay, he's got a captivating vocal style and it seems his heart can be felt through his words. This album is simply called "The Best of Pablo Gad" and was released in 1993 from the Reggae on Top label. It has 10 tracks total. Four are "disco-mixes" or extended versions and three tracks are directly followed by the dub version. My favorites tracks on this one are #1 (Blood Sucker-extended version), #2 ( Oh Jah), #5+6 (Hard Times + Dub Version), and finally #9 (Beggar Man Child) which has a haunting, plodding beat and a great muted horn section in the background. Pablo Gad only dropped a handful of material for us, but check it out and take it all in.

Jah Shaka meets Mad Professor at Ariwa Sounds

Another dub selection that just stands out out from the rest. This is an original dub collaboration from 1984. Ten tracks with Mad Professor taking #1-5 and Jah Shaka claiming #6-10. Really you have to listen to this album as a whole to truly appreciate the intentions of these two studio masters. Tracks #3 (Claps Like Thunder) & #4 (People of Yoruba) offer a good example of what this album is about. A little steel drum gives this album a caribbean taste with the Ariwa flair. Jah Shaka is known for pairing up with other artists such as Aswad and the Twinkle Brothers for our dubbing pleasure, but check out this YouTube video link of Mad Professor and Jah Shaka interviewing about dub music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab4EvispFhs It's only five minutes long and worth a look.

Black Cat Dub : Gato Negro

I've had this on cassette for the longest time and finally added the CD to my permanent collection. Gato Negro (Emmanuel Okoronta) released this twelve track set back in 1991 off the ROIR label. It's the first Gato Negro release and I consider it the best. He's got a unique perspective on the dub style and mixes in bits of melodica with his clean bass and fantastic affects. My favorite tracks on this one are #4 (Mask), #7 (Lamentations of a Caged Bird), and #9 (Reggae for Lumumba). You really need to listen to the disc straight through to fully appreciate the Gato's effort. Great driving music.