The Skatalites : Live @ the Wild Buffalo

A couple of weeks ago the Skatalites came to Bellingham, WA and played down at the Wild Buffalo w/ Yogoman Burning Band.  When I first heard they were coming to town I couldn't believe it.  What ?? the legendary Skatalites are coming to this windy forgotten corner of Washington ??  Of course I went - with a couple of friends - and was pleased to hear the uptempo Yogoman Burning Band playing when I arrived.  They were a great energetic opening band for the Skatalites.  Plenty of people up on the dance floor for Yogoman's funky horn accented set.  It was the perfect match-up for the Skatalites, who came on and blasted out song after song from the extensive list of classics.  A couple hours of high-powered horns on a Monday night was almost a wake-up call for some of the folks in this town.  The Skatalites would rotate and trade-off massive solos that gave each track a great improv quality.  The "James Bond Theme" was a highlight for myself, just one of my favorites.  This was a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see musicians of this caliber playing in Bellingham, so Thank You !!  Of course the sound quality at the Wild Buffalo was outstanding.  Clinton Fearon will be coming in to town on Sat. May 12th, apparently for a CD release party also at the Wild Buffalo.  He's one of the original Gladiators and considered a local favorite.

Day to Day Living : Don Carlos

"Day to Day Living" was originally released on LP back in 1982.  This was kind of the second heavy wave of Don Carlos music to be produced.  The late seventies serves as the first wave with hit releases like : "Time is the Master" & "Prison Oval Clash".  The CD I've got was released from Greensleeves in 2001, during the massive reissuing movement of seventies roots reggae on to CD format. There are 10 tracks on the CD, just like the original release including a couple of nice tracks : #3 (Dice Cup), #8 (400 Years), and #9 (I'm Not Crazy).  The production was handled by a solid crew, with Junjo Lawes as producer, Scientist as the engineer, and the Roots Radics band pumping out the instrumental tracks.  Recorded and mixed at Channel One, this is another solid piece of Jamaican reggae.  Oddly enough, some of Don Carlos' best releases have been combination albums, like : "Firehouse Clash with Junior Reid" and "The Mighty Diamonds Meets Don Carlos & Gold - At The Channel One Studio".

Black Sounds of Freedom : Black Uhuru

This one of the great Black Uhuru albums released in the prime of the groups late seventies / early eighties domination of the roots vocal trio scene.  The original album was released in 1981 by Greensleeves, but I've got the Artists Only CD release featuring the cover art found at the left.  With 10 tracks on the original release, it serves as a great base for numerous dub/extended tracks found on other CD releases (Greensleeves 2006).  Built from the studios of Harry J's and King Tubby's in Kingston, JA : Prince Jammy serves as producer with Sylvan Morris as engineer and they do a great job of keeping the rhythms tight.  My favorite tracks on this one are : #1 (I Love King Selassie), #2 (Satan Army Band), and #9 (Willow Tree).  This album is truly a solid listen all the way through and when paired other Black Uhuru original such as "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" it makes for a nice double spin in your disc player.