Familyman in Dub : Aston Barrett

Be careful with this one, it's got heavy heavy base and bounding instrumental dubs straight through - 14 tracks total - Just under an hour ( about 57 minutes ) .  It's the perfect companion disc to Cobra Style (released off of the Heartbeat label in 1999).  Familyman in Dub was also released in 1999 off of the Heartbeat label.  Some selected tracks on this one are : #1 (Cobra Style Dub) a great version of the Familyman great, #2 (Steppers Rock) is a nice - slow instrumental dub - take your time, #3 (Familyman Skank) has a triumphant ring with a dominant horn instrumental dub out, #10 (A Distant Dub) all bass & horns, #14 (Dub Maker) this is ... one of the few tracks on the disc with full vocals - very nice.  Familyman opened the recent concert at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA with the Cobra Style / Dub - most everyone recognized that was going to be the beginning of a great show.  Familyman is one of the originals and we're very lucky to have him touring the West Coast.  Come back soon Familyman !!!

Marley (2012 Movie / Documentary) : Bob Marley

This is the latest major Bob Marley documentary film or book to be released and  it was a definite pleasure to be able to view it on the "big screen" down at the Pickford Cinema's "Limelight Theatre" ( http://www.pickfordfilmcenter.org/ ) in Bellingham.  The film by director Kevin MacDonald is about 145 minutes long and, to me, doesn't seem to cover any new revelations or shocking secrets of Bob's life and times.  I did, however, enjoy the interviews by those such as Bunny Wailer and numerous other contemporaries.  It showed how those that knew Bob the best have changed and aged themselves.  Maybe with a bit more wisdom and patience.  That being said, this is a most comprehensive documentary and the picture quality is the best yet.  Comparing this to older documentaries like Public TV's "American Masters" series and books like "Catch 'a Fire" (T.White) is not that fair.  Of course we've all got limited Marley resources to go on - so what you have in "Marley - 2012" is the latest, cleanest, most updated version of the real-life legend of Bob Marley.  I would recommend finding a Marley book (Catch 'a Fire) and at least one other TV Show / Film to get the best mixed perspective of Bob and Marley lore throughout the years, but this is a Great place to start.

Legalize It : Peter Tosh

This is of course one of the most well known reggae albums of all time thanks to the Bob Marley / Peter Tosh connection via the Wailers that has helped leaked the more poignant and sometimes militant vocals of Peter Tosh in to the main stream. The title  track serves not only as an anthem for the cause of ganja decriminalization, but also a love song and testimonial to the benefits of the herb on not only ones body for certain ailments, but for the psyche of the mind as well.  This album was Tosh's first solo experience and you can hear all the built up enthusiasm in his energetic delivery of songs like "Ketchy Shuby / Track 7" and "Brand New Second Hand / Track 9".  My copy of this disc is the CBS Collector's Choice series of classic seventies releases strictly based on the original 1976 LP.  Tosh followed with releasing "Equal Rights" in 1977, the two first solo sets of his career seem to help Tosh find his true direction and message in the reggae world.  "Legalize It" was recorded at Randy's and Treasure Isle in Kingston, JA and features musicians such as Robbie Shakespeare, Carlton & Aston "Familyman" Barrett.

Rhythm Come Forward : Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Aswad,

This is a quick nine track introduction reggae compilation.  It starts with a little bit of old school Bob Marley and moves through some prime vintage Tosh (Stepping Razor & Legalize It).  The two Aswad tracks to follow are pretty good (Track ##5 - Drum & Bass Line) and then you get a little taste of Yellowman and some more contemporary Third World and Jimmy Cliff.  This disc was put out by Sony back in 1990 or CBS-Columbia in 1984 take your pick.  You can get a used copy off of Amazon for 1 Cent plus shipping.  Recorded material range from the very early seventies all the way through 1984.  This is really a decent set of tracks ; the first six songs are very competent selections that anchor this compilation. 

96 Degrees in the Shade : Third World

This is by far the most popular and influential of all the Third World albums. Most reggae aficionados are familiar with the title track - and it's a great track. My favorites on this disc are: #1 (Jah Glory), #2 (Tribal War), and #5 (Human Marketplace). Human Marketplace has a great haunted sound provided by the ambient effect of the horns. This material was released originally in 1977 by the Island label that was blowing up big time, largely thanks to Bob Marley. Third World is a definitely a band with great talent, most of the group members contribute to the vocals as well as providing an excellent musical foundation for these roots tracks. The original album only has eight tracks total but when you listen it feels as if you were maybe a concert. The sound quality is very clean and this album gives us a great set of songs that show the outstanding musical bond this group had at the time.

Climb the Ladder : Bob Marley & the Wailers

Climb the Ladder is a decent release, the bulk of the material is old school vocal trio Wailers featuring Bunny and Peter in the lead as well as Bob. This disc has 17 tracks total, but my favorites on this one are: #2 ( I'm Gonna Put It On), #3 (Lonesome Track), and #10 (Sinner Man). You might have some of these tracks on other Bob Marley or Wailers compilations. I actually prefer the JAD released series of discs called "The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers". The sound quality is better on the JAD discs and multiple versions are offered on many of the tracks. Climb the Ladder was released by Heartbeat in 2000. It's a more rocksteady and ska set from the mid-sixties when there was still a large R&B and Soul music influence on the Jamaican scene. This is a strange CD because it's billed as Bob Marley mainly. I just don't feel like this enough time was put in to this CD - it's make-up of commonly used Wailers tunes just makes this disc another lack-luster compilation and you might have the material covered in your collection already. It's worth a listen, just so you know what's out there.

Owner Fe De Yard : Ethiopians

This is a selection that's been in my permanent catalog for over ten years now. Another quality release from the Heartbeat label (1994) and a great compilation of classic roots with great sound quality. The Ethiopians are some of the old school reggae masters who made that transition from the sixties to seventies a legendary time in reggae culture. Clement Dodd and Leonard Dillon recorded these 15 tracks at Studio One and Randy's mostly in the mid-sixties and the seventies. My favorites on this one are: #1 (Owner Fe De Yard), #3 (One Heart), #4 (Bad to Worse), #5 (So You Look Pon It), and #10 (Fire Fire). The Ethiopians have a very gentle vocal delivery that softens these roots tracks. Like most Heartbeat discs, this has a decent booklet that comes with it. It discusses the early influences of church music and the first meetings with Bob, Bunny, and Peter. Also tracks notes on each song and an interview with Leonard Dillon round out the booklet and make this a quality representation of the prime Ethiopians tracks and a glimpse in to their background.

Ital Dub : Augustus Pablo

This is a great album to really showcase Pablo and his melodica as the featured instrument. Original work from 1974-1975 and engineered by King Tubby. What you really get is 12 really dubbed out Augustus Pablo tracks. I have a CD copy from 1999 released by Culture Press. My favorite tracks on this one are : #2 (Road Block), #9 (Mr. Big), and #11 ( House Raid). Road Block is a version of the classic Bob Marley track and Mr. Big is a Natty Dread version, both are outstanding interpretations. House Raid is a Burial version and you really feal it through the haunting melodica of Pablo. When I'm looking at Augustus Pablo albums against each other, I like this one quite a bit. It's solid roots dubbed by the master Tubby and the sound quality is clean. Some of my other favorite Pablo albums are Authentic Golden Melodies : Augustus Pablo & This is Augustus Pablo - Rebel, Rock, Reggae : Augustus Pablo . Check them out for a more complete Pablo experience.

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.

Dreader Dread : Johnny Clarke

This CD was a Blood & Fire release from 1998 and to me this is the best representation of Johnny Clarke's work through the 1970's. It's a compilation of songs from 1976-1978 and filled with the conscious roots message of the 70's. My favorite tracks on this disc are: "Every Knee Shall Bow", "Age is Growing", " and "Play Fool Fe Get Wise". You can also find dub tracks and King Tubby mixes of the work on this disc, but with the extended tracks included, this CD is the best bang for your buck. A few covers are also included on this disc. A stripped down version of "Time Will Tell" and "Top Ranking" which is a cover of Peter Tosh's "I'm the Toughest" show how Johnny can put his talents to the work of his friends. This disc is in my Top 20 for sure and it belongs in your collection.