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.

King Jammy presents Barry Brown

This is a great album with a nice compact track list. It's only 9 songs long. The first five tracks are all extended dub mixes and the other four songs alternate between vocal and dub tracks. My favorites on this one are #1 (Best Things in Life) , #3 (School Days), and #8 & #9 (Don't Let No One Fool You & DUB) but really the entire disc is solid. This is some Heavy-Heavy roots and the extended dub mixes are long, enduring, rolling rhythms that offer outstanding horn and keyboard. King Jammy does the mixing and production on this one with his usual tight and clean sound. It's off of the Black Arrow label, originally released in 1980. Black Arrow also has some great Hugh Mundell material released in 19890 called Jah Fire. Barry Brown has a good amount of work out there but this is a good place to start. Other popular discs are : Far East, Midnight Rock at Channel One, and Step it Up Youthman.

Don Carlos @ The Malibu Inn

I finally got to see Don Carlos again. The show was at The Malibu Inn, a salty older tavern style venue in Malibu, CA. The show had a seven pm starting time but Don Carlos didn't come on until about eleven pm. The Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad played a great set and left me wondering why I'd never heard of them before. They're from Rochester, NY and seem to be touring all the time. I hope I get a chance to see them again some time. Another group surprised me called The Blaze Mob. They played a quick set that really got the attention of the crowd. By this point in the night everyone was ready to get down and definitely ready for Don Carlos. Reggae great Wadi Gad was there on drums and blasted out a couple songs of his own before Don Carlos took the stage. Oh, did I forget to mention that The Scientist was at the controls the whole night !!! I love seeing Don Carlos, he's got such a great stage presence with his great big smile. He listens and talks to the crowd and keeps the positive vibe wafting through the bar. My overall experience for the night was outstanding. A good venue, a couple of new bands to experience, and of course the one and only Don Carlos.

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.

Horace Andy Meets Naggo Morris/Wayne Jarrett -- Mini Showcase

This disc is great. When I first got it I couldn't take it out of my car CD player for at least two months. It's actually a compilation of "samplers" that emerged from the lair of Lloyd Bullwackie Barnes. the New York based Wackies label has a lot of solid beats and rythms being laid down and this is the proof. Tracks #1-8 are Wayne Jarrett and was originally the "Wayne Jarrett mini Showcase". Tracks #9-12 are Horace Andy and I'm not sure of you can find it on anyother discs. Tracks #13-16 are Naggo Morris and really a real treat from an artist that doesn't seem to have a lot of material out there. All of the tracks on this disc were originally released in 1983 and the Horace Andy and Naggo Morris was originally released as "Horace Andy meets Naggo Morris". I promise you if you buy this disc you will not be disappointed. It's just some of the great work that emerged from the Wackies label in the early 80's and a great chance to get some rare Horace Andy.

Human Rights & Justice : Daweh Congo

If you've never heard of Daweh Congo, he's quite the unique artist. If I had to compare him to someone it would be the deep grumblings of Prince Far-I or the resonant chants of Burning Spear. He's the son of reggae artist Leo Graham, but started releasing his own material in the late 90's. Human Rights & Justice is a 2000 release off of the Roots & Culture label, and for me the highlight of Daweh's collection. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform live around the same time as the release of this disc and he was outstanding - staying true to his sound. My favorite tracks on this one are #1 (Human Rights & Justice), #2 (Jah is my Shepard), and #7 (Herb Tree) . Herb Tree is actually the Zungguzungguguzungguzeng rhythm and you'll recognize the work of Flabba Holt and others on tracks using vintage Roots Radics rhythms from the early 80's. Daweh recorded this one at Leggo's Studio in Kingston. This disc is actually pretty hard to find and I'm still using a burned copy I got from a friend back in 2000. Good luck in your search. If anyone finds it for sale, please leave a comment on the blog - I'd appreciate the lead !!!

International Herb : Culture

I consider this the classic example of Culture. International Herb was first released in 1979, my copy is the '91 CD issued by Shanachie. A super solid ten track disc that I've had since about '97, my favorite tracks are #1 (International Herb) and #6 (Too Long in Slavery). The reality is the whole disc is excellent. It carries that great "early 80's" roots sound that began to flourish around the time of it's original release. A remastered version has since been released in 2001, but I'm still rattling around my old scuffed up copy that seems to play forever. This group and this album helped define the "roots" sound we love so much. The harmony work is sweet and inspired. If you like the Itals "Brutal Out Deh" or Burning Spear classics such as Garvey then you'll be pleased with the work put in on this disc.