SNIFFIN' GLUE
REGGAE REVIEWS
INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to the new SG reggae review page in which we hope to bring your attention to some great old Jamaican grooves. We hope to cover music from 60's Ska to early 80's Dancehall through reviews of Reggae reissues and, also, any rare finds or bargains that turn up in our regular trawls through London's record shops. To this end, any reggae labels out there: send us your new releases and we'll review them (E-mail me at markpatv@yahoo.co.uk for details). We want to be as comprehensive as possible and we can only do that with your help. Reviews are going to be short and to the point in the true SG fashion! Cheers!
Updated: 2nd July 2002
Reviews ... So far:
Augustus Pablo - Skanking With Pablo (Trojan TJACD 012)
The Biggest Dancehall Anthems 1979-82(Greensleeves 2CD set).
Dubwise & Otherwise 2(Blood and Fire BFCDS 905 )
Flag Flown High. The Best Of Bobby Digital's Roots Productions (Maximum Pressure (MPCD001)
Greensleeves Reggae Classics!Keith Hudson/Scientist/Toyan
Horace Andy - Feel Good All Over (Anthology 1970-76) (Trojan 2CD)/Max Romeo - The Coming Of Jah (Anthology 1967-76) (Trojan).
Prince Far I - Psalms For I (Pressure Sounds PSCD035).
Ragga Ragga Ragga 16 (Greensleeves GRELCD268)/Greensleeves Reggae Sampler 23 (Greensleeves GREZCD23).
Studio One DJ'S (Soul Jazz SJR CD58)
The Biggest Dancehall Anthems 1979-82 (Greensleeves 2CD set).
Subtitled 'the Birth Of Dancehall', this is a cracking collection. The perfect set for roots fans who are not entirely convinced about the merits of the stripped down sound of dancehall reggae.
In a way, Dancehall was Jamaica's way of reclaiming reggae which, after the success of Bob Marley and others, was in danger of being diluted by the needs of white audiences. Dancehall seemed to lack the subtleties and consciousness of roots but in retrospect, it was just what the doctor ordered. It came fresh out of the ghetto, with an uncompromising attitude and attack.
There's no doubt about it, Greensleeves were the Dancehall label, as this collection shows. 40 tracks in all, it features all the important artists from the era, some that had already made their names like Dennis Brown, Johnny Clarke and the Wailing Souls and newcomers like Eek-A-Mouse and Yellowman. All the tracks were Top10 Reggae hits, so you can't go wrong. Buy it.
Greensleeves Reggae Classics!
The Greensleeves label have just added 7 new titles to their excellent 'Reggae Classics' reissue series.
Cream of the current crop has got to be Keith Hudson's 'Rasta Communication' album from 1978. This is not just Hudson's best but one of the great reggae albums from the 70s, right up there with Natty Dread, Blackheart Man, Right Time etc. It's wonderful to have this available again. Every track is a winner and there is the added bonus a 12" mix of 'Nah Skin Up'.
Next up is Scientist Wins The World Cup, a superb dub album from 1982 which is crammed full of classic Scientist touches and special effects. It features the Roots Radics at full swing at Channel One, mixed at Tubby's. 6 bonus make this absolutely essential even if you still have the original vinyl (I sold all mine a couple of years ago). Forget Brazil, stick with this!
Just when I thought the art of roots Deejaying was dead in the early 80s, Toyan came along with How The West Was Won and blew us all away with his cracking dancehall style. This album is full of classic chants - the title track, 'African Ting', 'Capitol Offence', 'Reggae Gone International'..etc. Produced by Junjo, backing by the Roots Radics at Channel One, mixed by Scientist at King Tubby's - you can hardly go wrong with this! Greensleeves have added 5 tracks from a 'DJ Clash' LP from 1982 to make this an essential buy for fans of DJ music.
The other reissues in this current lot are Junior Reid - 'Boom-Shack-A-Lack', Mighty Diamonds - 'Get Ready', Shaggy - 'Original Doberman' and Home T, Cocoa Tea & Shabba Ranks - 'Pirate's Anthem'.
Horace Andy - Feel Good All Over (Anthology 1970-76) (Trojan 2CD)/Max Romeo - The Coming Of Jah (Anthology 1967-76) (Trojan).
Two excellent anthologies compiled from Trojan's unbeatable back catalogue. Now that they are part of the Sanctuary set up they seem to be doing a much better job on their releases. Not just in the choice of tracks but also with the more informative notes and striking packaging
The Horace Andy title boasts 46 tracks, most of which capture the sweet voiced singer at his best on both romantic and conscious themes. A lot of this stuff has appeared elsewhere but there's enough to make this a good purchase. This is great alongside the essential 'In The Light' and 'Good Vibes' Blood & Fire collections.
As with the above, the Max Romeo anthology aims to be the complete Trojan collection and just about makes it . There are a few lightweight tracks here - some of the 'rude' stuff only has a historic value - but, over all, this is a great buy.
Prince Far I - Psalms For I (Pressure Sounds PSCD035).
This is a wonderful album. There's probably nothing else quite like it in the whole history of Jamaican music. My review of the original vinyl in Sniffin' Glue 12 described it as "a plastic Bible that goes round and round"! It's great to finally have it on a decently packaged CD with informative booklet notes by Harry Hawke.
Prince Far I is at his best on this album, as he chants various psalms (& the Lord's Prayer) over some superb, mostly Aggrovator, rhythms. Produced by Lloydie Smith, the album was originally released on the London based Carib Gems label in 1975 (I didn't hear it until '77). It's probably the most challenging 'roots' collection ever, with it's message delivered direct, and undiluted, from the Bible. Only Prince Far I could have carried this off in such style. To me, along with 'Under Heavy Manners', this is his most definitive statement, the chants both inspiring and moving.
An essential purchase.
Ragga Ragga Ragga 16 (Greensleeves GRELCD268)/Greensleeves Reggae Sampler 23 (Greensleeves GREZCD23).
The latest installments of 2 of Greensleeves' regular budget priced compilation series. Basically, if you want to know what's going on in the contemporary Ragga/Reggae world, these are the places to start.
The 'Ragga...' CD brings you 18 of the latest dancehall smashes, most only available on 45, in one handy package. A host of different producers and artists are featured including Sizzla, Elephant Man, Capleton, Shabba, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man. It's all bold, frantic stuff - not for the faint hearted.
'Sampler 23' brings us an excellent selection from the Greensleeves' back catalogue. Included are tracks from Elephant Man's brilliant 'Log On' album and the title track from Sizzla's 'Rastafari Teach I Everything' set. Some of the other selections are taken from various 'Rhythm' albums. It's a great way of checking these out without buying the whole lot. For example, 'Martial Arts Part 2' is now on my wants list after hearing the fine 'Jamaica' by Alozade. Likewise, Bounty Killer's 'I Am Who I Am' grabs you by the throat and says, "BUY ME!". Essential stuff.
While we're on a Greensleeves tip, look out for their 'Reggae Classics' series of budget priced reissues which came out last year. The first 25 releases certainly live up to the title. From Dr. Alimantado to Bushman, taking in Ras Michael, Gregory Isaacs and Bounty Killer along the way, they're all essential purchases. If I've got to choose my favourite, then it's the Wailing Souls' 'Firehouse Rock', a classic collection from one of the great reggae vocal harmony groups.
Flag Flown High. The Best Of Bobby Digital's Roots
Productions (Maximum Pressure (MPCD001)
First release from a new label, part of the Pressure Sound setup. Basically, this is a good overview of the work of a producer who was at the forefront of the 'roots' revival in the 90s, mostly released on his Digital-B label.
I must admit, I sometimes find some of this 90s stuff to be a little bit cold and over produced in the musical department but there's no denying the soulful fire of the singers and chanters on offer. Shabba Ranks wins the prize from me with his awesome 'Heart Of A Lion', but there's not really a bad track here. Other artists featured include Garnett Silk, Morgan Heritage, Capelton, Yami Bolo, Cocoa Tea and Sizzla, so it's pretty obvious that Bobby Digital has worked with the very best in Jamaican music.
Definitely a worthwhile release, which certainly fills a gap in my collection. Great booklet, as well. I look forward to hearing more from is new label.
Studio One DJ'S (Soul Jazz SJR CD58)
Latest offering in Soul Jazz's 'Studio One' series of well compiled reggae collections - the other 3 are 'Soul', 'Rockers' and 'Roots' - and this is the best so far. 16 tracks which neatly show off the art of the Jamaican Deejay. As the excellent booklet notes by Steve Barrow points out, there's nothing by Big Youth or U Roy but the overall quality of the chants on offer more than make up for it.
As well as the more familiar names, such as Dillinger, Dennis Alcapone, Prince Jazzbo, Lone Ranger etc, there are selections from the likes of Jah Buzz, Jah Scotchie and Prince Francis, the latter scoring with 'Street Doctor'. One of my all time faves is included, the Dillinger cut, 'Natty Kung Fu' over the "MPLA" rhythm, an excellent example of the deejay's penchant for dealing with the topics of the day.
Lone Ranger has 2 superb tracks featured, 'The Answer' and 'The Big Match', a humorous commentary of a Dreads vs Baldheads soccer match. On a more serious note, Jazzbo weighs in with a warning to the youth, 'Crime Don't Pay'.
My only gripe is in the running order. I would have preferred it to be chronological, so the newcomer could see how the deejay's art has developed over the years. However, that's a minor point because, all in all, this is a useful collection which includes many tracks never available on CD before.
Dubwise & Otherwise 2 (Blood and Fire BFCDS 905 )
Another excellent budget priced compilation from the best record label to come out of Manchester. For only £4.99 you get 17 examples of superb roots music taken from the labels' unbeatable back catalogue.
The highlights, for me, are Trinity's 'Tradition' taken from his essential 'Shanty Town Determination' set and the trio of Bunny Lee produced vocal classics: Johnny Clarke's 'Love Up Your Brothers And Sisters', Cornell Campbell's 'Two Face Rasta' and Linval Thompson's 'Jah Jah The Conqueror'. Further cuts from the likes of U Brown, Vivian Jackson, King Tubby, Max Romeo, Gregory Isaacs and, the master, Big Youth, make this set an excellent introduction to roots reggae in general and the label in particular.
Buy volume 1, the same time as you buy this. It'll only cost you £9.98 for both!
Augustus Pablo - Skanking With Pablo (Trojan TJACD 012)
Subtitled 'Melodica For Hire 1971-77', this just about sums up what this collection is all about - a fairly decent overview of Pablo's work for various other producers. A good choice of tracks from the haunting 'East Of The River Nile', for Herman Chin-Loy in 1971, to the Lee Perry produced 'Vibrate Onn' in 1977. The 21 tracks are mostly instrumentals but vocals are featured here and there, most notably on 'I Am Alright' with the sublime Gregory Isaacs in good form.
As the excellent sleeve notes by Dave Hendley point out, the melodica was mostly considered a child's toy before Pablo played it so effectively, as on the sides collected here. Later, he was also to prove his skills as a producer and, all in all, was one of the most creative artists to work in the reggae field.
If you haven't got anything by Augustus Pablo yet, this is a good introduction to his sound. If you're already tuned in, there are enough rare cuts included to make this a worthwhile purchase.
The Trojan back catalogue as been over plundered in the last few years, particularly by budget labels, but this collection is a good sign that, now as part of the Sanctuary record group, the label may treat their heritage with a little bit more care and respect. Let's hope that some of the royalties find their way back to the artists or their families as well.