Today's Reggae Play List
- Thread starter cicero2
- Start date
riverrat
professional camper
Bunny Wailer Blackheart Man
"Following Bunny Wailer's 1973 departure from the Wailers, he spent three years retired in the Jamaican countryside before returning to the recording studio. The result was the triumphant BLACKHEART MAN, an essential album for any serious reggae collection. Backing Wailer were a number of legendary Jamaican musicians including the Barrett Brothers (Carlton and Aston), Robbie Shakespeare, Skatalite Tommy McCook and former bandmates Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.
Although the original Wailers trio harmonizes on one of their old numbers ("Dreamland"), it's Tosh who contributes the most by playing a number of instruments. The fiery singer's contributions include sinewy melodica on the mesmerizing "Amagideon (Armagedon)" and harmonica on "Bide Up," a remake of an early Wailers single.
Staying true to the righteousness of his Rastafarian faith, Wailer composed a number of songs addressing the afterlife ("Reincarnated Souls"), poverty ("Fighting Against Convictions") and injustice ("The Oppressed Song"). It's easy to hear the influence of American R&B in the swaying horns and chugging rhythms. Wailer's gorgeous tenor wraps itself around the optimistic "This Train," a song Curtis Mayfield might have written had he grown up in Kingston rather than Chicago."
"Following Bunny Wailer's 1973 departure from the Wailers, he spent three years retired in the Jamaican countryside before returning to the recording studio. The result was the triumphant BLACKHEART MAN, an essential album for any serious reggae collection. Backing Wailer were a number of legendary Jamaican musicians including the Barrett Brothers (Carlton and Aston), Robbie Shakespeare, Skatalite Tommy McCook and former bandmates Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.
Although the original Wailers trio harmonizes on one of their old numbers ("Dreamland"), it's Tosh who contributes the most by playing a number of instruments. The fiery singer's contributions include sinewy melodica on the mesmerizing "Amagideon (Armagedon)" and harmonica on "Bide Up," a remake of an early Wailers single.
Staying true to the righteousness of his Rastafarian faith, Wailer composed a number of songs addressing the afterlife ("Reincarnated Souls"), poverty ("Fighting Against Convictions") and injustice ("The Oppressed Song"). It's easy to hear the influence of American R&B in the swaying horns and chugging rhythms. Wailer's gorgeous tenor wraps itself around the optimistic "This Train," a song Curtis Mayfield might have written had he grown up in Kingston rather than Chicago."
cicero2
Super Member
riverrat - did you ever check out lee perry?
at work the other day somebody played his
Battle Of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator), at least i think it was that one. quite good. his 'return to form'
scratch that (haw-haw!), i think it was this one:
Time Boom X De Devil Dead (produced by adrian sherwood)
at work the other day somebody played his
Battle Of Armagideon (Millionaire Liquidator), at least i think it was that one. quite good. his 'return to form'
scratch that (haw-haw!), i think it was this one:
Time Boom X De Devil Dead (produced by adrian sherwood)
Spectrum77
Super Member
Burning Spear (CD) Marcus Garvey/Garvey's Ghost. Anyone ever seen (or have) a quality vinyl copy of this/these?
riverrat
professional camper
Congos Heart of the Congos
This is a great set of roots reggae, new to me!
I have THIS release, but there is also THIS 2CD set that apparently has some outtakes.
I am really enjoying this one..
All Music Guide: "Lee Perry is generally acknowledged as a production genius...on Heart of the Congos he was brilliant, and across the record's original ten tracks Perry created a masterpiece of music. Many critics consider this 1977 album one of the best roots records of all time, and at the very least, it was Perry's apex -- only Junior Byles' Beat Down Babylon is an equal contender. Which is why it's all the more shocking that the record was turned down by Island, and even back in Jamaica it received only a limited release.
It took nearly two decades for Heart of the Congos to reappear, finally reissued with a clutch of period bonus tracks by Blood and Fire. The Congos themselves seem the least-likely contenders to record an exceptional album with Perry. The duo of Cedric Myton and Roy "Ashanti" Johnson had a unique sound, revolving around the former man's crystalline falsetto, which was set off by the latter's rich tenor. The pair composed deeply cultural songs, but both men's vocals had a gentle quality that would wither under a typical deep roots arrangement. Still, Perry had proved his worth working with the soft, husky tones of Byles, but few expected him to be able to repeat this feat. In fact, if anything, the producer was even more sympathetic to the Congos' styling and exhibited a musical self-restraint that astonished even his hardcore fans.
Every track on the original album is worthy of classic status, and all presented the group and their songs in the best possible light. To this end, Perry was aided by a phenomenal group of sessionmen and guest backing vocalists which included Gregory Isaacs, a pair of Heptones, and the mighty Meditations. But beyond the Congos' superb songs and performance, the superb musicianship, and the exceptional vocal talents, it's Perry's arrangements that brought these numbers to life. Each one was carefully tailored, taking into consideration the mood of the piece and the vocalist. The tribal beats of "Congoman," for example, are just the song's launch pad; its the way the vocals and harmonies weave in and out that makes the piece extraordinary. The 12" and "Chanting" versions give further evidence of Perry's genius.
"Ark of the Covenant" is stuffed to the brim with instrumentation, with the vocals soaring overhead, and brings the album to a religious fervor. In contrast, "Solid Foundation" is stripped back, a showpiece for Myton's marvelous falsetto. There's the stirring roots of "Open the Gates" and "Sodom and Gomorrow," while rocksteady echoes across the deeply affecting "Children Crying" and "La La Bam Bam." Every track offers something new: a unique sound, an unforgettable melody and rhythm, an unexpected arrangement. As much work went into the remastering as the recording, and the album sounds as good as it must have at the time it was recorded. Revel in the moment."
This is a great set of roots reggae, new to me!
I have THIS release, but there is also THIS 2CD set that apparently has some outtakes.
I am really enjoying this one..
All Music Guide: "Lee Perry is generally acknowledged as a production genius...on Heart of the Congos he was brilliant, and across the record's original ten tracks Perry created a masterpiece of music. Many critics consider this 1977 album one of the best roots records of all time, and at the very least, it was Perry's apex -- only Junior Byles' Beat Down Babylon is an equal contender. Which is why it's all the more shocking that the record was turned down by Island, and even back in Jamaica it received only a limited release.
It took nearly two decades for Heart of the Congos to reappear, finally reissued with a clutch of period bonus tracks by Blood and Fire. The Congos themselves seem the least-likely contenders to record an exceptional album with Perry. The duo of Cedric Myton and Roy "Ashanti" Johnson had a unique sound, revolving around the former man's crystalline falsetto, which was set off by the latter's rich tenor. The pair composed deeply cultural songs, but both men's vocals had a gentle quality that would wither under a typical deep roots arrangement. Still, Perry had proved his worth working with the soft, husky tones of Byles, but few expected him to be able to repeat this feat. In fact, if anything, the producer was even more sympathetic to the Congos' styling and exhibited a musical self-restraint that astonished even his hardcore fans.
Every track on the original album is worthy of classic status, and all presented the group and their songs in the best possible light. To this end, Perry was aided by a phenomenal group of sessionmen and guest backing vocalists which included Gregory Isaacs, a pair of Heptones, and the mighty Meditations. But beyond the Congos' superb songs and performance, the superb musicianship, and the exceptional vocal talents, it's Perry's arrangements that brought these numbers to life. Each one was carefully tailored, taking into consideration the mood of the piece and the vocalist. The tribal beats of "Congoman," for example, are just the song's launch pad; its the way the vocals and harmonies weave in and out that makes the piece extraordinary. The 12" and "Chanting" versions give further evidence of Perry's genius.
"Ark of the Covenant" is stuffed to the brim with instrumentation, with the vocals soaring overhead, and brings the album to a religious fervor. In contrast, "Solid Foundation" is stripped back, a showpiece for Myton's marvelous falsetto. There's the stirring roots of "Open the Gates" and "Sodom and Gomorrow," while rocksteady echoes across the deeply affecting "Children Crying" and "La La Bam Bam." Every track offers something new: a unique sound, an unforgettable melody and rhythm, an unexpected arrangement. As much work went into the remastering as the recording, and the album sounds as good as it must have at the time it was recorded. Revel in the moment."
reggaenaut
Addicted Member
Ska Authentic:
Label: Studio One
great combination of some monumental musicians.
My favorite tune from this album: Lee Oswald.
Label: Studio One
great combination of some monumental musicians.
My favorite tune from this album: Lee Oswald.
