I very nearly put Entering the Dragon and Class & Subject in my list too. :)
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 19:06 (fifteen years ago) link
Maybe I should have said unusual rather than poor. They are def. an acquired taste. I tend to think they work better on the dub records (Brand, Nuh Skin Up) then on the originals.
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 19:09 (fifteen years ago) link
Keith Hudson's vocals are the reggae equivalent to Vini Reilly or Shaun Ryder for me. It's usually something i wouldn't enjoy but the feel of the music and the honesty in the vocals really hit with me.
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 19:23 (fifteen years ago) link
Anyway that's a good list. Mine would probably look like this (picking actual albums or collection released at the time and focusing mostly on the seventies):
Barrington Levy Shaolin TempleBig Youth Screaming TargetBurning Spear Social LivingDennis Brown Wolves & LeopardsDr. Alimantado Best Dressed Chicken In TownGregory Isaacs Extra-ClassicJohnny Osbourne Truths And Rights Mighty Diamonds Right TimeThe Congos Heart of the CongosThe Gladiators Trenchtown Mix Up
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 19:45 (fifteen years ago) link
just put on Trenchtown Mix Up after reading your list. that is a great album. i haven't listened to it nearly enough.
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 20:37 (fifteen years ago) link
Big Youth Screaming Target
oh yeah good one!
― 69, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 20:39 (fifteen years ago) link
This thread is reminding me I need to get more Barrington Levy. haha I think what initially made me averse to him was, before I even heard his singing, seeing a photo of him wearing a Dr Seuss hat. Trenchtown Mix-Up would be in my revised Top 5. Albert Griffiths doesn't have as good of a voice technically as some others, but he's still such a great singer. Ctrl+F "Justin Hinds"=text not found :(((
― hope this helps (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 3 February 2009 21:53 (fifteen years ago) link
I had a Barrington Levy Best Of for a while and only liked a few tracks for some reason. His output from 79-82 or so with Junjo/Roots Radics/Scientist is all strong. I'm glad i took the time to go back and investigate full albums instead of writing him off on a weak Best Of collection.
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 21:58 (fifteen years ago) link
Top 5 not mentioned yet1. Twinkie Bros - Countrymen2. Justin Hinds - Travel With Love3. Bim Sherman - Tribulation (comp, so cheating here a bit)4. The Royals - Pick Up the Pieces5. Israel Vibration - The Same Song
― hope this helps (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:00 (fifteen years ago) link
Bim Sherman's totally cheating!
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:07 (fifteen years ago) link
I love Pick Up The Pieces, but 1) as harmony groups go, they pale a touch compared to others on my list and b) I think the dub version to their best record is better than the vocal set (wholeheartedly recommend the awesome Pressure Sounds set with this as the centerpiece.)
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:09 (fifteen years ago) link
This has been on my want list so so so long. :(
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:11 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.roots-archives.com/release/2134
― eman, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:14 (fifteen years ago) link
Lots of great stuff not appearing here. No Sugar Minott. No Freddie McGregor. No Abyssinians. 1 Heptones and I-Roy mention.
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:15 (fifteen years ago) link
Possibly controversial opinion: Cables >>> Carlton & the Shoes.
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:16 (fifteen years ago) link
Been on mine forever, too, Alex.See, that Royals dub set ("Dub Pieces", right) is okay, but everytime I hear a track from it I just want to hear the original. You're right, as a harmony group, there's many who are better. But I've always heard it more as a Roy Cousin's album. I usually skip the tracks where he doesn't sing lead.
― hope this helps (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:25 (fifteen years ago) link
"See, that Royals dub set ("Dub Pieces", right) is okay, but everytime I hear a track from it I just want to hear the original."
Really? But the dubs are so great! Also great Prince Far I and I-Roy bits on the CD, but I guess that shouldn't count since I guess they aren't on the original dub album.
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:30 (fifteen years ago) link
https://ssl.kundenserver.de/enter-the-dragon.com/images/bobby%20bobylon.jpg
― eman, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:33 (fifteen years ago) link
I love how I am now making this argument after giving dudes a hard time for picking vocal-less dub album just a second ago. That said there are quite a few vocals on these dubs.
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:33 (fifteen years ago) link
xp I know! How does that record not get one mention!?!?
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:34 (fifteen years ago) link
i saw a reissue of his the other day, i think on vp?
― eman, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:38 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kjI35ixCL._SS500_.jpg
― eman, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:40 (fifteen years ago) link
Sugar Minott - Ghetto-ology and the Wackies Dancehall Showcase 1/2 would be my favs but Sufferers Choice has Uptown Ghetto which I love.
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 22:55 (fifteen years ago) link
Mr McGregor is a different record than Bobby Bobylon, isn't it? The latter is on Studio One, Heartbeat did a deluxe-y version a year or two ago.
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 3 February 2009 23:13 (fifteen years ago) link
my favourite reggae album isnt really an album though, its the first vol (though vol 2 would do fine too) of the hearbeat studio one comp.
― p-noid (titchyschneiderMk2), Tuesday, 3 February 2009 23:47 (fifteen years ago) link
Top ten comps off the top of my head:
Rebel MusicBest of Studio OneMore PressureOpen The GateBuild The ArkThat Wailers Six CD Upsetters Box SetVP Channel One Story 1 & 2Recent Joe Gibbs 2 CD thing on VP seems pretty completeYabby U Jesus DreadSufferation
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 00:06 (fifteen years ago) link
Actually I guess you could replace Sufferation with virtually any Niney comp. Rock On and Observer Station and Truth & Rights style are all excellent. He might be the most underrated roots producer (unlike like say Glen Brown who is so underrated, he's now kind of overrated.)
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 03:35 (fifteen years ago) link
mr. mcgregor is a different album. just noting its reissue is all. also there's a new niney comp. and man do i want it
http://images.juno.co.uk/full/CS337910-01B-BIG.jpg
― eman, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 03:45 (fifteen years ago) link
Have not seen anyone mention
Trinity - Shantytown Determination
― autosocratic asphyxiation (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 04:13 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah I saw that. I guess that replaces the 3 Heartbeat CDs I've got heh.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 04:43 (fifteen years ago) link
Wish they'd re-release this Nighthawk comp, which I had on vinyl. It contains the awesome "Walk the Chalk Line" by the Wailing Souls, which I can't find anywhere else.http://www.strictly-vibes.com/covers/V/VA_knottyVisions.jpg
― Jazzbo, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 15:59 (fifteen years ago) link
funny that Niney comes up now. i had a friend over last night and was burning some music for him and he specifically asked for more of Niney. I gave him the Blood and Fire comp a while back that he listened to endlessly so i hooked him up with 3 more Niney comps. Rock On, Observer Station and Microphone Attack
― brotherlovesdub, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 16:30 (fifteen years ago) link
I've been looking for Knotty Visions on mp3 for a whilte. I assume the license for the tracks reverted which is why Nighthawk hasn't done a CD version.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 16:45 (fifteen years ago) link
youre talking about the blood and fire comp on trojan right?
― p-noid (titchyschneiderMk2), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 17:04 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah, 2CD set on Trojan: http://roots-archives.com/release/4112
― brotherlovesdub, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 17:23 (fifteen years ago) link
Jacob Miller - Who Say Jah No Dread
Excellent!
― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Tom D.), Thursday, 5 February 2009 10:13 (fifteen years ago) link
I love Who Say Jah No Dread but i'm having a harder time getting into his other solo albums.
― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 5 February 2009 18:33 (fifteen years ago) link
Miller's kind of hit or miss. There's probably a comp out there that gathers most of his best stuff.
― Alex in SF, Thursday, 5 February 2009 18:35 (fifteen years ago) link
i think i remember 'tenement yard' being pretty good. 'who say jah no dread' is pretty much a compilation, not really a proper album anyway, but it's great start to finish
― eman, Thursday, 5 February 2009 18:39 (fifteen years ago) link
I thought Who Say was released originally in the 70s, but I guess not. Anyway I was thinking more of his non-Pablo productions.
― Alex in SF, Thursday, 5 February 2009 18:45 (fifteen years ago) link
I've tried the King Tubby In A Tenement Yard thing, Killer Miller, Killer Rides Again and I'm Just A Dread. I guess it's the Pablo production that i really love.
― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 5 February 2009 18:50 (fifteen years ago) link
Hmmn you might try Wanted.
― Alex in SF, Thursday, 5 February 2009 18:53 (fifteen years ago) link
Or you might just want to give up hah.
― Alex in SF, Thursday, 5 February 2009 18:54 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm forced to draw the conclusion that I'm the only one on this thread who's heard Presenting Larry Marshall.
― hope this helps (Granny Dainger), Wednesday, 18 February 2009 22:04 (fifteen years ago) link
I've heard the big "hits" from it, but I've never heard the whole thing.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 18 February 2009 22:35 (fifteen years ago) link
I've got that Larry Marshall on ceedee. I should re-listen, as maybe it should be in my top 100 - http://www.fastnbulbous.com/best_reggae.htm
No one mentioned my #5, 6 & 7:
Rico - Man From Wareika (Island) 76Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - Jezebel (Island) 76Cedric Im Brooks - The Light Of Saba (Total Sounds) 76
― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, 18 February 2009 22:38 (fifteen years ago) link
That's probably cuz two of those three records are unfindable. I mention Jezebel above. I also thought that Brooks record was a comp?
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 18 February 2009 22:41 (fifteen years ago) link
i only have larry marshall 'i admire you in dub'
― eman, Wednesday, 18 February 2009 22:45 (fifteen years ago) link
― Alex in SF, Tuesday, February 3, 2009 5:16 PM
why
― eman, Wednesday, 18 February 2009 22:46 (fifteen years ago) link
Just slightly prefer the Cables album (or more accurately their singles) to Carltons. "What Kind Of World" is one of my favorite tracks and "Baby Why" isn't far behind. Don't get me wrong, they are both great.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 18 February 2009 22:54 (fifteen years ago) link