mnemoniak
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The Congos - Congo Ashanti
One of my favorites, sounds really good.
One of my favorites, sounds really good.
Recommendations: Great reggae CDs with great quality production
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mcdj
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No recommendation, but just wanted to chime in. Just this week I really listened to Bob Marley's "Legend" in Apple lossless, through my newish stereo system. It is easily one of the top 10 albums I have ever heard for production quality, and I'm not really a reggae fan. I am blown away by the sheer simplicity of the instrumentation contrasted with the obviously obsessive attention to every nuance in the recording and mixing process. The musicians and studio technicians behind these songs are brilliant.
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cheers for the recommendations!
senegalesepimp
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Ras Mek Peace-Midnite.As listed on the cover, the subtitle of this album is "Before Reverb & Without Delay," which indicates the simplicity of the recording process -- utilizing only one vocal track and one instrumental track and few if any of the standard engineering techniques that are supposed to make things sound "professional." An amazing live-to-two-tracks album. Funky bass, great drumline, pure rythmic guitar.
Below The Bass Line- Ernest Ranglin. What to say except Ernest Ranglin at his best.
Hail H.I.M.- Burning Spear. Great vocals by Burning Spear backed by a much-inspired Wailers Band.
Aswad-Aswad. Amazing album not even considering that these guys from U.K were only in there early 20's when they recorded this album (1977).
In Session- Black Roots.Recorded Live at BBC Radio One but with an astonishing studio Quality by the legendary John Peel.
Survival -Bob Marley and The Wailers. Classic stuff
Talking Blues- Bob Marley And The wailers.The bulk of this disc was actually a KSAN radio broadcast from 1973. The music is truly exceptionnal. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh on ryhtm guitar are crazy. The Barretts on the rythmic session fantastic as usual.
The Mouse and the Man-Eek A Mouse. With a great musical performance by The Roots Radics and the vocal originality of The "Crazy Mouse" a very very amazing album produced by the prodigious Linval Thompson.
Rasta- Delroy Washington. Incredible Second album by the UK-based Jamaican singer engineered by Willie Lindo melding its roots reggae core with a steady though subtle dose of jazz/funk and blues/rock fusion.
Each one Teach One- Groundation. Each One Teach One falls right in line with the untra-rootsy sound complete with the occasional jazzy embellishment. The music is like a thick, rich, hearty roots stew with instrument layered upon instrument, perhaps a bit too spicy for some, but ultimately fulfilling for most.
Young Tree- Groundation. Even when they don't overtly throw in jazz, the entire Young Tree experience has a cool, expansive jazzy feel, as tracks tend to be long (often 6 or 7 minutes), spacious works with extensive instrumental spans that lend an improvisational "jamming" sound to it all. From explosive start to staid finish, Young Tree is easily one of the best American reggae albums you'll ever hear. There is little that any roots fan -- in America or anywhere else -- can find lacking here. Fans of melodic, live-band roots acts like the more well-known John Brown's Body should certainly check out tunes like "Long Long Ago," "Confusing Situation," "Glory to the Kings," and "Groundation Chant." Fantastic stuff.
We Free Again-Groundation. More jazzy than the previous two albums, this one features looser melodies and more extended, jazzy instrumentation. Tracks like "Music Is the Most High" feel like wonderfully improvised jam sessions that just keep going and going. I can't imagine this album not growing on anyone who listens to it, though. From the funky "Fourth Dimension" to the moving "Smile" to the rip-roaring title track, there's something for every mood. If you're a roots fan and haven't yet heard Groundation, leave now, and don't come back until you have.
The Same Song-Israel Vibration. Their blend of a non-crossover sound and likeable harmonies make them perfect for underground success, always to be appreciated in the hearts and ears of diehard reggae. Backed by The Roots Radics, Sly and Robbie, and recorded at the famous Studio One Studio in Kingston.
True Democracy-Steel Pulse.Third album of the English band it balances an accessible, pop-leaning roots sound -- a bit like The Police's more reggae-fied early works -- with cultural messages and comes up with an irresistible package, a landmark in the group's 30-year career. The melodies are distinct and catchy, and the music is a non-stop propulsive joy. You could turn this album on in a club and not stop moving until the very last notes of the very last song fade away.
Handsworth Revolution-Steel Pulse. Wow... Peace and Love out there. And peace and love to eveybody who worked on this fine album. You can feel the love and peacefulness that was put into it. This beautiful record is like nectar. Steel Pulse' music soothes from the very first note. The openning few seconds are so masterfully played and recorded, that I smile every time the first track begins. I must recommend Handsworth Revolution to all. There are no weak tracks in the bunch. Smoothe and soulful singing and playing and deep, meaningful writing give each song weight, yet the music is light and sweet and comforting. And powerful, though subtle. Medicinal, even. Very healing and relaxing vibrations. This is a true classic work of reggae. (...And seriously, peace and love out there.)
Back To Roots-Gladiators. Back to Roots is like a recipe book for crafting classic roots reggae -- throw in righteous, thoughtful lyrics, sumptuous melodies, earnest harmonies, and powerful rhythms, and voila, you have a classic! This is the first Gladiators album on which the music was performed exclusively by the Gladiators Band -- which consisted of singers Albert Griffiths, Clinton Fearon, and Gallimore Sutherland, each of whom played instruments, along with a select few other musicians -- instead of outside musicians hired just for the job. The resulting sound is wonderful and will likely remind you of the best works of The Wailers and The Wailing Souls -- particularly when the raspy-voiced Griffiths is on the microphone (which he usually is, although the oft overlooked Fearon takes the lead on the 4 songs he wrote); indeed, when he performs a pair of Wailers covers at the end of the album, you�d be hard-pressed to tell that it�s not in fact Bob Marley singing.
Sweet So Till-Gladiators. This is classical vintage roots reggae at its finest and will please purists and casual listeners alike. Sweet So Till is one of five albums the Gladiators made for Virgin and was recorded at the legendary Channel One Studios. It features Albert Griffiths' sublime lead vocals harmonized to perfection by fellow Gladiators Clinton Fearon and Gallimore Sutherland. Each song blends smoothly in to one another creating a masterpiece with absolutely no weak links. The silky smooth texture to each track brings back a vintage era of recording. Purists will drool at the simplistic, yet extremely catchy melodies and harmonizing that is similar in sound to Right Time-era Mighty Diamonds. Griffiths' lyrics are always uplifting, positive, and spiritually conscious. The album is chock full of horns, harmonicas, beautiful keyboards, and powerful bass lines.
Below The Bass Line- Ernest Ranglin. What to say except Ernest Ranglin at his best.
Hail H.I.M.- Burning Spear. Great vocals by Burning Spear backed by a much-inspired Wailers Band.
Aswad-Aswad. Amazing album not even considering that these guys from U.K were only in there early 20's when they recorded this album (1977).
In Session- Black Roots.Recorded Live at BBC Radio One but with an astonishing studio Quality by the legendary John Peel.
Survival -Bob Marley and The Wailers. Classic stuff
Talking Blues- Bob Marley And The wailers.The bulk of this disc was actually a KSAN radio broadcast from 1973. The music is truly exceptionnal. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh on ryhtm guitar are crazy. The Barretts on the rythmic session fantastic as usual.
The Mouse and the Man-Eek A Mouse. With a great musical performance by The Roots Radics and the vocal originality of The "Crazy Mouse" a very very amazing album produced by the prodigious Linval Thompson.
Rasta- Delroy Washington. Incredible Second album by the UK-based Jamaican singer engineered by Willie Lindo melding its roots reggae core with a steady though subtle dose of jazz/funk and blues/rock fusion.
Each one Teach One- Groundation. Each One Teach One falls right in line with the untra-rootsy sound complete with the occasional jazzy embellishment. The music is like a thick, rich, hearty roots stew with instrument layered upon instrument, perhaps a bit too spicy for some, but ultimately fulfilling for most.
Young Tree- Groundation. Even when they don't overtly throw in jazz, the entire Young Tree experience has a cool, expansive jazzy feel, as tracks tend to be long (often 6 or 7 minutes), spacious works with extensive instrumental spans that lend an improvisational "jamming" sound to it all. From explosive start to staid finish, Young Tree is easily one of the best American reggae albums you'll ever hear. There is little that any roots fan -- in America or anywhere else -- can find lacking here. Fans of melodic, live-band roots acts like the more well-known John Brown's Body should certainly check out tunes like "Long Long Ago," "Confusing Situation," "Glory to the Kings," and "Groundation Chant." Fantastic stuff.
We Free Again-Groundation. More jazzy than the previous two albums, this one features looser melodies and more extended, jazzy instrumentation. Tracks like "Music Is the Most High" feel like wonderfully improvised jam sessions that just keep going and going. I can't imagine this album not growing on anyone who listens to it, though. From the funky "Fourth Dimension" to the moving "Smile" to the rip-roaring title track, there's something for every mood. If you're a roots fan and haven't yet heard Groundation, leave now, and don't come back until you have.
The Same Song-Israel Vibration. Their blend of a non-crossover sound and likeable harmonies make them perfect for underground success, always to be appreciated in the hearts and ears of diehard reggae. Backed by The Roots Radics, Sly and Robbie, and recorded at the famous Studio One Studio in Kingston.
True Democracy-Steel Pulse.Third album of the English band it balances an accessible, pop-leaning roots sound -- a bit like The Police's more reggae-fied early works -- with cultural messages and comes up with an irresistible package, a landmark in the group's 30-year career. The melodies are distinct and catchy, and the music is a non-stop propulsive joy. You could turn this album on in a club and not stop moving until the very last notes of the very last song fade away.
Handsworth Revolution-Steel Pulse. Wow... Peace and Love out there. And peace and love to eveybody who worked on this fine album. You can feel the love and peacefulness that was put into it. This beautiful record is like nectar. Steel Pulse' music soothes from the very first note. The openning few seconds are so masterfully played and recorded, that I smile every time the first track begins. I must recommend Handsworth Revolution to all. There are no weak tracks in the bunch. Smoothe and soulful singing and playing and deep, meaningful writing give each song weight, yet the music is light and sweet and comforting. And powerful, though subtle. Medicinal, even. Very healing and relaxing vibrations. This is a true classic work of reggae. (...And seriously, peace and love out there.)
Back To Roots-Gladiators. Back to Roots is like a recipe book for crafting classic roots reggae -- throw in righteous, thoughtful lyrics, sumptuous melodies, earnest harmonies, and powerful rhythms, and voila, you have a classic! This is the first Gladiators album on which the music was performed exclusively by the Gladiators Band -- which consisted of singers Albert Griffiths, Clinton Fearon, and Gallimore Sutherland, each of whom played instruments, along with a select few other musicians -- instead of outside musicians hired just for the job. The resulting sound is wonderful and will likely remind you of the best works of The Wailers and The Wailing Souls -- particularly when the raspy-voiced Griffiths is on the microphone (which he usually is, although the oft overlooked Fearon takes the lead on the 4 songs he wrote); indeed, when he performs a pair of Wailers covers at the end of the album, you�d be hard-pressed to tell that it�s not in fact Bob Marley singing.
Sweet So Till-Gladiators. This is classical vintage roots reggae at its finest and will please purists and casual listeners alike. Sweet So Till is one of five albums the Gladiators made for Virgin and was recorded at the legendary Channel One Studios. It features Albert Griffiths' sublime lead vocals harmonized to perfection by fellow Gladiators Clinton Fearon and Gallimore Sutherland. Each song blends smoothly in to one another creating a masterpiece with absolutely no weak links. The silky smooth texture to each track brings back a vintage era of recording. Purists will drool at the simplistic, yet extremely catchy melodies and harmonizing that is similar in sound to Right Time-era Mighty Diamonds. Griffiths' lyrics are always uplifting, positive, and spiritually conscious. The album is chock full of horns, harmonicas, beautiful keyboards, and powerful bass lines.
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