Reggae & Ska > by Label

Reggae Pressure: Boss Sounds '69-70 - buy this album, now!

Advantages: High quality tracks, excellent sleeve notes and photos
Disadvantages: You may have most of the tracks

Compiled by reggae experts Chris Lane, Noel Hawks and Dave Hendley (people who were actually there in '69 and love and know the music inside out), this CD is an absolute must if you enjoy the classic era of reggae. Even if you already have most of the tunes, this album is up there with other top-quality Trojan releases covering the same period, such as "Dancehall '69" and "Dawning of a New Era", and also includes a few rarities such as George Dekker's ...
...up, with classic early reggae instrumentals, rocksteady, DJ cuts and fast skinhead reggae anthems. Just stick it your CD player and it'll never come out! Note: four of the advertised tracks are not on here, namely "Vampire" by The Upsetters, "Swan Lake" by The Cats, "Barbwire" by Nora Dean, and "Rooster" by Tommy McCook. Don't let that put you off though. Enjoy! ...

john_harrison 20.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Reggae Pressure (Boss Sounds 1968-70) - Various Artists

Ali with a fab line up

Advantages: great selection of artists and classics
Disadvantages: one track a bit samey

Ali Campbell's Running Free is a great mixture of songs featuring some equally as talented artists. What a brilliant CD to be given. "' Why this CD?'" I have been a big fan of UB40 since the age of 14yr and own some of their orginal albums on vinyl. For those too young to remember - those black things that came in 2 sizes 45" and 33" and when put onto a turn table played crackling, sorry cracking, sounds. I was given this Album by one of my daughters ...
...magically around the octaves of Running Free with Ali reflecting both perfect pitch and fast rhythms. What a beautiful version of this classic. (4 mins) Ali's solo of Hold Me Tight is one of my favourites of the whole CD. For all UB40 fans this is the 'real good old stuff' that take you back to when the gang appeared on Top of the Pops. Reggae beats keeping that constant flow with interjections of Ali's powerful harmony pleadings and 'baba babas'. ...

pixie65 22.04.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Running Free - Ali Campbell

Him Name Buju Banton... Nahh Mr. Mention

Advantages: Lots of bangers
Disadvantages: Ends on a track that's weaker than the rest

“Mr. Mention” was released in 1992 as the second album from the Jamaican Dancehall musician Buju Banton. It dropped soon after his debut (within a year) and so had him showing just how productive he could be at the time as he brought lots of his Dancehall material (that became much more Reggae-styled as his career developed and he embraced Rastafarians ways. 1. “Batty Rider” The album opens up with one of the biggest singles that he had released ...
...that here you get him blasting through a fly tune that has him bringing through the sort of controversial lyrics that gave him notoriety when he broke into the game at the age of 15 with “Boom Bye Bye”. It is a hardcore tune, but one that I can’t say is really for all due to the themes. **Five Stars** 2. “Love How The Gal-Dem Flex” This is a big tune on the release and one that is seen to build upon the sorts of things that were heard on the first ...

XICripZ 18.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Mr. Mention - Buju Banton

Dawning of a New Era: AMAZING!

Advantages: Perfect in every way! So many tracks!
Disadvantages: Nothing

...one of them! Dawning of a New Era gathers together tracks from the classic era of reggae, 1968 & '69, and like the equally-essential "Dancehall '69", was compiled by Michael De Koningh, which means you get an impeccable selection of prime reggae, beginning with the massive tune "John Jones" from Rudy Mills. From there highlights include the so-terrible-it's-brilliant "Rescue Me" by The Reggae Girls, the even better "Su Su Su" by The Pioneers, a perfect ...
...Flint", and "Reggae Hit the Town" - the absolute classic tune from The Ethiopians, plus my personal favourite - "Splash Down" by The Crystalites, a driving instrumental which could be used as the musical dictionary term for "skinhead reggae instrumental" (if there was such a thing), it's so good. With a great mix of skin organ instrumentals and vocal anthems, and with two CDs there are so many classics pakced on here that you'll have a fantastic ...

john_harrison 21.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dawning Of A New Era (The Roots Of Skinhead Reggae) - Various Artists

Studio One Ska is the ULTIMATE ska compilation

Advantages: Amazing songs, great packaging
Disadvantages: NONE

...sorts of subsidiary labels of Studio One and contains some educated and inspired selections - whoever put together this album definitely knows their stuff! GET IT NOW! if you like this album, check out the "Bonanza Ska" Studio One ska compilation, another absolutely essential album, and the Trojan Ska Box Sets ("Ska", "Ska Vol. 2", and "Ska Rarities"), plus the Prince Buster "King of Ska" CD. ...

john_harrison 21.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Studio One Ska - Various Artists