#80's reggae

[gottahavesoul]

Lacksley Castell - Morning Glory (1982)

A1 - Leaving   A2 - Morning Glory   A3 - Righteous Stand   A4 - Message To My Woman   A5 - Cold Winter Night  

B1 - Speak Softly   B2 - Doctor Love   B3 - Bound In Bondage  B4 - Government Man

Negus Roots 1982

what a gem...

[newmusiceverday]

[the-picked-last-club]

DONNA SUMMER (featuring MUSICAL YOUTH)/“UNCONDITIONAL LOVE”

[randomvarious]

Black Uhuru - “Brutal” Três Décadas De Reggae Vol.1 Song released in 1986. Compilation released in 1996. Reggae

The legendary reggae group Black Uhuru are known for a few things. One, they're regarded by many as the spiritual successors to Bob Marley & The Wailers; two, they won the first ever reggae Grammy; three, they counted superstars Sly & Robbie as members, who ended up developing both Black Uhuru's signature sound as well as their own; and four, for one reason or another, they've rotated through a handful of lead singers throughout their history.

All of those facts came into play for the group's 1986 album, Brutal. BU's previous LP, 1983's Anthem, took home the Grammy for Best Reggae Album, but after it was released, tensions within the band boiled over and caused lead singer Michael Rose to depart. But arriving in his stead was the not-yet-exalted, but nonetheless similar-sounding Junior Reid. Reid would only last with BU for a couple albums, but he would deliver a notable dancehall flavor with his vocals to a band that was otherwise known for its rootsiness. As a result, Brutal would earn BU another Grammy nom and produce five singles, however, oddly enough, none of those singles were the album's title track.

In the Biography section of Black Uhuru's Facebook page, they write that, "together," Sly & Robbie "developed a musical style full of deep bass thumps, loud drum slaps, sharp keyboards, long instrumentals with guitar riffs, whirly back round noises, echos and the signature'woh oh oh's' creating they're 'classic' sound." And you'll find all of those ingredients on "Brutal," a song on which Reid laments the world's deplorable social conditions ("Public sector hot like hell, private sector armed at the bell").

I think one of the main things that makes "Brutal" such a nice track is its drums. I mean, just listen to how those things pound and how they're arranged. Sly Dunbar's ever-changing riddims are so nice and weird and unique. And they're so integral to the track, too. There's a lot of different pieces in here (blaring guitar haze, Reid's reggae scat, insertion of string synths, a light layer of uncredited ?xylophone?), but without those drums, this song isn't worth shit, no matter how right-on its lyrics are.

"Brutal" is also a song that's sort of a lesson in reggae tone (not reggaeton, a music genre that's more than overstayed its welcome) and how little it really takes to give a tune its mood. The only instrument on this song that consistently carries a note is the keyboard, and because its chords have a little darkness to them, "Brutal" is able to sound a bit more ominous than most other reggae tracks. It's a little thing, sure, but it's also a pretty big deal. Everything on this song could remain the same, but if you raised those keyboard notes an octave or two, the overall disposition would definitely be sunnier, even if the lyrics reflect reality's brutality.

Awesome mid-80s tune from this big-time reggae band.

[randomvarious]

Today’s compilation:

Watch How You Flex!: More Reggae Dance Hall Killers 1992 Dancehall / Reggae

Favorite tracks:

Cutty Ranks - “Truths and Rights”

[kosmik-signals]

Working Hard for the Rent Man