Search - Various Artists :: Reggae Spectacular

Unknowns play the best reggae youve never heard

Rusell James Pyle | lancaster, pa United States | 01/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A friend found this diamond on vinyl a few years ago and our lives havnt been the same since. An album of relatively unknowns (other than the legendary Jimmy Cliff), it offers us a glimpse of the R&B influenced reggae that tends to get neglected due to the popularity of artists like Bob Marley or Peter Tosh. It opens with a classic from Cliff- Wonderful World, Beautiful People that shows us that this will not be your typical Bob Marley record. Cliff's classic soul influenced track is xeroxed in terms of quality by most of the songs on this album, most notabley by a group of studio musicians called Blue Haze. Their 4 contributions are easily the standouts on the disc. The way they introduced the orchastrations of the Philly Sound into traditional reggae music is an unparalleled fusion. (See "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and their cover of the Righteous Brothers "Unchained Melody".) I was not a fan of reggae music until I heard this record. Even if you don't like reggae you will love this album. My friend who discovered it still considers it the best record in his entire collection."

Right on the money ! this is the stone groove!

David S. Heiserman | new york city | 03/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"both reviews are dead on target correct! this is a gem of a find. i call it the best Moon River ever, but many other classics that you'll LOVE and never find anywhere else. ive made many copies for friends. you will even listen to the lyrics of 'cousin of mine' and crack up. even stoned out rastas agree - "dis de chit mon""