Search - Sonny Seven Bradshaw :: Do It Reggae

Life on the islands ..

Will Flannery | Berkeley, CA | 07/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A friend played this record for me in the 70's, and I liked one tune, "Bangarang", so much that she gave me the record! I was, I must say, surprised. I played the record many times and grew to like it as a whole. The band is not extraordinary, it is probably an excellent club band that was playing in the Carribbean in the 60's and 70's. A lot of the tunes are covers, but, each one is given a reggae or ska treatment that is unlike the original and that gives it an island flavor. This record gives you the feel of life in the islands, sun in the day, and funky rhythms, dancing, and rum drinks at night. An easy, very pleasurable life.And then the tune "Bangarang". The tune has a looping horn line that alternates with lyrics that seem to consist of "ooma na ma, bangarang" and little else. There are melodic breaks by the saxophone and trombone. This tune is totally unique. As I subsequently learned, it is one of the first and classic ska tunes, well known in the Carribbean, if not at all in the U.S. It has haunted me for years. Of course, I lost, misplaced, wore out, who knows, my vinyl, and I never expected to be able to find this disc again. Hats off to Amazon!"