Happines is........ finding Lloyd Parks for 9 euros....

It was a sunny thursday afternoon, and I was grazing in the reggae section of Twist & Shout....and oh what joy, I found a Lloyd Parks album for 9 euros.......The album kicks of with Wonderfull Moment, a nice 'n positive song, but way too dull, something wich tends to happen regurlary with Trojan productions, then We'll Get over it (available in an earlier version on the Impact! compilation, see below), not as haunting as the Impact version, but still a righteous lament of a man in the ghetto who tries to hold his faith together. Baby Hang up the phone comes on pretty cheesy (it is said to have been a minor hit), but you just have to like Lloyd's beautifull falsetto voice which is capable of very soulfull sounds. In Wolf, the whole biblical rasta theme is used over a rocking rhythm with a kind of Linval Thompson style-vocal performance. Nice, but not stunning, which brings us to the next track: Carl Douglas' hit song from the Tv Series Kung Fu Fighting kicks as hard as The Honarable Bruce Lee, with fuzzy psychedelic guitars on top, making the whole thing into a real pleasant and funky experience, why isn't this track on a Dynamite compilation? I instantly forgive this man for any cheesy and boring love song with strings he did. Side A ends with Forgive Me, again a mediocre song with soulfull lyrics, but still pleasant. Upon hearing the first song of the next side, joy filled my heart and I felt a huge amount of endorphine being pumped into my bloodstream. I already heard this version of Minnie Ripperton's classic Loving You before, but was not able to figure out whose version it was, and now finally, the really, really nice & funky reggae version of one of my alltime favourite soul songs. What I actually mean is do yourself a favour and buy a Minnie Ripperton compilation. But then again, I don't wanna live anymore without the Lloyd Parks version neither, why isn't this track on a Dynamite compilation? Wrapped up is the weakest spot on the album, so let's not get into that cheesy stuff. Next up is Strike, a militant rockers song, done pretty good, but Lloyd's voice seems to be more credible for soulfull and desperate stuff. He just not is the rasta type with the camouflage and all, he's definitely the romantic one...which might explain why the ballad I'll Be Your Man is that deep. And I mean deep, as deep as Dave Godin's Deep Soul treasures....is that If Loving you is Wrong, I don't wanna be Right I'm hearing? The Wonder of You also has been released as a single, but not really as convincing as whe know from the last song he can go way deeper. The last track Push Push has a very groovy and familar rocking riddim with nice horn sections.In conclusion it can be said that the album is great, but it is only essential for someone into funky reggae.

Tracklist: Wonderfull Moment, We'll get over it, Baby Hang up the Phone, Wolf, KungFu Fighting, Forgive Me, Loving You, Wrapped Up, Strike, I'll Be Your Man, Wonder of You, Push Push

Engineered by Errol Thompson & Ernest,
Produced by LLoyd Parks,
Arranged by Lloyd Parks,
Recorded at Randy's, Channel One, Studios
Bass: Lloyd Parks,
Guitars: Raughy McLean, Rad Bryan,
Drums: Sly Dunbar,
Organ: Ansel Collins,
Harmonica: Ansel Collins

Other releases: Officially Parks - Lloyd Parks ATLP 1009 GirlIn The Morning -Lloyd Parks TRLS 109
also check the essential Soul Jazz release Impact! Rare and Unreleased Reggae, Funk & Soul from the Vault of Impact and Randys Records, for the ultimate version of Lloyd's We'll Get over It. And the wonderfull Mafia 7 inch on pressure sounds of course.......

NEW ITEMS TO HUNT DOWN

Except for the up and comin' Joe Gibbs releases (see below) there is more to enjoy these coming weeks! An imprint called Hot Pot, which is a new sub of the Cooking Vinyl label, are quickly making a name for themselves unleashing some long awaited re-issues of long unavailable but never forgotten dub classics. After "Glen Brown and friends volumes 1 & 2" and "Earthquake Dub" they give us the mighty "Leggo Dub" album. And what a treat it is! For those that are into Gregory Isaacs, this is a must have product since three quarters of the album consists of dubs from the "mr isaacs" album that producer Ossie Hibbert recorded with the singer in the late seventies. But that's not all: Also included are a dub version of the "I'm Alright" rhythm (originally recorded by Horace Andy for producer Keith Hudson) and none less than six bonustracks that weren't to be found on the original copy of "Leggo Dub" (featuring amongst others versions of: Ranking Trevor's "Lion Fence", Frankie Jones' "Zion I" and Earth & Stone's "Wicked A Fi Dress Back.")
For those not familiar with these songs: no worries, just pick up a copy and convince yourself. It's good!

Lucky me, it seems I've got a copy of the new SoulJazz Studio One release before anyone else did..Not even the mighty DanceCrasher site has got a feature on this new gem. Don't worry, I'm not boasting. The mere reason I'm writing this is because I got me a copy without a tracklisting...I was getting my hopes up that I would be able to snatch it of the aforementioned website because they are usually quicker with supplying info then SoulJazz themselves, but this time I found myself without luck..So, it's all down to the music, which is, how could it not be, amazing. Sure, it takes a couple of spins before it really kicks in and you'll probably have to take in a slight feeling of disappointment at first because it doesn't turnout to be a killer record like their last release Studio One Roots 2, but be honest: how could it be? Just let this one work for itself and you'll discover some beauties that'll nest your brain and request a play over and over. Pick it up once it's released and you'll not be disappointed.

Yes, this is it! Born and raised Nigerian, currently hailing from Germany, Ade Bantu finally shows what he's really capable of. This Brothers Keepers member already recorded some great solo efforts (including a 12" with none other than Gentleman, which I unfortunately never heard) but this is the album where everything really comes together. Afrobeat, dancehall, juju, hiphop and reggae: it's all there, but brought to you in such a clever, danceable, unifying and uplifting way that it takes a hell of an effort to stay put. If you like Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, modern roots reggae and a twist of hiphop: try this. If not: try it anyway.

WHAT'S IN A REISSUE?

Can't help but wonder 'bout some so called "reissues." Take, for example, the reissue of the classic jamaican Chantells album "Waiting in the Park" which was released on the infamous Phase One record label in 1978. No doubt about it that it is a great album, heck it is one of my all-time favourites for that matter, but listening to the 2001 reissue of this classic the question that keeps popping up inside my head is: which one do I like better?
Don't be afraid, this is not going to be one of those boring "is it remasterd and available on SACD" topics but mere a "what's in a reissue" topic. Because while listening to the original copy of the album I could only identify 4 tracks similar with the revive. Yes, you read it right...four tracks! This is not a reissue, it's a companion! As a Phase One adept I thank the almighty God on my knees for this revive because it contains songs I never heard before, but then again: I'm lucky enough to own both copies. The original is pretty hard to get by but boy does it contain some serious contenders that are not included on the revive! Why not, I ask? No matter the fact the effort both Blood and Fire (The great: Chantells and friends) and Motion Records(we're getting bad) put in their compilations: no one included the wicked version of Children of Jah that's on the original copy: it's a rootsier, heavy but slower and most of all deeper version then the better known track included on both compilations. Also nowhere to be found are jewels like: true born african, by the sweat of your brow, baby don't leave me and oh, what a night.

I'd say it's time for a "true" revive of Waiting in the Park, or another great compilation including aforementioned songs. Who dares? SoulJazz maybe?

JOE GIBBS EMBARKES EUROPE

Well known reggae producer Joe Gibbs is back in business. After a dispute with one JC Lodge over royalties in the early eighties, this highly succesfull producer went out of the recording business. Through his son Carl's imprint "Rocky One" he did reissue his monster hits again in the early nineties, but it wasn't untill 1993 that he teamed up with his right hand producer Errol Thompson again to start some new recordings, including none other than Tanya Stephens.

Latest news on the Gibbs empire is the release of three new compilation cd's featuring modern dancehall (Mad world), old style rockers (Inner city roots) and a "best of" compilation (fundamental reggae vol 1).

Also Gibbs revived an old label: Crazy Joe. Originally created in the late seventies, releasing hard stepper roots from the likes of Culture and Dennis Brown this "new" label has been especially brought back to life to cater the hungry european market. Its headquarters are even located in France.

Seems like Gibbs is planning a total takeover this time!

More info on the producer and the new label/releases: Joe Gibbs Europe

.: WELCOME :.

Hi and welcome to another blog on the web. Are we going to make a difference in the ever expanding world of blogs? Nope, don't think so.
A blog is always a personal thing and so is this one, but still: if you like reggae, funk, soul, afrobeat or any related kind of music: this is the spot. We'll be blattering about some recent discoveries, some faves, some background stories and anything else that comes about. All music related ofcourse.

So enjoy..and contribute.