The Fathers of Reggae
UB40
The Mighty Diamonds, Brent Rowe, Freddie McGregor, Alton Ellis, Gregory Isaacs, Max Romeo, Winston Groovy
Producer: UB40
Virgin Records (USA), 2002
1 CD
Catalogue #: 12675
EAN: 0724381267523
UPC: 724381267523
You save: 20%
THE FATHERS OF REGGAE features new vocal interpretations of original UB40 songs.
UB40: Ali Campbell (vocals, guitar); Astro (vocals); Robin Campbell (guitar, background vocals); Brian Travers (saxophone); Michael Virtue, Earl Falconer (keyboards); James Brown (drums).
Additional personnel: The Mighty Diamonds, Freddie McGregor, Gegory Isaacs, Brent Dowe, Honey Boy, Alton Ellis, Jackie Robinson, Max Romeo, Bob Andy, Ken Boothe, Winston Groovy, Leroy Sibbles, John Holt, Toots Hibbert.
Recorded at Grafton Music Complex, Kingston, Jamaica and Dep International Studios, Birmingham, England. Includes liner notes by Lloyd Bradley.
Always quick to honor influential songs and artists, it's no wonder that Birmingham reggae legends UB40 would create a concept where they'd get some of the genre's greatest vocalists to sing over some of the band's better known songs. THE FATHERS OF REGGAE serves as an important bridge for both a younger generation that may have only been weaned on third generation reggae covers by ska-pop bands and for die-hard fans of this unique musical form who feel the best reggae music has already been made. Complete with the stellar liner notes by noted author Lloyd Bradley and the very informative track-by-track annotations, this collection serves notice to detractors who are quick to label UB40 as merely a cover band.
Among the great names appearing are the Mighty Diamonds ("You Could Meet Somebody"), Freddie McGregor ("You're Always Pulling Me Down"), Gregory Isaacs ("Bring Me Your Cup"), and Max Romeo ("Watchdogs"). While all these performances shine, highlights include John Holt's smooth delivery of "The Pillow" and Toots Hibbert's personally stamped take on "C'est La Vie." With mixes included by equally legendary names like Sly and Robbie and Steely and Clevie, THE FATHERS OF REGGAE is the indispensable 2002 roots project.
Tracklist
UB40
Coming to prominence in the '80s, reggae ambassadors UB40 were not only the first British reggae band to achieve mainstream pop crossover success, but essentially the only reggae artists since the Wailers to ever break through to the US in a major way. Though their later work was softened a bit with pop production, they've always paid homage to their roots; their seminal album LABOUR OF LOVE is strictly covers of reggae classics, whose original performers they'd later collaborate with on new recordings.
Gregory Isaacs
One of the undisputed icons of roots reggae and lover's rock, Gregory Isaacs started singing in his trademark romantic ballad approach in the early 1970s. His smooth style earned him the moniker "Cool Ruler," and he became one of the most successful reggae artists in the world over the course of the '70s. By the mid-'80s, Isaacs was beset by personal and business problems, and even wound up in jail at one point. Though his output over the next couple of decades was not as consistent, he still provided plenty of evidence of his remarkable gift.
