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Various – Darker Than Blue: Soul from Jamtown 1973-1980
Various Artists
Darker Than Blue: Soul from Jamtown 1973-1980
Label: Blood and Fire, PK
Catalog Number: PK5
Released: 2001
With 18 tracks and not a bum one among them, the brilliant Blood & Fire compilation Darker Than Blue is just what its subtitle says: soul covers and originals from Jamtown — Kingston, Jamaica — ’73 to ’80. Featuring tracks created during a time when studio experimentation and 10,000-hour expertise were combining to create glistening 3 minute masterpieces and, equally crucial, mastering engineers were refining the process of capturing and magnifying reverb and harnessing lots of sonic trickery, artists including Ken Boothe, John Holt, Freddie McGregor, Alton Ellis and their producers added new levels of nuance to roots reggae. Highlights here include: Tinga Stewart’s percussive take in Timmy Thomas’s “Why Can’t We Get Together?”; Boothe’s cover of “Is It Because I’m Black,” which features a wah-wah and flanged guitar rhythm that’s as woozy as it is memorable; Lloyd Chalmers’ cover of the Curtis Mayfield classic “Darker than Blue,” which mixes Chalmers’ sweet falsetto with backing vocals, a droning melodica and floor rumbling bass. Unfortunately, this collection isn’t available on streaming services, although the individual tracks are. Too, vinyl copies are tough to come by and will set you back $100, but the CD is a good deal. – Randall
Recommended Listening – Full Listen
Tags: Blood & Fire / Reggae / Roots Reggae / Soul
Tracklist:
A1 The Boris Gardiner Happening Featuring Leslie Butler – “Ghetto Funk”
A2 The Chosen Few – “Collie Stuff”
A3 Carl Bradney – “Slipping Into Darkness”
A4 Ken Boothe – “Is It Because I’m Black”
A5 Freddie McGregor – “Get Involved”
B1 In Crowd – “Mango Walk”
B2 Al Brown – “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City”
B3 Ken Boothe – “Ain’t No Sunshine”
B4 Milton Henry – “Gypsy Woman”
B5 Junior Soul – “Super Love”
C1 John Holt – “For The Love Of You”
C2 Alton Ellis – “It’s A Shame”
C3 Jimmy London – “I’m Your Puppet”
C4 Delroy Wilson – “Get Ready”
D1 Lloyd Charmers – “Darker Than Blue”
D2 Tinga Stewart – “Why Can’t We Live Together”
D3 The Tamlins – “Baltimore”
D4 Welton Irie – “Hotter Reggae Music”
Credits:
Compiled By – Mark Ainley, Steve Barrow
Design – Nima Falatoori
Liner Notes [Additional Info] – Joe Lister
Liner Notes [Booklet] – Peter Dalton
Photography By [Original Photographs] – Alex Webb, Chris Steele-Perkins
Remastered By [Digital Restoration By] – Tony Webster
