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DENNIS BROWN
VISIONS
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1978 - Shanachie - studio - discs: 1
Dennis Brown released his first album "No Man Is An Island" produced by the late Coxsone Dodd in 1970: he was thirteen years old! Actually this tune was recorded one year early. From the very beginning it was clear that this new sensation would provide more hits in the years to come. In 1972 "Money In My Pocket" was released under Joe Gibbs and it was a huge Jamaican hit. He will re-record it for Gibbs again in 1979. During the 70's Dennis was one of the strongest single voices of Roots Reggae. At the end of the 70's Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson produced and arranged two seminal sets: "Visions" and "Words Of Wisdom". The album "Joseph's Coat Of Many Colours" is the third top record that was released. But this time Dennis self produced it. In these albums Dennis voice is highly confident mixing pure Roots with a touch of Lovers Rock. All three albums find Brown at his peak as he sings mainly about social issues and at the same time his Rastafari beliefs come to the surface. The set was recorded at Joe Gibbs Recording Studios in Kingston. The backing band is formed of first class musicians. Among these there are: Sly & Robbie (Robbie is on guitar!), Lloyd Parks on Bass, Tommy McCook on Tenor Saxophone and Sticky on Percussions. The set opens with the powerful message of "Deliverance Will Come" and is followed by the slower and stiff "Oh Mother". Another strong tune is the version of the Earl Sixteen's militant "Malcom X". The Rastafarians beliefs emerge in the political "Repatriation": a flowing tune addressing the African origins issue. "Milk And Honey" is the best track. One of Dennis best. "Stay At Home" is also known as "Ghetto Girl". An almost Rocksteady "Say What You Say" closes the set. This is the first of three great albums from Brown and they are among the great sets of the late 70's Jamaican music.
WORDS OF WISDOM
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1979 - TKO Magnum Music - studio - discs: 1
Immediately after "Vision" came the second album of the Gibbs - Thompson duo: the stronger "Words Of Wisdom". If "Visions" was already a very high quality set, this one adds even more confidence. Ruddy Thomas & Oswald Palmer worked along Errol Thompson as engineers. This set established Dennis Brown as a UK star. This success was mainly due to "Money In My Pocket" (the original version is from 1972), which is not that great if compared to other tunes. Among these are: the opening track "So Jah Say", the funkysh "Don't Feel No Way", "Should I", the rocking "Cassandra", "Black Liberation" and "Rasta Children". "Ain't That Loving You" is a tune from Alton Ellis. The backing band as it would be expected is formed by great musicians. Among these there are Sly & Robbie, HorseMouth on Drums, Lloyd Parks on Bass and Dean Fraser on Saxophone. Almost every tune here is a Brown classic.
WOLFS & LEOPARDS
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1976-1977 - VP - studio - discs: 1
"Wolfs & Leopards" is an official compilation of hit singles released between 1976 and 1977 and it was the first release from the new label DEB started by Dennis Emanuel Brown and the producer Castro Brown in 1977. This re-release from VP Records in 2006 adds three bonus tracks to the original : "By The Foot Of The Mountain", "Brother" (aka "Stop The Fussing & Fighting") and "Breaking Down The Barriers". These songs perfectly fit inside this marvellous collection. The most part of the songs were produced by Dennis, Castro Brown and Winston "Niney" Holness. For the Lee Perry's Black Ark fans it must be remembered that the title track was recorded entirely there. Brown versions two tracks from others: The Heptones' "Party Time" and Slim Smith's "Rain From the Skies" (aka"Rolling Down"). This album clearly stated Dennis faith in Rastafari from the first to the last track. This compilation from the Crown Prince Of Reggae maybe is not a classic but for sure the songs in it deserve this status. Almost a masterpiece!
THE PROMISED LAND 1977 - 1979
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1977-1979 - Blood and Fire - studio - discs:
1
This set from the late Crown Prince Of Reggae contains the whole "Joseph's Coat Of Many Colours" album (1979) plus seven extra tracks that were released through the 1977 / 1979 period by DEB label. The tracks of "Joseph's Coat Of Many Colours" are: "Well Without Water", "Open Your Eyes", "The Creator", "Oh What A Day", "Together Brothers", "A Cup Of Tea", "Slave Driver", "Three Meals A Day", "Man Next Door" and "Home Sweet Home". This album, along with "Visions" (1977) and "Words Of Wisdom" (1979) see Dennis at his peak. As with those sets, the present one is filled with hits from the beginning to the end with some tracks that rightly are now considered as classics. His voice, as with the lyrics, is strong and firm; and it works perfectly over great rhythms. The best songs are: "Open Your Eyes", "The Creator", "Slave Driver" (versioning Bob Marley) and the deep "Home Sweet Home". As stated above this reissue from the English Blood & Fire label comprises seven bonus tracks. Here are some brief comments about these songs. The first is "Emmanuel God Is WIth Us". The Emmanuel of the title is referred to Matthew Ch.1,v.23 which states "...and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.". This deep, musically dark and long version (or extended) song clearly shows Dennis Rastafarian devotion. "Promised Land" (aka "Lately Girl") is an upbeat love song. "Troubled World" is a discomix that presents a strong Dub part too. "The Half" versions a track previously deejayed by U-Roy called "The Other Half" and is presented here in its long version. This a typical deep Roots from Dennis. "Want To Be No General" and "General" (a version featuring Ranking Dread) addresses the youth to avoid violence and underlines Dennis approach to gangters in his homeland. Both are great musical Reggae acts. The series of bonus tracks is closed by a different version of "Emmanuel", this time even darker thanks to the overdubs. "Joseph's Coat Of Many Colours" is a beautiful set reissued with some as magnificent singles.
SLOW DOWN
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1985 - Greensleeves - studio - discs: 1
It seems that this set is not particularly appreciated by some Reggae fans. Since this set came out in 1985 when Wayne Smith's "Under Mi Sleng Teng" changed forever the Dancehall scene using digital equipment, someone think that this set is out of time. But where is written that you have to change your direction when the wind changes? The great and late Dennis Brown here delivers his classic 80s style: some Lovers and some very good Roots too. Three tracks are versions of his own previous material: "Joy in the Morning," "Africa We Want to Go", and "Icy Road,". The rest are new songs. For sure there are far better sets from Dennis but he is such a strong singer that even if the material is not particularly impressive he is able to shine in any case. The most interesting songs are: "Joy In The Morning", "Love By The Score", "Icy Road", "Africa We Want To Go", "Now And Forever" and the strong "Live And Love". This album was produced by Prince Jammy and it was recorded at Channel One. The engineers were Prince Jammy and Soldgie.
yardie-reggae.com - 2007