Apr 04 2005The People Got to Know

[yottabite]

hate to point this out...
it's Sugar Minott, not "Minnott"

I suppose I could point you in the direction of many a greater reggae artist, but hopefully you've heard them too.

Aww shucks, I'll do it anyway - go listen to a Gladiators album if you can find any.

[John]

will correct the spelling - sure there's better, but my main thing right now is reggae singers with amazing voices (Dennis Brown, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt though her material isn't the greatest, Gregory Isaacs, and the obvious ones like Jimmy Cliff/Peter Tosh/et al) & I'm fairly sure I didn't say anything that could be construed as "Sugar Minott is the greatest singer of all time" or anything like that

[yottabite]

Sorry that did sort of sound preachy - which it wasn't meant to at all...
And such bad form for a first post I guess.
I really like the reggae groups with good vocalists as well.
I was also thinking that perhaps the reason they are timeless may also be the reason some soul groups are timeless - great musicianship, superb vocals, and not bad song writing skills either. Do you agree?

[John]

I gotta say no, I don't agree with that - there are dozens of bands with great musicianship, great songwriting, and great vocals who also sound dated. (nb dated is not shorthand for "bad," I also like plenty of things that do sound dated) Bachman-Turner Overdrive, for example, is completely awesome, but sound very stuck, not to say "lost," in time. Jury still out on whehter it's exoticization issues that make things from other places date more slowly or at least differently, but I still don't think so.

[yottabite]

Oddly enough, though, the bands that you mention have a big soul influence. I didn't simply mean the reason why they were good (I love dated bands too ) I think it seriously is because of the soul stylings. Soul was extremely popular in Jamaica in the 50s and sixties. Most of the studio bands were made up of musicians who used to play in "Jamaican Soul" bands be they cover or otherwise. I think that's really what gives early roots reggae it's timelessness.

Sorry I was a bit confusing.

[bess]

will correct the spelling - sure there's better, but my main thing right now is reggae singers with amazing voices (Dennis Brown, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt though her material isn't the greatest, Gregory Isaacs, and the obvious ones like Jimmy Cliff/Peter Tosh/et al) & I'm fairly sure I didn't say anything that could be construed as "Sugar Minott is the greatest singer of all time" or anything like that

have your heard junior murvin? in particular, the album 'police & thieves'?  his falsetto makes me weepy.  i think my favorite in terms of vocals would have to be the mighty diamonds 'right time'. i am indeed a sucker for a beautiful reggae warble.

-bess

[yottabite]

Yeah I was thinking he might like John Holt's trademark falsetto too...
There are just so many good reggae vocalists though... The best imho are probably the vocal groups like the Pioneers, Paragons and the Gladiators as I had mentioned previously.

Good to see people still like reggae!

[Bernard]

Does the Heptones' 'Night Food' sound dated to you? That's my man Leroy Sibbles right there. I could see how that album would sound terribly dated to some.