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Everything Crash - Best of The Ethipians

Released on 18 November 2002.

In the late sixties and early seventies, the Ethiopians were one of Jamaica's most popular vocal trios, but their spell at the forefront of the island's music scene was cut tragically short in 1975 with the death of founder member, Stephen Taylor. Here are 25 of the hits - including their international chart-buster, 'Train To Skaville' - that made the group such a major draw.

This has hardly been off the decks since it's arrival. One of the best vocal outfits this album has pretty much everything, Classics, great grooves and rhythms, harmonies, distinct voices, consciousness, humour, ska thru reggae.

Train to Skaville will be known to most, often appears on compilations and is a classic. Hong Kong Flu although humorous I suppose is actually very serious. It actually was a very serious issue back in 1969 in Jamaica, it was a killer as is said in the lyrics. Easy to dismiss as jovial now but it was social commentary.

Knowledge is Power, not particularly strong but it does more show the evolution into a harmonic soulful vocal group, rather than just accompaniment as a rider of ska riddims. Leanord Sparrow Dillon distinctive tones overriding the sweet harmonies of Stephen Taylor and Aston Charlie Morris and subsequently Melvin Reid..

The Whip recorded for Sonia Pottinger's Gay Feet Label is one classic riddim of many a version.

Band Yu Belly coming late in terms of this compilation (1975) has a great mellow groove and vocals to match. Following this is the earliest Free Man from 1966, different groove as time moved on obviously and smoother vocals but hard hitting lyrics even for 1966 - almost a solo track in fact

Engine 54, another top cut, riding the riddim here, simplistic lyrics but oh so good. The tracks on here jump around historically but Things get from bad to worse is another great vocal track from a 1970 JJ Johnson album, popularised in the UK.

Conscious lyrics abound in tracks like Selah and Israel wants to be free.

As a sucker for the soulful group vocal style tracks like Good Ambition cut it for me. Solid as a Rock is an awesome cut, here in 'proper stereo'. I remember this originally as being cut in what was lovingly known a t the time as 'Jamaican Stereo' - the call out of the left speaker and the response out of the right! The world is love opens with that sweet organ of optimism and the vocal doesn't let you down when it comes in equally as sweet.

Train to Glory picks up the often used Train Theme but rather than sing about the stations on the way the lyrics provide spiritual optimism for the end of the journey.

Everything Crash another gorgeous track concluding a gorgeous uplifting album.

 

 

Tracks: -Train To Skaville, Hong Kong Flu, Knowledge Is Power, Mothers Tender Care, The Whip, Band Yu Belly, Free Man, Engine 54, Things A Get From Bad To Worse, The Selah, Reggie Hit The Town, Drop Him, Israel Want To Be Free, Good Ambition, Come On Now. My Testimony, Solid As A Rock, The Word Is Love, Wreck It Up, Train To Glory, Pirate, Woman Capture Man, Another Moses, No Baptism, Everything Crash.

 

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