CASTLE MUSIC

Back to Castle Music Review Menu - reviewed

Independent Jamaica - Songs of Freedom from the Treasure Isle

Released on 16 September 2002

This album is so uplifting for obvious reasons, it is a 40 year celebration of Jamaican Independence on 6 August 1962, coupled with the infection rhythms of calypso, early ska and blue beat and more than a tinge of southern RnB and an overriding jazz feel. Top names such as Jimmy Cliff, Derrick Morgan, Owen Gray, Derrick Harriott and Jimmy James are featured here with obviously very early cuts.

The track listing with some brief comments is as follows:-

Lord Creator - Independent Jamaica - setting the mood of the Island and of this CD, uplifting, calypso flavoured echoing the hopes and optimism of the people.

Al T Joe - Rise Jamaica - Similar in optimism and a sing a long style

Derrick Morgan - Forward March - pure celebrating in style but also influential in featuring the 'new' shuffling, off beat pronounced ska rhythm and honky sax.

Eric Morris & Frank Cosmo with Drumbago's All Stars - Pack up your Troubles - An old standard, seemingly naff but relevant in that it picks up the joyousness and hope for the future.

Owen Gray (with Sonny Bradshaw Quintet) is featured on three tracks - My one desire - unmistakable voice of the great Owen Gray on an awesome soulful ballad, a love song but nonetheless equally uplifting in the context of the time. I keep playing this it is absolutely fabulous. On Darling Patricio he is still singing of love over a choppy New Orleans influenced beat and instrumental breaks. Lonely Days is also American based but the choppier beat is starting to emerge.

Jimmy Cliff has three tracks - Miss Jamaica - Probably the most well known track on the album. Hurricane Hattie - tooting Blues harmonica extolling a windstorm.....or is it? I'm free - an optimistic song of new freedom.

Derrick Morgan is featured on two duets - with Patsy - Housewife's choice - Duet in the style of many US R'n'B outings of the time, and then Yvonne - Meekly wait - has better vocal interplays and Yvonne's style is less harsh.

Lloyd Clarke - Love you the most - reminds me of Santa Claus is coming to town....What!!!!

The Jiving Juniors - Sugar Dandy - Twee lyrics but the vocal doowop harmonies on here are wonderful especially the falsetto leadand the obligatory sax break.

Drumbago's Orchestra - Duck Soup - slightly oddball instrumental with a skabeat but overriding mentop come nyabinghi drumbeat.

Jimmy James with Hersang & his Combo - Bewildered and blue - Somewhat more subdued than some of the other tracks as the title suggests, a deeper kind of soul and powerful because of that. Less ska and more vocal.

Roland Alfonso - Backbeat - as one would probably expect a jazz laden bar room shuffler, but also picking up on the local influences of the day.

Lloyd Robinson - You said you loved me - Top track this, nice vocal, nice beat.

Derrick Harriott and the Vagabonds - I care - Another US type ballad in the style of say Ben E King

Victor Wong and The Mighty Vikings - Maggie don't leave me - back to the shuffling with the harmonica pronounced off beat

Stranger and Patsy - Lets go to the party - Duets clearly being a particular rage at the time, this time with Stranger Cole. Louis Jordan style R'n'B backing with harsh Lavern Baker type female and a mellower Stranger.

Derrick Morgan - The Hop - Swinging dance number as was his want also much later in his career.

Continentals - Going Crazy - this one has it all, the emerging beat, big band jazz style, catchy and pop-py singalong lyrics, instrumental breaks.

Lloyd Flowers with Rico Rodriguez & his band - When you walk - these kind of songs just get me imagining of a band cutting loose under a hot sky, either in maybe a hotel setting or in a Blues. Cut like it sounded, and like it should have been heard probably in one take with the musicianship and togetherness coming through

Roy and Millie - We'll meet -typically harsh vocal from Millie shaping towards things to come.

Kent and Jeanne with the City Slickers - Daddy - Catchy duet over big, relatively, production.

A loveable collection of great songs from a great year.

 

 

.

Visitors:

Bravenet.com