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Byron Lee & The Dragonaires: Jamaica Ska & Other Jamaican Party Anthems (TJDDD194)
Sorry but the bit in the blurb that is not supposed to put me off does a bit. Yes I know where it’s all coming from and so on but the bottom line on most of it is that it is all very light weight and derivative.
Yes a few tracks cop agroove and I quite like but there’s far too much that doesn’t. Best tracks are the earlier ones Keith and Ken’s Jamaica Ska, Eric Monty Morris Sammy Dead and Stranger and Patsy’s great doo wop inspired classic Come Back. Going back earlier is the 1960 version of Dumplings.
So just take off to the tourist hotel, get the cocktail and while away the evening to some Jamaican Middle of the Road and lighweight reggae covers of US Soul Classics. In the right environment maybe fine but is it real?
Format: Double CD album Released: Aug 02 2004 Availability: In stock: immediate despatch Price: £13.99
This 2-CD set pulls together music from one of the most successful Jamaican artists of all time. With over 70 albums to his credit and famed for cheesy Soca albums, time was when he took Ska and the Ska Dance to the US. He led one of the major bands in Jamaica's 'Big Band' era and on 'Jamaica Ska' Lee serves up many of the popular styles of music in Jamaica from the 1950s to the 19702. From Cha Cha to Calypso, from R'n'B to Rocksteady, from Jump Up to Ska - Byron Lee delivered his own interpretations to tourists, the Jamaican middle class and to the Hotel Club circuit in America: but don't let that put you off! It's great party music played by consummate professionals. His political allegiances and his astute business sense have seen many a reggae historian leave him out in the cold. Let him in and warm-up your party!
Tracklisting
2-CD SET
DISC 1:
Jamaica Ska - Listen
Sammy Dead - Listen
Come Back - Listen
She Will Never Let Me Down - Listen
Watermelon Man - Listen
Oil In My Lamp - Listen
Frankenstein Ska - Listen
Rough & Tough - Listen
Ska Dee Wah - Listen
Fat Back (aka Tear Up) - Listen
Dumplins (1964 Version) - Listen
Walk Like A Dragon - Listen
Last Night - Listen
Napoleon Solo - Listen
Ride Your Donkey - Listen
Nice Time - Listen
Music Like Dirt - Listen
Ram Jam - Listen
Way Back Home - Listen
More Scorcher - Listen
Too Experienced - Listen
DISC 2:
Dumplins (1960 Version) - Listen
Kissin' Gal - Listen
Dragon's Paradise - Listen
Ol' Man River - Listen
Joy Ride - Listen
Village Ram - Listen
Green Onions - Listen
Desafinado - Listen
Elaine, Henry And Mama - Listen
River Bank Jump Up - Listen
Holiday - Listen
Goldfinger - Listen
Shaft - Listen
Message To A Blackman - Listen
Fire Fire (There's A Fire) - Listen
Psychedelic Train - Listen
Mawga Dawg - Listen
Poison Pressure - Listen
Bam Sa Bo - Listen
A Little Love - Listen
Cashbox - Listen
Express Yourself - Listen
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