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Ken Parker – The Best of Groovin in Style 1967-1973

Released on 21 July 2003.

Despite his standing among his peers and connoisseurs of classic Reggae, Ken Parker's contribution to the development of Jamaican music has been largely over-looked in recent years - until now. This comprehensive retrospective includes the majority of his best recordings from the late sixties and early seventies and should ensure his place among Jamaica's greats is finally recognised by the world at large.



Ken Parker has a sweet voice but never really made it as big as perhaps he should . However the material is with one or two exceptions is a bit on the week side.

The initial tracks on this retrospective are the best How Could I and Somebody to love. Soulful and easy groovin stuff. There are a number of covers of standard soul outings like A change is gonna come, which extends and shows off the vocal range but doesn't really add to much to the song and similarly Sugar Dumpling, though clearly a Sam Cooke devotee. The vocal style and range in the early years is in the Sam Cooke, Curtis, Smokey moulds but it gets deeper later on.

Having listened to the album a few times it is pleasant enough, mellowish generally and a sweet singing style. It's all pretty harmless but not particularly harmless.

Sad Mood isone of my favourites and whilst I'm usually one for the singing, and soulful vocal performances particularly, I find that the URoy toast for example onTrue True True kicks a bit of life into the project.

The early material is better and around 197- 1971 it goes pretty awry, but it does significantly improve on the return te Treasure Isle with You better Go. The rhythms are harder at this point than at anty time before but then it soon goes back again despite the Jimmy Brown hit..



How Could I

Somebody To Love -

A Change Is Gonna Come -

Here I Am -

True, True, True -

Sad Mood -

Sugar Dumplin' -

It's Alright -

Only Yesterday -

I Can't Hide -

My Girl Has Gone (aka When You Were Mine) -

To Each His Own -

Ain't Misbehavin' -

Groovin' In Style (aka Groovin' Out On Life) -

Guilty Inside -

Help Me Make it Through The Night -

You Better Go (aka My Mother's Love) -

Guilty -

Jimmy Brown (aka The Three Bells) -

I Catch Myself Crying -

I Should Have Known -

Kiss An Angel Good Morning -

Take A Message To Mary -

Count Your Blessings -

The Dynamic Ken Parker (Medley: Prisoner Of Love/True, True, True/My Whole World Is Falling Down/The Chokin' Kind) -





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