African Roots

Lloyd Brevett | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Moon Ska/Caroline
• ASIN: B000000FUY
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #458,536 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Stream in the Meadow

2. Rock Bottom

3. Candlelight

4. Candle Light Dub

5. Fugitive

6. Fugitive Dub

7. Jumbo Malt

8. Seven Seal

9. African Roots

10. Herb Challis

11. Just Cool [Cornerstone][*]

12. Japan Special [*]

13. Space Light [*]

14. Rock With Me Baby [*]

Editorial Reviews

African Roots collects the majority of Lloyd Brevette's hits from the late '70s. Not only was he a member of the influential Skatalites, but Brevette was one of ska's major songwriters, and a number of artists -- including Roland Alphonso, Lester Sterling and Tommy McCook -- made his songs into hits with the assistence of producers like Duke Reid and King Tubby. There hasn't been a compilation that chronicled all of his hit songs in this fashion, and African Roots, featuring all of his best-known and most popular songs, makes a strong case for his talents. ~ Leo Stanley, Rovi --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars laid-back but compelling, November 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: African Roots (Audio CD)

One might expect very little of the Skatalites after their mid-60s heyday besides recaps of past glories. But this "reunion" album recorded in 1974-75 in Jamaica and reissued here by Moon Ska Records, is a fine work on its own merits. One reason for this is the use of original compositions, not remakes of "guns of Navarone", etc. (The only exception to the rule is their sublime, beautiful updating of "Candle Light", a doo-wop tune from the 1940s.) Another reason is King Tubby, who added dubs of two tunes and dubbed the title track in monumental style. The result is an album that serves as a musical crossroads of Jamaica in the mid-70s: roots reggae performed with a jazz/ska lyricism and inflection. Moon Ska adds some buoyant tracks from the original 60s group - these are worth it for Don Drummond's trumpet solos alone.