Customer Reviews

Blackman Know Yourself

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4 star:		(2)
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Joe Higgs is one of the founding fathers of reggae. His impact on Bob Peter and Bunny was profound. Do yourself a favor and get this terrific album.

This is a very solid CD by one of the founders of roots reggae. At times, however, it seems slightly overproduced, sophomorically utilizing new effects of the day (1990). Aside from that, most of the songs are great! Stepping Razor (later recorded by Peter Tosh) and Sons of Garvey are my two favorite tracks. Oh Carol, Small Axe, and Blackman Know Yourself are great songs as well, exemplifying Higgs' knack for writing creative and catchy compositions. One should know that the only two CDs currently available by Joe Higgs are this one and Family, which is probably his weakest CD minus the title track. If possible try and seek out his out of print titles "Life of Contradiction, Triumph!, and Unity is Power. Any one of these discs is better in imo than Blackman and Family combined. Still if this is all you can find, do yourself a favor and pick it up before it's out of print too!

this is a most excellent insight into the earlier years of reggae, and the version of small axe will not leave you alone.

nuff respeck brudda higgs...

Don't be fooled by the overly condescending, know-it-all review from the insufferable Patrick L. Kelly, Sr. "Saints Fan." Despite his lecture, he is the one who demonstrates insufficient knowledge. "Stepping Razor" was indeed written by Joe Higgs, and while Peter Tosh's recording of it (clearly credited to Higgs) may have preceded this one, Kelly needs to realize that artists sometimes record their own versions of songs long after others have already popularized them. The song's lyrics don't even make sense for Peter Tosh, who at 6' 5" seemed an unlikely author of the lyric "I'm like a stepping razor don't watch my size, I'm dangerous." The diminutive Higgs wrote those words, of course.

My only criticism of this album is that it's too short -- I would love ten or fifteen more minutes of similar songs. Higgs keeps the arrangements simple, which helps to showcase his deceptively nimble voice. With its rousing call to action and anthemic melody, "Let Us Do Something" should have been a major international hit, and "She Was the One," with its bubbling organ and bursts of piano, burrows its way into your brain in a most agreeable way. Another standout is "Saturday Morning," a lover's lament with an incongruously lilting pace.

With Higgs' death in 1999, reggae lost yet another of its great pioneers. It's a pity that he did not leave behind more of a recorded legacy, but what exists is of tremendous quality.

I started listening to Joe Higgs in high school and Blackman Know Yourself still sits firm with his other collections. Done with the Wailers band, this CD is a must have. If you love reggae, it's time you know the source. Get this CD today. If you have a reggae collection, how can you not have the "FATHER OF REGGAE"? I strongly recommend this!!!

A great roots reggae vocalist and long time associate of Bunny Peter and Bob (Higgs filled in for Bunny on the Wailer's excellent live "Talkin' Blues" because Bunny refused to travel to yhe U.S.), this album featues the Wailer rhythm section (Junior Marvin, etc). We lost Joe a year ago, but he left us with this excellent album, his best and a must have for roots fans.

Patrick L. Kelly, Sr. is right about one thing, he has very little knowlege. Joe Higgs is clearly credited with writing Stepping Razor on Peter Tosh's Equal Rights album. Maybe you should check your facts.

Mr. James Wax in SR,CA Stepping Razor was penned by Peter Tosh, and frist appeared on his 1977 album Equal Rights therefor Joe Higgs is covering Tosh's song, not the other way 'round as you opined. Ditto your mistake on Small Axe. That is actually a Wailers song, written by Bob Marley frist released in the mid 60's as a Ska number and eventully appearing on their Island LP Burnin' released 17 October 1973. If you are gonna' give non-review related insight, please get your facts straight.