Champion in the Arena 1976-77

Jackie Mittoo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 13, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blood & Fire Records
• ASIN: B00008XUTP
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,213 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Champion Of The Arena

2. Hot Milk

3. Darker Shade Of Black

4. Drum Song

5. The Sniper

6. Peace Treaty

7. North Of The Sun

8. Jumping Jack

9. Super Charge

10. One Step Forward

11. Ram Jam

12. Brain Mark

13. In Cold Blood

14. Earthquake

15. Atom Sounds

16. Death Trap

17. Clean Up The Arena

Editorial Reviews

The real glory days for keyboard king Jackie Mittoo were the late '60s and early '70s, when he played with the Skatalites and, later, appeared on dozens of sessions for Studio One -- many of them his own solo-billed LPs. The Blood and Fire collection Champion in the Arena 1976-1977 obviously dates from a later era, when he was re-recording some of his early classics but still indulging in a vision of sunny, pastoral reggae that has gained him legions of fans (many more than when he was still living). Though most of the re-records -- "Ram Jam," "Darker Shade of Black," "North of the Sun" -- don't equal their original versions, Mittoo handled the dawn of synthesizers quite well, integrating the new technology into his sound very well. ~ John Bush, Rovi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SMOKE - klassik assemblage of Jackie's crucial 1970s work, May 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Champion in the Arena 1976-77 (Audio CD)

God rest Jackie's soul, taken from us at the age of 42. A Caribbean innovator, a funky, soul-reggae organ groover, a keyboard king, a keyboard nut, this is the four-lettered word in smouldering instrumental reggae and dub by a sadly departed master.

Jackie Mittoo, Hammondiste non-pareil of Jamaica, leaves essential 60s-early 70s Studio One (where much smoke was burned onto wax, including backing Bob Marley on piano while with the Skatalites) and, some years on in seventies, teams up with essential Bunny "Striker" Lee, producer of Johnny Clarke, Cornel Campbell, U Roy and much great essential Tubby's Dub.

From the label that can do no wrong, this disc (comprising the Showcase album plus bonus cuts), operates on two levels at once: the riveting dub phenomeon (held metronomically by the aforementioned Riddim Twins Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare and others), and Jackie's innovative keyboard prowess, spinning Leslies, melodic sense and klassik compositions. With a few extended discomixes and Studio One groovers like Hot Milk, Ram Jam and Drum Song, witness Jackie's jazzy chops. Check the Sniper - Booker T. style Hammond gnawings plus scat singing at midnight, with a spliff. Realise that this muzek is out of sight Natty.

If you don't know who Jackie Mittoo is, it's time to find out. If you like Reggae, Dub, Jimmy Smith, the Meters, the Hammond B-3, Booker T and the MGs, the Revolutionaries, bad-ass West Indian soul, Funk, the Mellotron or King Tubby, check him/it out. Now.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's no doubt he is the champion., July 22, 2003

By 

Matthew Tomich (Basel, Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Champion in the Arena 1976-77 (Audio CD)

Because he's not only the champion OF the arena, but the champion IN the arena.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars sit back and relax wit a rizzla, April 7, 2004

By 

Joshua Braun (York, PA U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Champion in the Arena 1976-77 (Audio CD)

Sure fire classic! just not for the Sean Paul fans this is classic.Real Roots keyboard instrumentals.Smokin DUB hope I could help