Cult Cargo: Belize City Boil Up

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Numero
• ASIN: B000BH4YOU
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,694 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Never heard of the funky soul and reggae music of Belize, that sliver of Caribbean coastline just east of Guatemala and south of Cancun? You're probably not alone, and the Belize City Boil Up compilation (the 6th this year from crate-digging music salvagers the Numero Group) is the varied and danceable introduction for the interested yet uninitiated. Soaking up influences from their Jamaican neighbors and their soulful Motown/Stax brethren from the north, these little-known groups recorded a handful of albums and singles in the 60s and 70s. The results showcase rootsy reggae (Belizean patriarchal funkster Lord Rhaburn's "More Love Reggae", The Web's "Rated G"), covers of Wilson Pickett and Johnny Nash, and some funky I-can't-believe-it's-not-sampled beats of the Harmonettes "Shame Shame Shame" and Rhaburn's "Disco Connection". Soulful standouts The Professionals (whose album covers noted their "promptness and reliability") cover both the O'Jays "Back Stabbers" and "Theme from The Godfather" - now that's a group with range! --Ben Heege

Product Description

Belizian's call it Boil Up, and it's anything but leftovers. Mix equal parts R&B, calypso, disco, funk, reggae, bruckdown, soul, folk, and whatever else can be found back on the bottom shelf of the musical pantry. Get ready to feast on passport stamped rhythms, second-deck cruise ship melodies, hotel pool calypso, soundtracks to movies not-yet-made, and anything else savory, or unsavory, enough to throw into the pot.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'd give it 15 stars...mercy., January 5, 2006

By 

Evan Rossi "Dick Jockey" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cult Cargo: Belize City Boil Up (Audio CD)

I'll make this review short and sweet. Buy this album. Do it now, you're online. Neumero does it again (they're 6 for 6 so far) by unleashing one of the most awe-inspiring comps in a long time. It rivals any and all Souljazz comps, and that's saying something as they are also awesome. In fact, pick a couple of those up too.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awe-inspiring reggae and funk from Belize, December 12, 2005

By 

Travis Dubya McGee Bickle "elitist duffer" (Texas Quail Hunting Camp) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cult Cargo: Belize City Boil Up (Audio CD)

Who knew they had such a vibrant and vital music scene in Belize? Apparently the folks at Numero Group, a reissue label with a knack for unearthing piquant, previously unreleased or underheard treasures....

The soulful funk and rootsy reggae on parade here will enliven any party, shake rafters and, inevitably have your neighbors calling the cops...hard not to crank it up when it gets on the good foot like this...

Bonus: has the best version of "Theme from the Godfather" you'll ever hear!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sho' nuff hot......, June 29, 2007

By 

collegemoney - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cult Cargo: Belize City Boil Up (Audio CD)

Stylistically diverse enough to encompass Latin, reggae, funk and burnin' soul, this is still tight enough to be thematic. The theme is temperature. No soft soul a la the Dells and so on. I remember the old Duke records various artists package called "Like 'Er Red Hot" (sadly never reissued on CD). That title would be pretty valid here, not that "Belize City Boil Up" misses the point.

"Can't Go Halfway" and "Shame Shame Shame" are my favorite cuts, but they have plenty of competition.

We also get here a lyrically truncated version of the O'Jays "Backstabber," just a few of the words, but no shortchange on the revved up instrumental section. And Nadia Cattouse makes a nice contribution as the lone female vocalist; here again, within the overall theme.

I love the way Numero Uno handles the cover art of their comps; nice live shots of roots musicians enjoying their craft.