Customer Reviews

Dreader Dread 1976-78

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While he has had a long and prolific career, the mid 70's were a time of great musical triumph for Johnny Clarke, possessor of one of the great voices in reggae. His collaboration with the great Bunny Lee allowed clarke to relax and use great musicians to create songs that could both charm and provoke.

Clarke was obvious adept at using both the emerging dancehall style and with it the roots consciousness and pervasive rude boy/militant style to create instantaneous classics. Listen to the urgency of Clarke's original tunes, such as "African People," "Every Knee Shall Bow," and the almost religious fervor of "Fire and Brimstone A Go Burn the Wicked," one of my all time favorite reggae tracks. There is no doubt that Clarke's in charge of both his beliefs but the music, as well.. Amazing.

Not surprisingly, a well made cover of Peter Tosh's rude boy anthem "I'm the Toughest" is also on this album, as well as Bob Marley's wonderful "Time Will Tell." Each song helps to further define Clarke's niche in reggae.

This lp is a classic collection and worth having in your collection.

What more can I say about this album except: Superb!! Each and every track on here is outstanding and does this artist the great Johnny Clarke the justice he deserves. This is true Roots music.

If you love the reggae riddim, buy this album. Johnny Clarke has one of the sweetest voices in the musical world, one that has been overlooked for too long. This album contains Clarke's versions of some classic tunes. Simply put, Dreader Than Dread is "Top Ranking."

this is perhaps THE johnny clarke album to have. somehow sweet and militant at the same time. every song is great, especially "dreader dread," "african people," and "every knee shall bow." clarke's phrasing is a bit low-key, in contrast to his aggressive subject matter, which revolves around rastafarianism, afrocentricity, sufferation, righteousness, and biblical warnings. Clarke is one of the purest, yet roughest roots singers ever, and he's at his peak over Bunny Lee's production. The music is classic rockers, with A-list players like robbie shakespeare, sly dunbar, santa davis, members of the skatalites, chinna smith, wya lindo and ansel collins. recorded at king tubby's studio. for dub fans there are four extended versions. simply put, reggae doesnt get a whole lot better or more classic than this, folks.