Customer Reviews

Golden Classics

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Redbone was always a band of its own. Some typical traces to the native american music mixed with quite funky playing. This collection is no exception. However, what we've got here is in fact their second album "Potlatch" and their third album "Message From A Drum" complete, one after the other! Plus two singles As & Bs to finish off the package. For people looking for just THOSE TWO albums on CD, then this is a must. As a compilation it's time span is way too short. It's got good information on the cover and soundwise it's a good release. NOTE: The song "Light As A Feather" has been cut short by approx. 10-12 seconds at the beginning. Nothing to be upset about, but still pretty unneccesary. For Redbone fans; GO GET IT!

I SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF MY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TIME LISTENING TO REDBONE. I WAS VERY HAPPY FOR THEM THAT THEY SCORED A BIG HIT WITH COME AND GET YOUR LOVE. BUT FOR THE UNINITIATED, THIS IS A GENEROUS OFFERING OF THE GROUP, FILLED WITH CLASSIC SONGS FROM MESSAGE FROM A DRUM AND WOVOKA. THIS BAND HAD SO MUCH SOUL AND TALENT, IT'S A SHAME THEY DIDN'T GET MORE RECOGNITION THAT THEY GOT. THE LEAD SINGER...LOLLY VEGAS, SOUNDS A LOT LIKE MARVIN GAYE. ROCK ON, REDBONE!

Other than 'Come & Get Your Love', and a very small amount of airplay for 'Maggie' and 'Witch Queen of New Orleans', Redbone are virtually unknown to most; and especially those under 40 years of age. Thank goodness some of their music has been put to CD. Song after song, the music has great lyrics and dynamic rhythms whether slow or fast. The music is timeless.

The first half is "Potlatch," and the second half is "Message from a Drum," although the collection throws two tracks from "Wovoka" on for good measure. Well, I have some problems with the package. First, the second song from "Potlatch," "Light as a Feather," is cut. However, I've heard about this problem in the past with other collections by this band. Why is that happening? I have the original LP, and I was expecting to hear the layered intro to the song, but it cuts in during the intro and sounds very awkward. Next, neither "Come and Get Your Love," nor "Wovoka" were on either of those albums, so why are they here? This is not a "greatest hits" collection. If you're simply seeking their most popular tunes, you'd be better served by an actual hits collection and not something that includes some of these tracks. None of these tracks are bad at all; as a matter of fact, this is one of my favorite bands of all time, and Lolly Vegas was an amazing guitarist. However, the schizophrenic nature of the CD forces me to skip it sometimes. One thing: I'd say that if the material had been remastered beyond this point, it would sound even better; it sounds good here-much better than the vinyl, but whoever is responsible for this can do better and give us a more updated sound (the mastering sounds 90's to me). Lastly, there is no actual information about the band inside, so the title "Golden Classics" is misleading (it makes it sound like a "hits" collection, when it is actually a reissue of one in-print CD and one long gone LP). I'd like to hear, finally, "Already Here," which is another long-gone LP that has never made its way to CD. Why didn't they pair "Message" with "Already Here," since both are out of print? I can get "Potlatch" anywhere.

My brother always enjoyed "Come and Get Your Love" back in '73 when it came out. But I had no idea about the other great music they made, until Rollye James started playing it on her (satellite / internet) radio program. Then I was instantly hooked! This is a wonderful introduction to this tragically overlooked band. There are only a few small criticisms of this CD. A few of the tunes ("Maxsplivitz" and "Perico") are only a few seconds long, which is a bit strange. Also the more unfamiliar songs (like "Drinkin' and Blo") lean toward the "bloozier" side of the band. The real gem here is "The Sun Never Shines Upon the Lonely" which almost sounds like a forgotten doo-wop classic by the Four Seasons! Also consider that Pat and Lolly Vegas (the "battery" of the group) were once part of the Shindogs on TV's "Shindig!" show! (Check out their YouTube videos). They were also in a spy spoof film called 'The Nasty Rabbit.' Once you get this CD, go back and buy their previous album releases. Great music, fun vibrations and an uplifting philosophy -- just what we need in these troubled times!

I have liked this music, since I first bought the cassette, way back in the 70's. I didn't think that I would ever see it on cd. A very different beat, and different type of music, all the way around. Most of it will get your feet tapping, and the other, you have to listen to it, more than once, to fully get into it.

I have been a big fan of Redbone since the early '70s. That's when I heard for the first time of them with their third album they released "Message From A Drum". They were and still are one of the most unique rock groups that have ever been around. They had a rich blend of rock, funk, blues and cajun with their own native-american music heritige mixed in that made Redbone's truely one of a kind group. When I started getting into adding CDs to my music collection trying to find CDs by Redbone became an important search for me. For years it was nothing but frustration in my search. But thanks to perservering the search is over. I have finally found CDs by Redbone including "Golden Classics" which I recently purchased. "Golden Classics" is in fact two of Redbones albums combined onto one disc. It includes their second record "Potlatch" which includes Redbones hit song Maggie" and "Message From A Drum" their third album with their hit "Witch Queen Of New Orleans". As an added bonus to fill out the disc a couple of songs from Redbones 5th albun is included on "Golden Classics" including Redbones all time biggest hit "Come And Get Your Love". This CD is any Redbone's fans dream come true. I know their first album, the self titled "Redbone" is finally out on disc. Now if they would work on getting their other albums re-released on CD life would be great for us Redbone fans.

I have been a big fan of Redbone since the early '70s. That's when I heard for the first time of them with their third album they released "Message From A Drum". They were and still are one of the most unique rock groups that have ever been around. They had a rich blend of rock, funk, blues and cajun with their own native-american music heritige mixed in that made Redbone's truely one of a kind group. When I started getting into adding CDs to my music collection trying to find CDs by Redbone became an important search for me. For years it was nothing but frustration in my search. But thanks to perservering the search is over. I have finally found CDs by Redbone including "Golden Classics" which I recently purchased. "Golden Classics" is in fact two of Redbones albums combined onto one disc. It includes their second record "Potlatch" which includes Redbones hit song Maggie" and "Message From A Drum" their third album with their hit "Witch Queen Of New Orleans". As an added bonus to fill out the disc a couple of songs from Redbones 5th albun is included on "Golden Classics" including Redbones all time biggest hit "Come And Get Your Love". This CD is any Redbone's fans dream come true. I know their first album, the self titled "Redbone" is finally out on disc. Now if they would work on getting their other albums re-released on CD life would be great for us Redbone fans.

I was very disappointed in this product. The C.D. must have been the original C.D. because it was not remastered at all. The sound is not very good. That is of course due to the lack of being "updated"or "upgraded"with regard to the sound.
I also recall being impressed that the band was Native American. When I read the information about the band they knew nothing about their culture to speak of. There are much more authentic bands that are Native Americans out there now that are great. Redbone is not that impressive when it comes down to it.
CCL

I was actually raised listening to this album and "Message from a Drum". My mother still has both of these LP's and I was at her house today listening to them.
It was a surprise to hear them again today and remember how much I loved their songs growing up. They are a great band with much more talent than I believe they were ever given credit for. Just listen to "Message from a Drum" as it transitions into "niji Trance"...great lyrics and vocals!!