Customer Reviews

Live

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

 

 

This album is moving.... not only lyrically and vocally, but musically. Winston Rodney and the band easily earn their titles as reggae prophets in this spiritual album that lacks any mediocrity. It is a merciless seduction of the listener, I only wish it was longer. It isn't as well produced as Live in Paris or later recordings, but it is an elegant recording from one of reggaes living messiahs.

It is a pity that this recording is so high priced because it hasn't been reissued again. So many people will stay away from a brilliant live recording.Winston Rodney is is fine form on every track. "Old Marcus," Burning Spears ode to Marcus Garvey, who preached the return to Africa, is incredible. Rodney Winston seems to be intrenched in a deep meditation as he broods and exorcices his demons, practically crying with emotion as he leads into "Man in the Hills" and as though suddenly awakened he comes out strong. His little bird like chirps are very cool. Some of the strongest tracks like "Marcus Garvey', "Slavery Days", 'Old Marcus" and "Man in the Hills" may also be found on Burning Spear: Marcus Garvey/Garvey's Ghost or Marcus Garvey. Every song is tight but you gotta love the syncopated beat and trumpet work by Bobby Ellis on "Marcus Garvey" as Rodney works his magic amongst the fractured beats. For my money the exceptional "Slavery Days" is a song for the ages. Rodney's voice is the perfect vechicle for delivering the somber message as he inquiries "Do you remember the days of slavery?" "Do You?" he repeats various times to a call and response from the crowd. It is an awesome interaction. This is a great little (not very long)disc that fans of roots reggae should seek out in the abandoned record bins. Seek and you shall find. For collectors the hunt is half the fun! Have fun looking for this gem in the rough.

Massive low end, clear drums, and the vocals and horns rock solid in your face. The recording is superb, but Winston's performance has to be heard to be believed. If you are into real, roots reggae, you have to have this, but on a boombox or whatnot it simply will not work.

I love this album, with its booming low end and crisp treble. The live versons of Old Marcus Garvey, Slavery Days, Man in the Hills surpass the studio version in power, emotion, intensity and pure groove. I only wish it was longer. The band is top notch, the horn section particularly soulful, and the man himself sounds possessed. Words cannot to this album justice. My favorite Burning Spear album.

The earlier reviewers did not mention that Spear is backed by the powerful UK band ASWAD on this CD...the CD moves as earlier ASWAD did within a tight roots structure..for another great live sounding CD, also recorded in the UK, get ASWAD'S Live and Direct...it seems both are difficult to find but both are clean sounding and energetic.

Emagine,you are sitting on the beach, the weather is lovely, there are some gorgeous buetiful women, you drink a cocktail, you enjoy the panoramic vieuw of the caribian sea, and then you hear burning spears records. emagine...