Customer Reviews

Live & Direct

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Aswad has long been known for their powerfully riveting live show, and while I am not a fan of live lps at all, I give Island records their due for producing a very credible live album of a band who was at their prime as a reggae act.

Many of Aswad's great early tracks are on thei alum, though I wish that tracks like "Back to Africa," and "Ethiopian Rhapsody," had been included on this lp.

Still, it is quite obvious from the lp that Aswad were on that evening, and the results are wonderful. While I never give live recordings a 5 star rating and generally shy away from recommending them at all, I would be comfortable recommending this lp as a decent example of Aswad in their prime.

This is hands-down the best live reggae album I have ever heard! The band is on fire, and the recording is raw but captures the moment perfectly. Absolutely an essential part of my collection and one of my all-time favorite records.

The first time i ever heard this CD was in California, I was at a party and my friend had suggested Reggae music.I myself did not want to hear any Reggae music especially a band named Aswad and he told me how do you know if you don't like it if you haven't even heard it yet.Well to make a long story short he put the CD on and i was totally blown away.I had never heard Reggae music sound so perfect coming from his speakers.I knew right there and then.I was now an Aswad fan and i spent my entire next day searching for this disc.Believe you me,If you've never been to a reggae concert in your life.Buy this CD.take it home and crank it as loud as you can.Believe me it will be like if you were there live at the Notting Hill Gate Carnival 1983.Oh yea don't forget to buy a referee whistle to blow during the songs. As far as the songs on this CD.You wont be disapointed.Every song on this entire CD is awsome. (Roots Rocking) My favorite song.

I love this album, though i am not an Aswad fan, except for their first album. Very energetic, I wish I had been there. The enthusiam of the band as well as the audiance has been beautifully captured. It also features a little soca and some wild drumsolos.

OK..it is a good thing that this CD is re released,Aswad,UB40 and Steel Pulse were the leaders who defined the commercial UK bands.
Whereas Steel Pulse's strength lies in it's jamming ability, a band bolstered by their leader and front man David Hind's, whose feet long dread point upward as their political aspirations do, Aswad on the other hand like Pulse began in earnest as a Jazz fused reggae band but evolved more as sweet soul men masking behind sci-fi soundscapes,sweet Abba tunes later converted into hits,more lover's rock than strident militancy.
Aswad's introversion is more into love making than militancy, as a then functional trio they packed a unique rhythm with funky,sweet and lovely harmonies, great studio chicanery and overall stellar musicianship...
This live CD is a great upbeat affair,one of the best live reggae Cd's of any band capturing Aswad live at The Notting Hill Gate Carnival 1n 1983 when Aswad became a trio packing a strong punch behind main main Brinsley Forde, his co singer and drummer Drummie Zeb,and bassist Tony Robinson.The lineup here includes 2 lead guitarists, keyboards and that great traditional horn team of a sax,trumpet and trombone adding sway to the sensuous rhythms of Aswad.
The songs contained within were their staples of the time, with a 10 minute medley recorded well and mastered digitally...the cover artwork depicts the UK festival with it's political undertones and overt festivities..you can feel it all here..
Aswad's next studio album, Rebel Souls, their studio classic, will probably be reissued as well.

This is Aswad at their very best. Energy and sweet base lines. Live recordings are generally not great but this CD isn't too bad. Add it to your collection, buy a convertible car with CD player, hope for sunshine, throw the roof open, turn it up a bit (don't go too far though), smile.

These are the words that open the album 'You know what live and direkk mean?' what? 'It mean Live and direkkk!!'
'Lemme hear ya say YEAHHH!!!!'
and we are dragged off our feet to some of the greatest beats in the history of popular music. What more would you want? Deep wobbly bass lines, fantastic drums, and Horns that make you come!

There are a lot of Aswad's signature tunes on this album 'Not Satisfied','Drum and bass line' and my personal favorite, the passionate 'African Children' ,the album just pounds you stronger and stronger, their is nothing weak whatsoever about this album. One reviewer, I think said he/she didn't like live albums because of one reason or the other but what he/she didn't understand was the sheer power that this album and all good live albums have.

I would put this album alongside the likes of the who's 'Live at leeds', Neil Young's 'Live Rust' and The Grateful Dead's 'Live Dead'.

THIS ALBUM IS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING FROM START TO FINISH, PROBABLY ASWAD'S BEST TO DATE, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

NOW IM NOT REALLY A BIG ASWAD FAN AT ALL,REALLY THE ONLY SONG THAT HAS EVER DONE IT FOR ME IS "YOUR RECIPE",BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID THIS IS GONNA BE OFF THE MARK.THIS ALBUM IS AWESOME IT TOTALLY CHANGED MY OPINION ON ASWAD.THE DUB ON AFRICAN CHILDREN IS TRULY AMAZING,ITS HARD TO FIND THAT GOOD OF LIVE DUB.ALL OF THE SONGS ARE BRILLIANT EXCEPT FOR THE "CARNIVAL"MEDLEY WHICH IS ULTRA CHEESY,BUT OTHER THAN THAT EVERY SONG IS AWESOME. MY FAVORITES OVERALL BEING "YOUR RECIPE"STILL BECAUSE THAT IS SONGWRITING AND PERFORMING AT ITS VERY BEST.CHECK IT OUT IF YOU FIND SOMEWHERE FOR 10 BUCKS OR SO.RAS JOSH

This CD is awesome, with good ol' reggae using lots of brass.
If you like Marley style you should get this one too.
The best part is when they go into those long interludes or middle sections with the brass, drums and bass just pounding music.

You feel like dancing in an almost hypnotic way. Great Album.