Customer Reviews

Mellow Dubmarine: Tribute to the Beatles

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

 

 

I was expecting one of those custom tribute albums where a bunch of srtists agree to make fresh versions of Beatles songs, but this is something a little different. From the varying recording quality it seems that the people at Recall have scoured the archives and done a compilation of previously existing covers. The result is a bit of curate's egg, but there are some very interesting tracks and it is a worthwhile buy for Beatles lovers who also like sixties style reggae. Some of the tracks have obviously been sourced from vinyl as you can sometimes hear surface noise, but all in all I'd recommend it.

The only thing redeeming about the negative reviews for this product is the sentiment that a Beatles Reggae tribute sounds like a terrible idea. The issue is that most reggae performed today is pop trash. This trend not only spoils most original music coming from Jamaica, but it has ruined many tributes, as with "Here Comes the Sun: A Reggae Tribute to the Beatles." As it turns out, "Mellow Dubmarine" succeeds where other fail. It goes beyond an intentional absence of today's R&B and pop infected reggae music. This album was produced in such a way to make it sound like it was recorded during the heyday of Studio One. Most of the songs on "Mellow Dubmarine" sound like they're thirty years old. Indeed, most roots reggae and ska renditions sound like they pre-date the actual covers. This album is done so well that most songs sound old enough to make the listener believe for a moment that the Beatles copied these songs from Jamaican artists. If there's a production theme, the word is "vintage." For most tracks, the only thing missing is the scratchy sound from the original vinyl. Naturally, some covers work better than others, but as a whole this is an excellent recording. Beyond a Beatles' tribute, this project covers the best of solo music by John Lennon and George Harrison. The experience would have been more consistent had only the first disc been released; disc two can be thought of as an enjoyable bonus CD. Unless it's done well, a Rasta inspired Beatles project sounds like a terrible idea. The chances of such a CD being done well is next to nil. Every once in a great while, the unlikely happens and it happened here. Both as a reggae recording and as a Beatles tribute, "Mellow Dubmarine" will deliver years of satisfaction.

If you are strictly a Beatles fan you may not like this album but if you are truly a fan of real roots regae you should own this one.

The first reviewer thought the producers made these tracks sound like old 70s reggae recordings. The fact is, for the mort part, they are! Reggae artists have always covered American and British hits from as far back as the 60s. This is a collection of songs independently covered by the many artists contained therein. My absolute favourite is Ernie Smith's rendition of "You Won't See Me". I had recorded this off of WLIB-NY's AM Caribbean radio station back in the 70s. It's nice to now have a fresh-sounding copy. If you like 70s style reggae & the Beatles, you will like this compilation.

I clicked on "I have listened to this recording, and I want to review it" but the truth is that I have listened to this recording and I don't want to review it -- or ever hear of it again -- and neither will you. Move on. Nothing to see here.

Being a gigantic reggae fan and beatles fan, every single one of the beatles tribute or cover cd's involving reggae are terrible. The versions, while some done by very famous and good reggae performers, are by no means very well performed, or recorded for that matter. This is not an effort like "Is It Rolling Bob?" (Bob Dylan cover CD) or Dub Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd), this is simply a collection of beatles covers released here and there throughout the years by reggae artists. Low quality and not what you'd really want to hear like Dubside, very boring.