Customer Reviews

Playtime

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

 

 

David Hillyard is an utter legend. Aside from playing with, among others, the Slackers, Stubborn All-Stars, Hepcat, etc, he also has his Rocksteady Seven, featuring members of, amongst others, Mephiskapheles, the Skatalites, Skavoovie and the Epitones, plus the legend that is Vic Ruggiero. This is, as you'd expect, prime ska, reggae and, (naturally) rocksteady. It's mostly instrumental, apart from a couple of tracks featuring the guys from Hepcat. You have to hand it to Tim and Hellcat, this is another fine skankin release. Standout track: an awesome cover of the Beatles 'Norwegian Wood'

I never heard of David Hillyard until just recently, and I have to tell you I really like his style. This is a very good cd. Most of the songs are instrumental, but the two songs that have vocals "Angry Lady" and "The Fool" are excellent. "Angry Lady" is probably one of my new favorite songs. If anybody has any more information about this great saxist, please email me.

David Hillyard & the Rocksteady 7 is one of those obscure discs that will be a treat to uncover. They formed to create a fusion between Jamaican music, ska & jazz; and the hybrid bubbles with energy and excitement. Two instrumentals capture the imagination. The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" because it is a familiar tune given a totally new twist as a reggae jazz blast that is excellent. My other favorite is "Skavez" with its Cuban rhythms of piano mixed with a reggae beat. "Hillyard Street" sounds like a soul version of a Ramsey Lewis track. Eddie Ocampo of the reggae band Insteps does some fancy drum work on the driving "Father & Son." The title track is like a Jamaican Duke Ellington. "Ugly Man Blues" has a zany urgency combined with a Peter Gunn like theme. "Playtime" is a mostly instrumental explosion. Seek & you shall find! Enjoy!

Excellent service.
The product was deliverd on time.
Will purchase from this seller again in the future.
thanks.

this is a good album. it leans more towards the jazz side of ska, which is my preference, and leans away from the goofy lyrics that plagues much of non-jamaican ska. solid and mature.

David Hillyard is among main forces behind the Slackers, Hepcat, Stubborn Allstars, and many others. Listening his tenor gives you a certain chill, because it has a beautiful melody. This album is highly sophisticated. The high quality of his tenor line has been already demonstrated to us by the Slackers' instrumental tunes like "Sauron," "Cooking For Tommy," and "Old Days." His instrumentation is very smooth and attractive. It has been passed almost 6 years after the release of this album, but "Playtime" remains to be one of the influential works in the realm of rocksteady. Stand-out tracks include "Hillyard Street," "Father and Son," (my favorite one!), and "Sidney's Ghost." If you love any tenor lines of the Slackers, this CD is highly recommended. No regret will be given. As summer is nearby us, this music would be a perfect inauguration for good weather, and a good bye to miserable winter. Finally, this is another solid release by Hellcat Rec.