Customer Reviews

Roast Fish & Cornbread

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

 

 

This is a seminal album from Lee Perry's Black Ark period but the sound quality on this reissue is extremely poor. It sounds like it was mastered from vinyl (which can be ok) but slightly off the correct speed (which is extremely annoying). Buy this at your own risk...

'Arkology' and 'Super Ape' (both on Island) and 'The Heart of the Congos' by the Congos on Blood and Fire records (not the VP Records version) are essential Black Ark missives from the Upsetter that would be a much better use of your cash.

The domestically available vinyl and CD versions of this would-be-great album are marred by uneven pitch, possibly the result of a problem w/the mastering of the original tapes. The songs are great but difficult to listen to if you're sensitive to these things...the pitch wanders up and down in a maddening cycle, not flat, now sharp, occasionally true. This is a shame as the songs are AWESOME, great productions compromised somewhere down the production line on their way to your home stereo...

I'm giving this release of ROAST FISH, COLLIE WEED, AND CORN BREAD five stars because it's Lee Perry's tour-de-force...but the sound quality is just plain lousy. The tracks you hear on the CD come directly from an old vinyl copy of the album which was obviously in less than mint condition. Is this the best we can do for a genius like Scratch? ROAST FISH deserves a lavish re-release like the Congos' first album. Where are the master tapes?!
"Roast Fish and Corn Bread" is a great track, but it's the one that everybody and his brother talks about(tantamount to having a discussion about the Rolling Stones and saying, "'(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' is awesome!"). The real standouts here are the playful "Favourite Dish"(in which Perry repeats the crying-baby effect he first used in the awe-inspiring "People Funny Boy"), the saxaphone-driven "Big Neck Police"(with gorgeous backing vocals by the Full Experience), and--best of all--the paranoid, menacing "Evil Tongues". You can hear the anguish in Perry's gravelly voice as he sings the chorus, and a single withering note from Earl "Chinna" Smith's guitar drones on and on and on. Amazing.

Shot through with genius and dementia, the murky sound quality only adds to the hallucinogenic, dream-like quality of this classic from Perry's Black Ark era. Features the mooing cow, crying baby and ascending jet sounds as musical elements (as opposed to sound effects). Complaints about the sound quality miss the point. From what I've read about Mr. Perry in his Black Ark period, the murkiness may have been intentional.

...is to buy "Apeology" which I think has the same songs, same recording but mastered from a different source to the "pressed off-centre record" presented here. I make no promises as I can't listen to them both just at the moment but I think you'll be pleased if, like me, you love the music on here but found it unlistenable in the state it is on this release. Good luck.

Lee "Scratch" Perry is one of my favorite reggae artists. The man has put his stamp on so many great records (mostly from a production standpoint). On this album, Lee Perry flexes his vocal stylings over some excellent riddims. While his voice might not be as impressionable as a Bob Marley or a Michael Rose, Lee can definitely throw down. Favorites include "Roast Fish and Corn Bread" which sports a hard hitting bassline along with a droned out bell effect. It's the perfect song for those blessed with a quality sound system. "Soul Fire" is an all-time favorite of mine. The production is classic Perry. Soaring horns, a percussion that sounds like steam out of a kettle, low reverb bass, and Lee Perry pouring his soul into this monster of a song. This is an album that shouldn't be missed when checking for some great reggae music!

I love the stuff that came out of Black Ark studios in the 70's. "Scratch" made a lot of wonderful madness during that period. This album is one of those wonderfully mad recordings. It's very spacey and out there while still being heavy reggae. From the jazzy sax on 'soul fire' to the otherworldly title song, it's enjoyable. So grab a blunt and pop it in!

I recently found a mix of this tune on a "Reggae Greats" compilation casette in the bargain bin at a chain record store. The version on the tape has been mixed differently than any other version I've been able to find. The speaking in the intro has been mixed much farther up front. The first time I heard it I practically drove off the road. The version from this album just doesn't sound as good, and this new mix really brings out the greatness of the song. This tune is truly a serious piece of work, and has more integrity in all of its lo-fi glory than almost anything else I've heard on the radio over the last ten years. When he sings: "we aint go no water". You can really feel that fire....Lee Perry is a genius.

Although the sound quality is not the best, this is a classic example of Lee Perry in his prime. The only downside, is that it is too short . It is a good one to add to any collection

the sound quality is sub-par, but this is the real deal. Skunky, skanky, smoked-out dubs from the echo chamber of the Black Ark. The perfect stoned soundtrack.