CULTURE is the best band EVER!

[Inyaki]

( Pedantic comment.....)
Culture is really a vocal trio, not a band!

One of my favourites vocal groups, specially when it comes to conscious songs using major chords (the best at that). Joseph was a great man to meet and work with.

Lion Rock is my favourite album. Is really Joseph Hill and the Soul Defenders.

[Dubs_West]

-

[Marky Dread]

( Pedantic comment.....)
Culture is really a vocal trio, not a band!

i was waiting for this! perfect point...
the reason for the post in the first place was the spirituality i sense in joseph hill's voice (and the POWER and CONVICTION with which he sang)... the riddims were always top notch, and so much of their output is considered classic...
my VERY fave LP of theirs? "two sevens"

thanks for all the comments!

[Funky Punk]

Thanks very much for all the recs, guys. I'll be sure to check them out the next time I get the urge. I notice that the Virgin/Frontline albums are usually quite cheap.

Yaknow, for the longest time, I thought that the first line of the chrous to 'Two Sevens Clash' was "I gotta leap out of the way when the two sevens clash".

[Marky Dread]

gotta` say Idren - I`m with you on that one. Culture was one of the first reggae groups that drew me to roots music and rastafari back when I was a youth mon` - not too long ago.Joseph Hill`s amazing vision, conscious lyrics - of the poor man`s plight, political themes and melodies of praise unto the king touched many people across the world for shore. Rough and soulful harmonies delivered by Albert Walker, Ken Paley and later Telford Nelson are unmatched. Besides the many favourites, InI`s major favourite still to this day must be "Tell Me Where You Get It". albums like "Harder Than the Rest, Cumbolo, International Herb and Two Sevens Clash can still be heard in a dreads shack across the slums of South Africa. Culture remains South Africa`s number one in roots reggae sales etching just ahead of Burning Spear.

What a great man Joseph Hill was and that he`s message and rhythm is still heard on many a system across the world.

a perfect tribute, Dubs West! thank you...

[panda]

this thread got me on a Culture kick again. for some reason i always assumed International Herb was released in the 80's or 90's, but yesterday i found out it was released in 79, the same year as Cumbolo, so now i have more appreciation for the album. i've always really liked it, but now i understand it isn't just a well done throwback to 70's roots - it is 70's roots, just with a slick, well crafted sound.

and yeah, The Shepherd, Rally Around Jahovia`s Throne, and Too Long in Slavery are killer, but the whole album is very consistent.

[Funky Punk]

Two Sevens Clash is a cast iron classic, that is without question - but Baldhead Bridge is quite patchy, IMO.

I don't know if this is the case here, but that record reminds me of the common 'second album' situation where a band has already laid down all of the best songs from their live set at that point for the debut album, so they end up recording a bunch of songs that didn't make the cut the first time around, plus a handful that were worked out quickly 'in studio'.

[Rim Bim]

This thread reminds me that I've always wondered about the connection between Culture and The Gladiators. There are two songs ('Stop The Fussing & Fighting" and "Baldhead Bridge") hat both groups do, and in both cases The Gladiators version is the older one ("Baldhead Bridge" is called "Mr. Baldwin" when The Gladiators do it). What is the link there?

[Living Bate]

Culture drew me into reggae and I do rate them as the best...Joseph was a legend....so much great songs..

Natty Never Get Weary my favorite song

For me Harder Than The Rest / Cumbolo / Two Sevens Clash are inseperable albums


class

[Funky Punk]

So, I just ordered myself 'Harder Than The Rest'...