Sugar Minott & V.A. - "In A Pretty Good Shape"

[dr benway]

Hi everyone

I just got the opportunity to buy this, but I havent heard it. I know its a live set, and I've got a few live sets with very poor sound quality in the past. This one looks nice though, with turns on the mic from Purplman, Pampidoo, Sugar Minott, Don Carlos, Tullo, etc etc. Has anyone heard this, and would you recommend it (specifiaclly in terms of sound quality / mastering etc)? Also, is 25 dollars a fair price? I suppose thats around 17-18 pounds...

Here is the r.a. page

http://www.roots-archives.com/release/3513

Cheers for any / all help here-

DrB

[Dave K]

I've got a copy of this one. It's very good quality, however it's a "studio session" done in a way to resemble a dance, not an actual dance itself. Very much like Coxsone's "Dance Hall '69".

If you have the money to spare, and you like the artists involved, I would say it's worthwhile @ $25-. It's not one that you see very often, and I don't believe that it was that widely circulated when it came out. And where else will you hear Ken Booth "is session"?

[dr benway]

Thanks Dave K - you've sold me on this one.

[adambom]

If I remember right, it sounds like a live session, later mixed in the studio to try to give it that rub a dub feel, but I always thought that the post recording mixing only took away from the quality of sound and continuity of the session. I never really thought that it was actually recorded in the studio as well, I'll have to go back and listen. Still, its a keeper for the collection, like you guys mention, where else are you gonna hear some of these guys inna live jamdown stylee!?

[kalcidis@oslo]

Haven't this one been reissued though? Think I've seen it numerous times on eBay. Not entirely certain still.

[jahadambom]

Not a Re-issue. It is an original press on the L & M label. I've seen a few copies floating around for relatively cheap as well.

[Skirt and Blouse]

I have had this LP in the crates for years now. Wicked LP BUT and there is a but !! The mixing is very poor. The Operator goes wild on the set and drops the vocal in and out completely in places which takes away from a lot of the LP. The Minott tunes are fab. Ken Booth gets boo'd by the crowd and Minott steps in to his defence giving him nuff props and saying that Ken is a foundation youth and to stop boo the man.

Apart from the mix drop outs it is a very entertaining set and well worth listening too.