Who was Lion Zion?
-
cong bunny
Re: Who was Lion Zion?
From memory an American Singer who came to black Ark with songs he wanted Lee Perry to produce.
The resulting album was Reggae in America and presumably had a bit of post production done on it in America.
It’s a great album, it has an almost folk feel to it in places, especially in Lion’s lyrics, it also has a Jamaican choir in it too (again from memory) which lends some of the songs a very different sound.
David Katz pretty much panned the album in his people funny boy book (or at least said that Lion’s vocals weren’t up to Perry’s Tunes), but I feel it is one of the most interesting works that Perry got involved in.
It’s a shame that it isn’t widely available. Great songs on it.
The resulting album was Reggae in America and presumably had a bit of post production done on it in America.
It’s a great album, it has an almost folk feel to it in places, especially in Lion’s lyrics, it also has a Jamaican choir in it too (again from memory) which lends some of the songs a very different sound.
David Katz pretty much panned the album in his people funny boy book (or at least said that Lion’s vocals weren’t up to Perry’s Tunes), but I feel it is one of the most interesting works that Perry got involved in.
It’s a shame that it isn’t widely available. Great songs on it.
-
blackarkrock
- Posts: 306
- Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:14 am
Re: Who was Lion Zion?
Recorded by Lee Perry at the Black Ark in 1976, but as cong bunny says, finished elsewhere.
It doesn´t sound very Black Arky at all, except for Who Killed The Buffalo / Buffalo Dub (if I remember the titles correctly), which are very good!. The rest is so-so...
It doesn´t sound very Black Arky at all, except for Who Killed The Buffalo / Buffalo Dub (if I remember the titles correctly), which are very good!. The rest is so-so...
-
sleng teng
Re: Who was Lion Zion?
They may re-relase it someday as they did with the Natives album...
-
Visitor
Re: Who was Lion Zion?
IMO this very recognizable black ark sound compare for example "War Inna Babylon" its from same era... Although this is lacking the final mix down by Scratch.
-
Congo Bunny
Re: Who was Lion Zion?
Yeah I find it very Lee Perry/Black Ark sounding also, but with an almost pop/folk twist to the production, which means that peeps are quite right to say it doesn’t sound Perry-ish (enough Caveats?)
Katz says of Lion Zion (Paraphrased) “He was a black American singer, who operated a record shop on the East Coast and was involved in the production of a small reggae magazine. Perry’s wife met him a few times in a New York record shop and said come to Jamaica, so he did bare foot! Perry created the rhythms for the songs (on Reggae in America) which Zion had written.”
Personally I love Zion’s Lyrics they are anti establishment, revolutionary and witty.
Seems there was a Jamaican and an American choir singing on the album, although Katz doesn’t say where their parts were recorded.
If you can get this album and you’re a fan of Perry you should get it, because it helps to complete the picture of the man and really is a great album. However if it’s costly and money is tight it may well cause disappointment. Personally I love it and I’d love to see it re-released
Katz says of Lion Zion (Paraphrased) “He was a black American singer, who operated a record shop on the East Coast and was involved in the production of a small reggae magazine. Perry’s wife met him a few times in a New York record shop and said come to Jamaica, so he did bare foot! Perry created the rhythms for the songs (on Reggae in America) which Zion had written.”
Personally I love Zion’s Lyrics they are anti establishment, revolutionary and witty.
Seems there was a Jamaican and an American choir singing on the album, although Katz doesn’t say where their parts were recorded.
If you can get this album and you’re a fan of Perry you should get it, because it helps to complete the picture of the man and really is a great album. However if it’s costly and money is tight it may well cause disappointment. Personally I love it and I’d love to see it re-released
-
mr mountain
- Posts: 182
- Joined: Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:37 am
Re: Who was Lion Zion?
As On The LP-
Lion Zion- Lead Vocals
David Madden- Trumpet
Glen DaCosta- Tenor Sax
Vin Gordon- Trombone
Keith Sterling- Piano,Organ
Fil Callender- R,Guitar
Anthony Creary- Drums
Lloyd Parks- Bass
Voices Of The Oakland Black Ensemble
(Oakland Calif) "American Revolution"
Conducted By Phillip Reedey
Riva Florida (Soloist)
National Dance Theatre Singers(of Jamaica) "Turn Toward's The Sun"
Barry & Earl-Supporting Voices "who Killed The Buffalo"&"Gas Guzzler"
Ron Stallings-(flute) "Beautiful Day"& (Saxaphone) "Reggae In America"
Carlyle (Steel Drums) "Gas Guzzler"
Leslie Hart-Hammond (Voice) "Beautiful Day"
Steve Grushkin (Lead Guitar) "Arise America"
-recorded in "The Black Ark" Kgn.Ja
engineered & mixed by Lee Scratch Perry
and Freeway Recording-Oakland,Calif
eng.B.Dangerfield asst, Ron Hatiz
Mastered By C.B.S, San Francisco
eng, Phil Brown
House Of Natty Records
hope this helps a bit
Lion Zion- Lead Vocals
David Madden- Trumpet
Glen DaCosta- Tenor Sax
Vin Gordon- Trombone
Keith Sterling- Piano,Organ
Fil Callender- R,Guitar
Anthony Creary- Drums
Lloyd Parks- Bass
Voices Of The Oakland Black Ensemble
(Oakland Calif) "American Revolution"
Conducted By Phillip Reedey
Riva Florida (Soloist)
National Dance Theatre Singers(of Jamaica) "Turn Toward's The Sun"
Barry & Earl-Supporting Voices "who Killed The Buffalo"&"Gas Guzzler"
Ron Stallings-(flute) "Beautiful Day"& (Saxaphone) "Reggae In America"
Carlyle (Steel Drums) "Gas Guzzler"
Leslie Hart-Hammond (Voice) "Beautiful Day"
Steve Grushkin (Lead Guitar) "Arise America"
-recorded in "The Black Ark" Kgn.Ja
engineered & mixed by Lee Scratch Perry
and Freeway Recording-Oakland,Calif
eng.B.Dangerfield asst, Ron Hatiz
Mastered By C.B.S, San Francisco
eng, Phil Brown
House Of Natty Records
hope this helps a bit