Roots Archives Forum

I used 2 listen to this artist back in the days,i wonder whether he is still singing,would also like to get his album called BANZANI.any clues?

i heard the album .. think i only liked 1 song from it

Willy,

Just listened to Donovan's latest cd called 'Life Code of Ethics' --- a couple of good songs on it,,,,there were several tunes that coulda been REAL good if they didn't overproduce the music.

A few too many dramatic chord changes, overproduced horns etc etc --- leading to a poppier feel than I care for...

Stil,,,,Donovan can sing ---- at one point, in one song, I even heard shades of a potential Carl Dawkins sound alike. But just like the tracks, Donovan can try and extend himself too much that it becomes distracting.

imo, if he had kept some of the tunes on 'Life Code of Ethics' a bit more grittier,,,,I would be raving about him and the cd more so.

My favorite tunes from his two previous lps [both produced by Jack Ruby] include:

*Bonzani LP*: Devils Workshop, Mi Nuh Business, Days of Sorrow & Serious Man

*World Power LP*: Easy Mi Idren & Abas Apartheid

Again, even on Bonzani & World Power,,, there were other songs that woulda been better without the [relative] high production efforts.

But I guess artists and labels are trying to reach a wider audience,,,,,so maybe they think people like a more polished sound.

I say make it sound rougher,,,,that's why I got into Reggae in the first place.

Thanks for the tip on Donovan's latest cd 'Life Code of Ethics', I'll pick it up today! Donovan was well ahead of his time back in 1989. Banzani! was an amazing record that I am blessed to have come accross back then. His impact is far reaching, So. Cal kings, Slightly Stoopid just released a cover of "Serious Man" on a digital download that will give you goose bumps!

Although it's nice, in a way, to see a Reggae artist impact reach out, I do hope SS mention that 'Serious Man' is not their song when performing it live, at least say something like, this is a song by Donovan.

I might not have heard the specific "digital download" version of SS 'Serious Man' but what I did hear was, well, nothing very special.

As Joe Higgs sang, 'World Upside Down' - I guess this statement may be applied here when we realize that some people may think 'Serious Man' is a Slightly Stoopid song instead of discovering the real source the song the first time around.

i have only listen to few songs of this man.
is he still singing , and if so where. does he have a another album.
i honestly like and respect his songs. spiritual, inspirational.
this is ranking p from kenya.
i am also an artiste.
be blessed all the time guys.