Classic Singers, New Albums
Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 9:38 pm
I recently picked up a copy of the newish Cedric Congo Meets Mad Professor album, and, well it's really, really good.
Now I'm normally a "if it was cut past '83 or so I'm not interested" guy with the best of them. There is certainly no arguing that the tunes coming out of Jamaica in the '70s were very, very special and cannot be replicated. It was a creative period that is unmatched in the short history of reggae music.
However, it is albums like the aforementioned that always remind me that excellent roots reggae tunes are still being cut, and by some of the most important musicians that were a part of the golden age. Cedric Congo still sounds great and the Mad Professor riddims (many of which are familiar classics)are solid, making for an album that while not striving too hard to sound "vintage" retains much of the feel of the reggae music we all love. It is also cut in a "showcase" format with dub versions following each track. Wicked.
Anyway, I thought I'd ask what albums with classic singers/instrumentalists have you heard in the past few years that capture that unmistakable '70s vibe? I submit that the new Cedric Congo album accomplishes the feat beautifully.
Now I'm normally a "if it was cut past '83 or so I'm not interested" guy with the best of them. There is certainly no arguing that the tunes coming out of Jamaica in the '70s were very, very special and cannot be replicated. It was a creative period that is unmatched in the short history of reggae music.
However, it is albums like the aforementioned that always remind me that excellent roots reggae tunes are still being cut, and by some of the most important musicians that were a part of the golden age. Cedric Congo still sounds great and the Mad Professor riddims (many of which are familiar classics)are solid, making for an album that while not striving too hard to sound "vintage" retains much of the feel of the reggae music we all love. It is also cut in a "showcase" format with dub versions following each track. Wicked.
Anyway, I thought I'd ask what albums with classic singers/instrumentalists have you heard in the past few years that capture that unmistakable '70s vibe? I submit that the new Cedric Congo album accomplishes the feat beautifully.