Roots Archives Forum

Hi friends. I do not own any Johnny Osbourne. I know some of his output & I was going to buy the recent Studio 1 re-issue of Truths & Rights, but it has been badly slated. Is this relevant to someone who owns much of his work and therefore an ideal starting place for me, or just not a good buy. Cue Leggo Rocker, Rootsman et al. Your advice has been great in the past and I would appreciate some more please.

Thanks

G

king g wrote:Studio 1 re-issue of Truths & Rights, but it has been badly slated.

Not sure who by as it was voted Best Vocal Album Reissue in the **[2008 Roots Archive Awards](http://www.roots-archives.com/awards/)**!
It's a must-have.

Also I can't get enough of this twofer;
[cover=636,751]

'Talk about an open goal, with so much great Johnny Osbourne at Brentford Road still un-revived, this comp is a miserably wasted opportunity. Honestly, pretty pathetic — but still, a few extras and (dodgy) extendeds...'

From Honest Jon's website

ites

king g wrote:'Talk about an open goal, with so much great Johnny Osbourne at Brentford Road still un-revived, this comp is a miserably wasted opportunity. Honestly, pretty pathetic — but still, a few extras and (dodgy) extendeds...'

From Honest Jon's website

ites

LOL. Excellent. Well as you can see it romped home in the Awards.
I think the issue they have is with the wasted opportunity. I'll take them to task next time I am in there!
And I totally disagree with their view on the extras.

From **[Sounds Of The Universe Website](http://www.soundsoftheuniverse.com/releases/?id=10605)** - "New deluxe edition with extra tracks. A classic album! Recommended."

Great. Thats what I wanted to hear. Please remember, their words & not mine!!

G

I have only 25 tracks by Johnny Osbourne - some of which i think are really excellent, most just goodish.

The Truth and Rights collection does not appeal greatly to me apart from say the title track - though I much prefer Al Campbell's Take a Ride on the same riddim.

Far better to me are Nyah Man and Purify Your Heart (both on the Trojan Roots box set). Really excellent in fact.
Anyone know more by him in a similar vein/style?
He is very highly thought of by many but what I know of his output I find inconsistent.

I have the ten track CD reissue from a few years ago.
Are the extras noteworthy?

Strange, his voice changes quite a bit over the years...

The 2 CD version of "Come Back Darling" on Trojan is a great starting point, as it contains many of his early hits, including the title track, and "Purify Your Heart", and the oh-so-wicked "See And Blind".

Someone should take some of this S1 12"s like "More Water Than Flour", "Murderer" and "Mr Sea" on a release....all quality sides, and maybe a better representation of his talents than is "Truth Or Rights".

@Dave K
Glad to know I'm not completely off base!
I bought the 10 track CD a few years ago probably on the strength of the excellence of Purify Your Heart and well...it went on the shelf after probably one disappointed effort to listen.
I love lots of Studio One stuff of this period so I was a bit surprised this stuff sounded so flat and uninspired. Singjay Style is just plain annoying which weirdly makes it stand out from the other tracks! In my opinion!

I'll look out for 'Come Back Darling'

Thankyou for all your valued info

G

I love Johnny Osbourne. He does have high highs and low lows, though. Oddly enough, he was one of the first singers I got into when I first started listening to reggae. When he has a good song to work with, he can be great, and I love his voice. Sometimes, he has unbelievably bad lyrics. So, all of his records, to me, have some skip-worthy tracks, but I do love all of the following:

[cover=1009,1164] [cover=GREL 61]
[cover=DHLP 2001][cover=GRELCD 512]
[cover=TTL 29]

And of course, Truths & Rights