Roots Archives Forum

Hey Rasta's!

What'cha think about Dillinger? The Ultimate Toaster!

nyce and easy, humorous too.somewhat of a story teller like i roy. i wouldn't say he's the ultimate toaster, he's good but not that good. and he also adapted the american slang jive rapping speech style

I think he is one of the greats. His material seems patchy though - there's some awful stuff by him. So not up there with the likes of U-Roy or even Ranking Trevor in my mind. But when he is good, he's on fire.

I recently got the original Clocktower release of 'Ranking Dillinger - Non Stop Disco Style'

http://www.roots-archives.com/release/1689

This is now perhaps the best of his work I have heard to date.

Although I still haven't heard Talking Blues or Ride Natty Dreadie which I understand are some of his best works.

Also, recently arrived here is 'Superstar'. I haven't played it yet as I need to clean it, I'll comment on it later.

If you dig his style, seek out some Trinity and Big Youth...personally I prefer the early 80s toastmasters, but Dillinger rocked some good vibrations

Trinity and Big Youth both do it for me. But my main man 70s toaster has to be Ranking Trevor.

U-Roy is the obvious choice, being one of the pioneers of the style. But I love the way Ranking Trevor linked up with so much good Revolutionaries material.

For the best of both worlds get this:

http://www.roots-archives.com/release/1320

Ranking Trevor and Trinity - KILLER!

www.roots-archives.com/release/3213
www.roots-archives.com/release/466
www.roots-archives.com/release/174

Dillinger is Top Ranking

Lion

Leggo Rocker, the opposite of you the only 2 Dillinger albums I have are Talking Blues and Ready Natty Dreadie, and this will seem like pure heresy coming from a dyed in the wool Studio One fan like myself but I think Talking Blues is a really strong album with some tuff Channel One rhythms in showcase style but Ready Natty Dreadie has always sounded a bit tentative to me...

Strictly IMHO you understand.

I can recommend this one very much;
http://www.roots-archives.com/release/926

One of my favorite albums with Dillinger (...and Trinity of course)

First 7inch that really got me into dillinger was on techniques tune called " Melting POt "
i could never find another dillinger track where he sounded like he did on that one. But that is probably my favorite dillinger track. It was a shame to see he turned to crack.

I think that his early stuff for Lee 'Scratch' Perry ridin' his riddims is fantastic. "Mid East Rock", "Uncle Charlie", "Tighten Up Skank" etc... and then his rootsy toasts is also excellent...songs such as "Truth And Rights", "Flat Foot Hustling", "Table Gonna Turn" etc....