Prime Pablo
Some of the most beautifully haunting roots reggae of the 70s and 80s was recorded by musician/producer Augustus Pablo, and most of the very best of his considerable studio output is amassed on The Mystic World Of Augustus Pablo: The Rockers Story, an excellent four-CD-plus-DVD box set overview.
As you listen to the huge pile of incredible tracks (including rare mixes and dubs) that the late, great studio ace had a hand in shaping, it quickly becomes apparent that while he may be best remembered for his entrancing melodica work, he was also an outstanding composer with a knack for memorable melodies.
The DVD, containing two less-than-stellar single song performances in addition to an impromptu campfire-style jam with Hugh Mundell and a strange three-minute interview clip, seems to have been tossed in as an afterthought. No problem - it's still a great collection of wonderful music that will stay with you forever. shanachie.com.
Country got soul
Of the many Southern soul artists I've spoken with over the years, the vast majority grew up listening to country & western music, and the few who hadn't recorded country tunes always wanted to. So it was no great surprise that after Germany's Trikont label issued its fantastic Dirty Laundry collection of vintage black country tunes by Solomon Burke, Bobby Womack, Arthur Alexander, Candi Staton and others to across-the-board acclaim, there would be more than enough solid material for a follow-up volume, if not four or five more.
More Dirty Laundry adheres to the original concept of gathering the wealth of classic covers and dope originals cut for various labels by top soul and R&B artists, including James Brown, Joe Tex, Joe Simon and Clyde McPhatter in addition to many of the singers from the first set. Unfortunately, the dearth of female contributors also remains consistent, although Vikki Vann's You Must Think My Heart Has Swinging Doors
is a commendable find. trikont.de.
Johnny Adams - Hell Yes I Cheated (More Dirty Laundry)
Arthur Alexander - Everyday I Have To Cry (More Dirty Laundry)
D-Sisive premiere
This week D-Sisive's hot new track Like This
- bolstered by some Detroit thuggishness from Guilty Simpson - made a splashy debut on DJ Premier's Sirius Satellite show Live From The Headquarterz! with a big up from the man himself, although Premo seemed to have a little difficulty with the Toronto MC's handle during the intro. In any case, it's a huge boost for D-Sisive, whose release of the Like This (Plus Three) EP this week might've slipped by largely unnoticed.
MOP - Bloody Murdah (Premier)
Screwball - Seen It All (Premier)
The impressively hard 'n' heavy
D-Sisive track wouldn't have sounded the least bit out of place on Premier's own Rare Play Volume One (Bare Fist) mix, which showcases some of the more devastating joints from MOP, Rass Kass, Screwball, Big Shug, Group Home, Tef, All City, Blahzay Blahzay and others benefiting from the Premo touch. If you can stand the frequent P-P-P-P-Premier drops, Rare Play should keep the gangstas in your hood happy when you crank it up with the windows down.