BB Seaton scored his first big hit in Jamaica when teaming up with Delano Stewart and Maurice Roberts to form "The Gaylads”. They recorded the hit single “Lady with the Red Dress” on Clement Dodd’s Studio One label in 1967 and now still going strong after all this time BB Seaton has delivered a fine new album 'Ready for the World' on Roots International.
The album was recorded in Kingston with the help of fellow luminaries such as Sly Dunbar, Dwight Pinkney, Ansel Collins and Gladstone Anderson and despite the burgeoning years of all concerned the album still feels fresh. For sure the influences of the past are here but also with all this experience they show that they are not afraid to try something a little different and move out of their comfort zone from time to time.
The opening couple of salvos 'Life Goes On' and 'Hotter the Battle' are classic roots reggae with the latter sounding like BB singing over an old style Treasure Isle riddim.
Following on from these is 'To Be Organised' which stays in the classic rootsy seam, but sounds bright and modern. 'Nuh Bada Wid It' sounds really dated like an old Eddy Grant throw back from the 1980's with its swirling synths, and heavy guitar, but do you know what I actually like it for some strange reason, perhaps its just BB's voice which pulls it through. Other songs of note are 'The Sound of Drums' a simplistic, but poignant song on a bass and keyboard melody interspersed with brass on nyabinghi styled beat, calling for Africa to unite with the help of some lilting words from Professor Yousef Benyakeman to start and bring the song to a close.
'The Woman in U' sees BB hitting that soulful reggae groove with style, while 'Are U Really' is bass booming, chugging reggae, with a strong soulful delivery as BB pleads for his woman to make the right decision and go with him and make the most of her life..
So a solid performance from the veteran songsmith and friends which keeps him bang up-to-date and proving that he still has a lot to offer. Young pretenders beware.
The album was recorded in Kingston with the help of fellow luminaries such as Sly Dunbar, Dwight Pinkney, Ansel Collins and Gladstone Anderson and despite the burgeoning years of all concerned the album still feels fresh. For sure the influences of the past are here but also with all this experience they show that they are not afraid to try something a little different and move out of their comfort zone from time to time.
The opening couple of salvos 'Life Goes On' and 'Hotter the Battle' are classic roots reggae with the latter sounding like BB singing over an old style Treasure Isle riddim.
Following on from these is 'To Be Organised' which stays in the classic rootsy seam, but sounds bright and modern. 'Nuh Bada Wid It' sounds really dated like an old Eddy Grant throw back from the 1980's with its swirling synths, and heavy guitar, but do you know what I actually like it for some strange reason, perhaps its just BB's voice which pulls it through. Other songs of note are 'The Sound of Drums' a simplistic, but poignant song on a bass and keyboard melody interspersed with brass on nyabinghi styled beat, calling for Africa to unite with the help of some lilting words from Professor Yousef Benyakeman to start and bring the song to a close.
'The Woman in U' sees BB hitting that soulful reggae groove with style, while 'Are U Really' is bass booming, chugging reggae, with a strong soulful delivery as BB pleads for his woman to make the right decision and go with him and make the most of her life..
So a solid performance from the veteran songsmith and friends which keeps him bang up-to-date and proving that he still has a lot to offer. Young pretenders beware.
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