VP records purchased Greensleeves in January 2008 and since then they have been releasing a crucial reissue series titled Reggae Legends. The series is has seen the collating of many great albums by various artists and reissuing them in their original format with art work and all, but this time as 4 CD box sets or via digital download, with a lot of these albums being available like this for the first time.
In January it was the turn of Sugar Minot to receive this treatment as 'Buy of the Bar', 'Rydim', 'Time Longer Than Rope' and 'Rockers Awards Winners', recorded with Leroy Smart in a sound clash style with each man recording one side, saw release.
"Buy off the Bar" was originally only available here on hard to get import LP on the Gorge Phang Power House label and Sonic Sounds in 1984. It's a classic dancehall styled album with a vocal followed by its dub version. It might just be me but I have a feeling this has been lifted from an original vinyl version rather than from mastertape because I swear 'Buy off the Bar Dub' skips in the middle! Vocally Sugar is in very strong form especially on top herb anthem 'Strictly Sensi'.
'Rydim' was released a year later with Sly & Robbie plus Black Roots supplying the backing. This album also sees Mr Phang again on production duties and showing more of the style that he is associated. The sound is less organic with Robbie now starting to use synthesized drums that give the snare an almost hand clap sound, but it still retains a rootsy dancehall vibe. Classic Sugar tunes here include the antiapartheid 'Nah Go to South Africa' and the playful 'Feel The Rydim', which also supplied the riddim for Frankie Paul's hit 'Tidal Wave'.
Almost a cross between the first two and also released in 1985 is 'Time Longer Than Rope' still got the synthesized drum but the other instrumentation reverts to back to that more natural sound. Each song like off the bar finishes with a dubby work out though. Tough to pick stand out tracks from this one as its maybe the most rounded of all from this set, but if pushed I'd have to go for the sublime croon of 'Jah You Make Me Sing'......deep and rootsy all da way.
'Rockers Awards Winners' sees a full circle return to classic dancehall with some vintage riddims. This time its sound clash style, as Sugar records on one side with Leroy Smart vocaling the other. It's not a true sound clash I suppose as both sing to different riddims but both are on top form. Sugar gets things away to a fine start with 'Nah Follow No Fashion' on the Queen Majesty riddim and finishes his set with the infectious 'Roots Rock Reggae' on a version of the Boops riddim. Leroy Smart adds to this album with his reliable solid delivery on 'Girls Are Skanking' riding the Solomon riddim, the damning 'Mankind A Failure' on the Abyssinians Declaration of Rights before bringing things to a close on the Darker Shade of Black driven 'Love Life'.....fantastic.
In January it was the turn of Sugar Minot to receive this treatment as 'Buy of the Bar', 'Rydim', 'Time Longer Than Rope' and 'Rockers Awards Winners', recorded with Leroy Smart in a sound clash style with each man recording one side, saw release.
"Buy off the Bar" was originally only available here on hard to get import LP on the Gorge Phang Power House label and Sonic Sounds in 1984. It's a classic dancehall styled album with a vocal followed by its dub version. It might just be me but I have a feeling this has been lifted from an original vinyl version rather than from mastertape because I swear 'Buy off the Bar Dub' skips in the middle! Vocally Sugar is in very strong form especially on top herb anthem 'Strictly Sensi'.
'Rydim' was released a year later with Sly & Robbie plus Black Roots supplying the backing. This album also sees Mr Phang again on production duties and showing more of the style that he is associated. The sound is less organic with Robbie now starting to use synthesized drums that give the snare an almost hand clap sound, but it still retains a rootsy dancehall vibe. Classic Sugar tunes here include the antiapartheid 'Nah Go to South Africa' and the playful 'Feel The Rydim', which also supplied the riddim for Frankie Paul's hit 'Tidal Wave'.
Almost a cross between the first two and also released in 1985 is 'Time Longer Than Rope' still got the synthesized drum but the other instrumentation reverts to back to that more natural sound. Each song like off the bar finishes with a dubby work out though. Tough to pick stand out tracks from this one as its maybe the most rounded of all from this set, but if pushed I'd have to go for the sublime croon of 'Jah You Make Me Sing'......deep and rootsy all da way.
'Rockers Awards Winners' sees a full circle return to classic dancehall with some vintage riddims. This time its sound clash style, as Sugar records on one side with Leroy Smart vocaling the other. It's not a true sound clash I suppose as both sing to different riddims but both are on top form. Sugar gets things away to a fine start with 'Nah Follow No Fashion' on the Queen Majesty riddim and finishes his set with the infectious 'Roots Rock Reggae' on a version of the Boops riddim. Leroy Smart adds to this album with his reliable solid delivery on 'Girls Are Skanking' riding the Solomon riddim, the damning 'Mankind A Failure' on the Abyssinians Declaration of Rights before bringing things to a close on the Darker Shade of Black driven 'Love Life'.....fantastic.
So it's four classic and to some degree the most loved 80's albums from Sugar Minott, one of Jamaica's best-loved and most popular reggae artists, recorded for celebrated producer George Phang and backed by the legendary Sly & Robbie. They also come with reproduction sleeves that help give an extensive overview of the successful hit-making career of someone who is truly worthy of the title.......Reggae Legend.
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