This excellent live set serves as something of an overview of Justin Hinds' illustrious career, beginning with the early days of ska and passing through the rocksteady era and into the smokiest depths of the roots-and-culture period. And he could hardly have found more sympathetic backing than that provided by John Brown's Body, which is not only America's finest reggae band, but perhaps the best roots reggae ensemble since the Soul Syndicate. The first 14 tracks on this 15-track album were recorded live at the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg, NY, in the summer of 2002, and they cover all the classic material: gently galloping ska anthems like "Teach the Youth" and "Higher the Monkey Climbs," elastic rocksteady grooves like "Get Ready Rock Steady" and "Botheration," and percolating reggae numbers like the gorgeous "Weeping Eyes" and an unusually slow rendition of "Carry Go Bring Come." The program is rounded out by an excellent studio recording of "Never Felt This Way Before," which is a cruel tease - the only thing better than this live album would be a studio recording of newer material. Highly recommended. - Rick Anderson- AMG
About Justin Hinds: Throughout the crucial period which bore witness to the emergence of ska and its later mutations into rock steady and finally reggae, Justin Hinds was among the most successful recording artists on the Jamaican music scene, his sweet tenor spotlighted on hundreds of Duke Reid-produced singles cut between 1963 and 1972. Born May 7, 1942 in the St. Ann's area, Hinds' greatest music was created in the company of his backing vocalists the Dominoes, a duo comprising Dennis Sinclair and Junior Dixon; they first recorded at Reid's Treasure Isle studios in late 1963, their debut session yielding the hit "Carry Go Bring Come" in just one take. Between 1964 and 1966, Hinds was Reid's most popular artist, and during this period alone he recorded some 70 singles backed by session aces Tommy McCook and the Supersonics; among his biggest ska hits were "King Samuel," "Jump Out of the Frying Pan," "The Ark" and "Rub Up Push Up." Around 1966, Hinds made the transformation to rock steady, and the hits kept coming - over the next several years, he released smash after smash, including "The Higher the Monkey Climbs," "No Good Rudy," "On a Saturday Night," "Here I Stand" and "Save a Bread." He and Reid parted company in 1972, with the latter dying three years later; Hinds then began working with producer Jack Ruby, a collaboration which resulted in the 1976 LP Jezebel. Two years later, he also teamed with producer Sonia Pottinger for a series of singles including "Rig-Ma-Roe Game" and "Wipe Your Weeping Eyes." After 1984's Travel with Love, however, the reclusive Hinds essentially went into retirement, leaving Jamaica only rarely.
Taken from AMG- Jason Ankley
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.itownrecords.comTrack List:
1. Greetings
2. Over The River
3. On The Last Day
4. Teach The Youth
5. Travel with Love
6. Higher The Monkey Climbs
7. Get Ready Rock Steady
8. Carry Go Bring Come
9. The Rainbow
10. Fire Is Burning
11. Dip and Fall Back
12. Weeping Eyes
13. Natty Take Over
14. Botheration
15. Never Felt This Way Before
Suggested CDs:
Other Genres:
