- Bob Clarke : Irie FM intro
- Brigadier Jerry : Bangarang
- Brigadier Jerry : Jamaica Jamaica
- Brigadier Jerry : Pain
- Brigadier Jerry : Three Blind Mice
- Brigadier Jerry : Rasta Revival
- Mighty Mike : Intro
- Beenie Man : Wah Ban Me
- Beenie Man : Halla Fi Di Jordon
- Beenie Man : Gal Dem Way
- Beenie Man : Nuff Gal
- Beenie Man : Silent Voice
- Beenie Man : Girl Dem Sugar
- Bagga Brown : Intro
- Freddie McGregor : Africa Here I Come
- Freddie McGregor : To Be Poor Is A Crime
- Freddie McGregor : Prophecy
- Freddie McGregor : Let Him Try
- Freddie McGregor : Loving Pauper
- Freddie McGregor : I Was Born A Winner
- Sizzla : Overcome
- Sizzla : Praise Ye Jah
- Sizzla : Black Woman And Child
- Bagga Brown : Intro
- Dennis Brown : Here I Come
- Dennis Brown : Death Before Dishonour
- Dennis Brown : Love's Gotta Hold On Me
- Dennis Brown : Revolution
Release info :
RUNN Records comes up with their first reggae “live” album, featuring Brigadier Jerry, Sizzla, Freddie McGregor, Beenie Man and the crown prince of reggae music Dennis Brown. This line up offers a good mix of veteran artists and relatively new artists. Featured are live recordings of the annual reggae concert ‘White River Reggae Bash”, to be specific the years 1994 (Brigadier Jerry), 1995 (Dennis Brown), 1996 (Freddie McGregor) and 1997 (Sizzla). This series of concerts was initiated by Irie FM, Jamaica’s most popular reggea radio station. The album was recorded, mixed, compiled and edited by Barry O’Hare.
The album kicks of with five tracks by Brigadier Jerry, backed by the Sagitarius Band. He runs down some of his best known recordings from the past. Bangarang warns the rastaman not to touch hard drugs and “don’t fe mix up inna bangarang”. He also lays down a fine version of Three Blind Mice, the popular Jamaican folk tune. Deejay Beenie Man, backed by Blaze, comes up next with a six piece selection of his dancehall hits and gets enthousiastic reactions from the crowd. Reggae veteran Freddie McGregor, backed by the S.A.N.E. band, reworks the ‘Full Up’ riddim in his Studio One classic Africa Here I Come, versions Little Roy’s rasta anthem Prophecy and closes his performance with the reggae classics Loving Pauper (original by Dobbie Dobson) and I Was Born A Winner which was made famous by Derrick Harriott as The Loser.
Today’s most hottest cultural deejay Sizzla takes over and performs three tracks in his own passionate style, and he makes a solid impression with Praise Ye Jah. He finishes his set with the title track of the “Black Woman And Child” album. The last artist on this album is Dennis Brown, announced by Bagga Brown as ‘The Reggae King’, alongside Lloyd Parks & We The People Band. As always he begins his performance with the immortal Here I Come and closes with Revolution medley stylee, with inbetween hits like Love’s Gotta Hold On Me.
This “live” album (67 minutes!) succeeds quite well in capturing the vibes of the White River Reggae Bash concerts. The varied line up offers something for everyone : lovers, dancehall, roots and culture and reggae classics.
Reggaemended!
Album review by Teacher & Mr. T | © Reggae Vibes Productions NL