WHITE RIVER REGGAE BASH VOL. 1

VARIOUS ARTISTS

  1. Bob Clarke : Irie FM intro
  2. Brigadier Jerry : Bangarang
  3. Brigadier Jerry : Jamaica Jamaica
  4. Brigadier Jerry : Pain
  5. Brigadier Jerry : Three Blind Mice
  6. Brigadier Jerry : Rasta Revival
  7. Mighty Mike : Intro
  8. Beenie Man : Wah Ban Me
  9. Beenie Man : Halla Fi Di Jordon
  10. Beenie Man : Gal Dem Way
  11. Beenie Man : Nuff Gal
  12. Beenie Man : Silent Voice
  13. Beenie Man : Girl Dem Sugar
  14. Bagga Brown : Intro
  15. Freddie McGregor : Africa Here I Come
  16. Freddie McGregor : To Be Poor Is A Crime
  17. Freddie McGregor : Prophecy
  18. Freddie McGregor : Let Him Try
  19. Freddie McGregor : Loving Pauper
  20. Freddie McGregor : I Was Born A Winner
  21. Sizzla : Overcome
  22. Sizzla : Praise Ye Jah
  23. Sizzla : Black Woman And Child
  24. Bagga Brown : Intro
  25. Dennis Brown : Here I Come
  26. Dennis Brown : Death Before Dishonour
  27. Dennis Brown : Love's Gotta Hold On Me
  28. 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