Johnny Clarke - Dreader Dread 1976-1978 '1998; 2014

Tracks list

What a joy to have this singing legend so judiciously and respectfully
presented. Clarke may not have received his due back at the time, but thanks to
U.K. reissue-compilation label Blood and Fire, hes finally receiving the quality
presentation he merits. Along with Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown, Clarke held
down the 70s Jamaican scene while Bob Marley was busy taking reggae to the
world, and his gutsy yet refined vibrato in the tenor youthman style helped set
the standard for the musics fabled roots vocalists. As a songwriter, Clarke was
one of those who defined that exalted, yearning voice so peculiar to reggae with
instantly recognizable anthems like Live Up Jah Man, Every Knee Shall Bow, and
Love Up Your Brothers and Sisters--urgent calls for justice and spiritual grace
that are the musics specialty. Yet the producers provide a marker of Clarkes
glowing talent by leading this set not with an original, but with an
interpretation of a classic Peter Tosh rude bwoy anthem, Top Ranking (Im The
Toughest), and closing with Bob Marleys Time Will Tell. Thats because both tunes
gain from being filtered through the bittersweet soul of this lesser-known
artist. --Elena Oumano

Tracklist:
 01. Johnny Clarke - Top Ranking (Im The Toughest) (03:29)
 02. Johnny Clarke - In The Roots Of The Ghetto (03:16)
 03. Johnny Clarke - Live Up Jah Man (02:59)
 04. Johnny Clarke - Love Up Your Brothers And Sisters (Extended) (04:32)
 05. Johnny Clarke - African People (03:13)
 06. Johnny Clarke - Dread A Dread (03:08)
 07. Johnny Clarke - Fire And Brimstone A Go Burn The Wicked (04:13)
 08. Johnny Clarke - African Roots (Extended) (06:12)
 09. Johnny Clarke - Roots Natty (03:11)
 10. Johnny Clarke - Every Knee Shall Bow (Extended) (07:52)
 11. Johnny Clarke - Play Fool Fe Get Wse (Extended) (07:13)
 12. Johnny Clarke - Age Is Growing (03:23)
 13. Johnny Clarke - Time Will Tell (03:26)

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