Mobile
Flying well below most radars -- but thriving, nonetheless, on an underground level -- was the West Indian music scene of Canada some three-four decades ago. As essayed on Jamaica to Toronto: Soul Funk & Reggae 1967-1974 (Light In The Attic), that expatriate scene is recast as an astonishingly fertile breeding ground deeply influenced by American soul while proving a wellspring for musical hybrids.
Initiated in 2003 by Vancouver journalist Sipreano (aka Kevin Howes), the project picked up steam when Seattle's Light In The Attic Records came on board, ultimately yielding an exhaustively researched, gorgeously presented collection. The graphics alone are award-winning stuff: a 36-page booklet brings together essays, first-hand remembrances, in-depth artist bios and reproductions of memorabilia and original vinyl; the packaging is a mini-double LP sleeve designed to look like an old record crate.
"However these tunes reach you," urges Sipreano in his introduction, "remember that the messages contained within remain as pertinent today as during their conception. Togetherness, faith and celebration abound."
Indeed, the power of love is a frequent theme of these 16 tunes, notably the Sheiks' doo-wop flavored "Eternal Love," Bob and Wisdom's Donny Hathaway-inspired cover of Mac Davis' "I Believe In Music" and Ram's War-meets-Kool & the Gang "Love Is The Answer." Ram was fronted by Wayne McGhie, whose presence is felt as a performer or songwriter on several cuts; Jo-Jo and the Fugitives' "Chips-Chicken-Banana Split" is Stax/Volt having a studio food fight, while McGhie solo number "Fire (She Need Water)" is a shotgun wedding of bongos, horns and lusty Jamaican toasting.
And don't miss Jackie Mittoo: the prolific Kingston keyboardist submits "Grand Funk," an uplifting mélange simultaneously evoking Santana, Funkadelic and some of the great Blaxploitation film orchestrations. Damn, that funk is definitely grand -- as is every note on this collection.
Latest in Rare Grooves
-
Dwight Twilley
Feb 7, 2007 -
Space Needle
Jan 24, 2007 -
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Jan 10, 2007 - More »
More by Fred Mills
-
Rock through the first five years
Apr 11, 2007 -
Dwight Twilley
Feb 7, 2007 -
Space Needle
Jan 24, 2007 - More »
Calendar
-
Aria Tuscan Grill Featuring Allegrini - Charlotte Wine + Food Week @ Aria Tuscan Grill
-
Angeline’s Featuring Sciandri Family Vineyards @ Angeline's
-
Ross Lynch & Rocky Lynch present The Driver Era: Live On Tour @ N.C. Music Factory
- Fri., April 19, 8 p.m.
-
-
Tyler Braden - Meet & Greet Experience Upgrade @ Coyote Joe's
- Fri., April 19, 8 p.m.
-
-
Ride The Lightning - Metallica Tribute Band @ Amos' Southend- Fri., April 19, 8 p.m.
-
-
Darian La Sparrow Takes an Unconventional Route to the Soul
Bedroom Brilliance
-
Elenora Fagan balances life between rock and rap 2
Band mixes an amalgam of genres, including rock, hip-hop, reggae and jazz
-
Live review: LeAnn Rimes, Uptown Charlotte (8/17/2014) 2
Singer caps off day which included second annual parade.
