Various Artists - Bunny Lee : Dreads Enter The Gates With Praise (2019)

A new 3LP reggae various artists album on Soul Jazz will always get my attention. Soul Jazz reggae albums are always well packaged and usually of top-shelf quality. In fact, Soul Jazz's Studio One series is a must have for any true fan of reggae music. This set, however, places its focus on the work of legendary reggae producer Bunny "Striker" Lee. While Bunny Lee started producing in the late 60s, this collection contains output from the 70s when Bunny Lee was one of the premier (if not the premier) producer in Jamaica. The 70s reggae scene in Jamaica gave us what is known as "roots reggae" and it just happens to my personal favorite era of reggae music. If you have never heard roots reggae then this is not a bad place to start. The sound is sparse and heavy, slow and moody.

As the title implies, 70s roots music is mostly associated with songs about Rastafari (e.g., praising him, following him) and the struggles faced by the poor (sufferers) in Jamaica. Hence, many of the titles here reflect that. For example, see titles like Enter His Gates with Praise (Johnny Clarke), So Jah Seh (Jackie Edwards), Real Born Africa (Jah Stitch), Natty Dread Have Ambition (Shorty the President), and You Should Be Thankful (Mighty Diamonds). So, for those that are new to reggae, this is not Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. Buyer beware.

Dreams So Real - Gloryline (1990)

Hailing from Georgia, Dreams So Real was from the same scene that gave us bands like REM (and other bands from Athens, Georgia). This is their third album. The first two, Father's House and Rough Night in Jericho are excellent. There is a toughness to Dreams So Real and also a darkness. However, this band is always so melodic. Barry Marler's voice is muscular with a bit of gravel. Yet, his voice fits perfectly the mood of the music. For a taste, here is a bit of the title track. Another good one is Overton Park/Faith or Here Comes The Train

Various Artists - Try A Little Sunshine: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1969

I am only half way through this amazing 3 CD box set (clam shell box) of British psych from 1969 but I am already in love and I need to post about it. This box set is provided by Grapefruit Records (a division of Cherry Red Records) and it continues their great series of similar box sets of British Psych from 1967 and 1968, respectively (all a must!).

Not sure if it is my mood or my current state of life but 1969 seemed to have been much more consistently melodic than 1967 and 1968. Maybe it is just my ear. However, one is really caught off guard by how pretty the melodies are on some of these songs. Some of the groups appearing on this set I am familiar with (e.g., The Move, Procol Harum, The Pretty Things) but the vast majority are new to me (e.g., Strawberry Jam, Balloon Busters, Paper Bubble). Easily 98 percent of the songs on this collection I have never heard before. Look, I am not a hard-core British Psych music collector but this box set certainly hits the spot and it is very reasonably priced! I think it is a must have and a great sampling of British Psych from 1969!

Wynn Stewart and The Tourists - Something Pretty

More Wynn Stewart on my turntable. I picked this album used for about $5 at Jupiter Records in San Diego. This is just pure Bakersfield country music. There is something so satisfying about music that is so honest and pure. This is from 1968. Here is a taste of the song, One More Memory. If you are ok with this you are going to love Wynn Stewart.

Kossoff - Back Street Crawler

I am late to the band Free. Free is the band that contained Paul Rodgers on vocals (pre Bad Company) and Paul Kossoff on guitar. This album from 1973 (after Free) is a fine blues rock album. The first side is one long, glorious instrumental called Tuesday Morning. The second side has more songs and some vocals by Jess Roden and Paul Rodgers. Highly recommended for those into that classic blues rock from the 70s. As usual, Kossoff's guitar playing is superb. Very melodic as well. Take a listen.

Wynn Stewart - It's Such A Pretty World Today

I love the sound of 'Bakersfield" country music. Wynn Stewart does it well. This album from 1967 just hits all the right notes. If you love Bakersfield country music (like Dwight Yoakam), then get yourself some Wynn Stewart!

Quicksilver Messenger Service - s/t

Finally bought a record from a band that I have heard tons about for decades. They were part of the San Francisco scene and contemporaries of Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead. This debut album from 1968 is just a beautiful mix of early 'hippie music", or as I knew it growing up, Acid Rock. The key to the music on this record is the guitar work of John Cipollina. He is so melodic and the swirling guitar runs that hey plays are both memorable and mesmerizing. I wish I had listened to this band before. In fact, I would love to hear their live recordings from the era since it would be amazing to hear how the band would extend their jams on some of these songs. Check out this for a taste.