CD Albums - Reviews by Charlie Chalk

CD Albums - Reviews by Charlie Chalk

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Member	Item		Review/Comment
Charlie Chalk 21st Nov 2017		CD Album The Members - Greatest Hits (2017)	Review Excellent 'Greatest Hits' compilation issued through PledgeMusic.com. As it says in the promotional spiel: Never before have all The Members significant records been collected together on one compilation. Whilst known mainly for the punk era hits in the UK. The Members had far-reaching hits all over the world. The bands YouTube channel shows excess of 20,000 monthly plays. In the USA they are know for the 80’s MTV smash Working Girl also a huge hit in Australia where another 80s track Radio made the no.1 slot. After years of negotiations this impressive body of work is finally being made available in the UK on Vinyl and CD. The 13 Track vinyl and 17 track (sic) CD with artwork by Buzzcocks designer Malcolm Garrett will be available in limited editions and launched at a party in London. My CD inlay signed by songwriter/guitarist Jean-marie 'JC' Carroll. All their top tracks gathered in one place, with two bonus tracks, including The Move's 'Fire Brigade'. Great stuff. 4 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Charlie Chalk 19th Oct 2017		CD Album Various Artists - Copasetic! The Mod Ska Sound (2017)	Review Superb new double CD from Trojan Records, containing 58 "classic mod ska favourites from the swinging sixties". Most of the tracks will be very familiar to the hardened Jamaican music fan, but it's always great to hear them again. Whilst the set is subtitled 'The Mod Ska Sound', many of the tracks are actually Rock Steady in style. The 16 page booklet is crammed full of information about the UK's Jamaican music scene of the 1960s by Reggae aficionado Mike Atherton, with some superb period photographs, and of course the obligatory label scans. Yet another top CD from the resurgent legendary label. 5 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Charlie Chalk 10th Sep 2017		CD Album Various Artists - Dancing Down Orange Street (2017)	Review First time on CD for this hard to find album, originally issued by Trojan Records on their High Note subsidiary in early 1969. The album comprised twelve classic slices of late Rock Steady / early Reggae. The album is supplemented by thirteen tracks that were originally issued on High Note singles around the same time period. In total we have 25 classic and scarce tracks, all produced by female pioneer producer, the late Sonia Pottinger. You'd need a pretty fat wallet to buy original copies of these on vinyl. Excellent sound quality throughout. Great cover, and extensive notes in the inlay, but I can't really comment on them. This is the fourth release on the reactivated Doctor Bird label, and this set certainly doesn't let the side down. Superb. 7 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Charlie Chalk 26th Aug 2017		CD Album Lee "Scratch" Perry And The Upsetters - The Trojan Albums Collection (1971-1973) (2017)	Review Double CD featuring four classic LPs by Lee Perry and The Upsetters (and friends), issued between 1971 and 1973. 'Rhythm Shower' was originally issued in Jamaica in a limited press, and in the UK on Trojan as a white label promo only. The other three albums were issued in the UK by Trojan Records. The set comprises mostly tracks by Perry's house band, The Upsetters, although there are some vocal and DJ tracks along the way, by legendary Reggae performers including Delroy Wilson, Junior Byles, Little Roy, Stranger Cole, Dave Barker, U Roy, I Roy, Dillinger and Sir Lord Comic. If you like your vintage Reggae a little on the eclectic side, then this CD is for you. 4 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Charlie Chalk 11th Aug 2017		CD Album Various Artists - No More Heartaches / What Am I To Do? (2017)	Review A superb new CD on the revived legendary Doctor Bird label. It comprises two popular Trojan label LPs from 1969 and 1970, featuring 24 tracks produced by producer Harry J (Johnson), many recorded at Coxsone Dodd's Studio 1 studio. First time on CD for both albums. A must for all lovers of early ('Skinhead') Reggae. Unusually for a compilation of Harry J productions, there is no 'Liquidator' here. Extensive notes in the inlay, but as yours truly wrote the sleeve notes, I can't really comment on them. Inlay images courtesy of some website named 45cat! A great way to start a new reissue programme on a classic label. 6 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Charlie Chalk 20th Jul 2017		CD Album Various Artists - More Monkey Business (2017)	Review Superb new CD from Trojan - a follow-up to their 2016 double CD ' Monkey Business'. Whilst the set contains no real surprises for established Reggae fans, it does contain 56 slices of the finest 'Boss Skinhead Reggae' around, from "one of the most exiting and dynamic periods in Jamaican music history", as it says on the press release. An excellent booklet, with comprehensive notes from the highly knowledgeable Laurence Cane-Honeysett. What more could one want? It's really great to see the legendary Trojan Records returning to top form, with plenty more still to come. 5 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
Charlie Chalk 22nd May 2017		CD Album Marcus Upbeat - Earth Songs (2017)	Review Dub Vendor (record retailer) review: Marcus Upbeat and his band the Microdots issue this CD collecting many of the tracks they have been busy purveying at the summer festivals around the UK over the last few years. Marcus' songs reflect his deep love of reggae music and its message of peace, love and unity. His most noticeable influences appear to be the late sixties reggae that found great popularity amongst the UK's black and white youths and the Bob Marley style Rasta roots of the seventies, and these positive vibes permeate his soulful vocals and the musicians' positive approach. It's also on the legendary Blue Beat label! ✔︎ Helpful Review?