Darker Than Blue:
Soul From Jamdown 1973-1980
(Blood & Fire)
There’s always been a healthy cultural exchange between reggae and R&B. Jamaica’s toasting DJs and bottom-heavy sounds planted the seeds of rap in this country, while American soul singers have long provided source material for countless satin-throated crooners down yard. This latest compilation from the redoubtable folks at Blood & Fire is a knockout collection of reggae remakes of classic soul tunes from the Sixties/Seventies. Rather than “Reggae Does Motown’s Greatest Hits,” Darker Than Blue is an enticing cross-section of well-known and obscure gems covered by Jamaican superstars and wannabes alike. Coming out of a period of intense social activism in this country, many of these songs reflect the civil rights and racial consciousness themes of the day. These include Ken Boothe’s intense reading of Syl Johnson’s “Is It Because I’m Black,” Freddie McGregor’s soulful “Get Involved,” and Lloyd Charmers’ dead-on workout of Curtis Mayfield’s title track. Arranged chronologically, the mood of the music changes from the bubbly, effusive sounds of early reggae at the dawn of the Seventies to the darker, heavier, militant sound that coincided with the rise of rasta and the island’s political upheaval toward the end of the decade. This latter style adds particular gravitas to a conscious message like “Why Can’t We Live Together?” covered here by Tinga Stewart. More familiar tunes given the reggae treatment are the Temptations’ “Get Ready,” War’s “Slipping Into Darkness,” and Mayfield’s “Gypsy Woman.” The most intriguing track of the set closes the album with popular DJ Wilton Irie riding a crunching Sly and Robbie riddem on an old-school rap à la the Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash. It’s particularly ironic since old school came directly from stylists like Irie and his predecessors, but then again, when it comes to bass culture, the trade policy is strictly open-door.
This article appears in August 31 • 2001.