Jerusalem

by Alpha Blondy

Overview

Despite heated protests from his parents, Alpha Blondy abandoned his studies in education to establish himself as a singer, a move influenced by his discovery of the Rastafarian faith and the music of international reggae star Bob Marley. A longtime dream was fulfilled in 1986 when, five years after Marley's death, the singer's backing band, the Wailers, supplied the rhythms for Blondy's third album. Recorded in Jamaica, Jerusalem remains one of Blondy's most satisfying song collections. Lyrics alternate among English, French, and Blondy's own Dioula, a mix the singer attempts to unite through the rhythms of reggae music. Aiding him in his pursuits are some of the island's finest. Under Bob Marley, the seasoned rhythm team of brothers Aston and Carlton Barrett (bass and drums), Junior Murvin (guitar), and Earl Lindo (keyboards) refined reggae music to the slick, near-universal pulse Blondy was seeking. Though their former mentor's success distanced the Wailers somewhat from Jamaica's hard roots audience, they lost none of their exceptional musicianship in the process. The sound of Carlton Barrett's slick snare beats and Earl "Chinna" Smith's supple bluesy lines may have lacked the rough hues of the 1970s, but they did provide many music fans with a palatable introduction to reggae. Behind Blondy, they helped propel the singer to his own level of crossover success. Though the mix by engineers Anthony Kelly, Gary Sutherland, and Solgie Hamilton applies a certain amount of gloss to the music, sparse, competent rhythms ride below Blondy on tracks like "Boulevard de la Mort," "Travailler C'Est Trop Dur," and "Bloodshed in Africa." ~ Nathan Bush

Product Details

Release Date:	10/19/2010
Label:	Vp Records
UPC:	0054645242417
Rank:	38869

Tracks

1. Jerusalem
2. Politiqui
3. Bloodshed in Africa
4. I Love Paris
5. Kalachnikov Love
6. Travailler C'est Trop Dur
7. Miwa
8. Boulevard de la Mort
9. Dji

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Alpha Blondy   Primary Artist,Vocals
Alpha Blondy & The Wailers   Primary Artist
The Wailers   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Skully   Percussion
Earl "Chinna" Smith   Guitar (Rhythm)
Carlton "Carly" Barrett   Drums
David Madden   Horn
Junior Marvin   Guitar
Aston Barrett   Bass
Uziah "Sticky" Thompson   Percussion
Glen DaCosta   Horn
Earl Lindo   Keyboards
Glen DeCosta   Horn
Pat Higgs   Vocals (Background)
Georges Kouakou   Keyboards
Marcia "Pinky" Higgs   Vocals (Background)
Owen Reid   Guitar (Rhythm)
Bubbles Cameron   Horn

Technical Credits

Alpha Blondy   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Performer
Cole Porter   Composer
Gary Sutherland   Engineer
Anthony Kelly   Engineer
The Wailers   Performer
Solgie Hamilton   Engineer
Zacharias Richard   Composer