Rock for Light

by Bad Brains

Overview

After the tinny sound quality of the band's debut, the second Bad Brains album came as a real blast of sonic fresh air. Producer Ric Ocasek is largely responsible, but the increased tightness and focus are also a function of maturation. This band was a weird bundle of contradictions from day one: black Rastafarian instrumental virtuosos playing hardcore punk, formerly the exclusive domain of white, aggressively atheist musical amateurs. That last contradiction would come to full musical flower on I Against I, but Rock for Light shows the band at the height of its punk energy. "P.M.A.," "Joshua's Song," and "Coptic Times" are typical examples of Bad Brains' unique blend of punk velocity and Rasta ideology. When they suddenly swing into mellow reggae (on "I and I Survive," "The Meek," "Rally 'Round Jah Throne," and the dubwise instrumental "Jam"), the effect is like some kind of pleasant musical whiplash. The 1990 CD reissue of this album was remixed by Ocasek and bassist Darryl Jenifer, and it includes several bonus tracks. ~ Rick Anderson

Product Details

Release Date:	10/08/2021
Label:	Bad Brains / No Futuro / Org Music
UPC:	0711574899432
Rank:	19600

Tracks

1. Coptic Times
2. Attitude
3. We Will Not
4. Sailin' On
5. Rally Round Jah Throne
6. Right Brigade
7. F.V.K. (Fearless Vampire Killers)
8. Riot Squad
9. The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth
10. Joshua's Song
11. Banned in D.C.
12. How Low Can a Punk Get
13. Big Takeover
14. I and I Survive
15. Destroy Babylon
16. Rock for Light
17. At the Movies

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bad Brains   Primary Artist
Dave I.D.   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Earl   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Darryl   Bass,Percussion,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Dr. Know   Vocals (Background),Organ,Piano
H.R.   Throat

Technical Credits

Walter Turbitt   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Delroy Hines   Composer
Ric Ocasek   Producer
Winston Rodney   Composer
Grateful Dead   Composer
Phil Hudson   Composer
Dr. Know   Composer
Darryl Jenifer   Composer
Rupert Willington   Composer
G. W. Miller   Composer
Earl Hudson   Composer
Bad Brains   Composer
Ian Taylor   Engineer
Paul Hudson   Composer