Bunny Wailers
Bunny Wailer - Blackheart Man - Island - 1976
The singles released on Bunny Wailer's Solomonic label around 74/75
indicated that when the man did release his debut solo album it was
going to be a magnificent work. And it is. Not all of the singles are
included on the album, but those that are 'Fighting Against
Convictions' which was known as 'Battering Down Sentence', 'Rasta Man'
and 'Bide Up' although all in a remixed form, while new songs like
'Blackheart Man' and 'Fig Tree' are just as good. Although in places
it sounded overproduced, it's aged very well.
Bunny Wailer - Protest - Mango - 1977
A year later, and all that looked so promising has virtually
disappeared. It seems that Bunny had convinced himself that the only
way to reach the Black American market with his message was to adapt
his music to please them. The result is a mixture of disco and reggae
that simply does not work. The songs are still good, but trying to
listen to 'Get Up Stand Up' in this style is not on, the message is
always at odds with the rhythm. Like so many other reggae artists if
Bunny wants to make a soul album, he should do it.
Bunny Wailer - Tribute - Solomonic - 1981
All the words in the world could not express fully how most people
feel about the loss of Bob Marley. Bunny Wailer, knew what to do, and
he was the only one capable of doing it. No disrespect to Peter Tosh,
it's just that I couldn't imagine Peter when he was still alive
wanting to sing the selection of songs to be found on this album, not
in the same way that Bunny can. Perhaps a different selection. Of the
eight songs here only one, 'War', is as good as the original, the rest
are all fine and upful versions.
Bunny Wailer - Sings The Wailers - Mango - 1981
Very much a part two to the 'Tribute' album, with the same set of
musicians, The Roots Radics and what was then known as the Taxi Gang.
The only exception on this ten track set is the original version of
'Dreamland', that was cut in the early seventies with the Upsetters.
'I Stand Predominate' and 'Walk The Proud Land' are my two favourites
on the set, simply because they are great songs, yet unlike the other
tracks they are not that well known. While it's always good to hear
versions of 'Keep On Moving'
Bunny Wailer - Rock And Groove - Solomonic - 1981
After two albums of Wailers music, Bunny decided to tune into the
dance hall vibes of the early eighties and come forward with this very
appealing set. This album sent a clear message to anyone who could not
accept dancehall, that dancehall was an integral part of the music.
Amazingly certain people could still not take this very basic concept
on. Rather than check it for what it is, a great Bunny Wailer dance
hall album, - it became just another great Bunny Wailer album, which
is only half the story.
Bunny Wailer - Liberation - Solomonic - 1989
Really good to see Bunny back on form again. It's taken him a while to
do it, his last great work being the 'Tribute' set. Yet the long wait
has been worthwhile, for 'Liberation' is the sort of LP that has
always been wanted from him. It brings together his two best themes,
reality and culture. Only 'Didn't You Know' takes a different
direction, and even that could be enjoyed in more than one way. If
it's black pride, then we have a perfect set. Musically it's his old
friends the Radics with Sly & Robbie.
Bunny Wailer - Dub Disco Vol 1&2 Ras.
A long overdue addition to Cdub catalogue is the works of Bunny Wailer.
The Solomonic vinyl releases were easily available so I can't say if this CD is a
straight reissue of the LP's or is a compilation of both. This is a 17
track set that starts in the mid seventies with dubs of 'Battering
Down Sentence' and 'Armageddon' takes in classic like 'Love Fire'
which are all mixed by Sylvan Morris & Karl Pitterson. When he reaches
the early eighties we a selection of dubs from the 'Sings The Wailers'
and 'Tribute' sets. with the mixing here being taken care of by Errol
T and Solgie.