Culture

Culture

     Culture And The Deejays 1977-79 - VP

     Two things have always puzzled reggae fans when it comes to Joe Gibbs

     - No.1 - Why the man never released a Culture Dub album? ET the

     resident engineer was one of the best - interest in Culture as never

     waned and the 'Two Seven Classic' album is bonefide classic. Puzzle

     No.2. Is this album - with all the deejays cuts of Culture why no

     collection. Here it is - and its great!!! From Prince Far I's 'The

     Same Knife' to Bojangles cut of 'Two Seven Clash' to I Roy's cuts of

     'I'm Not Ashamed' and 'Natty Dread Taking Over' its all great stuff.

     And reminds all just how good a producer Gibbo was - perhaps is only

     failing was that sometimes things like this never happened - but then

     think of all the sets that have never happened on Studio One. More

     mystery than history as Willi Williams once said!!!

                            JOSEPH HILL (1949-2006)

     On August 19 the reggae world lost one of its most prominent figures.

     Joseph Hill, the leader of the veteran reggae group, Culture

     unexpectedly passed away from a sudden illness. At the time, the group

     was in Berlin, Germany at the mid-point of a European tour - for more

     information please check out Jim Dooley's excellent Culture website at

     http://www.cyberus.ca/~jdooley/

                       Culture - World Peace - Heartbeat

   When Culture first came up - they looked like they was going to be

   part of the business for a very very long time. They are now a

   foundation stone of the reggae business with at least an album out

   there for every year they have been around. This one finds them on

   Heartbeat again after many years. Its 13 tracks cover all the these

   heard on Culture albums before - but with new musicians you can get a

   new sound out of an song, and with the Firehouse Crew present its

   makes a lot of sense to recut tunes like 'Dog A Dog Nyam Dog'. The

   bulk of the album is recorded with a wide range of musicians, but each

   and every track as got that Culture sound. Its a sound loved all

   around the world - 'World Peace' is a fitting title made by a group

   who care about such concepts - because they can see the big picture

   just as clearly as did they way back in 1976.

   Culture - Two Sevens Clash - Joe Gibbs - 1977

   The single 'Two Sevens Clash', was released at the end of 1976, with

   it Culture had gone straight to the top. Now an album was needed and

   Culture were busy recording it for Joe Gibbs. To say that the album

   was a very strong debut, is to understate the album. The title track

   is not even the best track_on them, which is_unusual_considering the

   quality of the tune. Yet this is not an album to pick out individual

   tracks for praise; what must be praised is the overall production of

   the album.

   Culture - Cumbolo - Front Line - 1979

   Early 1979 and it wasn't a good time to release a new Culture album.

   After over 5 years of cultural lyrics - a general feeling of wanting a

   change had set in. For the first time in years, love songs were

   outselling cultural or reality lyrics. And when 'Cumbolo' came out, it

   felt it. And yet it wasn't a bad album. It was very well produced - by

   Sonia Pottinger, a solid set. For some though it was just too close to

   'Harder Than The Rest' for comfort. At least three of the songs had

   appeared on previous albums.

   Culture - International Herb - Front Line - 1979

   Another Sonia Pottinger production, and with tracks like 'I Tried'

   'The Shepherd' and 'Too Long In Slavery' it was well up to the

   standard of their other albums. Although by now a new form of reggae

   'Dance Hall' had arrived which had little in common with Culture's

   style. And Culture had not made the breakthrough into the rock market,

   which had been expected of them. So when the Front Line label was

   closed down Culture joined a lot of other vocal groups in the

   wilderness.

   Culture - Lion Rock - Cultural Foundation - 1982

   Culture is now one. The reason is the same reason that kepted Culture

   away from the music scene for nearly two years, changes. Albert Walker

   and Lloyd Dayes have now gone their own way. Or should that be Joe

   Hill as gone his. Joe as at last fulfilled an ambition to bring to the

   music, his band form a long time - The Soul Defenders, ex Studio One

   session band, Joe was their drummer. Three years in the making 'Lion

   Rock' features the Soul Defenders on all tracks. Who show they are

   amongest the most talented musicians in Ja.

   Culture - At Work - Blue Mountain - 1986

   Although 'Lion Rock' had much to recommend it - Joe Hill or Culture

   was out of step with the rest of the music. He needed to get back in

   step, and to do that it seemed he needed a rest. That rest lasted 4

   years 'til 1986. And when Joe Hill returned he had Albert and Kenneth

   were by his side again. Culture were once again a trio. The chances of

   Culture making a big impact again were very slim - no matter how the

   good the album, and this was very good. Produced by Sly & Robbie it

   brings the group right up to date.

   Culture - In Culture - Music Track - 1986

   Joe continued the process of bringing the group up to date by self -

   producing this LP. It was clear that he had been listening to the

   music closely and the result was a very rough and tough LP, including

   a big surprise. A version of 'Sleng Teng'! More than that 'Capture

   Rasta' was a very heavy cut of the rhythm that in combination with the

   lyrics gave Culture a small hit. While the non digital tracks are just

   as powerful. 'Old Tattoo' is particular interesting lyrically, Joe

   telling a very moving story.

   Culture - Nuff Crisis - Blue Mountain - 1988

   'In Culture' should have been another step forward for the group, but

   for some unknown reason it was to be another two years before the

   group had another LP released. This album is more traditional than the

   last. How 'Nuff Crisis' is viewed really depends on how you like your

   Culture. Every track on the album contains a message-that would make

   anyone more aware, which can only be good. Listen out for 'Crack In

   New York' and 'Bang Belly Babies' two of the most controversial songs

   Joe's probably ever written.