Ernest Ranglin

Ernest Ranglin

Ernest Ranglin - A Mod Mod Ranglin - K&K Records - CD

Veteran guitarist Ernie Ranglin has always been a favourite amongst

Jamaican music and Jazz fans alike, but since the Island Jamaica Jazz

label's "Below the bassline" album and his appearance at the 1998

Glastonbury Pop Festival, his popularity has reached a wider audience

again, and deservedly so. The (mainly) instrumental album was recorded

at the Khouri's Federal Studios in around 1966 in very early JA stereo

and issued with only 12 tracks. The re-issue features a further 6

tracks and compiles the original mix of Ballads, Pop tunes, mild Jazz

with some cool Rock Steady and Ska. Covers like Dylan's "Blowing in

the wind", the traditional jump up tune "Archie (buck them up)" - one

of the few vocal sides, the Ska versions of "You won't see me" and

"Felicia" and the ballad variation of "Born free" all make this up to

be a rounded set, with the extra tracks blending seamlessly with the

original selection. The guitar playing is faultless, but the track

selection (Somewhere my love !) and the session band (Byron Lee & The

Dragonnaires?) is a little too clean and therefore bland to make this

anywhere near an essential purchase.Still, paying £15 for this

re-issue on crystal clear CD, saving you the £40 this writer spent on

the original JA issue, doesn't seem like such a bad deal after all,

although sleeve notes would have been nice. Recommended for owners of

wine bars and singles clubs and those, like me, who have just got to

have everything he recorded !! Charlie Reggae