Phil Pratt

Various Artists - Raw Roots Vol. 2 - (Phil Pratt productions) - Jet

Set - CD.

This is the elusive third volume of Phil Pratt material from Jet Set

(following in the well established footsteps by Jet set already (after

"Best of Sun Shot" and "Raw Roots Vol. 1"). This album concentrates on

the 1971-75 phase of his productions when he was scoring massive hits

in Jamaica, and couples many of the tunes with alternate versions to

boot.

The album opens with "Ital dish", a DJ-ed love song by I Roy, quickly

followed up by it's version. Veteran, and the much underated, Al

Campbell cover's Ken Parker's "I can't hide", re-titled "Hide & seek"

(succeeded by The Sunshot band's own Dub, "Seek dis ya Dub"). Another

Jamaican stalwart Ken Boothe, revisits his original Ska love duet with

Stranger Cole, "Artibella". This new version is a Reggae utilising

Ernie Ranglin's Studio One "Surfing" rhythm. The other versions

include a DJ cut by Big Youth ("Keep your dread" and it's version

"Natty culture") and the melodica version by Bobby Kalphat (sourced

from a very scratched 45, but this just adds to the mood of the

track).

The CD continues at this high quality throughout with other highlights

including Keith Poppin's "Envious" (a cover of thr Studio One "Bad

mind grudgeful", by Winston Holness & Robin) and it's four versions,

Roman Stewart's "Fire at your heel" and Horace Andy's "Get wise".

What may put some off is the number of versions, but if you are an

avid fan of Phil Pratt's sparse and vacuous productions this will be

one for you.

One final point, this has been almost difficult to obtain this - I had

to buy my copy from a market stall holder in Camden Market !

by Charlie Reggae.

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