Steely Dan UHQR Series

Music Reviews: Reggae

February 24th, 2023

Sold Out But Still Worth Reviewing

was this Bob Marley & The Wailers album worth buying as a costly UHQR release?

By: Michael Fremer

How do you know a reissue is a sonic success? There's no checklist but I've been playing an original pressing since it was first released and occasionally the Mobile Fidelity Anadisc 200 reissue, so when the stylus dropped onto "Jamming" (I always first play side 2) I wasn't expecting any major surprises.The opening drum flourish indicated a new level of transparency and clarity, which was nice to hear but the percussive jingle after Marley... Read More

genre World Reggae format Vinyl

November 21st, 2022

UHQR “Rastaman Vibration” Gets the Riddim Right!

Only around 300 copies remain of this limited to 3500 copies release

By: Michael Fremer

By the time “Rastaman Vibration” was released in 1976, Bob Marley had already released seven albums, the first four of which had limited distribution outside of Jamaica. “Catch a Fire,” his first for Island, released in 1973 with the famous Zippo lighter flip up jacket, was a big deal in American reggae-loving outposts like Boston, where the 1972 low budget film “The Harder They Come” starring Jimmy Cliff had been a major sensation running throughout the summer of... Read More

genre Other Reggae format DVD Vinyl

November 17th, 2022

"Monty Alexander The Montreux Years" Highlights 20+ Years of Onstage Excitement

recordings from four different Montreux venues

By: Michael Fremer

Monty Alexander's long association with the Montreux Jazz Festival produced many stellar musical moments. This double LP set culled from performances from 1993 through 2016 highlights many of them. There's a video interview with Alexander conducted by TrackingAngle editor Michael Fremer the day this review posts.

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genre Jazz Reggae format Vinyl