Yellowman - Just Cool

• Performer: Yellowman
• Album/singles: Just cool
• Release date: 2007-08-25
• Genre: Reggae
• Editor rating:
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To refresh my mind I just browsed Roots Archives to check the albums Yellowman recorded in the early Eighties. I counted 14 albums in the 1982 list, the first year Yellowman's LPs were released. Yes, I did say 14! About half of them have been performed together with DJ-brother Fathead and some of them in combination with other DJs. Just like this re-issue CD of the 1982 LP 'Just Cool', most of those albums are produced by Henry Junjo Lawes.

Back in time I wasn't crazy about the Yellowman invasion in 1982. By using arguments like '...it's all the same...' I only bought a few Yellowman LP's. But I have to admit i was wrong at that time and didn't noticed the power of these Yellowman offerings. Time for me to refresh his sound by playing this 17 North Parade / VP Records re-issue.

The CD starts with 'Getting Divorce', Yellowman's own answer-version on 'Yellowman Getting Married'. Allthough answer-versions in reggae are common, an answer-version to your own song is pretty unusual. Together with Fathead as sidekick, Yellowman is telling his experiences with his wife Suzan on the Don Carlos 'I'm Not Crazy' rhythm. All the other Radics & High Times Band rhythms Junjo used for the original LP are solid, straight and almost basic mixed by Errol Thompson. On 'No Mention' and other songs on this CD Yellowman and Fathead are performing in a powerfull combination style. Both DJ styles' fit in a perfect harmony. My favourite song is 'Sometime A Lie' featuring Fathead's trademarks like 'Ribbit' and 'Oink'. I think it's strange that Fathead isn't mentioned on the original LP release. 'Hold On To Your Woman' and 'Rub A Dub Play' are the bonus tracks on this CD. Both songs are from 12" discomix versions and they feature a deeper mix than the previous songs. The horns on 'Rub A Dub Play' make this song in particular less basic.

For those who have been unable to get hold of the original Jah Guidance release, this is the perfect situation to get a copy of this great dancehall DJ album.

Hans - Roots Archives, November 2007
Edited by Leggo Rocker

Source:roots-archives.com