Wailing Souls,LP,Wild Suspence,Island ILPS9523,UK79 1stP EX,Very Well,Black Rose
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Description
Wailing Souls
Title and label: Wild Suspense, Island ILPS9523, UK 1st Press 1979
Condition of vinyl: EX
Matrix Side A: ILPS 9523 A-3U C J
Matrix Side B: ILPS 9523 B-1U SOUND CLINIC
Condition of sleeve: EX Fully laminated sleeve + a black die-cut card inner sleeve EX
AllMusic Review by Roger Steffens
‘These brilliant quartet triumphs echo the harmonic heights of the early Wailers. It's virtually their greatest hits, backed by Sly And Robbie’.
Wailing Souls;
The Wailing Souls are considered by many the greatest of all reggae vocal groups, known for their deft songwriting and mesmerizing harmonies led by the gospel-like lead of Winston “Pipe” Matthews. In the mid-1960s the group was originally formed as The Renegades, comprising Winston “Pipe” Matthews, Lloyd “Bread” McDonald, and George “Buddy” Haye.
The line-up of the group was subject to various changes and name changes, but Winston “Pipe” Matthews, Lloyd “Bread” McDonald, continued to form the core of the group. Their excellent Studio One debut set, released in 1975, collected singles recorded for Dodd in the early 1970s.
The 1970s saw the Souls recording for a variety of producers and releasing tunes on their own Massive label. The group worked almost exclusively out of the famed Channel One studio.
Junjo Lawes more or less revived their career in the early 1980s with the album Fire House Rock. Due to the close working relationship of Junjo and Greensleeves a notable amount of Wailing Souls 12? singles were issued by the London-based record company.
Throughout the 1980s they continued to deliver quality releases, even during the so-called digital era. The group has been active to this day, with the recent highlight being the release of the album Back A Yard, recorded with producer/ singer Alborosie.
Wild Suspense As expected, the album is characterized by a solid collection of roots ‘n’ culture songs. The Souls are musically assisted by the well-known studio musicians of the time, such as Sly & Robbie, Ansel Collins, Ranchie McLean, Scully, and a creamy horn section including Vin Gordon, Rico, Cedric Im Brooks, and Headley Bennett.
Especially on Very Well and Bredda Gravalicious the gentlemen excel on their horns! Pop engineer Terry Barham’s mix is quite soft, and on some songs deviates from the Jamaican version.
The tracklist reveals some covers of hits from their past. Album opener Row Fisherman is a sterling re-vamp of the tune they recorded for Studio One in 1970. This killer tune is followed by Slow Coach.
Garth Dennis recorded this song in 1974 for producer Roydale Anderson. While the version here is good, we prefer the rawer original. The catchy Feel The Spirit also appeared as a single on their Massive label. One of the highlights here is Bredda Gravalicious.
The combination of biting lyrics, exquisite vocal harmonies, and 100% appropriate backing makes this song a timeless classic. The same goes for Very Well, a song released by Channel One in 1978. Also very enjoyable is the swinging title track and Something Funny.
Side 1:
Row Fisherman
Slow Coach
We Got to Be Together
Feel The Spirit
Bredda Gravilicious
Side 2:
Wild Suspense
They Never Know
Black Rose
Something Funny
Very Well
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