Musical Shark Attack

This cd brings the memories of the golden era of reggae when men struggled for equal rights, equal access to available resource based on qualifications. Back then, music was manually played, and separated natural talents from high tech-dependent 'musicians.' I strongly recommend this cd, its likes, and this seller to any one who wants to understand how reggae music of that era applies to our every day struggles.

I-Roy Reid was definitely one of Jamaica's less fortunate musicians who despite his musical skills & undoubted versatility ended up not tasting ultimate success unlike many of his (often less talented) contemporaries. One thing remains universally accepted though and that is the fact that he was one of the top quartet that ruled the air waves and scene at the time, alongside Big Youth, Dennis Alcapone & of course U-Roy (who was definitely an influence of some sort to I -Roy and his promoter hence the similarity in names).Personally, I'll say that of the previously mentioned quartet, he was one of the most clearly and easily understood with less 'jive', no disrespect to the others at all as I own (and love) releases from them all but truly, one gets a bit flustered with the 'freestyle JIVE' on later released material by U-Roy and Big Youth. I'll have to disagree with a previous reviewer on the album quality as `Musical Shark Attack' to me, remains a clear cut album produced by the rather silent and quite under-rated producer of the time Joseph Hoo Kim, who with the Revolutionnaires cut & released some exceptional material in that period, check Dillinger's `Bionic Dread' (which featured the massive worldwide hit, 'Cocaine in my brain') also released in the same 1976. I-Roy's album itself is done in the typical (at the time) but still interesting Jamaican DJ/ toaster fashion which literally puts voice over beat and as such, if you listen to the album through just your left speaker/ headphone you hear only the acapella bits (stripped off the beats) and listening to the other speaker you hear the reverse, just the instrumentals without any voices. Regards the Songs/ lyrics, I-Roy shows himself off and is all over the tracks, for typical Dub lovers, check `Drum sound' and `Tribute to Marcus Garvey'. For catchy lyrics, only people like I-Roy would take it back to the basics for example bible stories talking about "Lot's wife turn(ing) to a pillar of salt" in the song "Tribute to Marcus Garvey". There's also a wonderful sporty tribute to the West Indies/ English county cricket legend in the song `Tribute to Michael Holden'. I Roy was not without his own career low points as expected in the industry, doing what he felt it took to stay up, drugs etc, verbally attacking other people and musicians on wax, the most highlighted of which was with his much younger rival `Prince Jazzbo', I kind of found the `verbals' funny in that both of them sometimes used same lyrics/ phrases e.g. the above Lot's wife turning to salt and a few others, they then also released direct attack full length albums aimed at each other with `I-Roy's "Straight to Jazzbo's head" and Jazzbo's response, "Straight to I-Roy head. Sadly, Roy Reid died practically penniless as I understand from a heart condition in 1999 but his songs remain endearing and entertaining to the real old school Reggae music lovers.

A+++

This CD is particular in the fact that I Roy's voice has been recorded on one track and the dubs on another.Therefore we haven't got real stereo as we know it but I Roy's voice coming out of one speaker and the backing track from the other. Apart from this, this is a great I Roy album and I remember getting it on vinyl way back in '76. Respect due to one of the quickest and probably the most wittiest toasters ever.

I Roy is probably one of my top 3 favorite chanters in Reggae music. His style, wit, and cleverness put him in top rankin fe sure. Musical Shark Attack however is not one of his strongest albums, but make no mistake, the biting social commentary, black pride lyrics ride high and the music of course is brilliant. Fitting his lyrical attack all throughout. Standout cuts: "Love I a Deal With", "Tribute to Marcus Garvey" and the outrageous "Semi Classical Natty", are strong tunes. As always, I miss the great I Roy, there are not many chanters left with his style, class and charm.

This is one of those albums that Virgin put out where they had no idea what the hell they were doing (with the exception of their Gregory stuff)... they were just going for certain Jamaican "names" of the day (around 1976). The production has no feel and sounds like I-Roy wrote the lyrics and maybe put some thought into what he was saying but it didn't come across - it's disjointed, off time and he doesn't sound at one with the riddims. I suspect the vocals were probably recorded in London, on top of the imported Jamaican riddims hence, very difficult to duplicate the amazing feel of the best authentic Jamaican I-Roy hits. I can just imagine it now - I-Roy freezing his ass off in London :) I'd even suggest that Virgin mixed it in London too because again, it sounds too clean and correct - unlike the rougher Jamaican mixes. Give this one a miss.