Big Youth

Blame it on da Youth! Everybody say that he is the Grandpappy of Rap. Yep, I can hear it in his boastful toasts. No duds in the extra dubs either.

So I woke up and put this in.....the screams in the beginning of the song scared my neighbor, which indicated I made the correct choice. Automatically puts any reggae fan in a good mood with that first track. In fact, I liked it so much I decided to review it, and let you know this is good, upbeat, clean your house on a sunny December morning music.

this is a lot of music for the ching. damn, this stuff is raw and tastey. this is not like his overproduced, smoothed out later releases. i gots lots of dub, and rock steady, this one is unclassifiable...or is it... (see title of review).

the influence of Big Youth has been far and wide in both reggae and punk music. he is often thought of as one of the most influential toasters and an innovator of the dub style.
this is a monster of a collection with a whopping 41 tracks spanning (mostly) his early career. every song on here is a classic in it's own right. you can find no wrong here on this set of fine jamaican music. if you are into the styles of U-Roy or I-Roy, then buy this Big Youth 2cd set with confidence and expand your knowledge of this legendary figure. you won't regret it.

Big Youth is one of the most influential artists to ever come from Jamaica; he may be second only to Marley in terms of influence. This is an essential collection for anyone who is into Reggae. This 2-disc set explores some of Big Youth's best early work. The first disc contains some excellent work,especially from the album "Screaming Target" which was possibly the most important and influential record for a few London youths in the 70s that went on to form a band you may have heard of...The Clash. The second disc contains several tracks from Youth's best album, Natty Cultural Dread, which I think is only available on vinyl (but I am really not sure).

Big Youth is one of the most influential artists for the early punk movement AND for hip-hop. This 2-disc set is a perfect introduction to this essential reggae toaster.

Bottom line: this set is the bomb. PERIOD. Since I purchased this set a few days ago it has hardly left my player! PURE GENIUS!!

I've been listening to reggae music since 1976, after seeing Bob Marley in London (his picture anyway). I got this album from a friend in about 1981 (the year Bob died) and I couldnt believe how trippy it was. Dreadlocks Dread is my favorite reggae albumn ever. The music seems to come out of the sky, or float up from the ground ... like out of your unconscious. The harmonica sound with whatever crude distortion they put on it... it kind of twists your brain a little, in a good way. I dont burn any more, and I dont need to, because when I listen to this music I feel irie, like a rastaman.
By the way, I saw Big Youth with U Roy a couple of years ago. Big Youth sounds EXACTLY the same live as he does on this record, which is strange because this music sounds so improvisational.

Though I'm not particularly fond of dub, this album transcends category and is essential to any reggae collection. Smell the herb.

Other than "Screaming Target," this is my favorite Big Youth lp, mixing his usual blend of irreverent humour ("Some Like It Dread" spoofing Goldlocks and the 3 Bears) with biting social commentary ("Marcus Garvey," "Train to Rhodesia,", and "Black Man Message" are all powerful tunes)over phat reggae grooves that to this day keep clubs rocking (I commonly mix Big Youth into my shows that I perform).

I would write more, but seeing as its not available to be had at the moment, it would be like a bad teasing. Big Youth is a legend, and this lp is one reason why. An enlightened prophet is he. Praise be to Jah.

We used to do what Rastatarians do while listening to this record in the early eighties. The music's profundity became deeper each time we listened to it. on the works like Train to Rhodesia and Lightning Flash Dread..Absolutely criminal it is out of print/stock whatever.

I first got this album in about 1976 and absoulutely loved it. Iplayed it so much over the years that I wore it out! Manley Buchanan,also known as "Big Youth",backed by Flesh, Skin,and Bones Band,is at his best.I have been looking for this recording in cd for years.It really needs to be reissued.

While not as inclusive as it could be, "Jamming in the House of Dread" is nonetheless a good look at many of Big Youth's early classics, like his cover of Ray Charles' "Hit the Road Jack," the great "I Pray Thee," and the politically incorrect "Every Nigger is a Star."

There are better Big Youth colections to be had, so look for one with a few more tracks on them before deciding to get this one. There is nothing wrong with this one, but you can do better.

Big Youth. Natty Universal Dread. 3-disc bonanza. 51 tracks. Covers period between 1973-79. Blood & Fire. D J/Reggae at its most highest. You probably own some other cd's. Throw them out. This is all you need. 'Nuff discussion.

Blood and Fire shots another basic cd-set. Big youth unleashed in three cd's, grabbing the best from 1973 to 1979, most of it unavaible in cd. As the brother would tell you.....go for it.

This album is Big Youth's best by far. If you truly know reggae/dub, this CD must be a part of your collection. Incredible beats and toasting vocals - exactly what makes the Youth famous.

I've got lots of reggae albumns, but this is my favorite. It is soulful and mysterious and has grooves that noone else has even thought of. The band is called the Flesh and Bones Band and they are tremendous. The harmonica is haunting. Love it. Also love Third World's FIRST album... also has some haunting harmonica. But this albumn, Dreadlocks Dread, is really something special.

Big Youth is not well-known in the US. But he performed great reggae in an appealing ROOTS style (note- "Roots Reggae" would be equivalent to Otis Redding/Sam Cooke style R&B). The remake of Delroy Wilson's "Dancing Mood" will make you smile. "Time Alone Will Tell" is helped by an appealing harmonica solo, and "Roots Foundation" sums up the positivity that most of the reggae of the pre-dancehall (Reggae's present-day equivalent to rap) was all about. A very worthwhile purchase.