Ken Boothe

One of the great artists from the rocksteady era of reggae. Technically excellent. Song selection excellent. Not a miss in this entire compilation.

Ken Booth has the unfortunate yet erroneous reputation of being poppy, lightweight --Everyone knows "Everything I Own", and typically characterise him through this sentimental tune.

Hopefully, the core of this double CD set will go some way to setting the record straight. It has some scorchers on it, mostly in the 1950's/60's R n B meets Alpha Boys School horns style, fused with a Rocksteady drive.

Stranger Cole teams up with Booth on the opener,"Uno Dos Tres", a tune with a guitar rhythm like a gentle, irresistible wave,pulling the R n' B quasi Blues/Cajun vocal forward. A jazz horns section sends the vibes into Blue Note Lee Morgan style tranquillity and euphoria."What a Day" again, fuses Chicago blues vibes with a soul church chant.

"The One I Love" sees Booth truly come into the light, with his deeply distinctive torch vocal style. The result is unmediated -- direct soul, with no tangible or apparent barriers or borders.

Then there is the eerie "You Left the Water Running", with its distinctly odd Post Modern title, replete with narrative of lonely nihilism and despair. The guitar licks are pure Steve Cropper, with a Bessie Smith oddness and ambience to the sound quality.

Some of the overt and kitsch influences from Nat King Cole do Booth no favours at all, it must be said -- "Lady with the Starlight" is an example of a hotel lobby style that Ken Booth is simply far,far too good for. Booth is far too distinctive, far too superior a talent to have recorded such a derivative tune.

"Can't you See" again is a breathtakingly direct lyrical and vocal style -- sounds so personal, confessional, as if the listener is being let into private secrets and personal struggles.


CD 2 contains a number of early to mid period Roots Rockers styles -- In particular, the confident black nationalism of "Black Gold and Green" and the thundering, resentful nihilism of "You are No Good".

Ken Booth is often viewed as "too easy on the ears" -- but there is infinitely more soul, outrageous originality and vibes in evidence here than on countless stodgy, stereotyped, dub by numbers "new Euro roots" albums.

This lp offers a good introduction to Boothe's body of work (at least in the 60's, at any rate). As you will hear, Boothe was quite an impassioned and fiery vocalist, who borrowed heavily from the American soul singers of the time; and in the era of rocksteady, that made Boothe a popular singer, and with it came a slew of well made hits in Studio One.

The cd does a nice job showcasing his early years, including "Artibella," one of his first recordings with Stranger Cole in the duo Stranger and Ken, as well as "The Train Is Coming," a bonus in and of itself as the early Wailers are featured on the track. Other highlights certainly include "Moving Away," "You're No Good (Crying Over You)," a top 15 hit in 1975, and the great "Thinking," to name a few.

What I find disappointing, however, is that many of his 70's hits, among the very best he recorded, are missing, and that's a shame. The cd could use "Everything I Own," (later covered by Boy George, of all people) "Freedom Street," and "Why Baby Why" to improve it.

Overall, however, the cd is a nice look at this underrated singer, and a nice addition to anyone's collection.

this is ska and rocksteday the way it's ment to be. Ken Boothe is probably the most soulful singer to come from jamaica's littel island. This cd highlites his early gems, has great liner notes and song by song breakdown, written by Chuck Foster. Boothe backed by such great bands as the Skatalites, Soul Venders, and the Soul Brothers shows way he is Mr. Rocksteady

this fella always sings from the heart. you may or may not dig his style, but there ain't no arguing - ken boothe shore got soul. ken really gets into his singing on "African Lady". perhaps it's best described as a cross between eddie vedder singing a whitney houston song, early diana ross on roller skates, and a bucket of grass. i think that makes sense....

i haven't heard this version of "Everything I Own" anywhere else. it's a little slower than the radio hit (or maybe my record's warped, i dunno). the version of "No Woman No Cry" is a must hear, too.

so yeah, three stars. this album isn't a great jamaican primer, but if you like what ken does you should pick it up. mmm-hmmm.

I'd say this is the one to get. "Freedom Street" is one of the most passionate rocksteady classics I've ever heard. Boothe is more famous for a kind of sappy lovers style. That stuff is OK, but nothing compared to when Ken cranks up and belts out, "Then take off these chains, from off our feet!" The rest of this CD couldn't possibly measure up, but it's mostly in a rougher style than his other albums. If you're a rocksteady fan, this is what you're looking for from Ken Boothe.