The Roots Reggae Library brings to you Reggae music in unique collections. This edition features The Congos. The discography is unique because of its additions made to each album, and the two fully new albums only found on Roots Reggae Library.
After The Tartans were no longer a group, Cedric Myton collaborated with Lincoln Thompson for his first album Humanity. Afterwards, Cedric Myton teamed up with Ashanti Roy, and later with Watty Burnett, to form The Congos. The falsetto sound-mark of The Congos is similar to that of Prince Lincoln Thompson. However, Ashanti Roy and Watty Burnett perfectly balance that sound on most albums.
Generally The Congos have been regarded as a group with a magnificent debut album, but somehow their later work has not gotten the same appreciation. According to me, later albums are just as much worth listening to as their classic first. Those that rate Heart Of The Congos as their only outstanding work have not listened to Congo Ashanti, Image Of Africa, and Face The Music with enough care.
On the Roots Reggae Library, all on which Cedric Myton has contributed as a vocalist is labelled as The Congos. You will find that some of his solo work is therefore include, whereas the solo material of Ashanti Roy and Watty Burnett is not. Their solo work should be seen as seperate and will be discussed in another edition.
The Congos - Heart Of The Congo
01. Fisherman
02. Congoman
03. Open Up The Gate
04. Children Crying
05. La La Bam-Bam
06. Can't Come In
07. Sodom & Gomorrow
08. The Wrong Thing
09. Ark Of The Covenant
10. Solid Foundation
11. At The Feast
12. Nicodemus
13. Don't Blame It On I
Some will be more familiar with the darker toned album cover showing a food palate, in which the original album cover features in the centre. Even though Heart Of The Congos was not entirely complete when released at first, I have chosen to stick to the original cover art. Those that now The Congos from a single album probably do so for Heart Of The Congos, more specifically for 'Fisherman'. "Row fisherman row, keep on rowing your boat, lots of hungry belly pickney deh a shore". Visual material of The Congos performing this song on a solitude beach exist, to enhance the feeling of this song. 'Fisherman' is a perfect introduction to The Congos, with its falsetto lyrics and back-harmonization. Cedric explained that it is from the hymning of "congo a bongo, bongo ashanti" on 'Congoman' that The Congos derrived their name from. It isn't hard to imagine Cedric Myton and Ashanti Roy performing the song on the cover art. In light of the title of the album, 'Open Up The Gate' is a pan-African exodus song. "Out of Africa comes the Congoman", the lines in this song can linger in your head forever, and so does the music. Another leader is needed for this world, The Congos sing 'Children Crying', asking for a new Moses, just as Bob Marley did in the same year on 'Exodus'. Right after we get told more lessons of history in 'La La Bam-Bam' by Ashanti Roy. "Joseph with his coat of many colours, was throne in the pit by his own brothers, and Daniel in the lions den, they though they would never see them again"/ The lyrics of the next song, which is 'Can't Come In' are an account of a number of biblical references originating from Luke 12, Luke 13 and Matthew 25, centered around "you keep on knocking but you can't come in". Many will understand that the cities on the seventh song refer to biblical cities that are supposed to have existed in the land that is now Jordan, namely 'Sodom And Gomorrow', having burned down. Not the nicest bible story in itself, but a good Congos' song nevertheless. In a beautiful falsetto Cedric sings about those who do and think 'The Wrong Thing' over and over again."Fire, lightening , thunder ago burn you, no matter where you hide,you can't hide from the wrong that you've done". When that song stops playing, soon we hear "every morning the black sun rise, every morning the black sun, it shines, out of the 'Ark Of The Covenant'", a nice mix of falsetto and low tone background vocals. The Congos sing about all the things that were saved in the Ark, even the ants. A praise to Jah himself in 'Solid Foundation' sounds as if The Congos have been doing this for years, yet, this is their first album. The mention of "solid as a rock" is striking, as 'Solid As A Rock' is a track that Cedric recorded with The Tartans. The last two tracks were later added to these albums. 'At The Feast' which goes "hail natty dread, have you any herbs my brotherman, yes my brother yes, ten crocus bags". 'Nicodemus' that goes "Nicodemus went to Jah Jah by night, to ask him the way of salvation and right". Even though these two later aditions were made, there is another outtake which I have added to the album here, which is 'Don't Blame It On I'. One can imagine why it did not immediately appeared on the album, as the vibe is slightly different compared to other songs. Admitted, this album carries the watermark of Lee "Scratch" Perry his Black Ark, which does make this album unique. However, other albums from The Congos have other characteristics that make them special. The backing vocals on this album are partially performed by The Meditations. To find the booklet of the later re-released Heart Of The Congos, look here.
01. Days Chasing Days
02. Jackpot
03. Hail The Word Of Jah
04. Education Of Brainwashing
05. Youth Man
06. Yoyo
07. Nana
08. Thief Is In The Vineyard
09. Music Maker
10. Feast Of The Passover
11. Fat Cook
12. One More Try
13. Cloudy Day
In 1977 The Congos released their second studio album, titled Congo Ashanti. Where Heart Of The Congos is generally seen as a classic album, I personally feel that The Congos come even stronger on Congo Ashanti. There is no doubt about the quality of Heart Of The Congos, but all in all, Congo Ashanti has a more coherent list of tracks. 'Days Chasing Days' puts down a brilliant start, telling the story of a holy war of Christians versus the brethren and sistren fighting for the land of Jah. Myton sings about the Devil, about rich and poor, in 'Jackpot'. In no way I aim to criticize Heart Of The Congos, but having heard the first two tracks on Congo Ashanti exemplify my point of the coherence of tracks on this album. Moving forward we hear a beautiful reggae rhythm opening 'Hail The Word Of Jah', "you come from Zion with a banner in your hand" "leave out the vulture, stick to your culture". Next The Congos bring a message to the nation with 'Education Of Brainwashing', as the title suggest, a critical note of lack of teaching in Rastafari faith. One of the strongest tracks ever made in my opinion by The Congos is 'Youth Man', addressing the youth in Jamaica singing "the congoman is coming, with his harp in his hand, Jah Jah in his heart", "hey youth man, don't let them take your rights from you"! The youth is told not to forget that they are "Jamaican born African man". It is one of the songs that The Congos played on Les Nuits Secrètes in 2012, where The Congos performed an evening concert, as well as Max Romeo and Lee 'Scratch' Perry. I went to France to see these sessions with Eric de Boer.'Yoyo' is a track that is strong in its own right, about the illustrious status of the dreadlock man, ending the song with appointing the generation of dreadlock Jamaicans to call upon their faith to Jah. In the title, 'Nana' carries the same fashion. "Look how long we have been robbed of our culture, brutalized, and scorn". 'Youth Man', 'Yoyo' and 'Nana' fall in a special Congo-category, for me. 'Thief Is In The Vineyard' is more laid back in a way, and Cedric makes special use of his falsetto voice in the chorus. Watty Burnett his baritone is added singing about the colours of a red, white and blue flag, which can be seen at the barber, the police and the soldier. 'Music Maker' has a nice rhythm and is a mellow Congos track. Where we heard 'At The Feast' on Heart Of The Congos', 'Feast Of The Passover' is the same track lyrically, but is musically different. The last two tracks were released at a later date, on the Lion Treasure anthology album. This is not where Congo Ashanti ends for us. Three additions on this album to be precise. 'Fat Cook', as a metaphor for fair skinned rich men, and Cedric is going to catch them. Just as well he wants Jah story to be told from Cape to Cairo, to Timbuktu. This song is found on Feast, an album released much later with mainly tracks of Cock Mouth Kill Cock. Cedric sings he went to school to learn the golden rule, and that he is a true Rastaman. 'One More Try' is a very rare Congo track, on which Cedric Myton asks us to "give love a try". It is an extra feature of the album, unique to the Roots Reggae Library. 'Cloudy Day' is even more rare. You might have heard it partially on the Jamdown film, where it is the last live performance exert that you see. The audio of that video was taken and shuffled around to produce this wonderful track. Congo Ashanti Roy would later sing his own lead version on Sign Of The Star.
01. Only Jah Know
02. Mister Biggs
03. Food For The Rainy Day
04. Sweetest Name
05. He Is The King
06. Music Maker
07. Musical Iration
08. Stay Alive
09. Rasta Congo Man
10. End Of Day
11. Rescue You
12. Ear What Mama Say
Image Of Africa picks up the lead from Heart Of The Congos and Congo Ashanti with strong songs praising Rastafari and singing for the poor and suppressed Rastaman. A long introduction beholds 'Only Jah Know' in which The Congos hymn up to singing a mystical chorus chanting how Jah has saved them during a time of oppression. 'Mister Biggs' employs a slightly different tone. "People make up all the hits, for mister Biggs". It is about the music industry in Jamaica, where a wealthy few profit and where the singers and musicians are in lamentation, and their name is not even mentioned. One of the strongest tracks on the album is 'Food For The Rainy Day'. Some crucial Congos material can be seen in the film Jamdown, which contains a session where The Congos record 'Food For The Rainy Day'. You can see Cedric Myton singing that "we need an equal distribution of the wealth, right now, mister president! On Jamdown there are also interviews with Cedric Myton, and we see the Congos play Fisherman at Old Harbour Beach (Seaport Town). Please do note that the film starts with material from Toots & The Maytals." On the next song we are told that "Jah Jah is the 'Sweetest Name' I know." 'Sweetest Name', and also 'He Is The King' are an ode to Jah Rastafari. "We hail Selassie, for he is the father" and "believe me when I say praise Him every day and you will understand". On Congo Ashanti we had already heard the next song, but on Image Of Africa both the music and lyrics of 'Music Maker' are different. The interesting note is that the song does fit well on both the albums. "It's a musical I tell you now, iration. It's a bingi bongo congo'shanti, iration. It's a reggae reggae reggae, iration" in 'Musical Iration'. The album finished at 'Stay Alive' when it was first released. 'Stay Alive' itself has a positive tune and message. A beautiful, early section of the song goes "every day of I live, I try to make a walk worthwhile. All the right come and praise Far I". From the four additions made by me on this album the first is 'Rasta Congo Man', found on Feast, as was 'Fat Cook' on Congo Ashanti. The following 'End Of Day' might not be completely up to strength in terms of quality, but is very strong nevertheless. 'Rescue You' is a track produced on a Bunny "Striker" Lee rhythm, of which we will hear more on another album. Before we come to that, we hear another one on this very album, 'Ear What Mama Say', which belongs in the Striker Lee category as well. The last two tracks have slightly less musical variation, but are tracks we should not forget.
01. Can't Take It Away
02. Bank Of The River
03. Sinking Ship
04. Love & Understanding
05. Face The Music
06. Woman In The Dark
07. Where He Leads Me
08. Dance All Night
09. Scoffers & Scorners
10. Problems
11. Going To A Party
12. Humanity
Another landmark album, Face The Music. Last of the four more Roots Reggae albums of The Congos. On this album, each song builds on the solid repertoire of The Congos. "I know, I know, you ain't gonna take it away from me" is how Cedric starts the album with 'Can't Take It Away'. "Jah love is the most important of all". Jah love is also at the 'The Bank Of The River'. In the last part of the song Cedric sings about Jah love living inside of him. These first two song set the type of vibe of the complete album. Most songs I find particularly strong in the final minute. The only song that might feel slightly different is 'Sinking Ship', but don't get me wrong, even 'Sinking Ship' is a quality track. One should question what the sinking ship represents as a metaphor. "Now I know, things are gonna change, in life", in 'Love & Understanding' Myton chants "now I know, man should never change his ways, originally from whence it came" and that "Love is what the people want, happiness is what we're longing for, teach us love and wisdom, love is what it's all about". 'Face The Music', the track which the album is named after is a special song to Cedric, he sings. "This music that will make you happy, make your heart and soul so marry to you and me, just wait and see, what it done to you". Cedric Myton gives us all his typical vocal strengths in 'Woman In The Dark'. Quiet and laid-back is 'Where He Leads Me', about satisfying the heart and soul. A true fan of The Congos, Cedric Myton, or the Roots Reggae Library series will be familiar with 'Dance All Night'. The song can be found on the Dance All Night album of The Tartans. On Face The Music it is a central song on the album and has been re-recorded beautifully. 'Scoffers & Scorners', those who treat others unworthy, Babylon, trying to uphold the Rastaman. The Congos have made a haunting song to oppose them. "Don't let 'Problems' get you down" is another poignant and evocative song. A strong message from The Congos at the end of the original album. Again, at the Roots Reggae Library tracks have been additionally fitted on the album, 'Going To A Party' is a song from Feast, as were 'Fat Cook' and 'Rasta Congo Man'. "Got the safe the children, got to make sure the future right". 'Dance All Night' is not the only track on this album coming from earlier years. Falsetto and Prince Lincoln Thompson fans will be excited to say the least to find that 'Humanity' or 'Love The Way It Should Be' is added to this album, brought to you by Cedric Myton. John Legend and The Roots later covered the song on their album coined Wake Up! from 2010
01. Rock Of Gibraltar
02. Step Aside
03. Music Is The Key
04. Seeking A Favor
05. Judgement Day
06. Natty Dread Rise Again
07. Vibration
08. This Could Not Be Happening
09. Love Is The Answer
10. Apartheid
11. Sent To Babylon
12. The Wheel
13. All The People
14. Leaders Of The World
From the Natty Dread Rise Again album onward, The Congos will not sound entirely the same as they did on their first four albums. Not very strange given that this album was released 16 years after Face The Music. Even though the remainder of their music would definitely still be classified as Reggae, maybe less so as Roots Reggae. Where most tracks still sound good, some are a bit off. But of course, tastes are different. From this album onward, Yvonne Myton, wife of Cedric, is often co-credited for the lyrics of songs. Who knew that one day we would hear an electric guitar through the songs of The Congos? Possessing the gate of their enemies, the Congos come as solid as the 'Rock Of Gibraltar'. It sounds as much as a Congo track as any other. 'Step Aside' however, introduces us to a different type of Congo music. Determinant to stay where they belong, fighting each day to not be hurt. It is only a small leap towards 'Music Is The Key'. The Congos believe in music and love. They ask us if we can come up with anything sweeter than those two. This song is a combination of the new sound The Congos have incorporate, and the good old rootsy lyrics. A bit off might be 'Seeking A Favor'. Female background vocals sound unfamiliar with The Congos, adding to the confusion of the listener, even though they are Isheba and Alafia Myton, daughters of Cedric. "Every man has got his 'Judgement Day', then for his works he will get his pay", the fifth song on the album. A title that seems to closely tie with Bob Marley "'Natty Dread' rides again". Even though that is what being sung as well, the title track of this album is 'Natty Dread Rise Again', a song occupied with tearing down the walls of Babylon and building a Rasta foundation. The female inspired 'Vibration' is meant to be a strong track, even though it sounds a bit funky. For me, 'This Could Not Be Hapenning' is a song that exemplifies that Natty Dread Rise Again falls in a different category compared to previous albums. That is not a compliment. If The Congos want to romanticize their music that is fine, and should be done as in 'Love Is The Answer', rather than 'This Could Not Be Happening'. Unexpectedly, The Congos make a sharp comeback for the tenth song on the album. Addressing freedom fighters they sing "talking about 'Apartheid' is not gonna help". Asking for justice and an equal distribution of the wealth, mentioning the twelve sons of Israel, Cedric sings that there is no getting away from judgement day. 'Sent To Babylon' is where the album originally ends with. Not on the Roots Reggae Library! In the same year as Natty Dread Rise Again came out, Fire On The Mountain was released. An album on which reggae artists and groups pay tribute to the Rock band The Grateful Dead. The Congos preform 'The Wheel', which first appeared on Jerry Garcia's first solo album in 1972. 'All The People' is the second addition which is a vivid and passionate song. 'Leaders Of The World' is a song from an album of Various artists, named Miss Cassie All Stars Vol.1, a track that has little music at certain points but which lyrics do stick in the head.
01. Enemy & Spy
02. Bad Intention
03. Aaron & Moses
04. Take One Step
05. Prophets Are Dying
06. What You Gonna Do
07. Institution
08. Reggae Festival
09. Evil Woman
10. Lonely Without You
11. Closer To Jah
12. Love And Company
13. Freedom Sound
14. Romeo & Juliet
15. Form A Gang
Revival, one year later, was generally not very positively reviewed. As a stand-alone album, I can understand that. However, seen in the legacy of The Congos, and compared to the previous Natty Dread Rise Again, it isn't all that bad. As a whole, it might even be better than the album that came out two years before Revival, as it is more consistent. Those who claim this to be a bad album might have expected something similar to Heart Of The Congos, but that would be an ignorant expectation. On 'Enemy & Spy' you will hear that they have not lost the electric guitar. Labelled as 'irritating' on other websites, I would definitely disagree. Having listened to all previous material of The Congos, leading up to this album, 'Enemy & Spy' is a nice track and represents where The Congos stand before the start of the 21st century. 'Bad Intention' fluently follows up. "Locking up the people in jail is not the solution", we are told. This is a song that can linger on in my mind for days. "you and you colleagues, you and your colleagues, drinking champagne, eating caviar, having the largest bank account in the whole hemisphere". Cedric speaks of a gathering in 'Aaron & Moses', referring to Exodus, where Aaron and Moses gather the elders of the people of Israel. Myton not only mentions Aaron and Moses but also Gideon, Joseph and Joshua and sings about repatriation. Then "'Take One Step', never look back", in a melodic tune. Another one of those songs that remains in your head for a long time. A good vibration starts 'Prophets Are Dying', and Cedric is able to give this song strength with his vocal quality. "All nations must unite, come together, live as one" in 'What You Gonna Do', where he tells that we should live in harmony because this world was created to be free. He does so, even though the music itself does not seem so serious. It is not like the similar titled Peter Tosh track at all. In 'Institution' it definitely is. "So you keep on building those institutions, now you keep on build more human factories", talking to the government, and "we are the scapegoats, we plant those cane-fields, we are the victims of society, we are the victims of brutality". Then the spiritual Reggae revival sets in, in the form of a 'Reggae Festival', "chanting to the Congo rhythm", with nice tenor additions of Ashanti Roy. This song has a very nice nyahbinghi-like ending. 'Evil Woman', Cedric shouts, rhyming seeds with weeds and deeds. The album ends laidback, with a sweet tune, 'Lonely Without You'.
'Closer To Jah' is recorded on a rhythm from a Danish Reggae band, Action Taken. It is a very sweet song, with a strong harmony of The Congos. Although an addition on the album, it is one of the best songs on the album as well. The Reggae Fruit Basket Volume 1 gives us 'Love And Company', and various other songs from a variety of artists not included in the discography of The Congos. 'Freedom Sound' is a bit one-sided and Cedric sings about freedom exclusively. 'Romeo & Juliet' is a song that The Congos play on Inna De Yard, a live album, but the quality is good enough to make its appearance on this studio album. 'Form A Gang' is from the same album as 'Romeo & Juliet', Cedric asks us to come together on this song.
01. It Can't Work
02. Give Them The Rights
03. Kingdom Rises
04. Boycott
05. Undiluted Soldier
06. Sleeping Giant
07. Lion In The Jungle
08. Mr. Shark
09. Praise H.I.M
10. Capture Your Smile
11. Born Again
12. Living On The Edge
13. Secret Of Living
14. Love One Another
15. Colour Of The Rainbow
Congo Ashanti Roy pursued a solo career, leaving Cedric Myton as the only Congo member. Nevertheless I will refer to him as The Congos. This album is generally seen as the first that is able to reach the standard of Heart Of The Congos. As we have heard, Congo Ashanti, Image Of Africa and Face The Music did exactly that. I do agree that the quality of audio is sublime on this album. The same goes for the album cover, which is brilliant in my opinion. 'It Can't Work', Cydric warns Mr. Wicked Man, the Babylon oppressor who attempts to hide the Rasta culture. Justice for the people and the nation in 'Give Them The Rights'. Consistency of songs is found on this album, also when we hear "'Kingdom Rises, queendom falls", a haunting song, filed against Mr. Slave Master and Babylon, "you gotta pay for the destruction you cause, and what your forefather has done". And then the trumping "Babylon thronedom haffi 'Boycott'. The next shout is to help the 'Undiluted Soldier' to his destination Zion. 'Lion In The Jungle' is musically slightly off, but Myton sings as strong as on any other song. I do enjoy 'Mr. Shark' optimally. A very strong roots like track. Haile Jah Rastafari! 'Praise H.I.M' does not need much introduction, I suppose. "Nah, nah, nah", ah, that's Cedric! "'Capture Your Smile' like a genie in a bottle, open up and it will fly away, to the place that you wanna go". The album ends with a sweet nyahbingi 'Born Again'. "You've got to be born again before you can stand up and pray". For this album there is a long list of people who helped create it with Cedric Myton, including Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, but also Earl 'Chinna' Smith, Robbie Lyn, Style Scott, Leroy Horsemouth and Gladdy Anderson. I have added three tracks to this album to come to a total of 14. These are songs that Cedric Myton did not record with other Congos, as the other songs on this album. On Secret Of Living, a CD of various artists, Cedric sings the first and tenth song on. These are the first two added tracks that you see on Give Them The Rights. 'Secret Of Living' is the first lovely track, Myton chooses "life over death" quite clearly. He employs his high voices as well on 'Living On The Edge'. "When you think the world is over, its just a new beginning, modern technology has changed the course of time" and "the Devil is in full control of the system now". 'Love One Another' is from an EP of various artists named Jah Creation Riddim. The track might sound a bit less musical, but Cedric is not discouraged to sing his song. 'Colour Of The Rainbow' is a demo track that I have lengthened in order to make it sound more complete. The track is originally only a minute long. A Congo gem on the end of Give Them The Rights.
01. Cock Mouth
02. God's Kingdom
03. Watch And Pray
04. Grandma Say
05. River Beng Come Down
06. Citizens Of The World
07. Some A Thief
08. Rasta Weh She Want
09. Rastafari Is His Name
10. Heaven Rejoice
11. Out Of The Clouds
12. Chasing Dreams
13. Throw Down Your Armour
14. Take It To The Max
Cock Mouth Kill Cock is known as a set of tracks recorded earlier by The Congos under Bunny Lee rhythms, just as 'Rescue You' and 'Ear What Mama Say' which we heard on Image Of Africa. Jacky Opel recorded a song under the same name in 1965 at Studio One. Where The Congo attempted to return to their original style with Give Them The Rights after Natty Dread Rise Again and Revival sounded a bit more digital, this album actually does return to the good old days. If it weren't for the release date to be in the 21st century you could schedule this album right behind Face The Music, which is a big compliment to The Congos. A typical Congo track starting this album. The song 'Cock Mouth' on Cock Mouth Kill Cock might sound weird. Marenda Douglas was able to tell me that "it means something that you said comes back to haunt you. So something you said has now gotten you in trouble". Marenda comes from the same parish as Cedric Myton, Saint Catherine. 'Cock Mouth' carries a lot of Jamaican proverbs; "Every day carry bucket to the well, one day the bottom a go drop out", as in doing one thing for so long, there comes a time when you can no longer do it, so never take anything for granted. More proverbs follow, such as "when the pot cook, the rice a go swell", "when the fire come, the wicked haffe run". He then sings about the Kingdom of Jah, in 'God's Kingdom'. This album has a couple of personal favorites, one of them being 'Watch And Pray', "old time people say, when you're dead you're gonna heaven leaven, this generation say when you're dead you're gonna hell, hell well. Hear what the fathers say, praise Him in a holy mount Zion, there's no other way, you better find some time to pray now", and so on. Less serious, we hear what 'Grandma Say'. That leads up to another favorite of mine, 'River Beng Come Down' "in a broad daylight". Literally "river beng come down" means a flooding of a river, but it can have multiple meanings. Each strong track seems to be followed by a more laid-back one, this time 'Citizens Of The World'. The third and fourth strongest tracks of this album follow right after. 'Some A Thief' is a haunting on which Cedric uses both a falsetto sound and a tenor sound, which sounds original and good. 'Rasta Weh She Want' is another track that could just as well have featured on one of their first albums, which I feel about 'Some A Thief', Watch And Pray' and 'River Beng Come Down' as well. Rasta is clearly what she wants. A happy tune for 'Rastafari Is His Name', singing there is no other name needed for King Rastafari. Who hears the opening tune of the next song might think he is listening to 'Satta Massagana' by The Abyssinians. Their track has often be reproduced, by Johnny Clarke, Third World, Don Carlos, and now The Congos use the tune. However, Cedric did completely alter the lyrics, making the song 'Heaven Rejoice'. A up-tempo Reggae tune, sort of rolling, sets about 'Out Of The Clouds', from which Jah lightening came forth. The music is temporarily hardly heard when Myton sets in, only to return a bit after. Not 'Days Changing Days', but 'Chasing Dreams' that can't be real. "Throw out your armour, throw out your shield, cause I'm telling you now, I'm at the 'Battle Field'", another one of those Bunny "Striker" Lee recordings. To end the album, The Congos 'Take It To The Max', not being able to withstand any more of Babylon system.
01. Revolution
02. Spiritual Organisation
03. Lost Sheep
04. Swinging Bridge
05. National Heroes
06. Black Market Babies
07. Concrete Zone
08. Teachers Teach
09. Ten Million Chariots
10. Fraud System
11. La La Bella
12. Questions
13. Beetles Come
14. Family Affair
15. Hills & Valleys
Watty Burnett and Ashanti Roy teamed up with Cedric Myton in the same year, 2006, to produce a fresh new album titled Swinging Bridge with 14 tracks. Again, a sublime record, more than worth your ears for. Fresh, but oldskool, having Cedric opening with his "nah nah nah" in 'Revolution'. It is a wonder by itself that only on their ninth album is there a track titled "revolution", given their revolutionary tracks in the late 70's and early 80's. On most places, you will find this album to be recorded much to loud. This is not the case at the Roots Reggae Library. Modern technology is controlling the world, creating fantasies that cause misery, and it's only a 'Spiritual Organisation' that is holding the people together. The Congos are feeling down, "I've seen the Christians been born, I've seen the Rastas been born, I've seen the Rastas been scorn". It seems that Cedric now introduces each song with his trademark yells, as he does in 'Lost Sheep', which falsetto and tenor chorus sounds very serious. Cedric sings that "you've got to remember where you're coming from, or where you're gonna go now. You better remember, time to leave from Babylon, it is time to go back home"."The 'Swinging Bridge' is gonna rock and roll, upon the ridge you gotta take control" and the "the longest liver see the most" "so don't you take no overdose, or even take it for a joke". One of the best songs on the album is 'National Heroes'. "Free the people of the slavery, they're getting hungry now, before they get crazy". Myton sings about Marcus Garvey, Paul Bogle, George William Gordon and Big Fingered Jack (Jack Mansong) who came to free the people. Going further back in time, also the great Joshua and Moses came to free the people, and The Congos come to free the people with great Reggae music. A very strong song indeed. A later song on the album will have the same message. But first, Myton wants to know what happened to the babies, Watty Burnett sings that five thousand are sold annually, in 'Black Market Babies'. A very good collaboration of Myton, Roy and Burnett this song is. 'Concrete Zone' starts different then we are used to. Soft and slowly we are told by Cedric that he is tired, and there's got to be a change. Then "the 'Teachers Teach' and the children learn, spreading the message all over the world", because "what is hidden from the wise and prudent must be revealed to the babes and sucklings in this time", so "let's teach them in the school so the can learn the golden rule". Watty wants "no more stories of Jack & Jill and how he went up the hill", Cedric wants no more "cow jumping over the moon, and the little dish run away with the spoon". The Congos have the same line of arguments as Peter Tosh. "Gather all the children from shore to shore, coming to carry them home" by 'Ten Million Chariots'. The song could just as well be named 'John Saw Them Coming' which is also a song by Horace Andy. If the album would have a top 3, 'Fraud System' would be in it. "This system is a fraud" is the simple but strong message. The system has got to change if we are to find brighter days. 'La La Bella', a title which reminds of 'La La Bam-Bam', although the song is quite different. "We can hear river Jordan approach" in 'La La Bella'. 'Questions' might be a bit off, because of music simplicity, and Cedric his falsetto is not fully in the right place. 'Beetles Come' would fill a potential top 3 tracks along with 'National Heroes' and 'Fraud System'. First we hear that Martin Luther, His Majesty, the beetles and the Rastaman will come. After two and a half minute we hear that "Malcolm X come, Malcolm X come, real revolutionary Malcolm X come, Malcolm X come, real revolutionary Bob Marley come, Bob Marley come, musical revolutionary Peter Tosh come, Peter Tosh come" but also "musical revolutionary Congos come". 'Family Affair' is a track recorded in Argentina which I find to fit perfectly on the Swinging Bridge. Listen to it and see if you agree. I have decided to include it before the last tune of the album, which is is 'Hills & Valleys', "rocks and mountain", soft and slow, chanting, nyahbinghi.
01. Chain Gang
02. Celestial World
03. Garden Of Life
04. Charriots
05. Forever Young
06. Spider Woman
07. Old Time Friend
08. Great Powers
09. Raining Night In Georgia
10. Music School
11. Crying Times
12. Tip Of My Tongue
13. Under The Sun
14. Up On The Roof
Back In The Black Ark, or rather, back again with Lee 'Scratch' Perry, with whom they produced Heart Of The Congos, more than 30 years later. For 'Chain Gang' The Congos made a music video which you can see here. A song that can stick in your head for a while. "The music is a wagon train" for The Congos, do you feel it too? 'Celestial World' is a splendid song, "come, come come people now"! The music is good, and so it is in 'Garden Of Life' which the Congos sang on the Music Show of ABC, which you can see here. You can hear Lee 'Scratch' Perry on this song as well making comments throughout the song. More up-tempo Watty Burnett starts 'Charriots', just as 'Ten Million Chariots' on the Swinging Bridge album it focuses on the children. 'Forever Young' is another one of those tracks performed at Les Nuits Secrètes in Aulnoye-Aymeries, France. It is Lee 'Scratch' Perry we hear saying "'Spider Woman', I am the Spiderman". So "she's a spider woman, don't let her catch you in her web". 'Spider Woman' comes pretty close to being a Pop-song.Even though Cedric Myton helped Prince Lincoln Thompson as one of the Royall Rasses on Humanity, the track 'Old Time Friend' is nothing similar to the track on Humanity 'Old Time Friends'. A nice track it is, 'Old Time Friend' on Back In The Black Ark, although Myton seems to disagree with someone once again, like in 'River Beng Come Down' on Cock Mouth Kill Cock. "You try to own me" and "you try to deceive me" in 'Great Powers', but Cedric warns the vampires surrounding him that it is Jah who controls his destiny. On The Gladiators in the Roots Reggae Library you could previously find 'Rainy Night In Georgia'. Watty Burnett sings it, who had previously recorded 'Rainy Night In Portland' in the real Black Ark of Lee Perry, before it burned down. The song is originally from Tony Joe White. Cedric sets in for 'Musical School', explaining he wouldn't go to school to learn to play music or how to sing. Not the 'Children Crying' but 'Crying Times'. No Cedric Myton on leads, as in 'Rainy Night In Georgia'. This song however, is not about Georgia but about Jerusalem and Mount Zion. "It was right on the 'Tip Of On Tongue', and I forgot to say I love you" is a romantic song, quite unique, of The Congos. We didn't hear many love songs prior to this one. "I'm 'Under The Sun', I'm under the moon, under the stars up above, under the sky, under the clouds, under the rainbow too", The Congos are high and happy, no one can touch them. This song and 'Up On The Roof' seem to be a pair. Both songs sound quite cheerful. Also Back In The Black Ark is originally recorded very loud by Mediacom, as was Swinging Bridge. The sound level has been
01. Jah Lightening
02. Live Your Culture
03. Don't Touch
04. It's You
05. Time To Work It Out
06. Physical Attraction
07. Some Are Having Fun
08. Strength To Strength
Before we come to discuss the music that The Congos and particularly Cedric Myton have made with other artists we first turn our eyes and ears towards a production of Mad Professor with Cedric Myton. Cedric Myton sings these songs on his own. On the original album each track is followed by its dub version. This is also what you will see on the cover art of this album. Rather than those dubs, Roots Reggae Library provides two additional song at the end of the album that came out on the Ariwa Sounds label too. "Out of the hills of Zion comes Jah lightening and thunder" starts 'Jah Lightening'. The first song starts the album nicely, but it is the second song that really grabs our attention, 'Live Your Culture'. A very strong melodious track that can easily be repeated a number of times. A bit different, but very pleasant as well is 'Don't Touch'. "Your future lies in the work you have done" is the message here. The background vocals of 'It's You' sound a lot like what Myton sang on 'Jah Lightening'. "Don't matter where you run or hide, you better try to stay alive, even if things is not right, you gotta make it work alright". It has become 'Time To Work It Out', A happy tune that Cedric leads professionally. "Nah nah nah nah nah", 'Physical Attraction', "musical intention" and "spiritual emotion". "A rhythm in the morning, chanting at noon, little sing in the evening and the lyrics at night", music is the goal. 'Some Are Having Fun' is one of those additions I mentioned earlier. The song has a nice riddle and indicates that some are having fun while others fight for humanity. The other addition that still as a Mad Professor tune is 'Strength To Strength'. It opens with a very nice vibration.
01. We Nah Give Up
02. Africa
03. Rolling Stone
04. Tuffer
05. The Wicked A Go Fall
06. Jah Send A Little Angel
07. Why You Treat Me So Bad
08. Who's Love
09. No Way Out
10. Bam Bam
11. Proceed
12. You Don't Know Me
13. Rasta Feeling
14. Melodica
A collaboration of the Belgian Pura Vida and all the three Congos. Congo Ashanti Roy has made another two albums with Pura Vida after the release of the Double LP We Nah Give Up, but since Cedric Myton as frontman of The Congos took no part in that, those albums are seen as part of Ashanti Roy his solo career. These two other albums of Pura Vida and Congo Ashanti Roy are named Hard Road and Step By Step. The name of the album, the album art and the first two songs resemble much of the 1988 Benaiah album We Nah Give Up. There are a number of very good, strong tracks on this collaborate album. 'We Nah Give Up' is the first track and The Congos are immediately recognized. Later in the track some Bob Marley lyrics are heard, sang by Bregt De Boever, "every man think that his burden is the heaviest", and "every man has a heart beat in his chest".
'Afica' plays a rhythm for the first minute, after we hear that "the Congoman is coming from Africa" and that "many are called, few are chosen", which is a track that Judy Mowatt once sang. You will find that the tracks on this album are of mixed length. "Some of dem a 'Rolling Stone', some of dem ain't got no soul" is how Cedric Myton starts 'Rolling Stone'. Congo Ashanti Roy sings "rougher and 'Tuffer'". It is a nice track, but I understand that most people will prefer Cedric Myton on lead vocals. Myton sings "come on and tell me what you're fighting for, you're acting like a superstar, don't you know the wicked never get far" on the strong 'The Wicked A Go Fall'. This song is twice as long as the previous one. Ashanti Roy sings 'Jah Send A Little Angel' with Myton in the background and it sounds perfect. It has a very nice melody as well. 'Why You Treat Me So Bad' is pretty good too, with its uptempo rhythm. These last three songs are the core of the album. 'Who's Love' is not one of my favorite songs that can be heard on this album. That is a matter of opinion. But "there's 'No Way Out'" is haunting and there is no way around that this is a very good track. The song includes some rap too and the last verse is rather different again as well. I like the laid-back "'Bam Bam' Bam, Babylon". It is the end of Babylon story and "there's no time to feel sorry". 'No Way Out' and 'Bam Bam' are good songs to be played after one another. A happy tune opening 'Proceed', and we hear that it is not only Cedric Myton who can sing the falsetto. Halfway the song we hear the strength of 'Proceed'. 'You Don't Know Me' attracts less attention and is even more laid-back than any other song on the album. It is nice to find a love track on the album as well. Before we end the album with a dub track we hear 'Rasta Feeling', slow but steady. The album originally has four dub tracks at the end, but three have been deleted as they are 'Africa', 'Rolling Stone' and 'We Nah Give Up'. Only the 'Melodica' tune is not found elsewhere on this album.
01. New Binghi
02. Happy Song
03. Food Clothing And Shelter
04. Sunshine
05. Jungle
06. Invocation
07. Thanks And Praise
A experimental collaboration of Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras, and The Congos. The structure is completely different from other albums of The Congos. Icon Give Thanks is accompanied by the movie Icon Eye. The genre could hardly be described as Reggae, but rather as Meditation. Only seven tracks on the album, but they are all quite lengthy. The album art used for this album is also rather different from what we have previously seen from The Congos. All that remains to say is that the track names could very well be pure Congo names. They don't get much further than that. 'New Binghi' starts with the sound of nature but is disturbed by a digital voice of Cedric Myton. Maybe not what the average Congo fan was waiting for. Drums set in later but the song never seems to recover. Why exactly 'Happy Song' is a happy song is not fully graspable. Neither is 'Food Clothing And Shelter' a very good attempt at making beautiful music. Whereas for me Reggae songs often have a righteous title for what the music feels like, this "morning 'Sunshine'" is not such a case. "Out of the hills of Zion comes the conquering lightening", Cedric creates a unique sphere, 'Jungle' like, according to Icon Give Thanks. As if it was Mortimer Planno on The Wailers 'A Little Prayer', 'Invocation' is brought. The seventh and last song on this album is 'Thanks And Praise', in which the music comes in from afar. It is the longest track on the album and very laidback. Most of these tracks are originally not faded out on this album, which I have done myself on the occasion. The album is also known as FRKWYS Volume 9.
01. A Little Time For Jah (ft. Max Romeo)
02. Vegetarian Man (ft. BarmaGrande)
03. Hold Us Down (ft. Rae & Christian)
04. We The People (ft. Sola Kamba)
05. Moment Of Life (ft. Sola Kamba)
06. Michael's Rock Story (ft. R. Zee Jackson)
07. No Judge Me (ft. R. Zee Jackson)
08. Baltimore (ft. R. Zee Jackson)
09. Time Come (ft. Groundation)
10. Undivided (ft. Groundation & Don Carlos)
11. Freedom Taking Over (ft. Groundation & Don Carlos)
12. Angel (ft. Rod Anton)
13. Leaders Of Tomorrow (ft. Rod Anton)
14. Come Together (ft. Rod Anton)
15. Earth Forces (ft. Magma)
16. We Sing Nyhabingi Song (ft. Sola Kamba)
You have heard me mention Feast before. Originally it is a different version of the Cock Mouth Kill Cock album, although it has three different songs on it. Those songs were found on Congo Ashanti, Image Of Africa and Face The Music. The Feast album on the Roots Reggae Library is filled with tracks found on albums of other artists on which Cedric Myton has collaborated, with or without the other Congos. The album therefore has a large variety of sounds, but is still rather consistent. We start with a song of Cedric Myton and Max Romeo, 'A Little Time For Jah', "you gotta find time for Rastafari". Cedric recalls that Bob sang that "the rain doesn't fall on one man's house". The Congos and Max Romeo have shared various live concerts. 'Vegetarian Man' is self explanatory, and a very nice effort of both Cedric Myton and Barma Grande, a Buddhist and Vegetarian Reggae group, on their album Libertà. On 'Hold Us Down' Cedric Myton sings the lead vocals alone. It has been taken from the Sleepwalking album of Rae & Christian in 2000. A remix of this song circulates the internet which is also quite catchy. You will then find two songs from the Sola Kamba album Wallissically on which Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace contributes too, 'We The People' and 'Moment Of Life'. The album will end with yet another Sola Kamba track. But not before we have gone past the songs of Cedric and R. Zee Jackson, among others. 'Michael's Rock Story' is a rather lengthy track of the two friends. General Steppas produced 'No Judge Me', of the same two artists. The song is originally published as 'No Juge Me', but I assumed that the intention was to use the word "judge". 'Baltimore' is the third track of Cedric Myton and R. Zee Jackson. The next three tracks are taken from two Groundation albums, the first comes from Here I Am and the last two from Hebron Gate. Groundation is a relatively new artist, but his voice is brilliant next to that of Cedric. "Your word will one day falter in this time of judgement day, when the 'Time Come' you never see, when the time come you never know". "All those lonely nights spend wondering, to join with them in song would be our destiny". Don Carlos opens 'Undivided', continuing conversation like singing with Cedric Myton and Groundation. If you ask me, 'Undivided' is one of the best reggae tracks made in the 21st century. On 'Freedom Taking Over' Cedric Myton starts soft and slowly, to be taken over by Groundation aggressively, and Don Carlos sings a verse at the end of the track. After that we switch to the tracks of Rod Anton and Cedric Myton. One song from the EP Angel, one from the EP Leaders Of Tomorrow, and one from the album Wevolution. The two share a track on the album Reasoning as well, where they only talk, or "reason", there is no singing. 'Angel' is rather romantic, 'Leaders Of Tomorrow', is much more serious, seeing that the children of today will become leaders of tomorrow, and 'Come Together' is also future minded. A 2014 Magma album had a track with Cedric Myton named 'Earth Forces', also fitted on this album. We end with a third Sola Kamba Wallissically song, 'We Sing Nyhabingi Song'.
01. Novo Dia (ft. Ponto De Equilíbrio)
02. Hey Brother (ft. Senzala Reggae Band)
03. Let Jah Arise (ft. Monte Zion)
04. Effet De Masse (ft. Gondwana)
05. Give Praises (ft. Max Romeo)
06. War Inna Babylon (ft. Norris Cole Junior)
07. Shiva Babylon
08. Africa On The Rise (ft. Nish Wadada)
09. Jah Is My Driver (ft. Ras Thiagão)
10. Bless Love And Unity (ft. Ras Thiagão)
11. Doors Of Your Heart (ft. English Beat)
12. Champion Sound
13. Dreadlockless Sound System
14. Lion Tribute
15. One Nation
Lion Treasure is originally a "best of" album from The Congos. On the Roots Reggae Library it is not. Just like Feast it is loaded with collaboration tracks of Cedric Myton and other artists. Where the tracks of Feast can be found on studio albums, those on Lion Treasure are more scattered around and harder to find. The album therefore has a rather mixed sound. We start with some South American influence. The clip of 'Novo Dia' with the Brazilian Ponto De Equilíbrio can be found here. All of The Congos contribute to the song. 'Hey Brother' is a very good track that can stay in your head forever. You'd wish that the Brazilian Senzala Reggae Band had recorded more with The Congos. Another Brazilian Reggae band is Monte Zion. They created 'Let Jah Arise' with The Congos. Not from Brazil, but from Chili is Gondwana. They have had a number of other good songs. On Lion Treasure we present Effet De Masse in combination with The Congos. Lion Treasure has a Max Romeo collaboration as well as Feast had. 'Give Praises' is taken from the Fisherman Style album of The Congos and friends. On Youtube you can see how that track is made. 'Shiva Babylon' is a different recording of a song that sounds much like 'Jah Lightening' on the album with Mad Professor. Only a demo is 'Africa On The Rise' with Nish Wadada, who has a beautiful female voice, but I have lengthened it, similar to 'Colour Of The Rainbow' on Give Them The Rigths. The same is true for 'Jah Is My Driver', although this song is together with Ras Thiagão, definately no female. 'Bless Love And Unity' is a complete track, together with the same artist. Then 'Doors Of Your Heart', which is a song from the 1981 album Wha'pen? from the British Ska band English Beat that was signed to the Go Feet Label at the time that The Congos were recording Face The Music for that label. The last four tracks are voiced by Cedric alone. 'Champion Sound' is a different recording of 'Freedom Sound' on Revival. Just like 'Shiva Babylon' is similar to 'Jah Lightening' on Mad Professor, 'Dreadlockless Sound System' is a third version. You might think you turned on 'Fisherman', but you didn't, it was 'Lion Tribute'. The digital recording 'One Nation' completes the album.
Not included in this discography is the song 'Beating Heart' of Groundation on the Here I Am album where Cedric Myton is barely on vocals. The song 'Taken Up' together with Jah9 as Cedric Myton's contribution is very, very slight. Tracks with The Slackers were contributed to by Congo Ashanti Roy alone. Other such tracks will feature on the sol career of Congo Ashanti Roy. The same goes for Watty Burnett.
Studio Albums
««««« (1977) Heart Of The Congos
««««« (1979) Congo Ashanti
««««« (1979) Image Of Africa
««««« (1981) Face The Music
««««« (1997) Natty Dread Rise Again
««««« (1998) Revival
««««« (2005) Give Them The Rights
««««« (2006) Cock Mouth Kill Cock
««««« (2006) Swinging Bridge
««««« (2009) Back In The Black Ark
««««« (2013) Mad Professor
Collaborations
««««« (2011) We Nah Give Up (ft. Pura Vida)
««««« (2012) Icon Give Thanks (ft. Sun Araw & M. Geddes Gengras)
««««« (2014) Feast (ft. Various Artists)
««««« (2014) Lion Treasure (ft. Various Artists)
Original Date Of Publishing: October 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment