The Roots Reggae Library brings to you Reggae music in unique collections. This edition features the discography of Donald Davidson, also known together with his wife as Donald & Lulu.
Donald Davidson is a Reggae singer from Jamaica who was at first involved with the group the Jolly Boys, who played Mento. He married a German girl with whom he made a single Reggae album. Kevan Davidson, better known by her stage name Lulu, sings as much as Donald does on the album.
Donald Davidson - Beautiful Garden
Donald Davidson - Beautiful Garden
01. Just Cool Runnings
02. You Better Believe It
03. I Know You're A Child
04. Lulu What We Gonna Do
05. Dream Of Me
06. Love One Another
07. Marble Stones
08. I Never Wrote A Love Song
09. Destiny
10. Beautiful Garden
The first song on Beautiful Garden immediately gives us the tropical island vibe that it intends to. The duet style of Donald and Lulu is simply brilliant in 'Just Cool Runnings'. But it is not only an island vibe, it has strong lyrics as well. "Black and white we must unite, why should we fuss and fight". It's even stronger considering it comes from an inter-racial duo. We stay in that tropical mood for 'You Better Believe It'. "When a man back is against the wall he will do almost anything to be free" Donald sings.He sings about Daniel in the lion's den. One day you'll be a queen and there'll be lots of love and lots of money, but for know, 'I Know You're A Child', and we'll stick with the smile. Like 'Just Cool Runnings' I am a big fan of 'Lulu What We Gonna Do' in which they play out the duet style very smooth. It has the typical island vibe that is characteristic of their style. The lyrics aren't the most upfull though, as Donald sings "it seems to me the world has turned their backs on sunny Jamaica". So the question indeed is what to do about it. "Only the man who do farming will have a chance to survive". In the next song "it is hard to be away from the one you love while the days are slowly drifting by". The only thing you can do is 'Dream Of Me' because in the end we both know that we'll end up in each others arms. So "dream of me when you are lonely". The poem that is this song comes straight from Donald's heart. There's a good beat for 'Love One Another' and the song is very touching. "Help the weak, that they may be strong" and "share the love that you have given and you will never walk alone". "In ancient times men used to war, and even this time men are still at war, so tell me when the hearts of men will unite and there will be no more war". "That's why I say love one another". And this is why I'm holding up that although Davidson and Lulu bring about a sweet vibe, their lyrics are strong. The most blackest stone is the shiniest of all 'Marble Stones'. The same can be said about the stiffness of black rods. They are trying to say that all the world's races come forth from the black race. Lulu sings 'I Never Wrote A Love Song' before she met Donald and she sings it firm. "When I look into your eyes I loose what I had to say, I feel so damn good I hope this feeling never goes away". Lulu can use a case of 'Destiny' in the second song in a row in which she sings the lead vocals with Donald singing the background. Apparently she would like to go to the south of France. The end of the album is the song after which the album got its name, 'Beautiful Garden'. It has a slow pace and is really an ending like song. They sing about the sun rise, the hills and valleys, the moonlight and the rivers and seas.
Studio Albums
««««« (1982) Beautiful Garden
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