Progressive Youth

オリジナルは1979年にITAL MUSICレーベルからリリースされたこのカルト・アルバムは、1998年にRASレーベルからCDのみで再発されたもの。CHANNEL ONEで録音され、KING TUBBYスタジオでScientistによってミックスされたこのアルバムは、ベースにフラバ・ホルト、ドラムにスタイル・スコット、ギターにビンギ・バニーとジャー・ソウェル・テンポ、キーボードにウィンストン・ライト、パーカッションにボンゴ・ハーマンというオリジナルのルーツ・ラディックス・バックバンドをフィーチャー。近年のルーツ・レゲエのリイシュー盤の中でも群を抜いて最高のもののひとつが、リマスタリングのうえ再リイシュー!

Dr. Dread, owner of RAS Records, first heard this album when it was released on an obscure Jamaican label in 1979; his subsequent meeting with Broggs in Kingston led to the establishment of the RAS label and its first release, which was Broggs' second album (Rastafari Liveth). American reggae fans are very much the richer for that development, since RAS has gone on to become one of the two most important American reggae labels. Broggs' debut, now available on CD for the first time, is distinguished by the watertight playing of Roots Radics, led by the mighty team of bassist Flabba Holt and drummer Style Scott. Guitarist Eric Lamont produced the album at Channel One and mixed it at King Tubby's, so the vibe is just spectacular. Unfortunately, it has to be said that Broggs himself is a terrible singer. His delivery, while sincere, is generally pretty low energy, and his pitch is always almost completely off. So while there's no denying the power of the music on tracks like "I Don't Know" and "Forward Natty," you'll find yourself wishing Broggs would quit singing so you could hear it better. ~ Rick Anderson