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Social Living
Burning Spear
Social Living
Genres: International Music, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

Social Living sees Burning Spear (a.k.a. Winston Rodney) fully finding the sound he'd developed during the mid-'70s. It's dry and bass heavy, and the horns add little licks of color while his own voice and socially conscio...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Burning Spear
Title: Social Living
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Universal Japan
Original Release Date: 1/1/2006
Re-Release Date: 1/13/2008
Album Type: Extra tracks, Import
Genres: International Music, Pop, Rock
Styles: Caribbean & Cuba, Jamaica, Reggae
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Social Living sees Burning Spear (a.k.a. Winston Rodney) fully finding the sound he'd developed during the mid-'70s. It's dry and bass heavy, and the horns add little licks of color while his own voice and socially conscious lyrics--Black Power leader Marcus Garvey and black culture remain prime subjects--take center stage. It helps that he uses some first-class musicians, including Sly and Robbie and Earl "Chinna" Smith, but there's little doubt that this is his very personal vision of reggae, which is as instantly identifiable as that of, say, Bob Marley. This is superb material, especially the title track, which has become a standard in Spear's repertoire. But there's no letdown on the entire album, making it an intense and essential reggae experience. It's perhaps the purest distillation of what Spear has always attempted to do, harnessing dub effects here and there to accent the arrangements, and it still stands as a highlight in a long and prolific career. --Chris Nickson

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CD Reviews

Top Notch Burning Spear
Matthew Channon | Sandy, Utah USA | 01/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Any rough edges that were pesent on previous Burning Spear albums have been completely smoothed out for this classic 1978 release along with any doubts as to the artists intention and ability to bring his music to the international stage which would happen with his next album, the succeeding masterpiece, "Hail H.I.M."



This is Burning Spear's most technical achievement up to this point. Thanks, in part, to Sly and Robbie, the instramentals are tight and crisp ("Marcus Children Suffer" and "Civilize Reggae" are particularly intricate) and the ever focused Winston Rodney is at the cutting edge of his skills, his strong sharp voice prominent through out.



The set seems to lose some of it's punch after the first four tracks shifting to a more mellow tone (almost to the point of being boring) but is still on top form and doesn't bring the standard down any.



Digitally remastered with the cover sleeve including an extensive commentary, but the bonus track of "Social Living extended mix" is the best addition to this 2003 rerelease by Island."
Jah No Dead!!!..............8stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fetus420 | San Marcos,Texas | 01/19/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of my favorite Burning Spear albums of all time I just finally got a hold of this album the other day (T.Y. Jah LOL)and believe me it wasn't easy since this album has never been issiued for release in the United States any ways this album is tied for 2nd best Burning Spear album of all time (on my list) of course "Marcus Garvey/Garveys Ghost" is First but, "Burning Spear"(self titled Studio One realease is very excellent and also impossible to get), Then you got "Hail H.I.M." a excellent album, then of course you got "Social Living" another excellent album so buy all the Burning Spear albums I just mentioned cause they all rule.!!!!!!!BURNING SPEAR RULES!!!!!!!!!!!Winston Rodney For President in 2004"