Search - The Melodians :: Rivers Of Babylon: The Best Of The Melodians 1967-1973

#1 Rocksteady Vibration to Mash Up De Nation!

07/22/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the most crimally overlooked staples of the Jamaican musical tradition is the vocal trio. From the early days of the Wailers to Inner Circle's instantly famailar "Bad Boys"; vocal trios have provided a sweet, harmonic counterpoint to the Dread imagery and driven rythms of Reggae music. The Melodians may very well have been the best of these vocal trios. Ever. Their sweet falsettos and Motown-inflected vocal arragements soar over some of the hardest rocksteady ever recorded - it's almost like hearing the emergence of early reggae caught on tape! I cannot recommend this record highly enough - both as a document of a crucial transition period in Jamaican pop music; and as an amazingly smooth, funky, danceable record."

A shame they didn't last longer

Sean M. Kelly | Portland, Oregon United States | 09/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd is a treasure trove from start to finish for several reasons.The first and most important reason are the vocals themselves. While other vocal trios, such as the original Wailers, the Abyssinians, Congoes, and the Mighty Diamonds (to name a few more important trios) touch me, the R&B stylings of the Melodians hit me hard. They best personified how the R&B of the Temptations, Impressions, and other such similar groups, were interpreted in Jamaica. Just listen to those harmonies!! Lush, beautiful, breathtaking! Tasty stuff.The 2nd main reason is that the lp has no filler or fluff in it. All hits all the way through it, from the amazing heights of "You Don't Need Me," "Come On Little Girl," and "Little Nut Tree" through their international successes of "Sweet Sensation" and the Rastafied "Rivers of Babylon, " which alone sold an amazing 75,000 plus copies in the UK alone. The melodians were no flukes, and the proof is in the putting.The last reason why this lp works is a sad one: the trio didn't stay together very long. In this light, the "what if" scenerios can be batted back and forth as to what these 3 talented men could had offered, and thus places an excellent compilation like this at a premium.This is a wonderful look at this legendary trio. I highly recommend this lp and hope you all enjoy them as much as I do."

CLASSIC!!

Sean M. Kelly | Portland, Oregon United States | 09/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From 1970, this import lp may be a bit pricy, but well worth the money spent for this original Melodians classic!!Featuring the classic title track, made famous in the film "The Harder They Come," as well as Melodians' staples, such as "Come On Little Girl," "Little Nut Tree," "It's My Delight," "Say Darling Say," and "It Took a Miracle," this debut lp shows the trio at the height of their powers, their harmonies note perfect-much of the best the trio had to offer is all right here!All the tracks on this lp are gems in their own right, no fluff or fillers here! Rocksteady fans know how important this album is, so listen to the samples, marvel in the harmonies and tight rhythms, and get this album for your very own. A rocksteady Classic if ever there was one!"