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Elly Roberts reviews
Trojan Records
- Released: December 2004
- Cat.no.: TJETD220
- Rating: 7/10
Its fascinating what you can do with Beatles songs.
On this, the cream of Trojans roster turn out for a tribute to The Beatles onthis magnificent boxset, mastered by Tim Debney. I suspect this ones for theReggae or Ska fans, and yes even the Fab Fours huge following.
Theres plenty to feast on here as some of the great names of the genre tackleboth instrumental and vocal slants on Lennon, McCartney and Harrisonsgreatest collective and solo work. In some cases you get more than one versionby different artists, e.g. Let It Be, My Sweet Lord, and Blackbird.
In the ten years that they shook the world, many performers elected to covertheir work, with Something being popular with showbiz diva Shirley Bassey.This collection highlights how transferable their work really was, confirmingtheir universality.
Some of these interpretations are simply outstanding: check out Rico and theRudiess instrumental Hey Jude which contains a subtle twist on theclassic, as is the Joyce Bands punchy version of Ob La Di Ob La Da,both on disc 3. Nicky Thomas turns Isnt It A Pity into something reallyspecial with a Hawaiian juxtaposition of dreamy guitar splendour. Of the twoYesterdays Joe White, and The Flame All Stars, the latter works betteras an instrumental. John Holts Hey Jude is simple and direct,allowing his wonderful Caribbean lilt to shine through.
There are a few ropey ones, particularly (disc 3) The Israelites ComeTogether, and the ultra weak Imagine by T.T. Ross, Reggae andShout (Twist and Shout) by The Black Beatles featuring Derrick Morgan,which was better done by Chaka Demus and Pliers.
If this is Reggae music then let it be.
Visit:Trojan Records.net /Sanctuary Records Group.co.uk
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.