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On the Shelf 198: Inna de Yard
Oct. 22nd, 2019 05:52 pmThe Buena Vista Social Club undoubtedly launched a thousand ideas.
It is hard not to think of the BVSC when it comes to Inna de Yard.
In 2016, the Jamaican collective (and filmmaker Peter Webber) set out to capture the sound of reggae legends in an acoustic environment). The album was Sound of Jamaica, and the group smartly decided to record a complete album of Ken Boothe.
Boothe has always been a favorite of mine, and that album was my easily one of my favorites of that year.
This year, they released a second album, and it is as good or possibly better than the first.
Boothe, of course is the biggest star. He has always had one of the most soulful voices on the planet, but age adds a certain gravitas. Here he adds a version of Speak Softly Love (from the Godfather) which was on his Inna de Yard album, and a version of "Everything I Own" which was a cover of the Bread song, which was a #1 hit in the UK for Boothe in 1974.
Kiddus I, Winston MacNuff, and Cedric Myton are the big names who join Boothe along with The Viceroys, Horace Andy and Judy Mowatt from the I-Threes.
The album's weakest moment is the opening song. Kiddus I sounds a bit too schmaltzy on "If you love me", but it's the album's only misstep, and his other song "Survive" is fine.
For me, it's hard to pick a favorite. Either Boothe's songs, McAnuff's pulsating "Be Careful" with Inna de Yard member Derajah and younger reggae star Var (McAnuff's re-recording of his "Malcom X" is also great). "Live Good" could be the hit, Var's closer puts you in a mellow mood. There are so many good songs, though, and my intention is to send everyone out to hear it.
It is hard not to think of the BVSC when it comes to Inna de Yard.
In 2016, the Jamaican collective (and filmmaker Peter Webber) set out to capture the sound of reggae legends in an acoustic environment). The album was Sound of Jamaica, and the group smartly decided to record a complete album of Ken Boothe.
Boothe has always been a favorite of mine, and that album was my easily one of my favorites of that year.
This year, they released a second album, and it is as good or possibly better than the first.
Boothe, of course is the biggest star. He has always had one of the most soulful voices on the planet, but age adds a certain gravitas. Here he adds a version of Speak Softly Love (from the Godfather) which was on his Inna de Yard album, and a version of "Everything I Own" which was a cover of the Bread song, which was a #1 hit in the UK for Boothe in 1974.
Kiddus I, Winston MacNuff, and Cedric Myton are the big names who join Boothe along with The Viceroys, Horace Andy and Judy Mowatt from the I-Threes.
The album's weakest moment is the opening song. Kiddus I sounds a bit too schmaltzy on "If you love me", but it's the album's only misstep, and his other song "Survive" is fine.
For me, it's hard to pick a favorite. Either Boothe's songs, McAnuff's pulsating "Be Careful" with Inna de Yard member Derajah and younger reggae star Var (McAnuff's re-recording of his "Malcom X" is also great). "Live Good" could be the hit, Var's closer puts you in a mellow mood. There are so many good songs, though, and my intention is to send everyone out to hear it.
