Heartbeat has two new Studio One CDs out and both are new versions of classic LPs already reissued on CD by Heartbeat in the past.
One of the earliest DJs, Dennis Alcapone was a huge star in reggae circles in the late '60s and early '70s and his "Forever Version," which features recuts of Larry Marshall's "Nanny Goat," The Heptones' "Baby" and The Cables' "Baby Why" are essential Studio One listening. Alcapone's rocksteady-into-reggae style rapping is still fun and is a bridge from the old radio-era chatters to the 1970s roots DJs like...
The Lone Ranger, whose 1979 LP, "On the Other Side Of Dub" -- like "Forever" -- gets an update with bonus tracks, mixes previously unavailable on CD and expanded booklets. Lone Ranger brings his bumpin' late-'70s dancehall style to classic Studio One rhythms like Horace Andy's "Mr. Bassie," Slim Smith's "I'll Never Let Go" and Cornell Campbell's "My Conversation."
Mysteriously, while there was room for bonus tracks, one of the LP's original tracks, "Everything She Want," has gone missing. Seems almost inexcusable for a reissue and since it was one of the best tracks on the LPs, it's a bit sad.
However, both discs sound amazing and the bonus tracks are more than welcome. The missing track excluded, this is the reissue kind of treatment Coxsone Dodd's Studio One LPs deserve.
In the world of reissues, but outside the world of reggae, there's the amazing, Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy "Cornell 1964" on Blue Note. This two-CD set captures a stellar unreleased performance by Mingus' band when revolutionary reed man Eric Dolphy was in the front line.
Recorded March 18, 1964 -- three days before Dolphy took part in Andrew Hill's landmark "Point of Departure" session and two weeks before the well-known New York Town Hall concert -- Mingus and company are in top shape.
Pianist Jaki Byard fuels his own composition "ATFW You," Mingus himself is the star of Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" and the front line of Dolphy, tenor man Clifford Jordan and trumpeter Johnny Coles have plenty of room to spead out as long-time Mingus drummer Dannie Richmond builds a bedrock base.
The group also rode Strayhorn's "A Train," Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz" and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" -- alongside four Mingus originals -- to success.
Much like the live Monk sessions released last year, this set is definitely something for jazz fans to celebrate.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
