Live Power by Black Roots
This album is part of a live set that was originally released in March 1989 on CD and vinyl entitled 'Live Power'. It was made available on download on 26th May 2015.
The idea for the project came from fans at their gigs that kept asking the band to record and release a live album. The right opportunity arose when the management of a small club, The Moles Club in Bath England that has a close intimate atmosphere, opened a 24 track studio in the same building that could be linked to the performance area. They offered the band the use of this new facility and in September 1988, they recorded a live set with Neil Fraser, the Mad Professor, at the controls that was later remixed by him at Ariwa Studios in London.
When these live recordings were made, Charles Bryan, one of the vocalists, Trevor Seivwright, the drummer and Derrick King, the bass player had left the band and Senouci Hardy, bass and Anthony ‘Druntan’ Ward drums, had been recruited to take their place. The set chosen for this album has 2 songs that do not appear on any other recordings ‘Oppressor’ and ‘Black Roots Skank (Mix Me Down)’. It also contains a version of ‘Juvenile Delinquent’ on which Carlton Smith takes the lead vocals and three songs ‘Start Afresh’, ‘Suzy Wong’ and ‘Let It Be Me’ that were released as singles at around that time. But as this set demonstrates most of their songs reflect the familiar concerns and themes common to roots reggae and it is this style that has brought them a loyal and growing international following.
Tracklist
| 1. | Juvenile Delinquent | 5:52 |
| 2. | Realize | 3:56 |
| 3. | All Day All Night | 5:14 |
| 4. | Let It Be Me | 4:17 |
| 5. | The Father | 3:45 |
| 6. | Suzy Wong | 3:53 |
| 7. | Oppressor | 4:47 |
| 8. | Far Over | 3:39 |
| 9. | Start Afresh | 5:18 |
| 10. | Release The Food | 5:22 |
| 11. | Black Roots Skank (Mix Me Down) | 2:28 |
Credits
All songs composed by Black Roots except 'Suzy Wong' by P. Ecclestone
Published by Nubian Music except 'Suzy Wong' Copyright Control
All songs performed by Black Roots
Recorded live at the Moles Club, Bath on 2nd September 1988
Engineered and mixed by Mad Professor
Remixed at Ariwa Studio London
Artwork and cover design Inkworks Media Resource Unit and Steve Cole
License
All rights reserved.
The band have been around for 40 years plus.They hail from St Paul's Bristol, and have been touring and recording since 1979 releasing several albums. Recently they have worked with French labels Soulbeats, Khanti Records and now with Take It easy Agency. In UK with Sugar Shack and Bristol Archive Records. But they are best known for their eponymously titled albums Black Roots and The Frontline.