Man in the Hills/Dry & Heavy [Remaster] (CD - 2003)

Burning Spear: Winston Rodney (vocals, percussion); Earl Smith, Donald Kinsley, Bertram McLean (guitar); Herman Marquis (alto saxophone); Richard Hall (tenor saxophone); Bobby Ellis (trumpet); Robbie Barrett (bass); Leroy Wallace (drums).

Recorded at Harry J Studios, Kingston, Jamaica. Includes liner notes by David Katz.

Personnel: Winston Rodney (vocals, percussion); Roots Kinsley, Earl "Chinna" Smith (guitar); Herman Marquis (alto saxophone); Dirty Harry Hall (tenor saxophone); Bobby Ellis (trumpet); Vincent "Trommie" Gordon (trombone); Earl "Wire" Lindo, Tyrone "Organ D" Bownie, Bernard Touter Harvey (keyboards); Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace (drums); Noel "Scully" Simms, Uziah "Sticky" Thompson (percussion).

Liner Note Authors: David Katz; Carl Gayle.

Recording information: Harry J's Recording Studio, Kingston, Jamaica; Randy's Recording Studio, North Parade.

Illustrator: Neville Garrick.

Photographers: Kim Gottlieb-Walker; Dania Asher.

Arranger: Winston Rodney.

In his consistently excellent musical output, and his unflagging political and spiritual concerns, Burning Spear (a.k.a. Winston Rodney) is one of reggae's definitive roots artists. While his landmark release MARCUS GARVEY, released in 1975, is the best place to start, this superb twofer, which combines 1976's MAN IN THE HILLS with 1977's DRY AND HEAVY on one disc, is a fine second choice.

Rodney's '70s albums are arguably his best: with their stripped down aesthetic and musical backing from consummate session players Sly and Robbie. Both records uphold the standard of the era; although many of the lyrics on MAN IN THE HILLS take an unusual autobiographical turn when Rodney sings of his upbringing in Jamaica, there are plenty of conscious messages, and the rhythms bubble and percolate. DRY & HEAVY features remakes of several songs from Rodney's Studio One days, which improve on the originals in both execution and production. Both albums are strong examples of '70s roots reggae at its best. minimize