Ghetto Living in Bloomington, MN

Crediting this album to
Don Carlos
and
Gold
is a bit misleading, for, in fact, of the dozen tracks within, the latter man takes the lead on only two, although he does provide harmonies on several others. So,
Ghetto Living
is very much
Carlos
' show.
Tamoki Wambesi
was initially home for former
Royals
member
Roy Cousins
' own releases, and even as the singing producer widened his horizons to other artists, he never lost his ear for melody or his desire to showcase vocalists at their best.
The Roots Radics
, with their
dancehall
-friendly beats and melody-driven style, were the perfect vehicle for his sound, as is much evident on this set. Throughout the set,
Cousins
throws the spotlight on
Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson
's sumptuous keyboards, so reminiscent of
Studio One
, giving
the Radics
an even more incandescent sound. A clutch of numbers, including the biting
"Go Find Yourself,"
"Promise to Be True,"
"Tear Drops,"
are ripe with
rocksteady
. Others feature a positively pastoral atmosphere, fed by cloppity beats or faux flute --
"Every Time I Look at You"
is a stellar example, adding to the richness of the set.
"Come on Over"
is an equal stunner, a gorgeous rub-a-
dub
offering to the sound systems. The cultural numbers are just as strong, from the gentle title track through the Western-tinged roots of
"Them Say"
and onto the dreader roots of the adamant
"Never Run Away."
Even more ferocious is
"Plantation,"
a fiery
roots
number that
delivers with passion. His vocals are superb throughout, ringing with conviction, emotion, and soul. The most startling track, however, is the cover of
the Abyssinians
'
"Declaration of Rights,"
a masterpiece of rebellious intent, and arguably the most memorable version ever cut on this classic's rhythm. This is a phenomenal album from a singer who has never received the international attention he's due, a man who kept culture vibrantly alive through an otherwise dark decade for
fans. ~ Jo-Ann Greene