TWINKLE BROTHERS - COUNTRYMEN

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COUNTRYMEN

TRACKLIST


1. I Don't Want To Be Lonely Anymore
2. Pattoo
3. Never Get Burn
4. Free Us
5. Free Us Dub
6. Jah Kingdom Come
7. Since I Throw The Comb Away
8. One Head
9. Bite Me
10. Babylon Falling


Label Frontline
Orig Year 1980


VOCALS: Norman Grant
BACKING VOCALS: Ralston Grant, Derrick Brown, Eric Bernard, Karl Hyatt
BASS: Derrick Brown, Davidson Dubios
DRUMS: Norman Grant, Michael Smith
GUITAR: Davidson Dubios, Terry Barham
LEAD GUITAR: Ashton Grant
RHYTHM GUITAR: Ralston Grant
KEYBOARDS: Eric Bernard
TENOR SAX: Glen DeCosta
TROMBONE: Nambo
TRUMPET: David Madden
PERCUSSION: Karl Hyatt
STRINGS: Davidson Dubios


PRODUCED BY: Paul Smykle, Terry Barham
RECORDED AT: Harry J
MIXED BY: Terry Barham, Paul Smykle
MIXED AT: Town House
ENGINEERED BY: Sylvan Morris

The Twinkle Brothers finally realized their vast potential on this set, recorded for Virgin's reggae subsidiary label, Front Line, in 1980. Drummer and lead vocalist Norman Grant exploits his rich, chesty voice to the fullest, delivering stern roots and culture lyrical messages in a style that owes as much to American gospel music as to his reggae predecessors. Instrumentally, Countrymen is in classic rockers mode, with militant rhythms that lend songs like "Patoo" and the defiant "Never Get Burn" an almost martial power. On "Jah Kingdom Come," Grant hardly even sings a melody -- on the verses he simply picks a single note and chants the words on that pitch, while the band churns a dark, slow rhythm beneath him and the backup singers throw wordless vocalisms in from behind. And on "Since I Threw the Comb Away," he brings the band in with a grunted aside that would have made James Brown proud. What this all adds up to is a roots reggae album of unusual stylistic complexity, and one of the most enduring efforts of the Twinkle Brothers' long career. [Six of the album's ten tracks were released as part of Free Africa, a Twinkle Brothers compilation issued in 1990; that album also included tracks from Love and Praise Jah.] ~ Rick Anderson


Reggae pioneers since the dawn of the 60's, The Twinkle Brothers were a significant vocal trio. This album was originally released in 1980, yielding classic cuts like 'I Don't Want To Be Alone Anymore' & 'Jah Kingdom Come'. Remastered. Virgin. 2002.