CD $12.33

Culture's Joe Gibbs-produced sessions of 1976 not only resulted in Two Sevens Clash -- they also gave us the excellent Baldhead Bridge. A true reggae classic, Baldhead Bridge points to the fact that Culture was among the most distinctive reggae acts to emerge in the '70s. Although Culture was influenced by Burning Spear, treasures like "Them a Payaka," "Jah Love" and "Love Shines Brighter" point to the fact that Culture's music is quite recognizable itself. The group gets   [ read more ]

CD $17.08

CD $13.28

Well, it's about time. After more than twenty years of prolific music-making, one of the most important harmony trios in reggae finally decides to make a live album. And as live albums go, this one's very good -- the backing band is small and tight (real horns would have been nice, but the keyboards do a fair approximation) and the production is clean and rich. Bandleader Joseph Hill and his wife Pauline produced, which may explain why the other two singers' voices are buried in the mix, but the fact    [ read more ]

CD $13.28

In reggae the purpose of the 12" single was to house the "disco mix," an antiquated term that has little to do with the American definition of "disco." These were extended mixes of any given track that often bumped the original against the dub or the maybe the version. It was the version that launched the Jamaican "deejay," which once again has little to do with the American version of DJ. These deejays were toasters like U-Brown, U-Roy, and Dillinger, artists who proto-rapped their lyrics over ins   [ read more ]

CD $11.38

This reggae harmony trio, led by the mystical and charismatic Joseph Hill, made its most enduring recordings under the tutelage of the "Mighty Two" -- producers Errol Thompson and Joe Gibbs -- and for Sonia Pottinger's High Note label. But this program finds them working alternately with the Roots Radics and with Sly & Robbie, whose production is just a bit dull but still packs much of the same power as the earlier Culture recordings. Culture at Work finds Joseph Hill sounding mor   [ read more ]

CD $17.08

Usually a five-year hiatus spells the death of a band's career but, in Culture's case, it was if the group was merely gathering strength for the long haul. After splitting up in 1981, the trio reformed in 1986 and recorded Culture in Culture. Once again Joseph Hill would take on the production mantle, but this time he was aided by Enos McLeod and Alvin Ranglin, which saved this album from the flaws of Hill's previous effort, Lion Rock. Culture in Culture has a relaxed quality to the    [ read more ]

CD $16.13

As roots reggae harmony groups go, Culture has always been a bit unique. Wholly dominated by the mystical and strangely charismatic lead singer and songwriter Joseph Hill, Culture has always dealt in simple (some would say simplistic) and yet absurdly catchy melodies, astringent harmonies and lyrics of the very dreadest character -- very few love songs, very few party songs, just lots and lots of dire warnings issued to Babylon and its fellow travellers. Although the band is most commonly praise   [ read more ]

CD $11.38

CD $18.03

Culture delivers a stellar album and reinvents the sound of reggae along the way under the guiding hand of member Joseph Hill's phenomenal arrangements and productions. The entire set has a massive density to the sound, hearkening back to the heyday of roots; the coursing rhythms pay homage to the rockers style, while the ebullient brass section conjures up the heady melodies of the rocksteady age. The musicianship is superb, drummer Michael Freckles McKenzie and percussionist {$Francisco Fuz   [ read more ]

CD $15.18

The string of albums Culture recorded during the late '70s contained some of the most reliably solid sets from the tail end of reggae's roots era. These early releases for the production team of Joe Gibbs and Errol "E.T." Thompson yielded the group's finest work. Following an unfortunate engagement at Duke Reid's famous Treasure Isle studios (the results of which can be found on the unauthorized Africa Stand Alone), the vocal trio hooked up with Sonia Pottinger and engineer {$Erro   [ read more ]

CD $11.38

CD $15.18