On Monday we were in Ghana. On Wednesday we were in Germany. And we are finishing this week's musical travels in the world famous reggae hotspot of Plymouth.
Being partly of Cornish extraction it pains me to say anything nice about Devon but I can't deny the excellence of Alpha & Omega - or Christine Woodbridge and John Sprosen to their friends and families. They have been making top quality records for over 35 years now, by themselves and in collaboration with the likes of Jah Shaka.
"Almighty Jah" was a 1992 collaboration with Dub Judah, so obviously I have chosen two of the only three tracks that feature other vocalists. Apologies to Mr Judah. Tanernishka is Tracey Jarrett, who would later shorten her pseudonym to Nishka and become a regular guest. About The Exile, who contributes a then topical track about the Rodney King trial, I can tell you nothing at all.
"Only In Yourself" - Alpha & Omega (featuring Tanernishka)
"California v. Powell" - Alpha & Omega (featuring The Exile)
Other Alphas and Omegas are also available, from Bristol and Budapest respectively. No disrespect intended to either but A & O show that this is definitely a case of the whole being stronger than the parts.
Predictably I have played the Hungarian track first, and what a belting track. And just as predictably, I am requesting more Hungarian prog. on these pages
ReplyDeleteI see an anthology on bandcamp for a mere $15
DeleteDon't be tempted unless it has "Olyan Szépen Mosolygott" on it
DeleteOh, that’s spooky, Ernie. I’ve just read your post but earlier today was listening to their album Alpha & Omega Meets Iries In Roots from 1994.
ReplyDeleteUnsurprisingly, I was more familiar with Alpha from Bristol than Omega from Budapest, but no complaints about either.