Various Artists - Summer Records Anthology

Treasures From Toronto

Reviewed by Hans on September 08, 2007

Jerry Brown is looking very satisfied and sure of himself on the cover of this latest Light In The Attic release. This Seattle CA based label already brought the r&b world some great releases from artist like Betty Davis, Nicole Willis and the Jackie Mittoo's band mate Wayne McGhie with his mix of soul, funk and reggae on the re-release of his 1970 "Wayne McGhie & The Sounds Of Joy" LP. Wayne McGhie's record was brought into LITA by the Canadian DJ Sipreano, the man who later compiled both "Jamaica To Toronto: Soul, Funk & Reggae 1967-1974" (LITA 019) as this latest LITA release: "Summer Records Anthology 1974-1988".

LITA's website announcement for this CD discusses Jerry Brown's Summer Records :

« For many locals and traveling Jamaican musicians, Jerry Brown's Malton, Ontario-based Summer Sound Studios - known as Canada's answer to Lee Perry's Black Ark - was a creative haven that tapped deep into the depths of universal reggae consciousness. Located just outside of Toronto, the label fired their first shot in 1974 with Johnnie Osborne's "Sun Rise" backed with the heavenly bounce of 'Love Makes The World Go Round', co-produced by Brown's one-time collaborator and Half Moon Records founder, Oswald Creary. Throughout most of the seventies Canadian-produced reggae music was a commercial non-entity, bar a thriving underground scene of ex-pats who simply did what came naturally to them in small studios and private dances. The records mostly sat unnoticed amidst the steady flow of JA product in the gaggle of independent record shops in Toronto that catered to the West Indian population. »

I put on the CD and while playing the first track 'Love Makes The World Go Round' I thought about the comment 'who simply did what came naturally to them in small studios and private dances'. It's a soulful track by Bunny Brown and a young Johnny Osbourne. On more of a roots trip is Jerry Brown's 'Sufferer' and the fantastic 'Dreadlock Lady', a Wackies sounding song using a jazzy transverse flute in the background.

Johnny Osbourne is presented on this CD with four songs. 'Jah Jah Live Forever' and 'Warrior' are awesome and possibly even better than the versions he did for other producers, both pure songs with some Perry influences. The same goes for the Noel Ellis track 'Reach My Destiny', Ranking's 'Chatty Chatty People' and 'Thanks & Praise' and again for the songs 'Mankind' and 'One & Only One' by Adrian Miller. This last one is my favourite singer on this CD release, I especially enjoyed the vibe between backing singers Earth, Roots & Water and Adrian's voice on 'One & Only One' wow that's a scorcher!

As the title indicates this CD contains music up until 1988. The digital songs 'Run Them A Run' by Willi Williams and 'Call Me Nobody Else' by Unique Madoo were both recorded in this last period and, as expected, offer a contrast to the other tracks.

The CD is a crucial release, absolutely massive, which would explain why Jerry Brown is looking quite so satisfied and sure of his himself on the cover. I have no hesitation at all in telling you to go out and buy it.

Hans - Roots Archives, September 2007
Edited by Leggo Rocker