Ken Boothe

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What's the definitive Ken Boothe album? He has got such an amazing voice, but I don't know where to start, except to say that his version of Is It Because I'm Black? sounded great in a shop the other day.

― Daniel, Friday, 14 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't know if there's a definitive compilation, but look for something with "Everything I Own" and "Silver Words". What a voice.

― fritz, Friday, 14 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

he recorded a lot in the 60s for Clement Dodd, with Stranger Cole (as 'Stranger and Ken'). i don't have them but the following Studio 1 albums are supposed to be good: A Man & His Hits, Mr.Rocksteady, More Of Ken Boothe

he then recorded for Sonia Pottinger, Leslie Kong and Lloyd Charmers. the fantastically simple 'Rasta Never Fails' is a Lloyd Charmers and Ken Boothe duet, under the name 'The Charmers'. the post Studio 1 compilation 'Everything I Own' is supposed to be good too.

that Syl Johnson cover is on the excellent Blood and Fire 'Darker than Blue' compilation (CD and ltd LP) which is well worth getting.

Everything I Own is a fantastic love song though - a very worthy number one

― michael, Monday, 17 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

2 lovely tracks on 'Phil Pratt Thing' on Pressure Sounds.

This doesn't answer the question, I'm afraid.

― Peter Miller, Monday, 17 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i don't think you'll ever get a 'definitive album' for musics such as reggae. it's not album based, so you rarely get the essential 'classic albums' that you would in rock, and with artists not having contracts etc, their work is on a variety of labels

― michael, Monday, 17 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

OK, defintive was not the best word to use. Still, you've given me some good pointers. Thanks. I definitely agree with the point about albums. (Actually I made this very point myself on the 'best reggae albums' thread a while back). As I say, I was just looking for some recommendations.

― Daniel, Tuesday, 18 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah, it's kind of annoying in some ways, cos when you *do* get good albums (Heart of the Congos, Max Romeo 'Revelation Time') they're excellent. also delving into singles and compilations is a complicated business, trying to remember what tracks you've already got (especially with all the various names tracks (esp 60s ones) are under). often a whole career 'greatest hits' can be a bad investment, and you end up getting several more greatest hits compilations, for each period of their career to get more tracks.

― michael, Tuesday, 18 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

seven years pass...

With Ken Boothe, it's pretty hard to find ANY bad songs or albums. Even every song in 'Freedom Street' is really, really nice - though my favorite track from that album is 'Mr. Wind'.

― Chelvis, Sunday, 4 January 2009 03:37 (sixteen years ago)

Couldn't imagine having to pick between Boothe's version of "Is It Because I'm Black" and Syl Johnson's original. Both so great.

― ellaguru, Sunday, 4 January 2009 15:55 (sixteen years ago)

four years pass...

i am hella ill but wish i could go to this pretty badly:
http://www.littlefieldnyc.com/event/246361-ken-boothe-backed-by-crazy-brooklyn/

― brb buying poppers w/my employee discount (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 2 May 2013 15:27 (twelve years ago)

Just saw that he was added to a Freddie McGregor & Yellowman outdoor afternoon show in W. DC on Saturday May 18th.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 May 2013 15:33 (twelve years ago)

i would go to this show

love ken boothe and his careful enunciation

― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Thursday, 2 May 2013 21:51 (twelve years ago)

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