Press Reviews

ALL I HAVE IS LOVE: A TRIBUTE TO STUDIO ONE (ES 1007)
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2001

CMJ WEEKLY
April 2, 2001

During the ‘60s and ‘70s, Clement S. Dodd’s Studio One was a Jamaican Motown, fostering early efforts by the Wailers, the Heptones, Burning Spear, Freddie McGregor and many others. Reggae diva Sister Carol was among the young musicians influenced by the savvy composer/producer’s endless hit parade, and she is the major force behind this affectionate all-star salute. In keeping with the nostalgic theme, 18 classic tunes (“All I Have Is Love” appears twice) were recorded live in the studio with no programming or drum machines allowed. Moreover, the engineers have carefully replicated the exuberant rhythmic thrust and slightly remote, reverberant sonic ambiance of the original recordings. Participating singers and CJs include Johnny Osbourne, Empress Trejah, Sluggy Ranks, Sugar Minott, Pam Hall, the Visionaires and the late Dennis Brown, some of whom moved through the ranks at Studio One and have personal reasons for celebrating Dodd’s vision and legacy.

Back to top

EVERYBODY'S
Vol. 25, No. 3, 2001
by Patricia Boothe

Another must have! Sister Carol has outdone herself with this one. Here, she pays a unique tribute to Studio One by producing a compilation that features several of Jamaica’s top vocalists, including herself, vibing on top of their favorite Studio One riddims. With the help of Noel Alphonso, son of late Skatalite Roland Alphonso, they put together a live band and put their signature on some of the finest songs from the Studio One catalogue. Sit back, relax and listen as Sister Carol, Glen Washington, Roman Stewart, Sugar Minott, Dennis Brown, Pam Hall, Freddie McGregor, Johnnie Osbourne . . . and others show that “all they have is love” for the Studio One legacy by contributing to it with their original lyrics.

Back to top

JAHWORKS.COM
June 2001
by Matty Tice

Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One is home to the greatest and most influential reggae ever produced in Jamaica, sparking the careers of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh Lee "Scratch" Perry, Dennis Brown, and Burning Spear to name a few. Produced by Sister Carol, "All I Have Is Love" is a brand new collaboration between Sister Carol's own Black Cinderella Productions and the New York based Easy Star Records. The compilation is comprised of original Studio One recordings re-recorded by the original singers and deejays, as well as a few new songs using original Studio One instrumentals. All of the instrumental tracks have been re-recorded using live instruments. Drum machines and computers were purposefully avoided in order to recreate the classic Studio One sound.

This tribute to the pioneers of Reggae starts off with Freddie McGregor's version of the Heptone's "My Baby Is Gone" while the Black Cinderella, Sister Carol, gives new life to an old rock steady riddim in "Listening." Sluggy Ranks and Dr. C create a classic heavy roots sound in their original "Keep The Faith," with the inimitable influence of Dean Fraser's horns taking us back to Reggae's roots. The late Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Brown, contributes one of his last performances with the title track "All I Have Is Love," a sweet roots duet with the song's originator, Johnny Osbourne. Roman Stewart puts his soul into Leroy Sibbles' inspirational "Soul Power," followed by Ken Boothe's "Just Another Girl" performed by Judah Eskinder Tafari. Niceness!

The disc pays tribute to Jah's holy herb with Angie Angel's "Sativa Info." Jr. Jazz goes beyond the call of duty in his rendition of Alton Ellis' lover's rock classic, "Can I Change My Mind?" Arguably the sweetest vocalist in Reggae, Sugar Minott, sings his own "Give A Hand," and again kudos to the horns on this one. Pam Hall will make your heart melt with her lover's plea in her adaptation of Leroy Sibbles' "There Ain't Nobody Else," followed by Glen Washington's divine "Jah New Love," a potential classic in the making.

Regards to Sister Carol for including a balanced array of women artists on this disc, a concept that seems to be all but absent on most Reggae compilations. Sister Carol returns for the spiritually strong "Keep It Real," with Motherland Soul's "Hear Me Jah Jah" following. The compilation comes to a close with Dennis Brown's solo take of "All I Have I Love," added to the disc as a special tribute to the great vocalist.

"All I Have Is Love (A Tribute to Studio One)" is one of the most moving albums I've heard in quite some time. With Scientist and Phillip Smart (among others) at the mixing board, this stellar collection manages to capture the essence of the classic Reggae sound.

Back to top

THE WEEKLY STAR
March 22-28, 2001
by Anthony Turner

New York based DJ Sister Carol has in the past two decades established herself as a gifted toaster and an aspiring actress. Not content to rest on her laurels, she is forging ahead and making waves now as a producer of a new compilation album titled "All I Have Is Love" on Indy Easy Star Record label.

The disc is a must have for those who appreciate the Studio One classics that epitomize the burgeoning sound of Jamaica back in the 60s. The songs recorded at Kingston Studio, HC&F and Sir Tommies studios in New York, at Tuff Gong and Big Ship in Jamaica and Prairie Sun in California, contain covers of Studio One anthems that showcase the versatility of master producer
Coxone Dodd and his crew of singers, musicians and writers.

Included also are a few new songs that bring new life to the infectious Studio One riddims they are recorded on.

Freddy "Big Ship" McGregor gets the party started and succeeds in recapturing the magic of yesteryears with a bubbly reggae ballad titled "My Baby Is Gone." "Mother Culture," Sister Carol delivers a scorching performance on "Listening." In addition the album serves up the enigmatic Fred Locks whose voice has not lost its lister over the years. Pam Hall's "There Ain't Nobody Else" is a scorcher, so too is the title track "All I Have Is Love" by crowned prince Dennis Emanuel Brown whose vocal styling sounds as fresh today as when he busted on the music scene in the early seventies.

Other attention grabbers include "Just Another Girl" by newcomer Judah Eskinder Tafari and "Can I Change My mind" by crooner Jr. Jazz who proves he is not just a talented musician but that he is adept at singing as well. Glen Washington delivers a smooth performance on "Jah New Love" but the complaint here is that the track sounds too much like his other songs. Possibly the weakest track on the disc is delivered by veteran dj, Angie Angel who fails to excite with her offering "Sativa Info."

Back to top

THE DAILY MAIL
March 19, 2001
by Michael Lipton

Produced by singer Sister Carol, this collection covers some of the classic releases by Jamaica's infamous Studio One. Carol assembled a hand-picked band and called on some of reggae's singers and DJs. In addition to Carol's "Keep It Real," Freddie McGregor offers a silky version of the Heptones "My Baby Is Gone," Jr. Jazz covers Alton Ellis' oft-covered hit "Can I Change My Mind" and Sugar Minott updates his own "Give A Hand." No drum machine or computers here, just good, old-fashioned soulful grooves.

Back to top

THE RENO NEWS AND REVIEWS
March 19, 2001
by Rick Anderson

In reggae music, the names of certain recording studios have an almost talismanic significance; mention Dynamic or Rudie's or the Black Ark to a serious reggae fan and watch his eyes light up. Studio One is one of those, and this latest in a long line of tribute albums comes from New York's Easy Star label. This collection was produced by the great DJ and singer Sister Carol, who brought together some of reggae's top names to reinterpret such classic Studio One hits as the Heptones' "Soul Power" (here performed by Roman Stewart), Winston Jarrett's "Up Park Camp" (reworked by Angie Angel as an herb anthem called "Sativa") and Sugar Minott's "Give A Hand" (performed here by Minott himself). There are a few clunkers -- Sluggy Ranks and Empress Trejah both have pitch problems -- but the album is a solid pleasure overall.

Back to top

REGGAE VIBES.COM
March 2001
by Teacher and Mr. T.

Vocals:4/5
Backing:5
Production: 4/5
Sound quality: 5
Sleeve: 5

New York based label Easy Star Records first release of 2001 is a stunning album, which pays tribute to the most influential record label in Jamaican history, Coxsone Dodd's Studio One. He helped to shape reggae music as we know it today. Countless artists have recorded their best tunes for him, and the Studio One riddims have and will be versioned over and over. Singer/producer Sister Carol initiated and produced this 18-track tribute album. With the help of Noel Alphonso she organised a top-notch band of musicians to lay down the music and all the tracks were recorded live, without the use of drum machines and computers.

The album features some of the biggest names in reggae music, and some unknown artists like Empress Trejah, Motherland Soul and The Visionaires who lay down some fine tunes. It must be a delight to compile an album like this, because one can pick from a enormous amount of tunes and riddims, all of which have quality stamped all over. Some of the tunes are new versions of classic tracks, while other tunes are new songs across exquisite Studio One riddims.

Most of the tunes featured here will be known and loved by the reggae massive all over the world, but for anyone who needs an introduction to the works of Coxsone Dodd, this album could be a perfect start. It's almost impossible to point out standout tracks, because every track is a winner! Some of our favorite tunes are All I Have I Love from Johnny Osbourne and Dennis Brown. The latter is featured with a solo take on the song. Sugar Minott does a splendid new rendition of Give A Hand, a track from his masterpiece album 'Live Loving', while Sluggy Ranks & Dr. C and Motherland Soul use that song's riddim to deliver equally powerful messages for the youth. Across The Heptones' song 'There Ain't Nobody Else' Siste Carol delivers a fine song called Listening. The same song is covered by Pam Hall. From the renown Alton Ellis comes the original reggae cut of Can I Change My Mind, here superbly done by Jr. Jazz. Both Ian Sweetness and Angie Angel lick Winston Jarrett's 'Up Park Camp'.

These guys at Easy Star Records keep on surprising us with each release. It's a rocking and swinging set of tunes, inspired by the grandfather of reggae music. Wonderful stuff !

Back to top

Back to top