The Ethiopians
Slave Call
Album · Reggae · 1977 · Trojan Records
When Ethiopians leader Leonard Dillon debuted a revamped lineup on 1977's Slave Call, the roots-reggae sound that grew out of their early ska and rocksteady days became politically charged and increasingly adaptable. Socially conscious tunes like "Culture" and "Nuh Follow Babylon" are as indebted to Memphis soul as Jamaican grooves, while a delicately soulful, reggae-baked version of The Beatles' "Let It Be" sounds surprisingly natural. But the sweetly skanking "Train to Skaville" shows they hadn't come too far to fondly salute their roots.
Slave Call
The Ethiopians
When Ethiopians leader Leonard Dillon debuted a revamped lineup on 1977's Slave Call, the roots-reggae sound that grew out of their early ska and rocksteady days became politically charged and increasingly adaptable. Socially conscious tunes like "Culture" and "Nuh Follow Babylon" are as indebted to Memphis soul as Jamaican grooves, while a delicately soulful, reggae-baked version of The Beatles' "Let It Be" sounds surprisingly natural. But the sweetly skanking "Train to Skaville" shows they hadn't come too far to fondly salute their roots.
