Easy Star All Stars - Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 5 / 4 / 2009

---

Review

You might question whether the world really needs a reggae covers album of the Beatles’ 'Sgt Peppers’ Lonely Hearts Club Band', but, really, do you need to be so fussy. It is, after all, one of the most staggering pop albums of all time, and if anything needs a reggae covers album, it may as well be this ? If you happen to be a Beatles fan (and I certainly am, they are the best band ever, obviously), then you have surely debated whether 'Sgt Pepper' is the best Beatles album. I suspect that it might be - it certainly hangs together best as a set, even if the very best songs are elsewhere. Hearing people give the Beatles a twist is a reminder of just how astonishingly good the Beatles are, and it is to the credit of the various bands and singers on display here that I wanted to play this right through without switching back to the originals. Generally, these versions tend to get jollier. It is usually when the psychedelic aspects need to be jettisoned in favour of letting the choruses pop out that this album works best, with ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ benefiting especially. Paul’s more naturally melodic songs, such as ‘Getting Better’, surprisingly work less well. The only genuine mis-step is ‘She’s Leaving Home’, which has one of the most gently sophisticated lyrics of the Beatle songbook, and is simply too sad a song to merit the upbeat treatment it is given here. You suspect those involved weren’t quite sure what to do with this sad tale of growing up and moving on. The very best song here, 'Within You Without You', is my least favourite on the real album, where Matisyahu (an orthodox Hassidic Jew, and therefore one of modern Reggae’s more noteworthy characters) captures the mystique of George Harrison’s Indian drone but adds rhythm and melody. Its sublime. The Beatles will surely never be bettered, and they lend themselves to any style - the Easy Star reggae gang live up to the challenge. This is always fun, often interesting and on occasion, brilliant. A must for anyone who feels they could do with having new life breathed into the most influential pop album ever.

Track Listing:-

1 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Feat. Junior Jazz)
2 With A Little Help From My Friends (Feat. Luciano)
3 Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (Feat. Frankie Paul)
4 Getting Better (Feat. The Mighty Diamonds)
5 Fixing A Hole (Feat. Max Romeo)
6 She's Leaving Home (Feat. Kirsty Rock)
7 Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! (Feat. Ranking)
8 Within You Without You (Feat. Matisyahu)
9 When I'm Sixty-Four (Feat. Sugar Minott)
10 Lovely Rita (Feat. Bunny Rugs And U Roy)
11 Good Morning Good Morning (Feat. Steel Pulse)
12 Sgt. Pepper's (Reprise)
13 A Day In The Life (Feat. Michael Rose And Menny More)
14 With A Little Dub From My Friends (Feat. Luciano And U Roy)
15 Kaleidoscope Dub

Label Links:-

http://easystar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/EasyStarRecor
https://twitter.com/EasyStarRec