Ken Boothe

“Hulk like sweet soul!”

 

Listen/Download – Ken Boothe – It’s Gonna Take a Miracle

Listen/Download – Ken Boothe – It’s Gonna Take a Miracle (version)

 

Greetings all.

I hope all is well.

It’s been months since I last posted any reggae, and I’ve been pouring a lot of Jamaican sounds into my ears of late, so there is no better time than now.

As you know, while I love reggae/ska/rocksteady sounds in general, I’m always on the lookout for a cool Jamaican cover of an American soul tune.

The mighty Ken Boothe last appeared in this space back in 2006 with his stellar 1973 version of Syl Johnson’s ‘Is It Because I’m Black’.

The tune I bring you today comes from a few years before that (1970), though I can’t say with certainty (as is often the case with Jamaican pressings) when this particular pressing dates from.

The song is question is Boothe’s cover of the Royalettes soul ballad classic from 1965, ‘It’s Gonna Take a Miracle’.
If you haven’t heard the OG, get yourself out and grab a copy of the 45, since it’s a killer two-sider, with a storming bit of Northern Soul on the flip that I’ll be posting here this Wednesday.

That said, Boothe’s ‘It’s Gonna Take a Miracle’ is a great bit of early lovers rock.

The backing is simple, rhythm guitar, organ and drums, but Boothe’s vocal really carries the whole enterprise.

The cut originally appeared on Boothe’s 1970 ‘Freedom Street’ LP, produced by Leslie Kong, not long after the singer broke ranks with Coxsone Dodd.

The ‘version’ on the flip is groovy too, with lots of dubby effects and a nice mix.

The pressing is a little noisy, but on the upside you get that crazy label, so it all works out in the end.

I hope you dig it, and I’ll be back on Wednesday with the Royalettes.

Peace

Larry

 

 

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One Response to “Ken Boothe – It’s Gonna Take a Miracle (plus version…)”

1. Maxwell says:

   August 22, 2011 at 11:22 am

   What a hot track! I love the original and Ken Boothe. For whatever reason I didn’t know this tune. Sounds of the day. Thanks F16!