Ken Boothe – Let’s Get It On
Ken Boothe
Listen/Download – Ken Boothe – Let’s Get It On MP3
Greetings all.
How’s about a little mid-week soulful reggae?
Ken Boothe, one of the truly great Jamaican voices, from the rock steady era on, has appeared in this space a few times before, with his epic reading of Syl Johnson’s ‘Is It Because I’m Black’ as well as his groovy take on the Royalettes ‘It’s Gonna Take a Miracle’.
Today’s selection is the title track from his 1974 LP ‘Let’s Get It On’ (also home to the aforementioned Syl Johnson cover).
One of the best crossover LPs of the 70s, ‘Let’s Get It On’ features a number of cool covers from the Four Tops (That’s The Way Nature Planned It), Paul McCartney (My Love), Neil Young (Down By the River, oddly credited to Boothe and producer Lloyd Charmers) and as in today’s selection, the mighty Marvin Gaye.
I’ve often proffered that much of the classic Jamaican music of the 60s and 70s is merely soul music with a specific riddem, and there is hardly another singer (all props to Toots Hibbert, natch) that demonstrates that as well as Ken Boothe.
Boothe is a fantastic singer, capable of smooth, loverman style as well as a rougher, Otis Redding-esque rasp, both on prominent display in ‘Let’s Get It On’.
Boothe lays into the lyric with passion, and the song’s already relaxed pace/structure lends itself readily to reggae.
The instrumental backing is basic (though the lead guitar is distinctive without getting in the way), and the backing vocals aid and abet Boothe nicely.
There’s a lot of Boothe’s material available in reissue an in iTunes, but as far as I can tell this album (at least in whole) is not. That said, original copies are not terribly expensive, and start to finish you’d be hard pressed to invest in a better reggae LP.
I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you on Friday.
Keep the faith
Larry
____________________________________________________________________________
Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.
Themocracy