Sly and Robbie when you least expect them!

It amazes me how I get drawn to albums with similar personnel even though the albums sound absolutely nothing alike.

 

 

 

A good example of this is when I currently picked up a Reggae CD called “Sly & Robbie present the Taxi Gang – Hail Up the Taxi”. I picked this up at a thrift store for cheap deciding I may as well broaden my knowledge of reggae a little farther than just Bob Marley.

 

For the few days prior I was listening to “the Roots – Do You Want More?!!!??!” so I was really into the Hip-Hop mindset. I didn’t find that this Sly and Robbie CD was very far away from Hip Hop. It had a great rhythm section especially with Sly and Robbie on drums and bass.

 

This rhythm is why I love this “The Roots” album so much as well.  Questlove makes such solid beats on this album that I almost don’t hear anything else. Buying this Reggae CD, I was really in the mindset for similar rhythm.

 

I enjoyed this “Hail Up the Taxi” CD throughout the day in my car. Most days I split between two albums, a CD in the car and an LP for when I get home. On this particular day I was craving some Dylan when I got home so I dug through my collection and popped on “Infidels”. This is not in the history books as one of Dylan’s most memorable albums but it is one of my favorites by him.

 

 

This listening experience in particular I couldn’t help but be put in a trance by the drumming and bass in the opening song “Jokerman”. All this Hip Hop and reggae had me listening to rhythm at an entire new level. “Jokerman” has a nice slow drum beat with a super fast bass rhythm behind it. I listened to the song 2 or 3 times until I finally ventured to the back of the record sleeve to see who was playing.

 

To my surprise it was none other than Sly and Robbie on rhythm.

 

This actually kind of freaked me out. These albums did not appear to have anything in common.  I don’t think you can get more opposite than Dylan and Reggae yet I was drawn to both albums on the same day.

 

I find this happening to me more and more now that I am really exploring the history behind albums and recordings. I mean sure it happened to me before but I never knew it. Now that I’m always reading the liner notes I constantly see names that I recognize. I guess what they say is true, it is a small world.

 

I leave this post with the lyrics of one of my favorite Dylan songs:

 

Jokerman:

Standing on the water, casting your bread
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing
Distant ships sailing into the mist
You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing
Freedom just around the corner for you              
But with truth so far off, what good will it do.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

So swiftly the sun sets in the sky
You rise up and say goodbye to no one
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don't show one
Shedding off one more layer of skin
Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

You're a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds
Manipulator of crowds, you're a dream twister
You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah
But what do you care ? Ain't nobody there would want marry your sister
Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame
You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy
The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers
In the smoke of the twilight on a milk-white steed
Michelangelo indeed could've carved out your features
Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space
Half asleep near the stars with a small dog licking your face.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

Well, the rifleman's stalking the sick and the lame
Preacherman seeks the same, who'll get there first is uncertain
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks
Molotov cocktails and rocks behind every curtain
False-hearted judges dying in the webs that they spin
Only a matter of time 'til the night comes stepping in.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.

It's a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray
A woman just gave birth to a prince today and dressed him in scarlet
He'll put the priest in his pocket, put the blade to the heat
Take the motherless children off the street
And place them at the feet of a harlot
Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants
Oh, Jokerman, you don't show any response.

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman.