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Observation Station (Heartbeat, 1990) AKA Observer Station, this is a sort of "best of" Winston "Niney the Observer" Holness' productions. I say "sort of" because a lot of his best production work isn't included here. Of course, if Observation Station really did contain Niney's best, it may be little more than a Dennis Brown greatest hits compilation. The material on this album comes primarily from the '70s and is all backed by the magnificent and ubiquitous Soul Syndicate (AKA the Aggrovators AKA the Upsetters AKA Word Sound and Power). Some tunes -- like "No More Will I Roam," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "Silver Words," "Blood and Fire," and "Cassandra" (an early effort not used for the Dennis Brown cut) -- will likely seem familiar (perhaps overly so) to reggae fans, but others may prove to be rare treats, like the soul-infused rock steady of Slim Smith's "I Need Your Loving," Bongo Heman's "Tribute to Donald Quarrie" (a famed Jamaican track star), and Keeling Beckford's "Tumbling Down." Still, I can't help but feel that Niney's "Blood and Fire" and "Rasta No Pickpocket" are somewhat overrated. They're raw and hard to really get into, and the fact that this collection includes a second version of both ("Mr. Big Man" is a version of "Rasta No Pickpocket," and "Observer Station" is a version of "Blood and Fire.") makes it all the more dry. Sure, there's some good stuff on Observation Station, but most Niney-produced Dennis Brown albums from the '70s would be a better showcase for the producer. Note: This was later re-packaged by Heartbeat as Reggae's Greatest Hits Volume 7. |
| Track Listing 1. Weeping -- Junior Byles 2. Do Good -- Delroy Wilson 3. Sufferation - - Tyrone Taylor 4. Rasta No Pickpocket -- Niney 5. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner -- Michael Rose 6. Cassandra [Version Two] -- Soul Syndicate 7. Mr. Bigman -- Porti 8. Tumbling Down -- Keeling Beckford 9. I Need Your Loving [Version One] -- Slim Smith 10. Silver Words [Version Two] -- Ken Boothe 11. Tribute to Donald Quarrie -- Bongo Herman 12. Blood and Fire -- Niney 13. Observer Station -- Niney 14. Prophecy Call -- Glasford Manning 15. Maggie Breast -- I-Roy 16. African Train -- Flabba Holt 17. Paymaster -- Gregory Isaacs 18. No More Will I Roam -- Dennis Brown |
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Microphone Attack: Niney the Observor 1974-78 (Blood & Fire, 2001)
*GUEST REVIEW*
After a recent obsession with noise imprints such as At War With False Noise, Soundholes, and BTR, it's great to be excited by reggae again. This is a chilled toasting album from Blood & Fire. The focus here is producer rather than performer and this concept works well. Niney is the producer in question, and this compilation covers 1974-78. I Roy is featured most heavily, followed by Big Youth, Dillinger, and Trinity. Andy Kershaw's erstwhile fav DJ Ranking Trevor also gets a look in. The DJs are laid back and perform well but are equally matched by Niney's dubwise productions and the deployment of classic roots riddims. Dillinger steals the show fine style versioning over DEB's "Have No Fear," while Leroy Smart and I Roy also provide a quality track.
- ragudave
| Track Listing 1. Train From The West with U Roy 2. Ride On / Wild Goose Chase [12" Mix] with Big Youth 3. Whole Lotta Fire with Big Youth 4. Four Shades with Big Youth 5. 6 Dead 19 Gone a Jail with Big Youth 6. Flat Foot Hustling with Dillinger 7. Jah Come Here with I Roy 8. Fresh & Clean with I Roy 9. Step on the Dragon with I Roy 10. Sister Maggie Breast with I Roy 11. Native Land with I Roy 12. Water Rate with I Roy 13. Point Blank Observer Style with I Roy 14. Camp Road Skanking with I Roy 15. Roots Man / Observer [Mix Version] with I Roy 16. Jah Is My Light / Wicked Eat Dirt [12" mix] with I Roy & Leroy Smart 17. Whip Them Jah with Ranking Trevor 18. So Long Rastafari with Dillinger & Trinity |
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Sufferation: The Deep Roots Reggae of Niney the Observer (Auralux, 2005)
*GUEST REVIEW*
Frankly, I wasn't expecting much from this collection, but it turned out to be very pleasant surprise. You may expect great songs from renowned stalwarts like Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, or Horace Andy (and indeed, their songs are good), but relatively less-know artists like Tyrone Taylor and Leroy Smart contribute with similarly enjoyable cuts and obscure artists like The Jewels and George B add some downright gems. Many of these songs are presented in extended mix with dub or DJ companions, making Sufferation even more efficient. Highlights are too many to mention, but (apart from previously mentioned) I find the Rock Tone Band's "Burn Me Out," Christine's "Saturday," and Dennis Brown's "Blessed Are the Men" absolutely delightful. Sufferation is the album that any seasoned reggae fan would eat up. Everything is in balance: wise selection of artists and songs, massive liner notes, and perfect sound quality. It's definitely a better showcase for Niney than Heartbeat's Observer Station.
- Sir Marvin
| Track Listing 1. Them Never Tell I -- Horace Andy 2. Rock On -- Gregory Issacs 3. Sufferation/Instyle -- Tyrone Taylor 4. Blessed Are the Men -- Dennis Brown 5. Find Someone -- Dennis Brown 6. Jah I -- The Jewels 7. I Soon Know -- Niney 8. Jah Is My Light -- Leroy Smart 9. Jah Is Watching You -- Dennis Brown 10. Jah Jah Higher Than I -- Mr. Stone 11. Rasta Clean/Zig Zag -- George B 12. Burn Me Out -- Rock Tone Band 13. Oh Jah Man -- The Rockstones 14. Rock On -- Gregory Issacs |
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