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Despite her international popularity, Jamaican singer Phyllis Dillon, commonly acknowledged as the queen of rocksteady, only recorded one proper studio album, and it was released around the time she gave up her musical career near the beginning of the 1970s, due to typical music industry woes and her desire to spend more time with her family. One Life to Live is a sterling collection of rocksteady and early reggae, showcasing Dillon's effortlessly gorgeous voice delivering a well-chosen set of songs themed around affection, heartache, and dancing. Dillon and her backing band, with Duke Reid in the producer's chair, offer a Jamaican spin on several American and British pop, rock, and soul tunes, ranging from a heavy reggae-funk take on Marlena Shaw's "Woman of the Ghetto" to a fantastically dreamy rendition of the Beatles' "Something," which might be the song's best version, period. Dillon was a master of expressing emotional longing in a smooth, easygoing manner, relaying vulnerable, heartfelt lyrics in a sweet, soulful way. "I Can't Forget About You Baby" and "Picture on the Wall" both express a strong desire to forget an ex-lover, but they appear to be pleasantly swaying reggae-soul on the surface. "You Are Like Heaven to Me," written by Dillon herself, is directed at an ex-lover she can't fall out of love with, despite the fact that he broke her heart. Even the most triumphant, celebratory songs, such as the festive, Bob Marley-penned "Long Time No Nice Time," have an undercurrent of bittersweet nostalgia. A few other, more definitive collections of Dillon's work have been released, but not all of these songs appeared on them, so this album is equally necessary for fans as well as a fitting introduction for newcomers. Either way, this is beautiful, timeless music.
© Paul Simpson /TiVo
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Teddy Randazzo, Composer - Victoria Pike, Composer - Phyllis Dillon, Composer, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Stephen Stills, Composer, Writer - Phyllis Dillon, Performance, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Bob Marley, Composer - Phyllis Dillon, Vocals, MainArtist
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1968 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
GEORGE HARRISON, Composer - HARRISON, Composer - Phyllis Dillon, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Duke Reid, Composer - Phyllis Dillon, Performance, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Arthur Reid, Producer - Phyllis Dillon, Vocals, MainArtist - Freddie McLean, Composer
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Richard Evans, Composer - Marlena Shaw, Composer - Bobby Miller, Composer - Phyllis Dillon, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Burt Bacharach, Composer - Hal David, Composer - Duke Reid, Producer - Phyllis Dillon, MainArtist
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Eric Donaldson, Composer - Edward Lee, Composer - Phyllis Dillon, Performance, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Hy Weiss, Composer - John Mitchell, Composer - Phyllis Dillon, Performance, MainArtist - Robert Carr, Composer - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Andy Badale, Composer - Phyllis Dillon, Performance, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1971 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Phyllis Dillon, Composer, Performance, MainArtist - Arthur "Duke" Reid, Producer
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1970 Trojan Recordings Ltd., a BMG Company
Album review
Despite her international popularity, Jamaican singer Phyllis Dillon, commonly acknowledged as the queen of rocksteady, only recorded one proper studio album, and it was released around the time she gave up her musical career near the beginning of the 1970s, due to typical music industry woes and her desire to spend more time with her family. One Life to Live is a sterling collection of rocksteady and early reggae, showcasing Dillon's effortlessly gorgeous voice delivering a well-chosen set of songs themed around affection, heartache, and dancing. Dillon and her backing band, with Duke Reid in the producer's chair, offer a Jamaican spin on several American and British pop, rock, and soul tunes, ranging from a heavy reggae-funk take on Marlena Shaw's "Woman of the Ghetto" to a fantastically dreamy rendition of the Beatles' "Something," which might be the song's best version, period. Dillon was a master of expressing emotional longing in a smooth, easygoing manner, relaying vulnerable, heartfelt lyrics in a sweet, soulful way. "I Can't Forget About You Baby" and "Picture on the Wall" both express a strong desire to forget an ex-lover, but they appear to be pleasantly swaying reggae-soul on the surface. "You Are Like Heaven to Me," written by Dillon herself, is directed at an ex-lover she can't fall out of love with, despite the fact that he broke her heart. Even the most triumphant, celebratory songs, such as the festive, Bob Marley-penned "Long Time No Nice Time," have an undercurrent of bittersweet nostalgia. A few other, more definitive collections of Dillon's work have been released, but not all of these songs appeared on them, so this album is equally necessary for fans as well as a fitting introduction for newcomers. Either way, this is beautiful, timeless music.
© Paul Simpson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:35:11
- Main artists: Phyllis Dillon
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Trojan Records
- Genre: World Reggae
© 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1972 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
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