Easy Star All-Stars
American reggae band
Easy Star All-Stars
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Easy Star All-Stars at
Fox Theatre
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Background information | |
Origin | Jamaica /United States |
Genres | Reggae , ska , dub |
Years active | 2003–present |
Labels | Easy Star |
Members |
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Website |
easystarallstars
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Easy Star All-Stars is a reggae collective founded in 1997 by Michael Goldwasser, Eric Smith, Lem Oppenheimer and Remy Gerstein of New York City -based Easy Star Records . [1] The band is known for its reinterpretations of classic albums in reggae style. Their first album, released in 2003, was Dub Side of the Moon , an interpretation of Pink Floyd 's 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon . This was followed by Radiodread (2006), an interpretation of Radiohead 's 1997 album OK Computer ; Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009), an interpretation of the Beatles ' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ; and Easy Star's Thrillah (2012), an interpretation of Michael Jackson 's 1982 album Thriller . [2]
History
Founding, covers
They originally formed as a studio band for the label's earliest recordings. Although they have backed many artists [ who? ] and produced several original releases, they are best known for covering popular albums in a reggae and dub style and have released four cover albums to date. [2]
First albums
In February 2003, Easy Star All-Stars released a cover album of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon entitled Dub Side of the Moon , a complete reggae reinterpretation of the Pink Floyd album. Dub Side of the Moon has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003. [3] It features instructions on how to synchronize the record with The Wizard of Oz , referencing the audiovisual pairing sometimes referred to as Dark Side of the Rainbow .
Dub Side of the Moon was followed by the 2006 release of Radiodread , a reimagining of Radiohead's album OK Computer . At a 2006 Radiohead concert, Thom Yorke praised Toots & The Maytals version of "Let Down" on Radiodread . [4] Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has also praised the cover version, calling it "truly astounding." [5]
In March 2008, Easy Star All-Stars released Until that Day , an EP consisting of original material except for "Dubbing Up the Walls", a cover of the Radiohead song " Climbing Up the Walls ." [2] [6] On 5 April 2011, they released their first original album entitled First Light . [2] [7] The only constant member of the band is Michael Goldwasser. [2]
On January 13, 2009 the Easy Star All-Stars posted a statement on their website that they had completed their next album, a reworking of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles titled Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band , which was released on April 14, 2009. [8] However it was exclusively released on imeem a day prior. Reviews have been favourable. Sydney street press Music Feeds rated the album 10/10. [9] Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band cracked the Billboard Top 200 twice, making it the first reggae album to do so in over two years. [3]
Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah compiled a dub version of a song by the Iowa reggae band Public Property on an upcoming album Work to Do set for release in July 2009.
Michael Goldwasser compiled a dub version of the song "Turn & Run" by Umphrey's McGee .
Recent years
In October 2010, the Easy Star All-Stars released Dubber Side of the Moon , featuring bass-heavy remixes of Dub Side of the Moon by Dubmatix, 10 Ft. Ganja Plant, Groove Corporation, Dubphonic, The Alchemist, Dreadzone, Kalbata, Adrian Sherwood & Jazzwad, Victor Rice, Border Crossing, Mad Professor, Michael G. & Easy Star All-Stars, and J. Viewz. [10]
On August 28, 2012, the Easy Star All-Stars released Thrillah , a reimagining of Michael Jackson 's album Thriller . On August 12, 2016, the Easy Star All-Stars rereleased their 2006 album Radiodread . The Easy Star All-Stars' rerelease contains a bonus track featuring Morgan Heritage covering Radiohead's song "High and Dry" from their 1995 album The Bends . [11] On September 16, 2014, the Easy Star All-Stars released a special anniversary re-issue of Dub Side of the Moon , their 2003 album reinterpreting Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. [12]
In recent years, Easy Star All-Stars' producer Michael Goldwasser has worked on a handful of reggae remixes with chart-topping artists, including the tracks "Have It All" by Jason Mraz , "I Like That" by Janelle Monáe , and "Heat" by Kelly Clarkson . [13]
Current line-up
Listed in the order and as they appear in the liner notes accompanying Dub Side of the Moon :
- Michael Goldwasser
- Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah
- Patrick Dougher
- Victor Rice
The core of the touring line-up has remained largely intact since 2003. [3] The rotating roster includes:
- Buford O'Sullivan (trombone)
- Cliff Simpson (drums)
- Elenna Canlas (keyboards, vocals)
- Ive-09 (drums)
- Jenny Hill (saxophone, flute)
- Jared Yee (saxophone)
- Joanne Williams (vocals)
- Kirsty Rock (vocals)
- Ras I Ray (bass, vocals)
- Ruff Scott (DJ vocals)
- Shelton Garner, Jr. (guitar, vocals)
Discography
- Dub Side of the Moon (2003)
- Radiodread (2006)
- Until that Day EP (2008)
- Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009)
- Dubber Side of the Moon (2010)
- First Light (2011)
- Easy Star's Thrillah (2012)
- Ziggy Stardub (2023)
References
- ↑ "About Me" .
- 1 2 3 4 5 Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013) " Adding their all-star touch ", Jamaica Observer , November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013
- 1 2 3 "Easy Star All-Stars | Easy Star" . Archived from the original on 2012-02-05 . Retrieved 2012-02-14 .
- ↑ "Radiohead: A ticket worth the effort - USATODAY.com" . usatoday30.usatoday.com .
- ↑ "GIANT STEP™ | Release - Radiodread by Easy Star All-Stars" . Archived from the original on 2012-02-19 . Retrieved 2014-07-01 .
- ↑ "E A S Y S T A R * R E C O R D S" . Archived from the original on February 24, 2008.
- ↑ "FIRST LIGHT RELEASE DAY IN NORTH AMERICA | Easy Star" . Archived from the original on 2011-04-10 . Retrieved 2011-04-20 .
- ↑ "Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band | Easy Star" . Archived from the original on 2014-02-23 . Retrieved 2017-01-31 .
- ↑ "Easy Star All Stars - Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band" . Music Feeds . April 7, 2009.
- ↑ "Dubber Side of the Moon | Easy Star" . Archived from the original on 2012-01-05 . Retrieved 2010-10-06 .
- ↑ Yarecki (12 August 2016). "Easy Star All-Stars "Radiodread" re-issue" . Dub Massive . Retrieved April 29, 2019 .
- ↑ "Dub Side of the Moon: Special Anniversary Edition" . Easy Star Records . Retrieved 2019-04-29 .
- ↑ easystar (2019-01-04). "Michael Goldwasser and Easy Star All-Stars' Remix of Kelly Clarkson's "Heat" " . Easy Star Records . Retrieved 2019-04-29 .
External links
- Easy Star Records
- Myspace Blog
- Easy Star All-Stars, Camden Koko (28/04/2009) Live Review at DailyMusicGuide.com
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