G. E. Harrison's profile

A must for any reggae fan, 29 Jun 2009

A wonderful, evocative large-scale scapbook on the origins and development of reggae, which features beautiful facsimile reproductions of autographed flyers, album covers, posters, postcards and tickets etc, etc as well as a DVD of interviews with reggae greats including Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, and "Toots" Hibbert. Also featured are many fabulous photographs by reggae expert and author Roger Steffens (Ras RoJah) and photographer Peter Simon. The book is divided into topics such as "Roots and Ska", "Rock Steady", "The Golden Age", "Rockers, Digital and Dance Hall" and "Internationalization" and also has features on historic figures, styles and events. The book also clearly demonstrates the… Read more

Wonderful attempt to make sense of a flawed war..., 29 Jun 2009

This gritty, hard-hitting drama tells the story of three British soldiers serving in Iraq from 2003, Sgt. Mike Swift (James Nesbitt), Scouser Danny Peterson (Stephen Graham) and the quiet one, Lee Hibbs (Warren Brown). We see how they deal with street fighting in this modern war of "occupation" and then follow them (and their families) when they leave the forces and return to the UK.

I found the first episode excellent in portraying both the work of our soldiers on the streets of Basra and the close camaraderie of soldiers in this kind of situation. However, for me the drama dissipated as the story unfolded and I wasn't convinced that all of the characters would have returned… Read more

Muddy in upstate New York..., 28 Jun 2009

Woodstock residents Levon Helm and Paul Butterfield back-up Muddy Waters on this mid-70s record recorded in the Bearsville studios in Woodstock NY. The record sounds good, with Muddy in great vocal form and playing some nice slide guitar. I've always considered Muddy's Chess recordings the peak of Chicago blues, with good songs, well-recorded by an ever- changing but consistently superb group of accompanyists. Some of those same excellent musicians turn up here - pianist Pinetop Perkins and guitarist Bob Margolin - to provide sympathetic backing. Others like harp player Paul Butterfield and drummer Levon Helm fit seamlessly into the mix (Helm had backed Sonny Boy Williamson as a young man… Read more