Easy Star All-Stars is a
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
collective founded in 1997 by Michael Goldwasser, Eric Smith, Lem Oppenheimer and Remy Gerstein of
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
-based
Easy Star Records
Easy Star Records is an American independent record label founded in 1996. Based in New York City, the label primarily produces and releases albums in the genres of reggae and dub.
The label has had multiple albums chart at No. 1 on the '' Bil ...
. 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
''Dub Side of the Moon'' is a dub reggae tribute to the 1973 Pink Floyd album, '' The Dark Side of the Moon'', co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founders Michael G (Michael Goldwasser) and Ticklah (Victor Axelrod). Easy Star All Stars released ...
,'' an interpretation of
Pink Floyd's 1973 album ''
Dark Side of the Moon
''The Dark Side of the Moon'' is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 1 March 1973 by Harvest Records. The album was primarily developed during live performances, and the band premiered an early version of t ...
.'' This was followed by ''
Radiodread
''Radiodread'' is a 2006 tribute album by the Easy Star All-Stars that covers Radiohead's 1997 album ''OK Computer'' in reggae, ska and dub styles.
History
''Radiodread'' producer and arranger Michael Goldwasser said:
:''OK Computer'' has el ...
'' (2006), an interpretation of
Radiohead's 1997 album ''
OK Computer;'' ''
Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band
''Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band'' is a dub reggae tribute to the Beatles' album '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'', by the Easy Star All-Stars. It was released on April 14, 2009.
Track listing
#" Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club B ...
'' (2009), an interpretation the
Beatles' 1967 album ''
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''; and ''Easy Star's Thrillah'' (2012), an interpretation of
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
's 1982 album ''
Thriller''.
History
Founding, covers
They originally formed as a studio band for the label's earliest recordings. Although they have backed many artists 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.
[Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013)]
Adding their all-star touch
, '' Jamaica Observer'', November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013
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
''Dub Side of the Moon'' is a dub reggae tribute to the 1973 Pink Floyd album, '' The Dark Side of the Moon'', co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founders Michael G (Michael Goldwasser) and Ticklah (Victor Axelrod). Easy Star All Stars released ...
'', 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.
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
''Radiodread'' is a 2006 tribute album by the Easy Star All-Stars that covers Radiohead's 1997 album ''OK Computer'' in reggae, ska and dub styles.
History
''Radiodread'' producer and arranger Michael Goldwasser said:
:''OK Computer'' has el ...
'', a reimagining of Radiohead's album ''OK Computer''. At a 2006
Radiohead concert,
Thom Yorke
Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician and the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been descri ...
praised
Toots & The Maytals
The Maytals, known from 1972 to 2020 as Toots and the Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group, one of the best known ska and rocksteady vocal groups. The Maytals were formed in the early 1960s and were key figures in popularizing reggae music.
...
version of "Let Down" on ''Radiodread''. Radiohead guitarist
Jonny Greenwood has also praised the cover version, calling it "truly astounding."
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."
On 5 April 2011, they released their first original album entitled
First Light.
The only constant member of the band is Michael Goldwasser.
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
''Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band'' is a dub reggae tribute to the Beatles' album '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'', by the Easy Star All-Stars. It was released on April 14, 2009.
Track listing
#" Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club B ...
'', which was released on April 14, 2009. However it was exclusively released on
imeem
The online service imeem was a social media website where users interacted with each other by Streaming media, streaming, uploading and sharing music and music videos. It operated from 2003 until 2009 when it was shut down after being acquired by ...
a day prior. Reviews have been favourable. Sydney street press
Music Feeds
''Music Feeds'' is a free bi-weekly digital music and lifestyle magazine ( street press) established in 2008 and based in Sydney, Australia. It is distributed electronically every second Tuesday, with additional material posted on the website ...
rated the album 10/10. ''
Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band
''Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band'' is a dub reggae tribute to the Beatles' album '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'', by the Easy Star All-Stars. It was released on April 14, 2009.
Track listing
#" Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club B ...
'' cracked the Billboard Top 200 twice, making it the first reggae album to do so in over two years.
Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah compiled a dub version of a song by the Iowa reggae band
Public Property
Public property is property that is dedicated to public use. The term may be used either to describe the use to which the property is put, or to describe the character of its ownership (owned collectively by the population of a state). This is in ...
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
Umphrey's McGee is an American jam band originally from South Bend, Indiana. The band experiments with many musical styles, including rock, metal, funk, jazz, blues, reggae, electronic, bluegrass, country, and folk. They have toured regularl ...
.
Recent years
In October 2010, the Easy Star All-Stars released ''
Dubber Side of the Moon
''Dubber Side of the Moon'' is the second dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, ''The Dark Side of the Moon'', by New York-based band Easy Star All-Stars. The album features bass-heavy dub remixes by prominent dub producers of its prede ...
'', 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.
On August 28, 2012, the Easy Star All-Stars released ''Thrillah'', a reimagining of
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
's album ''
Thriller''. On August 12, 2016, the Easy Star All-Stars rereleased their 2006 album ''
Radiodread
''Radiodread'' is a 2006 tribute album by the Easy Star All-Stars that covers Radiohead's 1997 album ''OK Computer'' in reggae, ska and dub styles.
History
''Radiodread'' producer and arranger Michael Goldwasser said:
:''OK Computer'' has el ...
.'' The Easy Star All-Stars' rerelease contains a bonus track featuring
Morgan Heritage
Morgan Heritage is a Grammy-winning Jamaican reggae band formed in 1994 by five children of reggae artist Denroy Morgan, namely Peter "Peetah" Morgan, Una Morgan, Roy "Gramps" Morgan, Nakhamyah "Lukes" Morgan, and Memmalatel "Mr. Mojo" Morgan. ...
covering Radiohead's song "High and Dry" from their 1995 album ''
The Bends''. On September 16, 2014, the Easy Star All-Stars released a special anniversary re-issue of ''
Dub Side of the Moon
''Dub Side of the Moon'' is a dub reggae tribute to the 1973 Pink Floyd album, '' The Dark Side of the Moon'', co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founders Michael G (Michael Goldwasser) and Ticklah (Victor Axelrod). Easy Star All Stars released ...
,'' their 2003 album reinterpreting Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.
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
Jason Thomas Mraz (; born June 23, 1977) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence with the release of his debut studio album, ''Waiting for My Rocket to Come'' (2002), which spawned the single " The Remedy (I Won't ...
, "I Like That" by
Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe Robinson (; born December 1, 1985) is an American singer, rapper and actress. She is signed to Atlantic Records, as well as to her own imprint, the Wondaland Arts Society. Monáe has received eight Grammy Award nominations. Monà ...
, and "Heat" by
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, author, and television personality. She rose to fame after winning the first season of ''American Idol'' in 2002, which earned her a record deal with RCA. Her debu ...
.
Current line-up
Listed in the order and as they appear in the liner notes accompanying ''
Dub Side of the Moon
''Dub Side of the Moon'' is a dub reggae tribute to the 1973 Pink Floyd album, '' The Dark Side of the Moon'', co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founders Michael G (Michael Goldwasser) and Ticklah (Victor Axelrod). Easy Star All Stars released ...
'':
* Michael Goldwasser
*
Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah
*
Patrick Dougher
*
Victor Rice
Victor Rice (born April 17, 1967) is an American musician, record producer and mix engineer from New York City. Raised in Huntington, New York, Rice attended the Manhattan School of Music and began his professional career in the late 1980s duri ...
The core of the touring line-up has remained largely intact since 2003.
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
''Dub Side of the Moon'' is a dub reggae tribute to the 1973 Pink Floyd album, '' The Dark Side of the Moon'', co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founders Michael G (Michael Goldwasser) and Ticklah (Victor Axelrod). Easy Star All Stars released ...
'' - (2003)
*''
Radiodread
''Radiodread'' is a 2006 tribute album by the Easy Star All-Stars that covers Radiohead's 1997 album ''OK Computer'' in reggae, ska and dub styles.
History
''Radiodread'' producer and arranger Michael Goldwasser said:
:''OK Computer'' has el ...
'' - (2006)
*''
Until that Day'' EP - (2008)
*''
Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band
''Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band'' is a dub reggae tribute to the Beatles' album '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'', by the Easy Star All-Stars. It was released on April 14, 2009.
Track listing
#" Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club B ...
'' - (2009)
*''
Dubber Side of the Moon
''Dubber Side of the Moon'' is the second dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, ''The Dark Side of the Moon'', by New York-based band Easy Star All-Stars. The album features bass-heavy dub remixes by prominent dub producers of its prede ...
'' - (2010)
*''
First Light'' - (2011)
*''Easy Star's Thrillah'' - (2012)
References
External links
Easy Star RecordsMyspace BlogEasy Star All-Stars, Camden Koko (28/04/2009) Live Review at DailyMusicGuide.com
{{Authority control
Easy Star All-Stars, Cover band musical groups
Jamaican reggae musical groups
Easy Star Records artists
Musical groups established in 1997