2004-11-23 Fy-ah Fy-ah Boxset - Jad / Universal

Title : Fy-ah Fy-ah
Format : Compact Disc
Origin : Europe
Numbers Of Trax : Boxset 3 CD (24,21,24 Tracks)
Liner Notes : Jeremy Collingwood
Label : Jad / Universal
Release Date : 2004-11-23
Catalogue : 0602498679654

3 CDs boxset , released in 2004.

Note that the following notes were wrote by Kazo



Abbreviation used inside the review :

CBMW : Complete Bob Marley & The Wailers 1967-1972: a series of 10 CDs (JAD-EMI)
Rebel: a 4 CDs boxset (JAD-EMI)
CUC : Complete Upsetters Collection: a 6 CDs boxset (Trojan)
SoF : Song Of Freedom, the famous 3 CDs boxset (Island)
HCTZ : Honorary Citizen, a Peter Tosh 3 CDs boxset (Legacy Columbia)
OL : One Love, a 2 CDs boxset (Heartbeat), more focused on the ska period
OC : Original Cut, a recent JAD-Universal issue.
PP : Play Play, a recent Rita Marley JAD-Universal issue
AtH : All The Hit, an old cheap compilation, questionable quality (depend on your luck)
CBTY : Can't Blame The Youth, a recent Peter Tosh JAD-Universal issue
GK12 : Grooving Kingston 12, the preceeding JAD-Universal 3 CD box set.

Generally the sound here is slightly louder (very audible when comparing with SoF).
Some will like, other won't. Apart that volume detail, the mixes are strictly the same.
The sound of these CD is not always perfect, that's true.
However there is no better official source to my knowledge,
all other official CDs being of equal quality or less. When, this is wrong (to my ears!)
I have indicated it.

the boxset cd's (3) tracklist is the following :

CD 1 :

01 - fire fire 1:53 (also in CBMW-9 and HCTZ)
02 - bend down low (wail'n' soul version) 2:31 (also in SoF, OC and OL)
03 - freedom time 2:47 (also in CBMW-9 and OL)
04 - dem a fi get a beatin 1:50 (better sound than the cut in CBMW-9)
05 - play play 2:35 (also in CBMW-9 and PP)
06 - this train (wail'n' soul version) 3:37 (also in CBMW-9)
07 - funeral 3:21 (better sound than in CBMW-9)
08 - hypocrites 2:43 (also in CBMW-9 (and AtH). The version in SoF is different)
09 - mellow mood (wail'n' soul version) 3:29 (better sound than in SoF (and AtH))
10 - pound get a blow 2:44 (better sound than in CBMW-9 and much better than in HCTZ)
11 - stir it up 3:08 (also in OC. Better sound than in SoF)
12 - thank you lord (wail'n' soul version) 3:35(end is slightly cut. Track is longer (3:41) in SoF (and AtH)
13 - nice time (wail'n' soul version) 2:43 (also in SoF (and AtH))
14 - bus dem shut 2:42 (louder than SoF)
15 - steppin' razor 2:27 (also in CBMW-9)
16 - dont rock my boat 2:33 (same as cut as OC and CBMW-2)
17 - the lord will make away somehow 2:14 (louder than CBMW-2)
18 - im hurting inside 3:15 (also in CBMW-9)
19 - chances are (wail'n' soul version) 3:20 (louder than CBMW-2)
20 - lyrical satirical 1 2:43 (slightly better sound than CBMW-9)

Versions :

21 - hypocrites version 2:41 (also in CBMW-9 (and AtH))
22 - mellow mood version 3:28
23 - thank you lord version 3:41
24 - nice time version 2:37

Finally we get these 3 tracks that were only available in AtH with a questionable quality.

The whole CD-1 is a fantastic Rock Steady record.
The track list is very consistent having all known songs from the Wail'n Soul'm label (1967-1968).
The only regret is that they could have had the other take of Hypocrites available on SoF.
Also, the rare Simpleton made by Peter Tosh for Prince Buster in 1967 and still unreleased,
could have found a place here. Nevertheless, this CD is excellent.

CD 2 :

01 - sugar sugar 2:48 (also in CBMW-3)
02 - soul shakedown party 3:09 (great because it was only available in SoF with end cut (3:05))
03 - cheer up 2:02 (also in CBMW-3)
04 - stop that train 2:19 (also in CBMW-3 and OC)
05 - soul captives 2:03 (louder than CBMW-3, some hiss too)
06 - caution 2:43 (also in SoF)
07 - cant you see 2:42 (also in CBMW-3)
08 - do it twice 2:47 (also in SoF)
09 - soon come 2:23 (also in CBMW-3 and CBTY)
10 - go tell it to the mountain 3:14 (also in CBMW-3 and CBTY)
11 - back out 2:17 (also in SoF)
12 - mr chatterbox 2:38 (also in CBMW-3 (and AtH))
13 - adam & eve 3:07 (also in CBMW-2)
14 - thank you lord (pounder version) 3:20 (also in CBMW-2)
15 - wisdom 3:13 (also in CBMW-2)
16 - this train (pounder version) 3:37 Aah ! Terrible mistake. This track is exactly the same than CD1-6 , They had to put Ted Pouder's version instead, which can be found on CBMW-2)
17 - selassie is the chapel 3:52 (too loud,better is CBMW-2)
18 - mortimer planno : a little prayer 3:28 (also in Rebel)

versions :

19 - soul shakedown party version 3:07 (also in CBMW-3)
20 - soon come version 2:24 (too loud. Better is CBMW-3)
21 - mr chatterbox version 3:03 (also in AtH. Unacceptable noise, better is in CBMW-3)

This CD-2 has all Kong's production along with other gems from the 70's corner.
Alas, there is the This Train mistake which is unbelievable. How come they did that ?
That spoils the full package.

CD 3:

01 - how many times 3:06 (also in CBMW-1)
02 - touch me 3:04 (also in CBMW-1)
03 - bend down low (jad version) 3:29 (slighty better than CBMW-1. However, the best is the Soul Mix in CBMW-9)
04 - rocking steady 1:50 (also in CBMW-2. The versions in CBMW-1 and CBMW-9 are different)
05 - soul rebel 3:53 (also in CBMW-1)
06 - nice time (jad version) 2:48 (also in CBMW-1. However, the best is the Soul Mix in CBMW-9)
07 - gonna get you 3:14 (also in CBMW-8)
08 - there she goes 2:34 (louder than CBMW-1)
09 - hammer 2:56 (also in SoF)
10 - stay with me 2:59 (also in CBMW-8)
11 - chances are (jad version) 3:21 (also in CBMW-1. However, the best is the Soul Mix in CBMW-9)
12 - treat you right 2:18 (also in CBMW-1)
13 - stranger on the shore 2:51 (quality is low, as in CBMW-9)
14 - fallin' in & out of love 4:08 (quality is low, as in CBMW-9)
15 - mellow mood (jad version) 2:37 (also in CBMW-1. However, the best is the Soul Mix in CBMW-9)
16 - milk shake & potato ships 2:46 (also in Rebel)
17 - put it on 3:03 (also in CBMW-1)
18 - splish for my splash 2:16 (quality is even worse than in CBMW-9)
19 - the world is changing 2:39 (also in CBMW-1)
20 - what goes around comes around 4:14 (also in CBMW-1)
21 - it hurts to be alone 2:37 (quality is low as in Rebel)

versions :

21 - what goes around comes around version 4:14 (also in CBMW-1)

bonus tracks :

22 - one love true love (demo) 3:48 (unissued, very strong hiss)
23 - how many times (dubplate special) 2:53 (unissued. Very noisy)

The track list is not fully consistent as for CD-1.
Most are JAD-1968. 13, 14, 18 are from the Jimmy Norman's tape.
It is not sure that Gonna Get You and Stay With Me are at the right place here as they might be JAD-1972.
On the contrary, Rock To The Rock which is a JAD-1968 has been placed on GK12, which is not logic.
About the JAD-1968, one can regret that the Soul Mixes haven't been selected when available.
Two tracks are here officially released for the first time, to force the buy.
However, several songs from that JAD period are unexplically missing: Love (CBMW-1 and -9), Rhapsody
(CBMW-9), Lonesome Feeling (Rebel), Lonely Girl (Rebel, PP), not to talk about the songs which were on
the Jimmy Norman's tape (Wings of a dove, You think I have no feeling, ...) or the rare Butterfly and
Heat Of The Day.
Disapointing.

My overall view of the boxset is "in between".
On one side, there is the best presentation you can find for many of the songs:
the track order and the powerful sound really boost those fantastic tracks.
This is specially true for the CD-1.
On the other end, there is some kind of bitter as - again - a lack of professionalism
leads to the inclusion of the same song, same version (This Train) twice and, consequently,
the absence of song which is announced on the cover.
Also, the sound enhancement on CD-3 turned out to be excessive.

Jean-Louis C.


Additional Informations And Comments:


- Typo in the back of the boxset cd 3 , two track 21