This 14-track compilation collects some of the Ethiopians' best songs from their recording days at Coxsone Dodd's famous Studio One. The Ethiopians are best known for their early rocksteady records, where they helped pave the way for reggae and roots music and their politically pointed lyrics. OWNER FE DE YARD, while it contains some protest songs, is mostly an anthology of the groups' soul and rocksteady songs, like the charming tune about the beautiful Jamaican bush and its inhabitants ("Cherry Pee"), and the occasional love song ("She Is My Girl"). Singer Leonard "Sparrow" Dillon's voice is the centerpiece of any Ethiopians track. His melancholic, melodious voice carries even the most minimal tune into a realm of sophistication only the most talented vocalists can aspire to.
This 14-track compilation collects some of the Ethiopians' best songs from their recording days at Coxsone Dodd's famous Studio One. The Ethiopians are best known for their early rocksteady records, where they helped pave the way for reggae and roots music and their politically pointed lyrics. OWNER FE DE YARD, while it contains some protest songs, is mostly an anthology of the groups' soul and rocksteady songs, like the charming tune about the beautiful Jamaican bush and its inhabitants ("Cherry Pee"), and the occasional love song ("She Is My Girl"). Singer Leonard "Sparrow" Dillon's voice is the centrepiece of any Ethiopians track. His melancholic, melodious voice carries even the most minimal tune into a realm of sophistication only the most talented vocalists can aspire to.