Posted on: Sunday, November 27, 2005
ISLAND SOUNDS
Fine steel guitar, Island nostalgia and reggae
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
It's a week of compilations and flashbacks.
A steel-guitar master is remembered with a tidy package of instrumentals.
One CD has a sterling roster of titles and acts.
And a collection of local and international reggae tracks is like owning a rasta jukebox.
"MASTER OF THE STEEL GUITAR, VOL. ONE" BY JERRY BYRD; HANAOLA RECORDS
Genre: Steel guitar instrumentals.
Distinguishing notes: The late Jerry Byrd was a steel guitar master for decades in Nashville before he settled in Honolulu. Since his death, interest in his recordings remains high. This 15-title compilation covers his Island and country genres, with such classics as "Ebb Tide" alongside "Beautiful Kahana. Originals abound, too, like his "Bird of Paradise" and "Estrellita." As usual, ample liner notes (by Harry B. Soria Jr.) fill in many blanks for those unfamiliar with Byrd's past.
The outlook: A dandy intro to Byrd for those not familiar with his legacy.
Our take: A brilliant tribute to a great talent.
"PINEAPPLE HITS" BY VARIOUS ARTISTS; SHAKA RECORDS
Genre: Compilation.
Distinguishing notes: Songs and artists collated here have accumulated 57 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards; too bad the liner information doesn't go further to provide more specific data on what's at hand. Instead, we get factoids and historical information about the pine-apple's role in the Islands. Worse, executive producer Tom Moffatt's name is misspelled on the package (a "t" is dropped). If you overlook such shortcomings, the lineup of contemporary Hawaiian hits from the last three decades is first rate: Keola and Kapono Beamer's "Honolulu City Lights," The Krush's "Waialua Sky," Marlene Sai's "I Love You," Ehukai's "Moloka'i Slide," Danny Couch's "Ah, My Hawai'i," Loyal Garner's "Kokee," Kalapana's "Naturally," and Cecilio and Kapono's "Summer Lady" are among the contents.
The outlook: A good concept but not fully realized.
Our take: If only for the music, this collection offers plenty of nostalgia.
"REGGAE IN PARADISE 2" BY VARIOUS ARTISTS; RHINO RECORDS/NEOS PRODUCTIONS
Genre: Reggae, world music.
Distinguishing notes: Masters of reggae, including local Jawaiian acts, offer 17 cuts of varying appeal. Fiji's "Sharin' the Night," Maila Gibson and Kekoa's "More Love," Typical Hawaiians' "You That I Want," Natural Vibrations' "Put a Little Love," Damon Williams' "Let Me Be the One," the Mana'o Company's "Sweet Reggae Woman," and Justin, Norm and B.E.T.'s "Perfect Peace" are Island morsels that will flourish. Other top acts (Steel Pulse, Shinehead, Maxi Priest, Gregory Isaacs, Inner Circle) elevate the product. But there is a shortcoming: a lack of liner data to neatly capsulize the origins of the tunes and a brief blurb on each act.
The outlook: Should follow in the steps of the original first-volume.
Our take: This one plays like a juke box of reggae jewels.
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
