Easy Star All-Stars
Encyclopedia
Originally formed as a studio band for the label's earliest recordings, Easy Star All-Stars is a reggae
collective with a rotating roster of musicians and singers founded by the co-founders (Michael Goldwasser, Eric Smith, Lem Oppenheimer & Remy Gerstein) of New York City
-based Easy Star Records in 1997. 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 three cover albums to date. The first, released in 2003, was an interpretation of Pink Floyd
's classic The Dark Side of the Moon
entitled Dub Side of the Moon
; the second was 2006's Radiodread
, a song-by-song cover of Radiohead
's OK Computer
.
In March 2008 they released an EP
consisting mostly of non-cover material. In April 2009, they released a cover of The Beatles
' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
entitled Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band
. On 5 April 2011, they released their first original album entitled First Light
.
, 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
, a reimagining of Radiohead's album OK Computer. At a 2006 Radiohead concert, Thom Yorke
praised Toots & The Maytals
version of "Let Down" on Radiodread
"in a rare moment of onstage chatter." Radiohead
guitarist Jonny Greenwood
has also praised the song, 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 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
, which was released on April 14, 2009. However it was exclusively released on imeem
a day prior. Reviews have been favourable. Sydney street press Music Feeds
rated the album 10/10. Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band
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
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
.
In October 2010, the Easy Star All-Stars released Dubber Side of the Moon
, 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.
:
The core of the touring line-up has remained largely intact since 2003. The rotating roster includes:
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
collective with a rotating roster of musicians and singers founded by the co-founders (Michael Goldwasser, Eric Smith, Lem Oppenheimer & Remy Gerstein) of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based Easy Star Records in 1997. Although they have backed many artists and produced several original releases, they are best known for covering
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
popular albums in a reggae and dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
style and have released three cover albums to date. The first, released in 2003, was an interpretation of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's classic The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure...
entitled Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon is a dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side of the Moon, co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founder's Michael G and Ticklah . Dub Side of the Moon has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003...
; the second was 2006's Radiodread
Radiodread
Radiodread is a 2006 album by the Easy Star All-Stars, a collaboration of reggae and ska artists. They have released one album previously, Dub Side of the Moon, a reggae take on Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon...
, a song-by-song cover of Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
's OK Computer
OK Computer
OK Computer is the third studio album by the English alternative rock band Radiohead, released on 16 June 1997 on Parlophone in the UK and 1 July 1997 by Capitol Records in the US. It marks a deliberate attempt by the band to move away from the introspective guitar-oriented sound of their previous...
.
In March 2008 they released an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
consisting mostly of non-cover material. In April 2009, they released a cover of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...
entitled Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band
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. The album is lovingly dedicated to Lucy Rice, a friend of the band, and the mother of one of the album engineers,...
. On 5 April 2011, they released their first original album entitled First Light
First Light
First Light may refer to:* First Light , 2007* First Light * First Light , 1971* First Light , a 1987 nonfiction book on astronomy by Richard Preston...
.
History
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 MoonDub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon is a dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side of the Moon, co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founder's Michael G and Ticklah . Dub Side of the Moon has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003...
, a complete reggae reinterpretation of the Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
album. Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon is a dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side of the Moon, co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founder's Michael G and Ticklah . Dub Side of the Moon has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003...
has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003. It features instructions on how to synchronize
Synchronization
Synchronization is timekeeping which requires the coordination of events to operate a system in unison. The familiar conductor of an orchestra serves to keep the orchestra in time....
the record with The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
, referencing the audiovisual pairing sometimes referred to as Dark Side of the Rainbow
Dark Side of the Rainbow
Dark Side of the Rainbow – also known as Dark Side of Oz or The Wizard of Floyd – refers to the pairing of the 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon with the visual portion of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. This produces moments where the film and the album appear to...
.
Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon is a dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side of the Moon, co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founder's Michael G and Ticklah . Dub Side of the Moon has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003...
was followed by the 2006 release of Radiodread
Radiodread
Radiodread is a 2006 album by the Easy Star All-Stars, a collaboration of reggae and ska artists. They have released one album previously, Dub Side of the Moon, a reggae take on Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon...
, a reimagining of Radiohead's album OK Computer. At a 2006 Radiohead concert, Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
praised Toots & The Maytals
Toots & the Maytals
Toots and the Maytals, originally called simply The Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group and one of the best known ska and reggae vocal groups. According to Sandra Brennan at Allmusic, "The Maytals were key figures in reggae music...
version of "Let Down" on Radiodread
Radiodread
Radiodread is a 2006 album by the Easy Star All-Stars, a collaboration of reggae and ska artists. They have released one album previously, Dub Side of the Moon, a reggae take on Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon...
"in a rare moment of onstage chatter." Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
guitarist Jonny Greenwood
Jonny Greenwood
Jonathan Richard Guy "Jonny" Greenwood is an English musician and composer, best known as a member of the English rock band Radiohead. Greenwood is a multi-instrumentalist, but serves mainly as lead guitarist and keyboard player. In addition to guitar and keyboard, he plays viola, harmonica,...
has also praised the song, calling it "truly astounding."
In March 2008 Easy Star All-Stars released Until that Day
Until that Day
Until that Day is an EP by the Easy Star All-Stars. Every track is original except the final track: a dub version of their own version of Radiohead's "Climbing Up the Walls", which was featured on their last cover album Radiodread...
, an EP consisting of original material except for "Dubbing Up the Walls", a cover of the Radiohead song "Climbing Up the Walls."
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
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. The album is lovingly dedicated to Lucy Rice, a friend of the band, and the mother of one of the album engineers,...
, which was released on April 14, 2009. However it was exclusively released on imeem
Imeem
The online service imeem was a social media web site where users interacted with each other by streaming, uploading and sharing music and music videos...
a day prior. Reviews have been favourable. Sydney street press Music Feeds
Music Feeds
Music Feeds is a free bi-weekly digital music and lifestyle magazine established in 2008 and based in Sydney, Australia. It is distributed electronically every second Tuesday, with additional material posted on the website regularly....
rated the album 10/10. Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band
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. The album is lovingly dedicated to Lucy Rice, a friend of the band, and the mother of one of the album engineers,...
cracked the Billboard Top 200 twice, making it the first reggae album to do so in over two years.
Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah
Victor Axelrod
Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah is a Brooklyn native and independent music producer and artist, who has been a continual and integral part of the NYC music scene for over a decade. As an artist he is a founding member of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, and the Easy Star...
compiled a dub version of a song by the Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
reggae band Public Property
Public Property
Public Property is a play by the English playwright Sam Peter Jackson. It is about a news anchor called Geoffrey Hammond, who gets caught in a public sex scandal....
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
Umphrey's McGee is an American progressive rock jam band based in Chicago whose music is often referred to as "progressive improvisation", or "improg" ....
.
In October 2010, the Easy Star All-Stars released Dubber Side of the Moon
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 predecessor, Easy Star Records' 2003 release Dub Side of the Moon...
, 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.
Current line-up
Listed in the order and as they appear in the liner notes accompanying Dub Side of the MoonDub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon is a dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side of the Moon, co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founder's Michael G and Ticklah . Dub Side of the Moon has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003...
:
- Michael Goldwasser
- Victor Axelrod aka TicklahVictor AxelrodVictor Axelrod aka Ticklah is a Brooklyn native and independent music producer and artist, who has been a continual and integral part of the NYC music scene for over a decade. As an artist he is a founding member of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, and the Easy Star...
- Patrick Dougher
- Victor RiceVictor RiceVictor Rice is a musician and producer from New York City. He is most noted for his work within the third wave ska genre of the 1990s through the early 2000s, as both a bassist and as a producer....
The core of the touring line-up has remained largely intact since 2003. The rotating roster includes:
- Ras I Ray (bass, vocals)
- Ive-09 (drums)
- Kirsty Rock (vocals)
- Jenny Hill (saxophone, flute)
- Buford O'Sullivan (trombone)
- Menny More (DJ vocals)
- Elenna Canlas (keyboards, vocals)
- Shelton Garner, Jr. (guitar, vocals)
- Cliff Simpson (drums)
- Joanne Williams (vocals)
Discography
- Dub Side of the MoonDub Side of the MoonDub Side of the Moon is a dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side of the Moon, co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founder's Michael G and Ticklah . Dub Side of the Moon has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003...
- (2003) - RadiodreadRadiodreadRadiodread is a 2006 album by the Easy Star All-Stars, a collaboration of reggae and ska artists. They have released one album previously, Dub Side of the Moon, a reggae take on Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon...
- (2006) - Until that DayUntil that DayUntil that Day is an EP by the Easy Star All-Stars. Every track is original except the final track: a dub version of their own version of Radiohead's "Climbing Up the Walls", which was featured on their last cover album Radiodread...
EP - (2008) - Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub BandEasy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub BandEasy 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. The album is lovingly dedicated to Lucy Rice, a friend of the band, and the mother of one of the album engineers,...
- (2009) - Dubber Side of the MoonDubber Side of the MoonDubber 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 predecessor, Easy Star Records' 2003 release Dub Side of the Moon...
- (2010) - First Light - (2011)