Blood Brothers [LP]

Gregory & Dennis - Blood Brothers [LP]

Originally released by RAS in 1994. Recorded and mixed at Leggo Recording Studio Kingston, Jamaica. Blood Brothers review by Jo-Ann Greene: ''After the success of 1984's Two Bad Superstars Meet, it was inevitable that Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown would join forces time and again. On Blood Brothers, the pair duets on four co-written tracks, then go their own way on another four self-composed songs apiece -- the upside is that even if Brown is no longer in perfect voice, his performances are still gloriously rich in emotion and soul. This is particularly notable on 'Ease Up,' the pair's heartfelt plea for 'Mr. Big Shot' to ease up the pressure on the sufferers, and the equally impassioned 'Hard Labor,' a tough look at prison life. The stellar title track is a bouncy and jubilant celebration of fraternal love, while the gorgeous 'Closer Than a Friend' revels in the men's glorious harmonies. Of Brown's own solo numbers, a recut 'Here I Come' is the weakest, his vocals reed-thin, which the backing Roots Radics' militant rhythm and producer Errol 'Flabba' Holt's crisp production emphasize. Far superior is Brown's inspiring, soulful performance on the praise-filled 'Give Thanks to the Father' and his impassioned loverman delivery on 'True Love Is Hard to Find.' Arguably the best of his numbers is the last, 'Lover With Meaning,' and here Brown's voice is thick and rich with emotion. The sparser the sound, the brighter the singer shines, as on his totally laid-back 'Hooked on Your Love,' where the backing is stripped down to tattooed beats, Holt's reverbed bass, and a sprinkling of keyboards. From the sweet 'Goodbye Love,' across the vivacious 'The Love Letter' and on to the sufferer's-themed 'The Feds,' Isaacs struts his best stuff. Of course, as the title makes clear, this set wasn't meant as a clash album, but a showcase for two superb talents.'' A1. Blood Brothers _x000D_ A2. Here I Come_x000D_ A3. The Feds_x000D_ A4. Closer Than A Friend_x000D_ A5. Give Thanks To The Father_x000D_ A6. Hooked On Your Love_x000D_ B1. Ease Up_x000D_ B2. True Love Is Hard To Find_x000D_ B3. Godbye Love_x000D_ B4. Hard Labor_x000D_ B5. Lover With Meaning_x000D_ B6. The Love Letter