Search - Judge Dread :: The Legendary Judge Dread

Reggae at its Rudest

Pieter | Johannesburg | 01/23/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Judge Dread was a strong presence on the UK singles charts from 1972 to 1978 with some of these songs. This is not for the politically correct, however, since Dread's lyrics were intended to offend and most of these songs were banned by the BBC. That only served to propel them into the Top 20, starting with Big Six. The Judge's art consisted in taking nursery rhymes, adapting the words to the downright rude and backing these with foot-tapping riddims and hummable tunes. Come Outside contains a hilarious dialogue between him and a girlfriend, while Y Viva Suspenders is a send-up of the hit Y Viva Espana. My favourite here is Je T'aime, a side-splitting cover of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg's famous erotic hit, but the Judge gives it a hilarious twist as the mood deteriorates from the sensual to the offensive after a certain discovery. This comprehensive collection also contains some lesser known tracks like his covers of ska classics Rudy (A Message To You), Phoenix City and Al Capone. Fans of 70's reggae and ska (who aren't sensitive), will love this album."