Meditations - Underrated? Overrated?

[ice]

I'd like to hear what you guys think...

[Inyaki]

One of my favourite vocal trios.

[flashman]

Neither underrated nor overrated. Great vocal trio, and some unique vocal styles. I'm lately listening to Miracle (aka Meracile) a lot, love Winston Watson's singing on that. (unless i'm wrong and it's not him, but I think it is.) No More Friend is a nice lp too. I love vocal trios over early dancehall/radics style. Also like their Wackies lp a lot.

[j j]

Love 'em & there's some excellent compilations about like Deeper Roots on Heartbeat, Greatest Hits on Greensleeves & on Nighthawk you have Reggae Crazy: Anthology.
Bob seemed to like them, getting them for backing vocals on a couple of his tracks.

j j

[jb welda]

heres some 12s I have, really like the black ark style on the Island one. I put ansel cridland right up there with tabby diamond as a vocalist:

meditations: life is not easy/much smarter (island)
meditation: stranger in love/unity (kingdom) (no cover)
meditations/lee van cliff: sitdown and reason/jam it tonite (jah guidance)
meditations/reggae george: no more friend/walla walla (greensleeves gred113)
meditations: ease up fattie/shadow man (greensleeves gred117)
meditations: jailhouse/memories (i wind)

one love
jb

[Ranking Glasses]

They may have suffered because there are so many reggae vocal groups but their quality shines through.

I remember when "Woman is like a Shadow" was released and it tore up the place. It spawned many versions which seemed to have disappeared over time.

[kalcidis]

One of their finest 12" in my opinion is »Carpenter Rebuild« (Jackal 12") with Lee Van Cliff on the deejay version. Incredible Linval-production.

Everyone rejoicing now.
And everyone is having fun.
But dready is having none.
Because he knows what next to come.
What about the cabin to rebuild?
It's gonna take a lot of energy.
It's gonna take a lot of sweat.
And if you think it's jokes think again.
I don't say you must fret to death.

It has been 400 years since we have been building this cabin.
When we gonna get some rest?
When we gonna get some rest? Oh lord!

edit: typo

[underated]

Yip agree with flashman

Neither underrated nor overrated.

Not heard all their material, really like their classic album " Message From The Meditations "
I used to play that a lot, musically it's standard stuff, a lot of good catchy songs though.
& as RG mentions, "Woman Is Like A Shadow " is stand out.

If memory serves right, also think they did some work on a Marley session.

Some people make careers out of a hit song,
So a hit album will ensure many years of touring cred.

Groups like Meditations sounds really nice.

[jay-b]

...........yes love that Carpenter Rebuild twelve - with one of the crispest, heaviest backing tracks ever laid! - a perfect counterpoint to hard hitting vocals

[kalcidis]

I'm guessing it should really be called »Cabin to Rebuild« though? Or am I hearing the lyrics wrong?

[Congo Bunny]

Neither underrated nor overrated. Great vocal trio, and some unique vocal styles. I'm lately listening to Miracle (aka Meracile) a lot, love Winston Watson's singing on that. (unless i'm wrong and it's not him, but I think it is.) .

Is that the same meditation who takes lead on Woman Piabbla? Because I love that dude's voice it's amazing, my favourite mediations tracks are the ones he leads on

I enjoy much of the meditations releases

[Rootsitup]

‎tracks i never get tired of
Running From Jamaica - double d records 12"
Life Is Not Easy - $candal Records 7"
No Peace - Upsetters 7" with the alternative dub version

[StepDubStep]

The tune Justice on Yah Congo 12" is excellent!

[ice]

yes, they sang BG vocals on the original versions of "Punky Reggae Party", "Rastaman live up" and "Blackman Redemptiom" as far as I remember

[Well Charge]

Sophisticated harmonies, good songwriting. Definitely underrated more than over.
"Hard Life" a favourite.