Culture - Three Sides to My Story (1980)

1. Be Honest

2. Babylon Can't Study

3. Life

4. Sufferer

5. Armageddon

6. Still Rest My Heart

7. This Time

8. Selector

9. No War

10. Mr. Music

A distinctive reggae group that has sometimes incorporated soca/calypso touches, Culture hasn't changed much since much since the 1970s. While some reggae artists have turned to slicker, more high-tech sounds, Culture has wisely chosen to keep things simple and unpretentious. Though keyboards are employed on Three Sides to My Story, this unpretentious CD doesn't sound high-tech or overproduced. In fact, songs like "Sufferer," "Babylon Can't Study" and "Armageddon" (all of which underscore the group's allegiance to the Rastafarian faith) sound like they could have been recorded 20 years earlier. Joseph Hill, Culture's very recognizable lead singer, is as charismatic as ever on this fine release, which no fans of this group should miss out on. ~ Alex Henderson

Recording information: New York, NY.

Personnel: Joseph Hill (vocals); Dwight Pinkney, Marlon Graves (guitar); Ras Brass (horns); Tyrone Downie, Winston Wright (keyboards); Danny Brownie, Carl Ayton (drums); Bongo Herman (percussion); Kenneth Lloyd Dayes, Albert Walker (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Dennis Thompson.