Is it worth buying the remastered "Two Sevens Clash"?

I've always felt like the sound on the copy I have is abysmal, so it seems like it would be a good candidate

Yeah, I don't know. My CD is kinda tinny sounding, but the production has always been described as brighter than most of the other reggae recordings from that period.
Oh what the hell, I KNOW I'm buying this.

i just picked this up.

the packaging is really nice and i think it sounds great, tho i have not owned any other versions.

really good lenny kaye essay in the booklet.

what an amazing record....i'm not a reggae expert but it sort of reminds me a bit of the congos, if not quite as spooky, but great singing and there's some really good bonus tracks, 12 inch mixes and dubs etc...

the 12 inch mix of natty dread taking over with i-roy is really great

Good to get a recommendation on this, I have been on a big reggae kick lately.

Xgau's review of the first version, for those who haven't seen it. He's also heaped praise on the re-release.

Two Sevens Clash [Shanachie, 1987]
Previously U.S.-available only as an import if at all, this even more than early Spear is the wellspring of the roots apocalypse that detonated the lion's share of great late reggae. Imagine a man from the hills sitting on a bus in Kingston and possessed by a vision: 1977, the year of the beast, the two sevens come down in all their numerological fury. No wonder every catchphrase sounds like God's word: this is where the Black Starliner and calling Rastafari became the moon-June-spoon of a music industry. The melodies are indelible, the rhythms early Drumbar, the ululations Winston Rodney gone all childlike and lyrical, at least seven tracks absolute classics. One of the ten best reggae albums ever made, says Shanachie's Randall Grass, but he has to watch his credibility. Bob Marley aside, it's the best, and I've been putting Bob Marley aside for it since 1977. A+

He's still calling it the best — or near best — reggae album ever.
http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/rs/culture-07.php

One of the ten best reggae albums ever made, says Shanachie's Randall Grass

i would like to see randall grass's list

this is definitely not a reason to not pick this up, but I really get peeved when people get grandiose ideas about cd packaging and the fcuking thing won't fit in any sort of cd rack.

Agreed. It looks soooo stupid sticking out of my CD rack by 3 inches.

Steve Barker from the Wire badmouthed it for missing a couple of essential 12" mixes and apparently the sound is not better than the original CD. So I didn't get it. And it's a great album, but not in my top ten anyway.

It's in my top 10, but I didn't think the sound was much better either.

yeah it looks like you're getting a dvd with it or something

I got some old vinyl edition of this recently and dig it a lot but "best reggae album ever"? uh, I dunno about that... I agree with Alex, I doubt it would even be in my top 10.

I thought we had this argument recently. . . and we did! HAH!

R.I.P. Joe Gibbs

I guess I can blame Christgau (or Randall Grass) for the hyperbole surrounding this.

Title song is great, all the rest is pretty good, but nah, wouldn't be in my top 10 either.

Woah woah "Jah Jah See Them A Come" is just pretty good?!?!? Okay that's crazier than thinking it's the best reggae album ever! ;)

this got reissued on 17 north parade

http://www.doncarlosreggae.com/music/images/rootsandculture.jpg

Yeah I've never heard that record. Actually I've never heard a Don Carlos album in its entirety.

I need to pay more attention to 17 North Parade apparently.

Ok fine, that song is great, too, and I'm Not Ashamed may be as well, BUT THAT'S AS FAR AS I'M WILLING TO GO, OKAY?

VP needs to do a better job of letting you search through their reissue catalogue. Also they need to stop putting that stupid stamp on their reissues. Also they need to put together better covers for their comps and albums. So yeah basically their design sense is awful.

^ thats really good (culture/don carlos) as is the toyan, didn't really like the little john much. agree the cover stamps suck and i'm not convinced of their re-mastering. some of the toyan tracks distort on my headphones

Yeah VP always seems a little cut-rate even compared to Greensleeves (let alone Auralux, Hot Pot, B&F, Pressure Sounds, etc.) That's too bad. Still I've look out for it.

i don't know, packaging-wise greensleeves did the same thing w/ reissues ("special price")

http://www.doncarlosreggae.com/music/images/daytodayliving.jpg

is there a reason for the odd-sized culture case, like is the booklet really big?

Yeah but the jewelcases were green!

really driving that brand name home

May be overrated by Xgau and his readers, but how many other reggae albums have a SECRETE CRUT1S BORAD named after them?!?

I like how left guy on the remaster cover is doin his best Jermaine Stewart impression
http://cdbaby.name/j/e/jermainestewart.jpg

OTM. And the guy on the right is doing a Rockwell.

is there a reason for the odd-sized culture case, like is the booklet really big?

-- am0n, Monday, April 14, 2008 6:49 PM (2 hours ago)

http://www.audiophileusa.com/covers400/42513.jpg

And I can see with mine own eyes
It's only a housing scheme that divides.

Only just realised what a wonderful song Two Sevens Clash is.

"One day Joseph Hill had a vision, while riding a bus, of 1977 as a year of
judgement -- when two sevens clash -- when past injustices would be avenged.
Lyrics and melodies came into his head as he rode and thus was born the song.

"Two Sevens Clash" which became a massive hit in reggae circles both in Jamaica and abroad. The prophecies noted by the lyrics so profoundly captured the imagination of the people that on July 7, 1977 - the day when sevens fully
clashed (seventh day, seventh month, seventy-seventh year) a hush descended on Kingston; many people did not go outdoors, shops closed, an air of foreboding and expectation filled the city."

..from the liner notes.

HAILE DERE