Max Romeo
Open the Iron Gate 1973-1977 (Blood and Fire 027)

Blood and Fire weighs in with another smokin' compilation devoted to an underrated reggae legend. Open the Iron Gate is a fantastic introduction to Max Romeo, one of the best reggae singers ever and a songwriter of instantly memorable tunes. I sort of circle cautiously around reggae in general, afraid to dive in too much since a lot of it is so samey. As with American blues, there's a certain impatience with the predictability of reggae that keeps me from getting too into it.

Add to that the fact that the acknowledged greats of the form are terribly overplayed (Bob Marley's Legend compilation is a great disc, but it would take 30 years without hearing it until I ever got the urge to again). Much props to Blood and Fire for producing disc after disc of truly hip, wonderful reggae that matters.

This disc is mainly culled from Max Romeo's 1975 Revelation Time album, along with some single tracks and versions. The tunes are political but deceptively pleasing to the ear; Romeo wraps his message in very tuneful songs with beats you can't help but sway to. "Every Man Ought to Know" features Max's sweet, smooth voice and background harmonies straight out of an early 60s R&B gospel single. Great song.

"Revelation Time" revolves around the amazing chorus "They should not shave dreadlocks in prison/Murder of the murderers has got to stop/Liars and thieves should not be cops." Powerful and intense, yet the music is seductive and pretty. "Warning Warning" offers social commentary with rapid-fire wordplay like "In Beverly Hills, I eat t-bone steak and drink corn flakes/while poor people in the ghetto rake and scrape to get a cake." Well, who can't relate to that? I've already stopped drinking corn flakes in protest.

There's not a cut on here I don't like a lot. "A Quarter Pound of I'cense" ("I feel like getting high"), an island reading of "Three Blind Mice," the blues/reggae fusion "Open the Iron Gate," the extra reverby "Fire Fe the Vatican" – great lyrics, great performances, and songs that are catchy as hell. The tracks range from clean and jerky to foggy dub to almost R&B as on "Melt Away."

Every time I put the disc on I am reminded of what a giant talent Max Romeo is, and he's still goin'. This collection presents his classic era with much style and raises the question of why more people don't know about him. I guess the mainstream is satisfied with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Jimmy Cliff, but I'm with the DJ's in seeking out the less celebrated greats. To those in the know, Romeo is hardly obscure, but listening to Open the Iron Gate you wonder why he's not a superstar.

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Review by Kingston Travis