Customer Reviews
Roots memories - By: Archie Grimwald, 29 Aug 2006 
I agree with the other reviews this is a fine album. In fact it must be one of the best live reggae albums available.Comparable to the great Misty In Roots- Live at Countervision album.
It may be a bit rawin its sound but this just adds to capturing the marvellous carnival atmosphere. This marks a happy time when roots rockers ruled reggae before its sad decline into ragga /drum'n'bass & (a little sadly)Aswad hit the charts with some soft reggae pop tunes that didn't really represent the sound they perfected after many years slogging on the roadin the late seventies/early eighties.Bands simply do not get this good without doing the rounds live for many years!Aswad deserved there success so I would not dis them for 'selling out' as some roots fans would claim.
I had ther pleasure of seeing Aswad then & they were magical. I think the tight horn section alone could have brought down the walls of jericho-magical!
Buy this & be educatedin fellins irie & rockin!!!!!
The greatest live album of all - By: Noise Heat Power, 08 Aug 2006 
I've never heard a live album as good as this. And while that may seem a bit backhanded as a compliment - live albums are usually regarded as a contractual obligation rather than a high water mark of quality after all - this is also one of the finest reggae albums you could hope to buy.
I saw Aswad a couple of times during this period, & they were magnificent. And this album captures it completely. With ecstatic crowds & a super-tight band behind them, you'll believe you're therein that Notting Hill crowd, whooping with the rest.
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ASWAD live and direct - By: , 21 Oct 2005 I was given this record as a gift not long ago, & i must say it is one of the finest reggae records i have heard. I bought more ASWAD records after but nothing was ever as good this - it seemed they were at the height of their career when they bought it out. It's far more pure than their later stuff which is indulgedin electric drums & synths which quite frankly dont suit the music.
If you are a first time buyer i suggest you buy this album as it is TRULY great.
Classic live record - By: , 29 Dec 2000 This record goes straightin to the top ten list of classic reggae records. At the time of this live concert Aswad was at the peak of their special dub reggae. Earlier years saw releases like "New Chapter", "New chapter of Dub" & "Not Satisfied". Lead singer Brinsley Forde had also appearedin the film "Babylon" together with the unbelieveable track "Warrior Charge".
Live & Direct is recorded live at the Notting Hill Carnivalin London 1983in front of an extatic crowd well familiar with Aswad songs. The album starts with "Not guilty" & it is crystal clear that this is reggae is at the highest possible level. Aswad delivers new versions of older songs & almost every song has a section of unbelievable live dub. The audience continues to scream through every song & is delighted when Brinsley annonces "Special request to the Ladbroke Grove, Paddington & Brixton Possees". A truely wonderful Hornsection sparks with brand new hornparts never heard before on the studio albums. Live & Direct has the combination of an extremely well-rehearsed band with spontanous "bring it down.. & dub dub dub..." all over the place. Special highlights of the show are "African Children" & "Drum & Bass line". A true classic. Don't you dare miss it.
