In a Dis Ya Time

by The Itals

Overview

Excellent and aggravating all at once, In a Dis Ya Time has a definite purpose -- collecting the Itals' recordings with producer Lloyd Campbell -- but the bland, greeting card cover art and the lack of any hand-holding liner notes inside are disappointing. Named after the trio's signature song -- the one Keith Richards described as "the perfect reggae track" -- the set duplicates much of the Nighthawks label's Early Recordings collection from 1984, but by going deeper into the Campbell recordings from this time the set has some desirable alternatives. Most attractive is the extended version of "In a Dis Ya Time" which tacks on the instrumental version from trombonist Vin Gordon and rightfully stretches the classic groove out for a near six-and-a-half minutes. "Rougher Yet " and the trio's take on the Curtis Mayfield-penned "You Don't Care" get the same special treatment, but from where these long takes are sourced isn't mentioned. All these late-'70s tunes cross classic roots reggae harmonies with the Stepping Razor style of Keith Richards' old housemate, Peter Tosh, but the last quarter of the set jumps all the way to the digital age and jarringly adds cuts from Mi Livity, the Itals' 2003 reunion with Campbell. One last curveball comes with the closing "Won't You Come Home," a bounce back to 1975 but still a red hot tune, now with DJs Trinity and Dillinger toasting on the tacked-on version. Reggae fanatics will love the Campbell-through-the-years concept and you can't fault the track list, but this is preaching to the converted. The underappreciated Itals deserve some advocating and with most other releases on the 17 North Parade imprint showing proper respect and care, this missed opportunity is a head scratcher. ~ David Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	12/29/2014
Label:	Vp Records
UPC:	0054645653510
Rank:	11275

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Itals   Primary Artist
Rad Bryan   Guitar
Lloyd Ricketts   Vocals
Roy Smith   Bass,Vocals
Bertram "Ranchie" McLean   Guitar
Lloyd Parks   Bass
Vin Gordon   Featured Artist,Trombone
Bobby Ellis   Trumpet
Radford 'Duggie' Bryan   Guitar
Trinity   Featured Artist
Sly Dunbar   Drums
Keith Porter   Vocals
Sticky   Percussion
Dillinger   Featured Artist
Ronnie Davis   Vocals
Tommy McCook   Saxophone
"Deadly" Headley Bennett   Saxophone
Ansel Collins   Keyboards

Technical Credits

A. H. Porter   Composer
J.R. Hammond   Composer
L. Daley   Composer
P. Rhoden   Composer
Chris Goins   Project Manager
Derval Fairweather   Illustrations
Olivier Chastan   Label Manager
Donald Clive Davidson   Reissue Coordination,Restoration,Remastering,Editing
Paul Shields   Restoration,Remastering,Editing
Fidel "Twice" Luna   Restoration,Remastering,Editing,A&R
L. Campbell   Composer
Curtis Mayfield   Composer
Duke Reid   Composer
Christopher Chin   Executive Producer
Lloyd Campbell   Producer,Audio Production,Executive Producer
R. Davis   Composer
Ronnie Davis   Composer
C.S. Dodd   Composer