Blood Brothers

AMG Review of Blood Brothers

Andrew Hamilton
All Music Guide

Good food sticks to the bones, and good music sticks to the heart; Boothe delivers the latter in abundance. Vocally, he's Ray Charles with a two-by-four on his shoulders. Blood Brothers remained a Jamaican secret for years; originally released in 1974 it didn't get exposed outside Jamaica until four years later when Trojan Records marketed and distributed it in the United Kingdom. Marcia Griffiths and Derrick Harriott accompany Boothe on backing vocals, and an all-star cast of Jamaica's finest provides the music. Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" comes across so convincingly you'll think Boothe actually committed the crime; he also excels on "No Woman, No Cry," another Marley tune, and David Ruffin's "Walk Away From Love." He's most comfortable shouting out hard-hitting sociopolitical numbers such as "Blood Brothers" and "Freedom Day."