Ken Boothe — Black Gold & Green

Ken Boothe Black, Gold & Green LP

Ken Boothe had left his “Mr. Rock Steady” days far behind him by the time he recorded this 1973 album, his first with producer Lloyd Charmers and his first for the legendary Trojan label. Black, Gold & Green took Boothe in a much darker and more politically aware direction, and featured some of the best and most passionate soul singing of his career, particularly on “Out of Love,” “Missing You,” and his fantastic cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine.” This is Memphis-meets-Kingston reggae soul at its very best, and for its first-ever vinyl reissue, Real Gone had Mike Milchner at SonicVision remaster the album.