Track Listing

1. Same Song
2. Weep & Mourn
3. Walk the Streets of Glory
4. Ball of Fire
5. I'll Go Through
6. Why Worry
7. Lift up Your Conscience
8. Prophet Has Arise
9. Jah Time Has Come
10. Licks & Kicks

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #72106 in Music
• Released on: 1996-05-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
UK reissue of 1978 release, one of the most exciting debuts of the roots era, Same Song boasts the cream of Jamaican musicianship backing the vocal trio, including Sly & Robbie, Augustus Pablo, Mikey Chung, & Ansel Collins. 14 tracks including four bonus tracks, 'Crisis' (Disco Mix), 'The Same Song' (12' Version), 'Weep & Mourn' (12' Version) & 'Crisis' (Dub). 2001.

Customer Reviews

One of the best low-key and positive groove albums.
I bought this after getting the very popular 'Same Song' stuck in my head. The rest of the album only gets better.

These 3 Rastafarians (which I learned is a concept somewhere between a lifestyle and a religion) create true, comforting, positive and beautiful harmonies.

True because the lyrics are about their subject of interest: Rastafarianism, Jah, a highly regarded King of Ethiopia, and general peace and justice. That may sound like some boring subjects initially but they seem to really mean their words. They don't speak them just because they're popular to sing about. And if you learn about the background of these subjects in relation to Israel Vibration it will make it more meaningful. It isn't a requirement that the listener understand the subject. As with nearly all music, you can fit your own ideas over their lyrics.

Comforting, Positive because the lyrics are also hopeful, positive and poetic. I can relate because it feels like they really mean the peace/love of humankind/jah things they say. And you don't have to be rastafarian or any particular religion to agree with their positive message.

For me the beautiful harmonies help to drive the message home. As if they are really divinely inspired to create their music. I get the same feeling as when listening to Marvin Gaye's "What's Happening Brother". I think soulful is an appropriate adverb.
My favorite right now is "Ball of Fire". This song moves in a slow, gentle rhythm that glides perfectly along with the "ball of fire" chorus.

The other album I have heard is Unconquered People. That is a good reggae album but doesn't have as much of the rich and slow harmonies like Same Song.

An interesting debate essay I found while googling israel vibration. The essay is titled "RASTAMAN VIBRATION: Israel Vibration by Jason Levy"

-J_Tom_Moon_79

i think this is the best album of the group that i own
after all, most of the albums, especially the earlier ones, by israel vibration are pretty good. i do believe that the group is better when it consists of all three members. the group's talent for writing and singing shines throughout the album. my fav. songs are: the same song, why worry, lift up your conscience, and licks and kicks. actually, i like all of the songs here but these simply stick out for various reasons.
i also recommend why you so craven, strenght of my life, on the rock, and pay the piper (the last album features only two of the orignal members of the group).
this is a good introduction. get it...

The power of three
Israel Vibration - Ray Charles has nothing on these guys. Cecil "Skelly" Spence, Lascelle "Wiss" Bulgin and Albert "Apple" Craig were destined to be reggae stars; all three have polio.
They met each other when they were children living at the Mona Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica; they were brought there to receive the medical care and support their families could not provide for them. A common interest in music and a belief that each of them was destined to become music stars brought them together. While living at the center, they met a Rastafarian who taught them about the Rastafarian belief; the trio quickly embraced the Rasta way and they never looked back. The only drawback was that the center did not endorse Rastafarianism and the look that goes with it; the "natty" dreads that soon grew on the heads of Skelly, Wiss and Apple were not endorsed by the center's administrators and the three were kicked out to the street. Skelly, Wiss and Apple went their separate ways but fate brought them back together. For the next six years they lived on the streets and literally sang for their food. They were noticed by a member of a Rastafarian splinter group, The Twelve Tribes of Israel, and were fronted the money to record some singles; the CS&N of reggae - Israel Vibration - was born! The singles they recorded were a hit and the boys found themselves opening for Bob Marley! The inspiring sight of the lads jamming and grooving on their crutches and braces got the audiences dancing and their music got the people demanding more!
In 1978 they were sent into the studio to record their full-length album debut "The Same Song". The trio had an incredibly talented group of musicians laying down the grooves for them: Sly Dunbar (drums), Robbie Shakespear (bass), Augustus Pablo (piano), Mikey Chung (guitar), & Ansel Collins (organ). The music was mixed low in order to highlight the interlocking vocal harmonies of Skelly, Wiss and Apple and to allow their message of unity and Jah to ring clear. The music is straight up roots style reggae - chugging guitar, steady-backwards beat and the occasional horn section for added atmosphere. All three vocalists are given equal time to shine; each person sings lead on the songs they wrote. Skelly's vocals are in the middle register, sounding comparable to Bob Marley; Wiss has a very smooth voice that softly floats and lands on the listeners ears; Apple has the most distinctive and original vocal phrasing; he has a herky-jerky, staccato, rhythmic style in which he stretches out and pulsates words and syllables creating a hypnotic and totally original sound. While each song's author sings lead vocal, the other two provide symmetric backing vocals, the end result is a Temptations/Four Tops/CS&N vocal uniformity, reggae-style - right yah! There are no pop, AOR songs here; just straight-up praise Jah, love and stay positive.
Skelly, Wiss and Apple may have a crippling disease but their music and message is full of power. There is no posing here; Israel Vibration is reggae to the bone! Tell the people about the message Apple: "Culture music open people eyes and them don't want that, cause when people eyes open and people get wise, then people put up more resistance. When them get wise and them eyes open to things, them become closer to each other. And when people unite, that's the greatest force right there."
Israel Vibration - totally original with the muscle and energy to heal the world; tune to their vibration - it's righteous yah!