Love Is The Only Thing We Need | Sheldon Blackman & The Soul Rebels



From the Trinidad Guardian Newspaper: Written by Gillian Moore 01/16/2012. The Soul Rebels are fantastic... listen for the female vocalist on the featured song, "Love is the only thing we need". 
"Oslo-based musician Sheldon Blackman treated his old T&T fans to a taste of new music last Thursday, when he performed for patrons at MovieTowne’s Fiesta Plaza, with his band, the Soul Rebels. Blackman, with eight band members, lit up the stage with his characteristic brand of jamoo, in a set of songs off his new album, Hope. Hope is Blackman’s fourth album, but his first with his group of Norwegian bandmates, with whom he has been playing for two years. He said it was their first time performing in T&T, adding that it was a blessing to be back home.

The Afro Caribbean music revealed influences including calypso, rapso, soca, reggae, gospelypso and rock. Lyrics, melody and rhythm joined with an uplifting message, delivered by Blackman in his characteristic warm and outgoing fashion. Band members included Jorn “Jam” Hansen, lead guitar; William Pedersen Stavic, bass; Jon Eeg Henriksen, percussion; Thomas Dulsrud, drums; Sara Osmundsen and Mimi Tamba, background vocals; Clifton Harrydass on pan and Jerel De Leon on keys; with Blackman on vocals and rhythm guitar. The set started off with Steel Band Oi, a pan calypso with a sweet, retro feel, before Reach For the Sky (Mama Africa), which Blackman said was dedicated to last year’s UN observance of the Year for People of African Descent.

The set included Good Things, Ocean and Fret Not, a song which Blackman said his musical family often sang together. He called family members up from the audience. Brothers Eldon and Isaac, sisters Nehilet and Abbi, as well as mom Claudette joined in and sang along. Next, Blackman performed Love Is the Only Thing We Need, a sweet melodic number to which the crowd sang along. The band even threw in a chorus in Norwegian. Stop the War, with its feel-good message and reggae drop followed, before Lonely, a balad, beautiful and bittersweet. They performed Steel Band Oi one more time, with its rousing call and response, before Blackman thanked the audience and all who had helped make the Soul Rebels' appearance possible."

I am thankful to Sheldon Blackman for the uploading of the music to Sound Cloud. Today I present the song that I fell in love with when they performed it live on Wack Radio 90.1 FM located on Coffee Street San Fernando, Trinidad. This is a love song... a song of love for people! Listen to the message in the music. This is a classic song filled with love for the person next to you and especially for those whom have strayed from  the path of love for his/her fellowman!

Please be advised that the music is presented here for your listening pleasure and for promotional purposes only ("Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976). Lend me your ears... Enjoy!
♫ Please press the play button to listen (small triangle below).

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