Dread Zeppelin take us to Hell!

Dread Zeppelin take us to Hell!

What can be more scarier on Halloween that the thought of the 70’s disco scene making a comeback? Nothing. (Well, maybe four more years of Bush in office, but then again that will never happen,) Imagine stepping once more into the meat-market pick-up scene at your local discotheque: The flashing lights, the cheesy make-out artist with their white polyester suits and glued-on chest hair; The platform-heeled bimbos with their blue eye shadow; And all the mindless drones doing synchronized dance steps to the dreadful sound of disco. Scary, eh? Actually, I sort of like it.

Dread Zeppelin also seem to like this scene. They even go as far as pay tribute to it on their latest I.R.S. release It’s Nor Unusual. It’s Nor Unusual showcases Dread Zeppelin as they have never been seen before: As Disco Kings. Dread Zeppelin, formerly known for their notorious reggae remakes of Led Zeppelin songs, turn their attention toward the disco nightclub scene with this new disc which features remakes of 70’s classics. Among the songs they cover are The Trampps’ “Disco Inferno,” The Bee Gees’ “Night Fever,” Isaac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft.” Tavares’ “More Than A Woman,” and a very danceable version of Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On.” Dread Zeppelin take the original melodies, destroy them, and rebuild them in their usual Dread sound. This rebuilding includes screeching guitars, reggae beats, and offbeat samples, making each song a brand spanking new affair. The end products are original, left-of-center masterpieces.

It’s Not Unusual marks the debut of Dread Zeppelin’s outrageous new frontman Gary B.I.B,B., who took over after the departure of former lead singer and Elvis Presley impersonator Tortelvis. Gary B.I.B.B. has the perfect vocal style for the task of revamping Dread Zeppelin and taking them forward (or should I say backward) into a new age. Joined by Carl Jah, Jah Paul Jo, Rasta Li-Mon, and Spice, Gary B.I.B.B. makes Dread Zeppelin sound even better than they ever did.

Listening to the tracks on this disc, one is transported instantly to the setting of Saturday Night Fever. You can even picture John Travolta and Luigi out on the dance floor doing the Hustle and cruising for babes. You can even picture Diane Keaton and Jeff Dorsmann out looking for Mr. Goodbar. I was a child of the 70’s and had to put up with my older brothers and sisters’ “jive talkin’” and practicing the latest disco steps in my living room floor. So, this musical compilation brings back more fond memories of those old glorious days gone by- the days where even Donald Duck danced disco. The 70’s were a shallow time in our existence, but it appears to have been a damn good time. My only disappointment with this album is that Dread Zeppelin didn’t bother to remake the Donna Summer classic “ Bad Girls.” Oh, well. Maybe Marky Mark will rip it off in his next album.