Day to Day Living

• Artist: Don Carlos
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1982
• Genre: Reggae

Review

Featuring the excellent backing of the Roots Radics band, Don Carlos' Day to Day Living includes ten self-penned, sophisticated roots-reggae cuts. With his slightly hoarse yet sweet vocals, Carlos takes on his usual topical mix of spiritual/Rastafarian themes, ghetto life, and dancehall culture, showing the kind of lovers rock and roots lyric blend also favored by contemporaries like Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown. Musically, Carlos alternates between the dimly lit, minimalist drum'n'bass backdrops on "Street Life" and "Hog and Goat," and sunnier, bubbly organ and horn-driven cuts like "Hey Mr. Babylon" and "English Woman," with the updated rock-steady cut "I'm Not Crazy" standing out in particular. While producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes (Barrington Levy, Eek-A-Mouse) supplies the album's rugged but slick backdrop, Scientist delivers a spacious, dub-tinged mix. Special mention should also be made of Winston Wright's tasty organ work throughout the set, and "Flabba" Holt and "Style" Scott's rock-solid rhythmic support. As is the case with his Harvest Time record, Day to Day Living includes some of the best music Carlos released in the '80s. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Hog and Goat	Euvin Spencer	Don Carlos	(3:24)
I Like It	Euvin Spencer	Don Carlos	(2:58)
Dice Cup	Euvin Spencer	Don Carlos	(3:10)
Roots Man Party	Euvin Spencer	Don Carlos	(3:38)
Hey Mr. Babylon	Euvin Spencer	Don Carlos	(3:08)
Street Life	Euvin Spencer	Don Carlos	(3:17)
English Woman	Euvin Spencer	Don Carlos	(3:02)
400 Years	Euvin Spencer	Don Carlos	(3:20)
I'm Not Crazy	Euvin Spencer	Don Carlos	(3:21)
At the Bus Stop	Euvin Spencer	Don Carlos	(3:22)

Credits

Roots Radics (Vocals (Background)), Henry "Junjo" Lawes (Producer), Dean Fraser (Horn), Tony McDermott (Design), George "Bullet" Williams (Photography), Scientist (Mixing), Nambo Robinson (Horn)