With this 'Each One Teach One - Deluxe Edition', split into a remixed and remastered version of 'Each One Teach One', the band's 2001 second album, and the brand new dub version 'Each One Dub One', Groundation finally resurfaces.
It had been since 2014's 'Miracle' since we'd seen a Groundation release, even though thanks to side-projects like Professor, Rising Tide and Rockamovya, there was certainly no lack of musical output. But let's face facts: there's dissention within the ranks of the popular American reggae band (and then we're still putting it mildly). Front man Harrison Stafford is sticking with the Groundation band name, and is working on a new album which should see the light later in 2018. However, it will be recorded with an almost entirely new band, as both bass player Ryan Newman and keyboardist Marcus Urani have already expressed they're no longer part of Groundation. Urani shared the following announcement on his personal Facebook page: "First I want to thank you all for the amazing amount of love and support that you have given us over the years. You have really been there for us and it means so much to the band. I am so sorry to say that Groundation will not be coming back in 2018. Harrison is hiring a whole new group of musicians and is going to call it Groundation. In fact, this project should be called Professor, just under his name, or a new name since it will be a new group. Maybe one day it will be possible for us to come back together, but it's not going to be in 2018."
But back to the music though... Back in 2001, yours truly hadn't discovered Groundation yet, so this remastered version is our first introduction to 'Each One Teach One'. Most well-known song from the track list is probably 'Live It Up', which was often part of Groundation's live sets, but it was also on this album that for the first time Groundation was able to collaborate with some of their Jamaican idols, with Ras Michael playing percussion, and Marcia Higgs, the daughter of Joe Higgs, singing harmonies. At the time, the album was mixed by none other than the legendary Overton 'Scientist' Brown, and for this revamp Stafford called on Groundation-regular Jim Fox.
For 'Each One Dub One', the more than excellent dub counterpart of the aforementioned album, Harrison Stafford called on Californian producer King Robby, with whom he already collaborated for the dubs on 'Madness', the album debut of side project Professor. And it has to be said; Robby turned this dub version into an almost entirely different album with very little resemblance to the original. A majestic farewell to a fascinating era; onto Groundation 2.0!