Chuck Foster is a serious player in the reggae world. He’s based in Southern California, but his roots go back decades. You probably know him as the host of the classic radio show Reggae Central on KPFK in Los Angeles, or from his key book, Roots Rock Reggae: An Oral History of Reggae Music. His approach is always a mix of deep respect for the 1970s golden era sound blended with touches of folk, rock, and blues from his U.S. background.
Now for the music. On The Truth, Chuck delivers fifteen tracks of solid, straight-ahead reggae that manages to sound both familiar and totally fresh. The musicianship stands out: Maike Irwin from the Rough Sounds band on bass, Rex Bailey on guitar, UK’s Horseman on drums, and the veteran Jamaican guitarist Tony Chin of Soul Syndicate supporting the set. You can hear that legendary lineage in every track.
The opening tune, False Witness, sets an urgent and clear tone right away. Songs like Better Days Are Here and Set Yourself Free show Chuck focusing on real-life issues over catch reggae grooves. You have to check out Right Now: the amiable guitar picks, sweet doo-wop-style harmonies, and a catchy message make it a definite lovers tune highlight.
The dub set, Chill Out Dub, takes vocal versions from this album, upcoming sets and previous ones, reworking them into proper dub sessions—tunes like Right Now Dub and Lost Dub (from Lost in the Woods which nods to Phyllis Dillon’s On the Right Track). It gives the guitar solos space to breathe with echo. That combination of American roots guitar and vintage reggae rhythm gives the entire project a distinct flavor. If you want clean, no-frills reggae and dub made with heart and skill, these two albums are definitely worth your time.