Easy Star All-Stars perform "Sgt Peppers" live
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Combining musical versatility, instrumental prowess, beautiful vocal harmonies and a superb rhythm section, the Easy Star All-Stars have established themselves as one of the top international reggae acts since their live debut in 2003. Thanks to their best-selling tribute album releases, Dub Side of the Moon (2003) and Radiodread (2006), as well as Until That Day (2008), an original EP, the Easy Star All-Stars have built a growing, dedicated fan base throughout the world, bringing together fans of reggae, classic rock, dub and indie rock into one big family. Their newest release, Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band tackles The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in complete reggae fashion.

Having tackled the dark complexities of the human condition on Dub Side of the Moon and the depths of the human/computer/alien psyche on Radiodread, basing the next album in the series on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is both a logical choice and a departure of sorts. While it is widely credited as being one of the first concept albums (and therefore the stylistic predecessor of Dark Side of the Moon and OK Computer), Sgt. Pepper's stands apart from both of those albums in that it is basically a collection of major-key pop songs, however odd they may be. Thanks to the first two albums, fans may associate the Easy Star All-Stars with the darker side of minor-chord reggae, but they will soon discover just how good the group can be when handling brighter material. ESLHDB also gave Michael Goldwasser (producer, musical director, arranger and guitarist) the chance to stretch out his arrangements, finding ways to emulate the ground-breaking production of the original. As with the first two albums, Goldwasser stayed true to the lyrics, melodies and chord changes of the songs, envisioning as if the songs had been written by Lennon/McCartney (and Harrison), but had been recorded in Jamaica under the influence of reggae. As with the previous records, Goldwasser brought in a who's who of reggae, dub and dancehall greats to contribute guest vocals. Steel Pulse, Matisyahu, Michael Rose (Black Uhuru), Bunny Rugs (Third World), Ranking Roger (English Beat/General Public) and Luciano are the most recognizable names; longtime Easy Star collaborators Sugar Minott and Frankie Paul continue their powerful associations with the group; U Roy (a founder of deejay toasting), Max Romeo and the Mighty Diamonds are among the other veteran guest artists sure to generate anticipation amongst staunch reggae fans. Members of the Easy Star All-Stars, including Kirsty Rock, Menny More and Junior Jazz, finish out the impressive list of lead vocalists.

"This process was made all the more interesting by these artists' lack of familiarity with the songs," says Goldwasser. "They knew the Beatles, but most knew the hits and didn't know 'Good Morning Good Morning' or 'Within You Without You.' This added newness to each interpretation that was essential to making these songs work on their own and not just as cover songs."