Derrick Harriott ★★★★
Sings Jamaican Reggae
DUB STORE. LP
Vinyl reissue of long-lost early reggae gem.
George Rodriguez
After the demise of pioneering ska quartet the Jiving Juniors, frontman Derrick Harriott became the first self-produced artist in Jamaica, commanding a strong following on both sides of the Atlantic, thanks to overseas releases on Blue Beat and Island. Sings Jamaican Reggae was recorded at Federal Studios in 1969, just after it upgraded to eight-track, with Boris Gardiner in charge of the musical arrangements and Bobby Ellis directing the horns. Soul favourites like The Temptations’ The Girl’s Alright With Me and The Tams’ It’s All Right (You’re Just In Love) have been completely reconfigured for Jamaican ears; faster in pace and demarcated by Caribbean cadences. Harriott ups the musical ante on the originals: Long Time has intricate picking from guitarist Hux Brown and nyabinghi drummers Bongo Herman and Les drive Have Some Mercy to a frenzied fever pitch.