A. Linval Thompson – Look How Sexy
B. Ranking Toyan – Spar With Me
Label: Jah Guidance
The first 12″ single features the work of Linval Thompson (born October 12, 1954, in Kingston), a respected and influential Jamaican artist and producer. His musical career began in New York with the release of his first song, No Other Woman. Upon returning to Kingston, his collaboration with the legendary Lee “Scratch” Perry on Kung Fu Man brought him significant attention. A long-standing friendship with Johnny Clarke led to an association with esteemed producer Bunny “Striker” Lee, who produced Thompson’s 1976 debut album, Don’t Cut Off Your Dreadlocks. This marked the beginning of Thompson’s dual career as a singer and producer, culminating in the self-produced albums I Love Marijuana and Rocking Vibration.
Following his early successes, Thompson maintained a prolific output of high-quality singles and albums, also establishing the Thompson Sounds and Strong Like Sampson record labels. While his singing career began to wane in the mid-1980s, he flourished as a producer, collaborating with renowned artists such as The Wailing Souls, Freddie McGregor, Eek-A-Mouse, Johnny Osbourne, The Viceroys, Barrington Levy, and deejay Trinity. His characteristically bass-heavy productions continue to be highly regarded. Demonstrating his versatility, he also achieved success in the lovers rock genre. Several of his productions provided the foundation for acclaimed dub albums mixed by prominent engineers like Scientist and King Tubby. This true reggae veteran remains active and successful as both an artist and producer, as exemplified by his recent album, Ganja Man.
Linval Thompson’s 12-inch single Look How Me Sexy (here seen as Look How Sexy) was produced by Henry “Junjo” Lawes. It features an updated version of the riddim from Dennis Brown’s tune I’m Coming Home, a riddim that Junjo Lawes also used for tunes by artists like Frankie Paul, Don Carlos, and Yellowman. Flipping the record reveals Ranking Toyan, also known as Toyan, whose track Spar With Me was a significant hit in its own right. Starting his deejay career in 1974 on Kingston sound systems like Socialist Roots and Romantic HiFi, Toyan had a successful run with producers like Joseph Hoo Kim and Jah Thomas. In 1981, he joined Henry “Junjo” Lawes’ Volcano Sound, culminating in his acclaimed album How the West Was Won. Tragically, Toyan’s life was cut short by murder in 1991.
A. Ruddy Thomas – Key To The World
B. Sound Inc – Open Universe
Label: Hawkeye – HD 42
Disc two presents Ruddy Thomas’s impressive reggae take on L. J. Reynolds’ 1981 soul song, Key To The World. Beyond his talents as a singer, Ruddy Thomas, born in 1951, was a multifaceted figure in the Jamaican music scene, also working as a producer and recording engineer. His musical journey began in the early 1970s with initial recordings for the iconic Studio One and Treasure Isle labels, though with little success. However, from the mid-1970s onwards, his career gained momentum through his association with producer Joe Gibbs. Thomas not only contributed background vocals to Gibbs’ productions but also lent his skills as a percussionist and arranger. Furthermore, he recorded several tracks under Gibbs’ guidance, including his own interpretations of Every Day Is a Holiday and Let’s Make a Baby, as well as a rendition of Dobby Dobson’s Loving Pauper, which became a substantial hit for him in 1978.
Ruddy Thomas particularly excelled at performing songs with a romantic undertone, often collaborating in duet form with female vocalists. Notably, he achieved a significant hit in 1981 with (You Know How to Make Me) Feel So Good, a memorable duet with Susan Cadogan. He also recorded the tender track Time For Love alongside JC Lodge. His musical partnership with Susan Cadogan further extended to the release of a full album together. Another prominent example of his talent is his well-regarded duet with the smooth-voiced Barry Biggs, Reflections Of My Life, which saw its release in 1983.
While he is celebrated for his singing, his significant contributions as an engineer should not be overlooked. He played a crucial role behind the scenes, active in the recording sessions of numerous reggae icons, including Dennis Brown, Leroy Smart, Sugar Minott, The Wailing Souls, and Beres Hammond, to name just a few. Although his own musical output decreased from the mid-1980s, his presence on the touring circuit remained consistent. Sadly, his life was cut short in 2006 when he tragically passed away due to a heart attack while performing at the Popular Song Contest Street Blocker in Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica.
[These tracks were digitized directly from vinyl using a Technics SL-1210MK2 turntable equipped with an Ortofon cartridge. The recordings were captured in 24-bit/96kHz WAV format via SoundForge]