Perfection
40 years!! Sheez! I can barely contemplate the 4 decades that have elapsed since one of the most groundbreaking, seminal albums in the history of reggae music made its initial debut on to the scene. Where was I in 1985? Without dating myself TOO much, back in high school, listening to this new type of music called rap, and beat boxing with my friends on the bus to school. Bob Marley was ALL I knew of reggae music thanks to my mom and dad, and it would be years later before I went to college and started to dibble and dabble in “chune” business. We certainly know where one Barrington Levy was; In Spanish Town Prison Oval voicing a collection of life changing hits that would invariably contribute to the transformation of a kid from North Philly named Deric Adger, into your boy Yankee Nupe and Levy into a global mega star. Prison Oval Rock was the result of that session and is part of the reason I am undyingly devoted to reggae and as well a huge Barrington Levy fan. I’m telling you right now, there’s no need to be delicate with the praise of this album as it’s literally the definition of perfection. Produced by the legend Henry “Junjo” Lawes, each cut is a punch with brass knuckles upside your head reminding you that Lawes and Barrington together were that WORK as proven on their earlier link ups prior to this meeting of the minds. I hadn’t listened to this album in some time as a whole, so I jumped at the chance when given to actually share my two cents on it with my Reggae-Vibes family, and to revisit just what makes it a consensus all-timer. VP Records sought to really honor P.O.R and they went all out to accomplish the mission.
Stellar Tribute
Coming in at a total of 39 tracks, this reissue covers all of the bases with a collection of dubs, instrumentals and alternate mixes, alongside the original 10 tracks that comprised the original album. One would think that hearing 7 versions (yes you heard me!) of the title track would be overkill, but I’m almost certain you won’t hear a lot of complaints as that cut’s impact is two-fold. For one it’s a magnificently produced riddim that is the perfect vehicle for Barrington’s unmistakable voice to feature over, and secondly when you hear it, you almost immediately think of Chronixx’s masterful interpretation of the cut on his own hot single, Spanish Town Rockin, which just underscores how much this album has influenced other atists. Cuts like You Say You Love Me, Good Loving, and Please Jah Jah, also get the multiple rendition treatment adding more value to this stellar tribute. Oh, and please don’t think I’m short sighted enough to not give a nod to one of Levy’s most beloved cuts, Mary Long Tongue which in addition to the original version, sports the awesome Greensleeves label 12-inch rendition and sounds utterly amazing with the extended drumming and the deejay stylings of Ranking Joe. Listening to this reissue is truly a trip down memory lane. As I alluded to previously, I hadn’t really heard the full album track by track in minute, and as any music fan knows, doing so is a different experience than listening to a mix or a greatest hits collection. In going through each chune and appreciating the sequencing, you realize just how spellbinding Prison Oval Rock really is. Besides Levy entering his prime years vocally, you can’t help but appreciate just how much Junjo is totally immersed in his element. He has always been one of my favorite sound creators and a master at that “skank” vibe that endears so many reggae heads around the world. Closing out the album with back-to-back versions and extended mixes of Hammer and Stray Away Girl, I can do nothing but vibe out, and appreciate when excellence has been gifted to us music fans.
Classic
There’s no mistaking that what we have here is truly a classic album, but when you think of the term, which in and of itself is one of the most overused and cliched terms when critics and fans alike get to discussing the most impactful music ever released, you have to consider the overall impact of that album. Branding an artist’s release as a classic is meant to convey the sheer power of it, and the obvious distinction from anything else in the genre. Most of the time, a true classic album is a selection that is not up for debate, even if it may not be your own personal favorite. For example, Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On is considered your consensus “classic album” although I personally prefer I Want You. That in and of itself doesn’t obscure the fact that WGO, changed the game, changed lives and will often be the first thing out of fan’s mouth when asked which one of his releases fit that bill. I, despite my own preference would even go so far as to name it as my choice if you asked me to do so. Listen. At the end of the day, you don’t revisit an album 40 years later with all of the fanfare and excitement that VP has put behind this project unless it’s a truly special album. This IS that. Prison Oval Rock and the anniversary release of it, cements it’s legacy and in addition gives Barrington Levy his flowers WHILE he’s still here with us. It gets no more “classic” than that.