Ram Goat Liver: The Very Best Of Pluto Shervington

Another amazing compilation of work from yet another true legend of Caribbean music. Mr Shervington.

Ram Goat Liver: The Very Best Of Pluto Shervington showcases some of his classic songs alongside album cuts, b-sides and rare singles.

Pluto was born Leighton Shervington in Kingston, Jamaica on the 13th August 1950.

His musical career began in the late 1960's through early 1970's as a member of the psychedelic reggae group Tomorrow's Children. The group included John Jones, Ken Lazarus and Richard Daley, the latter would later become the bassist of massive international reggae group Third World.

Tomorrow's Children were reasonably popular in Jamaica, releasing a number of fine singles, predominantly covers of American R'n'B and Psychedelic numbers including Edwin Starr's "War" and Mungo Jerry's "In The Summertime". One of the groups most popular covers was the Nancy Sinatra favourite "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" which was released as a single in the late 1960's.

The groups debut album was released in 1970 and was entitled "The Going's Great With Tomorrow's Children", it included covers of "It's All In The Game", "You Keep Me Hanging On" and "Wild World".

It also included Pluto's self-penned track "Bend Down", which he would later re-record as a solo artist. Their second album "The Thoroughbred Sound" included the popular single "Merci Cherie" of 1971.

Their final album entitled "Today" included covers of "Dock Of The Bay" and "Lady Madonna", released in 1972.

Tomorrow's Children eventually disbanded around 1973 and Pluto joined the short-lived group The Escorts who released the single "Sixpence".

Inspired by his good friend Ernie Smith, who had scored a fairly decent hit with "Duppy Or Gunman" which was sung in heavy patois, Pluto decided to embark on a solo career.

Pluto joined up with producer Paul Khouri, the son of Ken Khouri (who had been a pioneer on the Jamaican music scene). Paul had been working with legendary guitarist Ernest Ranglin as well as the groups The Gaylettes and Now Generation.

Pluto's early singles didn't prove remarkably successful, such as "Mocking Bird Song" and "Message To The People" but that was all to change when he released "Ram Goat Liver" in 1974. The song is a comical story about a bus hitting a goat and the passengers deciding to cook up various dishes with it's remains.

Pluto sings in heavy patois throughout, with almost a calypso style to his vocals and the song today remains one of the classic reggae singles of the early 70's.

Other singles followed including "Letter From Miami" and "Never Ending Song Of Love" before the release of his debut album "Ramgoat" released in 1974 on the Wildflower label.

The album included some nicely chosen covers including "Jambalaya", "Rock The Boat", "Kung Fu Fighting" and two Bob Marley cuts, "Knotty Dread" and "I Shot The Sheriff".

Later that same year Pluto scored big again with another cracking single, "Dat", the story of a down-on-his-luck Rasta who can only afford to buy pork despite it being against his religous views.
The song has also been viewed as having a double meaning whereby the butcher in the story is actually selling marijuana of various strengths.

The song was a massive hit in Jamaica and it quickly became a cross-over smash, breaking into the UK singles chart and climbing as high as number 6.

The UK based Trojan Records decided to capitalise on the success by re-issuing "Ram Goat Liver" which also entered the chart.

Back in Jamaica Pluto continued to release some excellent singles including "I Man Bitter" and the superb "Your Honour", another comical story of a man pleading with a judge over a case of mis-identity.

Another song, "Boogie Bump", appeared on the compilation album "Reggae Disco Hits" released on the Cactus label in 1975.

Pluto also began working in various other roles behind the microphone, he was an accomplished guitar and keyboard player but also worked as a studio engineer and songwriter.

In 1974 he recieved an engineer credit on Little Roy's classic LP "Tafari Earth Uprising", he also helped Paul Davidson on his massive hit single "Midnight Rider" (a cover of the Allman Brothers song), produced the single "Hooray Festival" for Roman Stewart and wrote "Let Go" for Ken Boothe.

A self-titled second album appeared in Jamaica in 1975, again on the Wildflower label and produced by Paul Khouri.

"Pluto" contained some great songs such as "Your Kiss Is Sweet", "Ride 'em Cowboy", "Laughter In The Rain" and "Doctor's Orders".

The UK version was released on Opal Records in early 1976, although still entitled "Pluto" the tracklisting was essentially a mix of tracks from "Ramgoat" and the Jamaican edition of "Pluto".

In 1976 more excellent singles appeared including "I Man Born Ya", another massive hit in Jamaica as well as the cuts "Head Above The Water", "What Da ...?", "Reggae Tonight" and "Dancing Mood".

Shortly after Pluto released his third Jamaican album entitled "Greatest Reggae Hits", once again on the Wildflower label with Paul Khouri on production.

The album has Pluto taking on some of the biggest hits from recent times including The Heptones' "Book Of Rules", Ken Boothe's "Everything I Own", Dennis Brown's "Cassandra" and George Faith's "Have Some Mercy".

The biggest hits however continued to appear as singles including the mega-hit "Dis Ya Hard Time (Can't Last)", "Screwface (Can't Frighten Blindman)" and the calypso flavoured "Gimme" / "We Kind Of Music" which appeared between 1976 and 1979.

In 1981 Wildflower released a compilation album of instrumentals entitled "Song Of The Sea" which credits Pluto for his guitar contributions.

By the early 1980's however Pluto decided to emigrate, moving to Miami, Florida, USA. This didn't seem to stop his musical ambitions though and he continued to perform and record new material.

In 1981 Pluto released the album "Ire Mass Rockers Carnival" on the Top Ranking International label, the album contained six new songs (four of which are 8 minutes or more long and feature an uncredited Toaster).

Also in 1981 the UK based KR label released "Your Honour" as a single in Europe, it had previously been unreleased overseas with only exported Jamaican 7 inches reaching the UK.

The song did very well reaching number 19 and prompting the BBC to book Pluto for an appearance on Top Of The Pops.

 

The single was also notable for it's b-side entitled "No Honour Among Tiefs" which instead of being the usual dub version was actually an instrumental take on Bob Marley And The Wailers' "Is This Love".

KR Records capitalised on the success of "Your Honour" in the UK by releasing the album "Pluto Again" in 1982.

The album is a collection of Pluto's biggest singles from 1974 to 1976, some of which had not recieved a UK release. The album also spread through the rest of Europe via the Edigsa label.

Back over in Florida at this time Pluto had recorded the album "Reggae Fever" for the Buck Ram label, the album is a mix of reggae, calypso and soca featuring such songs as "Obeah", "Soca Baby", "Rhumbo Fever" and "Lorraine".

In 1983 Pluto provided backing vocals on Bunny Maloney's classic album "On My Mind" released on the Moondisc label. A fantastic record, it's well worth tracking down a copy if you haven't already.

Pluto's next appearance on record wasn't until 1987 when he worked as a session musician (Guitar / Piano) on Eddie Lovette's album "A True Experience".

Throughout the 1990's Pluto continued to perform live in and around Miami, he also made periodic trips back to Jamaica and the surrounding Caribbean islands.

A number of greatest hits compilations were released on various labels, one of the finest being "Dat: The Best Of Pluto Shervington" on Trojan Records in the early 2000's.

In 2007 Pluto made a wonderful appearance at the St. Kitts Music Festival, headlining alongside contemporaries of modern reggae including Sean Paul and Steel Pulse.

Then in 2009 Pluto finally returned to the recording studio to put together his fantastic and appropriately named album "Second Wind", released on his own Pluto Shervington Music label.

A wonderful return to form featuring such musicians as Robbie Lyn, Moses Davidson, Nambo Robinson and Dean Fraser. It also features collaborations with calypso favourite Byron Lee, dancehall MC Tanto Metro and long-time friend Ernie Smith.

A truely wonderful artist Pluto Shervington continues to perform and record, he has dabbled in international success and has a back catalogue of material that any reggae or calpyso artist would be proud of.

This compilation showcases Pluto's classic hit singles alongside album cuts and rarities, from his early solo days of 1974 right up to his recent return to form in 2009.

Enjoy!

Ram Goat Liver: The Very Best Of Pluto Shervington

Disc One:


1) Ram Goat Liver
2) Sixpence
3) Letter From Miami
4) Rock The Boat
5) Jambalaya
6) I Shot The Sheriff
7) Never Ending Song Of Love
8) Here And Now
9) Kung Fu Fighting
10) Knotty Dread
11) Dat
12) Your Kiss Is Sweet
13) Doctor's Orders
14) Ride 'Em Cowboy
15) Your Honour
16) Rockin' Soul
17) Laughter In The Rain
18) Ms. Grace
19) I Man Bitter
20) Bend Down
21) Boogie Bump
22) Dancing Mood
23) I Man Born Ya
24) Head Above The Water
25) What Da ...?
26) Reggae Tonight

Disc Two:

1) Here I Am (Come And Take Me)
2) The Book Of Rules
3) No Joshua No
4) I Man Bitter (Album Version)
5) Cassandra
6) My Heart Don't Know When To Stop Breaking
7) Some Guys Have All The Luck
8) Everything I Own
9) Have Some Mercy
10) Mother Liza
11) Dis Ya Hard Time (Can't Last)
12) Screwface (Can't Frighten Blindman)
13) We Kind Of Music
14) Gimme
15) Winston Spree
16) Rass Mass
17) Charlene
18) Ethel
19) Making Love
20) Take You Time
21) Vampire Year
22) Sending Flowers
23) That's The Kind Of People We Are
24) Jamdown We Deh (With Ernie Smith)
25) Ivan (With Byron Lee and Tanto Metro)
26) Long-Blackwood

Bonus Versions:

1) Ram Goat Liver (Version)
2) Dat (Version)
3) I Man Bitter (Version)

Ram Goat Liver:  

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Lacksley Castell - The Collection 1978 - 1983

A really good collection here of top quality Roots Reggae from the late, great, Lacksley Castell.

We have Deluxe Editions of his two wonderful albums, Morning Glory and Princess Lady.
Also we include an almost complete round up of Lacksley's finest singles, b-sides and album cuts complete with the incredible dub versions which backed the singles, this is a fantastic set from start to finish.

Lacksley Hugh Castell was born in the ghetto's of Waterhouse, Kingston, Jamaica on April 10th 1959, although as with most Jamaican biographies this differs depending on who you ask, some say he was born as late as 1962.

Lacksley grew up with long time friends Hugh Mundell and Delroy "Junior" Reid, so when Hugh was taken under the wing as protoge to reggae producer and famed musician Augustus Pablo it wouldn't be too long before his friends would follow suit into the business.

Lacksley's first single, released in 1978, was "Babylon World" produced by Augustus Pablo on the Rockers label. It was quickly followed up by "Love In Your Heart".

Lacksley's high and light vocals were incredibly similar to his friend Hugh Mundell's and many believed it was the same person singing, in fact even today some still think Lacksley was just a pseudonym used by Mundell either to avoid legal issues or for material releases after his untimely death in the early 1980's. This of course is not the case and Lacksley Castell soon became an established reggae artist in is own right.

In late 1979 Lacksley cut the single "Jah Love Is Sweeter" at Lee "Scratch" Perry's Black Ark studio, although whether or not Perry had any involvement is not known. It's likely that Augustus Pablo may have taken Castell to the studio, but with Perry somewhat incapacitated by this time his then wife, Pauline Morrison, may well have overseen this session. Indeed on some 45's Morrison is credited as producer.

It's also very likely that it would have been further mixed at King Tubby's, possibly by Augustus Pablo. It came out on both the Orchid and Black Joy labels.

By 1980 both Hugh Mundell and Lacksley Castell began working for producer Prince Jammy. Lacksley's first single for Jammy was "What A Great Day".

Prince Jammy then produced and released an album entitled "Jah Fire" which contained five songs from Lacksley Castell (including early versions of "Princess Lady", "Million Miles" and "Black Sheep") and three songs from Hugh Mundell, put out on the Live And Love label, recent re-issues of the album include three dub cuts from Augustus Pablo.

Also around this time Lacksley was called upon by Sugar Minott to provide backing vocals on his album "Black Roots".

Other singles cut by Lacksley between 1980 and 1981 include "Mother Mitchell" released on the African Drums label and "Lost Love" for the Jah Life label both produced by Al Campbell.

Another couple were "Blackman Misery" produced by Trinity on the JB Music label and "Unkind To Myself" produced by Michael Palmer and mixed by Scientist.

By mid 1981 Lacksley began working with producer Robert "Flacko" Palmer cutting some sides including "African Queen" and "Jah Is Watching You".

Lacksley then began work on his debut solo album "Morning Glory" which would be released in 1982 on Palmer's Negus Roots label.

Recorded at Channel One and Tuff Gong studios with producer "Flacko" Palmer and mixed by Errol Brown, Lacksley was working with some excellent musicians in the 'We The People' band and the Taxi Gang including the dynamic duo of Sly And Robbie, Winston Wright on keys, David Madden on horns and "Horsemouth" Wallace on percussion.

The result is simply superb, a truly great album that contains the songs "Leaving", "Morning Glory" and "Cold Winter Night". The album has been re-issued / remastered recently and is available on iTunes.

"Morning Glory" was also released as a  dub album entitled "Dub Rockers Delight" also on the Negus Roots label in 1982. This has also been re-issued under the title "Sly And Robbie Present Dub Rockers Delight".

Lacksley Castell soon began work on the follow up, sticking with producer "Flacko" they brought in the Negus Roots Band which included drummer Mikey "Boo" Richards, bassist Randie McClean, guitarist Duggie Bryan, Robbie Lynn and Ansel Collins on keys and Dean Fraser on horn arrangements.

The recording took place at Aquarius studios in Kingston for Lacksley's second album "Princess Lady".

They also brought in a young English-based mixer named Neil Fraser who would become known as Mad Professor who mixed the album at his famed Ariwa studio in London. This being one of the earliest appearances of The Mad Professor.

The album, once again, is fantastic, including such songs as "Geenie In A Jar" and "Guiding Light", it also includes updated versions of the aforementioned "Black Sheep" and of course the title track.

Once again the album was given the dub treatment and released in 1983 as "The Mad Professor With The Negus Roots Players In A Rub-A-Dub Style", showcasing an early hint of the Ariwa studio's sound which would become hugely popular in the mid to late 1980's.

After two incredible albums, that are not only classics of the roots reggae era but that have also lasted the test of time, who knows just what Lacksley Castell may have gone on to acheive. We shall never know for in 1983 Lacksley Castell died suddenly, having been weakend by tuberculosis he suffered a fatal asthma attack. It had been widely rumoured that Castell died as many reggae artists in the early 80's had from a gunshot, however this is likely to be confusion with Hugh Mundell who had been shot down in Kingston just a short time previous.

Although Lacksley Castell doesn't have the largest body of work available the music he has left behind is certainly up there with the finest roots reggae ever pressed on vinyl.

Enjoy!

Lacksley Castell - The Collection 1978 - 1983

Lacksley Castell - Singles & Dubs 1978 - 1983

1) Babylon World
2) Babylon World (Dub)
3) Jah Children (aka Love In Your Heart)
4) Jah Children (Dub)
5) Jah Love Is Sweeter
6) Jah Love Is Sweeter (Dub)
7) What A Great Day
8) What A Great Day (Dub)
9) African Queen
10) African Queen (Dub)
11) Lost Love (Extended Mix - With Jr. Pumpkin)
12) Blackman Misery (aka Tribulation)
13) My Collie Tree
14) My Collie Tree (Dub)
15) Jah Is Watching You
16) Jah Is Watching You (Dub)
17) Mother Mitchell
18) Mother Mitchell (Dub)
19) Just Too Young
20) Some Good (aka Do Good)
21) Tug A War Games
22) Tug A War Games (Dub)

Jah Fire E.P (1980)

1) Be My Princess Lady
2) Million Miles
3) Million Miles (Dub)
4) My Woman Can
5) My Woman Can (Dub)
6) You Over There
7) Black Sheep

Morning Glory (Deluxe Edition) (1982)

Disc One - Original Jamaican L.P (1982 - Negus Roots)

1) Leaving
2) Morning Glory
3) Righteous Stand
4) MessageTo My Woman
5) Cold Winter Night
6) Speak Softly
7) Doctor Love
8) Bound In Bondage
9) Government Man

Disc Two - Dub Rockers Delight (1982 - Negus Roots)

1) Leaving Dub
2) Dub Glory
3) Righteous Dub
4) Dub To My Woman
5) Night Of Dub
6) Dub Softly
7) Doctor In Dub
8) Bound In Dub
9) Dub The Government
10) Jah In Dub

Princess Lady (Deluxe Edition) (1983)

Disc One - Original Jamaican L.P (1983 - Negus Roots)

1) Geenie In A Jar
2) Johnny Brown
3) Guiding Light
4) Unkind To Myself
5) Old Dusty Clothes
6) Untrue Love
7) Wicked Man
8) This Girl And Me
9) Black Sheep
10) Princess Lady

Disc Two - The Mad Professor With The Negus Roots Players In A Rub-A-Dub Style (1983 - Negus Roots)

1) Dubbing Jar
2) Bad Man Dubbing
3) Lightning Dub
4) Cruel Dub
5) Classic Dub
6) True Skank
7) Wicked Skank
8) Skanking Girl
9) Wolf Skank
10) Skanking Princess

Lacksley Castell - The Collection  - 

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What are your thoughts on Lacksley Castell and this collection of his work? Let us know below or email any of the Sweet Rare Reggae folks at:

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Lacksley's brother Trevor Castell runs the official Facebook page for Lacksley Castell, be sure to check it out.

Digitally Re-mastered editions of "Morning Glory" and "Princess Lady" are available on iTunes now.

The Crystalites LP - (1974)

The legendary Rocksteady-era session band The Crystalites backed a number of singers between 1963 and 1974. This remastered LP contains 12 of the groups fine instrumental pieces from that era.

The Crystalites were the house band for producer Derrick Harriott who recorded a number of albums with the groups backing including "Psychedelic Train" (1970), "The Undertaker" (1971) and "Scrub A Dub Reggae" (1974).

The musicians were from a relatively small pool of session-men who would work for a variety of producers and under different group names depending who the producer was.

The Crystalites were essentially Barry Biggs, Bongo Herman, Bongo Les, Gladstone Anderson, Jackie Jackson, Larry McDonald, Lynford Brown, Paul Douglas, Wallace Wilson and Winston Wright.

Of course not everyone mentioned would always be present, neither would the line-up remain consistant, as with the majority of Jamaican session groups such as Lee Perry's Upsetters.

A nice slice of Jamaican Rocksteady!

Enjoy!  : )

The Crystalites LP

1) Step Softly
2) The Emperor
3) Splash Down
4) James Ray
5) Slippery
6) Blacula
7) Stranger In Town
8) Bombshell
9) Illya Kuryakin
10) The Chariot
11) Lady Madonna
12) Try A Little Merriness

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The Naturalites - Picture On The Wall (1985)

A classic mid-eighties Roots Reggae album from British based group The Naturalites And The Realistics.

The Naturalites were formed in Nottingham, England in 1982 by the vocal trio of Ossie 'Gad' Samms, Percy 'Jah P' McLeod and Neil Foster.

The group were musically backed by The Realistics, a massive twelve piece out-fit consisting of Alton 'Issachar' Rickets and Chester Marzink on drums, Lenroy 'Bassie' Guiste on bass guitar, Paul 'Bimmus I' Prince on lead guitar, Marcus 'Naphtali' Hodges and Winnie Williams on keys, and Wilford Fearon and Johnny White on percussion.

The amazing horn section were made up of Albert 'Eitiko' Barnes on trumpet, Vic Middleton on Tenor/Alto Sax, Hughie 'Joseph' Duffus on Alto Sax and Junior Lindo on Tenor Sax.

The group arrived on the scene as Britain was enjoying a run of successful homegrown Reggae groups such as Aswad, Steel Pulse, UB40 and Black Roots.

In 1983 The Naturalites released, what would become their biggest and most remembered song, "Picture On The Wall" which hit the top spot in the UK Reggae chart.

The song was released on the bands own 'Realistic Records' label but it wasn't long before the band signed with major label CSA.

The band received extensive coverage on deejay Mikey Dread's popular Rockers Road Show and appeared twice on John Peel's BBC Radio One show in the UK.

In 1984 the band began recording songs for their debut album "Picture On The Wall" which CSA Records released in 1985.

The album combines the styles of Roots Reggae with Lover's Rock, both of which were popular in the UK during the early 1980's and the album sold well.

Additional singles were issued to promote the album including "Lion Inna Jungle" and "Love and Understanding" which continued to sell well and The Naturalites extensive touring helped establish the group as one of the biggest UK Reggae bands.

"Picture On The Wall" was produced by Johnny White. The recording was done predominantly at the groups local Sin City studio in Nottingham with some other tracks being cut at Easy Street studios and Mark Angelos studios in London. The album was sent off to be mixed in Jamaica at the famous Aquarius Studio in Kingston.

The Naturalites went on to record two more albums in their short career including "Marvellous" released in 1987 and their final album "Naturalites In Ites" which came out in 1989.

By 1990 the band decided to go their separate ways with lead singers Ossie 'Gad' Samms and Percy 'Jah P' McLeod both going on to enjoy solo careers.

The Naturalites "Picture On The Wall" is a beautiful album and is a fine example that not all Reggae music has to come from Jamaica to be authentic.

Enjoy!

The Naturalites - Picture On The Wall

1) Love And Understanding
2) Lion Inna Jungle
3) Gwan Go Do It
4) Sunshiny Days
5) Jah Works Mamma
6) Picture On The Wall
7) I Want Your Love
8) I'm In The Mood
9) Black Roses
10) Ain't Gonna Stop

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The Black Lion: The Very Best Of Jah Lloyd (Deluxe Edition)

A definitive collection of material from the legendary Reggae deejay Pat "Jah Lloyd" Francis {a.k.a Jah Lion, Tan Lloyd, Jah Ali, The Black Lion} spanning his entire career from the late 1960's to the 1980's.


Patrick Lloyd Francis was born in Point Hill, Saint Catherine Jamaica on the 29th August 1947, he grew up on his parents farmland in the rural area of the island, his Mother passed away when he was just 8 years old leaving him to work the land with his Father.
In his teens he left, as many young country boys did, for the Jamaican capital of Kingston and quickly settled into life in Trench Town.

Pat Francis' musical career began when he formed a vocal singing duo with his friend Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson know as The Mediators. The pair entered various local singing contests and talent shows and eventually began working with the young producer Rupie Edwards in the mid to late 1960's. The Mediators did very little in the way of recording or releasing records but being around the studio environment and working closely with Edwards the pair learned much about the Jamaican music scene.

The Mediators separated and Simpson would go on to become a member of the vocal group The Diamonds (later known as The Mighty Diamonds) whilst Francis began working as a record salesman for Rupie Edwards who introduced him to producer Lee Perry and studio engineer King Tubby.

By the early 1970's Francis was working as a record promoter and salesman for both Rupie Edwards and Lee Perry. Almost like serving an apprenticeship, he learned much about studio engineering and recording techniques and he also spent valuable time with King Tubby who was experimenting with Dub music at this time.

Francis began his early production career recording his friend Bunny Simpson's new group, The Diamonds, who released a couple of Pat Francis produced singles in the early 1970's.

Inspired by the emerging deejay scene fronted by the likes of Big Youth, U-Roy and Dillinger, Francis decided to take up the toasting style and returned to the studio as a vocalist, naming his new persona Jah Lloyd.
 
Most of Jah Lloyd's early recordings were made with producer Rupie Edwards and recorded at Randy's studio but eventually he began working more closely with King Tubby and studied his dub techniques.

Lee Perry also helped the aspiring deejay by providing him with riddims he had recorded including his early cut of the "To Be A Lover" riddim which Lloyd used on a number of different occasions including on the songs "Soldier Round The Corner" and "Judge Natty".

Jah Lloyd then set up his own label for his releases named 'Teem' and he continued to release his self-produced material whilst maintaining links with other producers.

The album "Soldier Round The Corner" is a compilation of the material recorded during this period and rounded up the best of his singles as well as those cut with Edwards, Perry and King Tubby and so production credits are shared.

"Soldier Round The Corner" contained some of Lloyd's big sellers of the time including "Ganja Crop", "Sunshine Girl", "Green Bay Massacre" and "No Tribal War".

Notable musicians who worked on the these sessions include Carley Barrett, Theo Beckford, "Sticky" Thompson and the drumming duo of Bingy Bunny and Bongo Herman.

Releases of the album appeared on his own Teem label as well as on the DIP label possible via connection with Lee Perry.

Jah Lloyd then released his first dub album entitled "Herbs Of Dub" recorded and mixed with King Tubby and using the same group of musicians featured on his previous recordings.

The album is a great piece of early 70's dub containing re-workings of riddims cut at Randy's and the Black Ark studios produced by Jah Lloyd with Tubby's involvement.

Once again the album received releases on both Lloyd's own Teem label and wider distribution via the DIP label. The album was eventually re-issued in the early 1990's, re-titled "Herb Dub" with new artwork, on Jah Lloyd's 'His Majesty' label and an album entitled "A Double Helping Of Jah Lloyd And King Tubby" combined both "Herbs Of Dub" and "Soldier Round The Corner".

Jah Lloyd continued to release singles as a deejay artist throughout the mid-70's including "Piece A Banana", "Black Snowfall" and "Natty Come Yah", his work as an independent producer also continued and he maintained close ties with The Diamonds and Bongo Herman.

A compilation of the singles from this period appeared in 1998, entitled "Final Judgement" released on the 'His Majesty/Teem' label, as part of Jah Lloyd's re-issue series.

By 1976 producer Lee "Scratch" Perry has secured a worldwide distribution deal with major label Island records and decided that he wanted to cut a deejay album using some of his top riddims of the time for a quick release. It's said that at first Perry approached Jah Whoosh, another young deejay whose talents were gracing radio airwaves across Kingston, but Whoosh declined after being unimpressed by the riddims Perry had offered and so Perry asked his former errand-boy turned deejay/producer Jah Lloyd to take up the project.

Jah Lloyd and Lee Perry had a close working relationship already and Lloyd knew Perry's Black Ark studio well from productions and recordings he cut there in the years prior.

Despite being well-known on the deejay scene as Jah Lloyd by this point Lee Perry had decided to re-name him Jah Lion for this album and the pair set to work.

The majority of the riddims had already been recorded, for songs such as "Words" by The Gatherers, "Fever" by Susan Cadogan, "Rejoicing Skank" by The Silvertones and Perry's own "Bathroom Skank" and so the album came together rather quickly as Jah Lion just had to record his vocals and Perry would add extra percussion and effects along the way.

The name of the album of course came from the infamous variety of herb from the south American country which had grown in popularity across the Caribbean during the 1970's.
The album contains a mix of heavy Rastafari themed messages and humorous side tracks giving it a great balance without being too "dread" for the Island records international record buyers.
It stands as one of the all time great deejay albums alongside Big Youth's "Dreadlocks Dread" and Dillinger's "CB200" proving that deejay artists could indeed carry a full length record.

"Colombia Colly" sold well for Island records, boosted by singles released from the album including "Wisdom" which was picked up for the soundtrack to the marvellous Jamaican film "Countryman".
Despite this however Island records declined any follow-up albums by Jah Lion and so, reverting back to Jah Lloyd, he began working with producer "Prince" Tony Robinson who had a distribution deal with another major international label, Virgin Records, via his 'State Line' imprint.

After cutting a few singles with Robinson around 1977 Virgin records signed up Jah Lloyd to their Front Line side label on a two album deal.

The first album released was "The Humble One" in 1978, a quality production recorded at Channel One which contained the singles "Cocaine", "Special Request" and "Dis Ya Sound".

Jah Lloyd's second Front Line album release "Black Moses" was released in 1979 and again was a top quality production that included backing from the dynamic duo of Sly And Robbie and was mixed by the King Tubby protoge Prince Jammy. It includes killer cuts such as "Dispencer", "Reggae Feeling" and "Hold Them Natty Dread".

In late 1979 Jah Lloyd set up a new label for his productions, 'His Majesty', and the first album release came as "Reggae Stick". It was yet another fine album by Jah Lloyd who had started to incorporate the emerging sing-jay style vocal into his sound and backing was provided by the Roots Radics.

The album opens with the funky title track and includes great cuts such as "Girl Like You", "Everything Crash" and "Flood Victim" which talks about the destruction brought on by the massive flooding of 1979 after heavy rainfall in western Jamaica, which took many lives and caused hundreds of thousands of pounds in damages.

"Reggae Stick" was re-released in 2009 on Roy Cousins' 'Tamoki Wambesi' label as "Fiend Victim" with some songs mis-titled and appearing in alternative order. "Flood Victim" is renamed "Natty Come Over", "Forgive Them Jah" is down as "Wipe The Weeping Eye", "Dance Cork" is mis-titled "No Sky Larking" and "Everything Crash" is credited as "Consumer Goods Married". The title of the album "Fiend Victim" is given to the song "Cultural Education".

In 1980 Jah Lloyd began to concentrate once again on his production work and returned with a dub album entitled "Dread Lion Dub". It was yet another high quality release put out on Lloyd's 'His Majesty' label and showed that Lloyd was a skilled producer in his own right.

 Lloyd returned on vocals for his next album, "In Action With The Revolutionary Band", released towards the end of 1980. Lloyd had embraced the sing-jay style by this point and at times it sounds like a Clint Eastwood/General Saint album. The Revolutionary's provide their powerful backing sound and overall the album is very much up to date in terms of reggae in the early 1980's. "In Action" was picked up by the Vista Sounds label in 1983 who gave the album a well deserved proper release.

Throughout the remainder of the 1980's Jah Lloyd focused on productions with only a few vocal releases appearing sporadically as singles during the decade including a duet with Bobby Melody on "Anger And Strife".

By the 1990's Jah Lloyd, via his own 'His Majesty/Teem' labels, had begun a focussed re-issue of his back catalogue. "Soldier Round The Corner", "Herb Dub", "The Humble One", "Black Moses" and "Dread Lion Dub" were once again made available and new compilations appeared including "Final Judgement", which rounded up Lloyd's mid-70's productions and includes appearances from The Diamonds and Bongo Herman.

Another compilation was a shared, half and half, album featuring fellow deejay Dennis Alcapone called "The Good Old Days Of The 70's" which showcased some of Lloyd's late 70's material.

Pat "Jah Lloyd" Francis died on 5th June 1999, he had suffered for a while with bronchial asthma and obstructive airways syndrome which was the official cause of death.

Although he may not be as well known as other deejay's such as Big Youth, U-Roy or Dillinger, Lloyd's musical legacy and the quality of the albums, singles and productions he left behind will forever be treasured.

Rest In Peace. Pat "Jah Lloyd" Francis. The Black Lion.

The Black Lion: The Very Best Of Jah Lloyd (Deluxe Edition)

Disc One:

1) Know Yourself Blackman
2) High Society
3) This Ya Corner
4) Psalms One
5) Chapter Two
6) London Dub I
7) Ganja Crop
8) Sunshine Girl
9) Knight Of The Round Table
10) Green Bay Massacre
11) Zion Dub
12) Psalms Two
13) Soldier Round The Corner
14) Channel One
15) No Tribal War
16) Judge Natty
17) Zion Rock
18) Herbs Of Dub
19) Black Love
20) Piece A Banana
21) African Drums (With Bongo Herman)
22) Black Snowfall
23) Bongo Natty
24) Natty Come Yah
25) Eat Good Food

Disc Two

1) Doctor Natty
2) It A Go Dread
3) I And I Search For Survival
4) Natty Dread
5) The Lama (aka The Spiritual Whip)
6) Wisdom
7) Dread Ina Jamdung
8) Hay Fever
9) Flashing Whip
10) Colombia Colly
11) Fat Man
12) Bad Luck Natty
13) Black Lion
14) Little Sally Dater
15) Sata
16) Soldier And Police War
17) No Justice
18) Leggo
19) White Belly Rat
20) Mr. President (With The Heptones)
21) Crying Over You (With The Heptones)
22) Zion Rock
23) Clocktower Station

Disc Three

1) World Class
2) Baby Be True
3) Tom Shooter
4) Killer Flour
5) Stepping Out A Babylon
6) Saint Ann Collie
7) Special Request
8) The Humble One
9) Children Of Men
10) Time Of Weeping
11) Cocaine
12) Book Of Truth
13) Jah Lion
14) Upful Rastaman
15) Dis Ya Sound
16) Green Bay Incident
17) Regae Feeling
18) Black Moses
19) Dispencer
20) I.M.F
21) Rudy Come Back
22) Hold Them Natty Dread
23) Sound Of Psalms
24) Sweat And Tears
25) Punk Reggae

Disc Four

1) Reggae Stick
2) Forgive Them Jah
3) Girl Like You
4) Know Your Culture
5) Leggo Natty Hand
6) Cultural Education
7) Flood Victim
8) Dance Cork
9) Everything Crash
10) King Of Jamdown
11) Am Too Shy
12) Farmer In The Den
13) Life Story
14) Master Degree
15) Lots Of Loving
16) Action
17) Reagan
18) Fight Zero Wondelem
19) When I Went Away
20) Jah Say
21) Give Thanks
22) Everyone Happy
23) Gold Mine
24) Poor Little Fellow
25) No Surrendering
26) Anger And Strife (With Bobby Melody)
27) Defend Jah Love

The Black Lion (Deluxe Edition)   -  

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