A well-respected singer in his own right, Linval Thompson’s productions are considered a high point in the history of Jamaican music by collectors. Recorded at the legendary Channel One Studio and often using deliberate and heavy session group the Roots Radics, they sit perfectly at the joining of the deep roots sound of the late 1970s and the rub a dub of the early 1980s.
With his rich vocal tone, reggae singer Roman Stewart was compared to – and influenced – Dennis Brown. Roman sang on some of the same rhythms as the greatly beloved Dennis during his early career: he voiced the original cut of Changing Times for Derrick Harriott in 1972 and Daughter Like It Hot in 1975 for Prince Tony.
Roman won the 1975 Jamaican Festival Song contest with Hooray Festival, written by his brother Tinga, also a successful singer. His 1979 reality anthem Rice and Peas, produced by Linval Thompson, is hailed as a classic in the sufferer’s style.
So a previously unreleased showcase album, featuring Roman Stewart singing on Linval and the Radics’ weighty rhythms, is an unexpected prize for vinyl enthusiasts. Over 40 years after it was originally created, such an album has been brought to light.
Linval Thompson presents Give Thanks, a collection of seven vocals by Roman and seven dubs, recorded at the height of the Thompson Sound’s golden era back in 1979. Four of the songs were issued as singles at the time but never reissued. Three more – the title track, and the romantic sides I’m In A Bad Mood and Hello Baby – have never been heard before.
Some of the rhythms will be familiar from Linval’s classic late 70s and early 80s productions. Give Thanks sits on the same deep and brooding arrangement as Barry Brown’s Hey Mr Rich Man. What You Wanna Do uses the same powerful backing to Freddie McKay’s Mus-Jam issued Cool Down Your Temper.
The music was created at Channel One studio on Maxfield Avenue, and has the crystal clear sound that reggae devotees associate with the hallowed space. In addition, the tracks have been mixed from their original tapes by master engineer, producer and longtime compadre of Linval in recent years, Roberto Sanchez, at his A-Lone Ark Muzik Studio in Northern Spain.
The name of the album is fitting. Giving thanks is due for such incredible music that has emerged from Linval’s vaults for our listening pleasure.
Track listing album : Give Thanks
A1 GIVE THANKS*
A2 GIVE THANKS DUB*
A3 BABY COME BACK
A4 BABY COME BACK DUB
A5 MR. OFFICER
A6 MR. OFFICER DUB
A7 I’M IN A BAD MOOD*
B1 WHAT YOU WANNA DO
B2 WHAT YOU WANNA DO DUB
B3 WHY ARE YOU ACTING SO?
B4 WHY ARE YOU ACTING SO DUB?
B5 HELLO BABY*
B6 HELLO BABY DUB*
B7 I’M IN A BAD MOOD DUB*
* Previously unreleased
