Barrington Levy

Barrington Levy - Robin Hood - Greensleeves

After Barrington and Junjo broke the dancehall style - they could have taken it easy - but they didn't by this set his third album - Barrington was changing his vocal style - a style that was always very melodic suddenly became very dramatic - its a surprise really that more people didn't try and copy it. Its probably proves it more complex than it first seems!! Anyway this was Mr Levy's third great set. Including massive hits like 'Love Sister Carol', 'Mary Long Tongue' the discomix version. Musically the Radics are in great form, likewise Scientist and the man who made it all possible Henry Junjo Lawes. Very few people have had the impact on reggae music that he did. Barrington works are a testimony of that for all time, and this one is truly outstanding.

Barrington Levy - Englishman - Greensleeves

If you ever wondered how 'Dancehall' became so big so quickly - here is the answer!! When Barrington teamed up Junjo Lawes who had just teamed up with the Roots Radics and Scientist the young engineer who had just got a free transfer from Studio One to King Tubbys - it all gelled. Lee Perry had talked about changing the beat, in the mid-seventies and he did to a certain extent bringing in the phaser - but Junjo took the process a whole lot further - he two liked the idea of distortion and employed the 'Talk Box' on guitar - but on the drum side of things - it was 'A Beat Changing' event. Style Scott it was said was playing chords. The result was a heavier sound. On the vocal side Barrington had the vibes - a sweet vocal and enough lyrics - picked and mixed to for any theme you care to mention. Finally there was the engineer. Scientist his mixing took the thing up another level again. But it was made possible by Junjo. A real producer in every sense of the word.

Barrington Levy - 21 Girls Salute - Jah Life - 1982

This was another Jah Life release, only this time the production credit is a true credit in every sense. Produced by Henry 'Junjo' Lawes and Hyman 'Papa' Wright, mixed by Scientist and featuring the Roots Radics now including Style Scott. Working together, Junjo and Jah Life successfully update the '79 Dance Hall sound, and give us an even stronger sound. 'River Jordan' and 'Mary Long Tongue' are the stand out tracks on the album. Barrington sounding fully inspired, and in great form."

"Barrington Levy - Bounty Hunter - Jah Life - 1979

In the late summer/early autumn of 1979, Barrington Levy, with the help of his producers Henry Junjo Lawes, and Jah Life, reshaped reggae music to how it is known today. Barrington was young, only 17 at the time of the release of the albums 'Bounty Hunter'/'Shine Eye Gal'. and seemed to have elements of different vocal styles without having a direct influence. He also had an interest in all aspects of life, from the cultural implications of 'A Ya We Deh' to the more basic observations of 'Shine Eye Gal'."

"

Barrinton Levy - Divine - Mango - 1991

Up until now Barringto wasn't really known for covering other people's songs, so the recutting of Bob's Andy's 'Too Experinced' was a great move. People were taken by surprise by it. It gained their attention, and once they had it, Barrington and Jah Screw set about keeping it. This success was enough to draw the attention of major record comapnies, and in 1991 'Divine' was released on Mango/Island. A mixture of old and new material, it is by any standard a great album, and took him forward again." "

Barrington Levy - Englishman - Greensleeves

- 1980

Greensleeves had already done very well for themselves and Dr Alimantado, by releasing his 'Best Dressed Chicken In Town' LP to reggae fans who been waiting for such an album for years. When they released 'Englishman', they well and truly established themsleves as the UK'S top reggae label. It had the same mixture found on the other album, and tracks like 'Sister Carol' and 'Look Youth Man' and the title track gave it the same edge. It was a magnificent set and another big success for all concerned."

"Barrington Levy - Here I Come - Time - 1985 Not long after the release of this album, Junjo was imprisoned in America. And it was then that Barrington started to work with Paul Love/AKA Jah Screw. Paul Love had been in the business for years. Now as a producer he was putting together some rhythms that would take Barrington into the Pop Charts. First came 'Under Me Sensi', and then he followed it with an even bigger hit 'Here I Come'. This album and the singles proved that Barrington with the right production was capable of going mainstream pop."

"Barrington Levy - Life Style - GG's - 1983 1983 also saw the release of this LP for producer Alvin Ranglin, which is a little known but classic set. Alvin Ranglin had a great deal of success in the late seventies with Gregory Isaacs and Lone Ranger, but by the early to mid eighties he seemed to be very low profile. This alone would account for this album being virtually unknown. A producer's profile can make a lot of difference to an album's acceptance, and yet if people had listened to this album then, it could have made a big difference to Alvin and Barrington."

"Barrington Levy - Money Move - Powerhouse - 1984

Of all the albums released at this time 83/84, the 'Money Move' album for Junjo's big rival at the time George Phang, is without doubt the best and most successful. Included on it are two big hits, the first was 'Suffer The Little Children' a powerful cultural/reality tune set over a bouncers rhythm. And then there was the title track 'Money Move', one of Barrington's biggest hits. It had all the elements of a Barrington song, a very topical subject, but with a very serious message."

"Barrington Levy - Prison Oval Rock - Volcano

- 1985

Around 1984/85, Henry Junjo Lawes released Barrington's 'Prison Oval Rock' on the Volcano label in Jamaica. Like all of the Junjo produced albums it's a special album for a number of reasons. First of all, it's got one of the biggest hits Junjo ever had with Barrington, 'Prison Oval Rock'. which used the Wailing Souls' 'Firehouse Rock' rhythm to magnificent effect. Another reason comes with the 'Hammer', another great tune that came out around 1983. Also featured on the album is Prince Psalms, the melodica player." "

Barrington Levy - Robin Hood - Greensleeves

- 1980

The great success of the 'Englishman' album was enough for Greensleeves to risk releasing another album from Barrington within a year. 'Robin Hood' also produced by Junjo with the Roots Radics supplying the rhythms, could have been held back. The reason it wasn't, was probably due to another side effect of the incoming dance hall style. All of a sudden it was the fashion to have 2,3 or even 4 albums all released at the same time. If Greensleeves hadn't released this album, which is a very good album, someone else would have."

"Barrington Levy - Shine Eye Gal - Burning Sounds - 1979.

The release of 'Bounty Hunter' in New York on the Jah Life label, 'Shine Eye Gal' in London on Burning Sounds, and 'Shaolin Temple' in Kingston on Jah Guidance. really got things off to a very confusing start.

Everyone assumed that they were the same album more or less. In fact 'Bounty Hunter and 'Shine Eye Gal' share only one track 'Shine Eye Gal'. This album does not give any musician credits, but it would be safe to say that the line up is the same as on the 'Bounty Hunter' album."

Barrington Levy - Teach Me Culture - Live And Learn - 1983.

Barrington seemed to be concentrating more on his songwriting now, and this album is the first to place an emphasis on this. Which was was produced by Helena Hall and Barrington, and was released on Delroy Wright's (Papa Life's brother) Live And Learn label. Included on this album, was the great 'One Foot Jo-Jo', one of Barrington's best songs. It had been first heard on dub plate on Gemini sound system in 1980, and if it had been released then it would have been a massive hit."

"Barrington Levy - Turning Point - Greensleeves - 1992

Perhaps some would be surprised to see Barrington back on Greensleeves after making such a great album for Island. But the music business doesn't run to any normal rules, and when it comes to the reggae music business - the rule book just goes out of the window. Thankfully such an upset as not affected Barrington in any way at all, and this is yet another fine work co-produced with Paul Love. Two more Bob Andy songs covered here but the best track is the grim reality song with the nice title 'Warm And Sunny Day'."