Half Pint in Fine Style -          By Ray Hurford

Half Pint with Myrie (Pic: Beth Kingston)

By Ray Hurford

(C) Muzik Tree 2020

It's very hard not to take a defensive attitude when you start writing about the dance hall era of reggae music. Everyone knows that in reggae music there are problems - not least the artists. There is very little that anyone could tell a reggae artist about the reggae business that he doeen't already know. Part of the music problem if that it was the first Third World alternative to rock/pop to emerge. It was close enough for to it to be accepted: but only on a very formal basis. You could say it was given only a very limited work permit or visa. It wasn't expected to stay. and wasn't welcomed when it did.

And after twenty yearn of hard struggle, in 1979 it decided to return home. Home was the dance hall's of Jamaica, they had been their right from the start, but no one spoke of (her much, They and the found systems they contained were more or less taken for granted in Jamaica. Now things that you take for granted usually have a way of taking you by surprise. And that is what happened with the arrival of the dance hall style singers Everyone knew (even the rock press) that DJ's were a product of the dance hall and sound systems.

They possibly were even aware that dub was born there as well.When Singer started to say that they started on this sound - and cut dub plated for that sound. It sounded a bit strange. Singers should work with bands - it's a nice idea - but it's a bit expensive. with this attitude the music had broken the rules yet again, and wan going to pay for it.

Any Singer connected to the dance hall style was virtually condemed as useless and was given no chance to prove otherwise. Now it's true that there are a   of Singer in the music, who only have this talent (singing And who rely upon to a great extent on the songwirting talents of Black America. However that still leaves quite a number of artists who are singer/songwriters - who are good singer/ songwriters and who should be given a chance to be heard by a wider audience. Half Pint - Lyndon Roberts is one such singer.

Half Pint's story begins in the Waterhouse area of Kingston. It was here that he first started singing On the Mellow Vibes HiFi. It was on this small set that he came to the attention of producers Myrie and Marshall.

At the time the two producers were working closely with long time producer and artist Yabby U. Yabby in turn was working with the Gladiators band on some rhythm tracks. On one of these sessions   between Yabby U and the Gladiators Myrie and Marshall brought along Half Pint.

After introducing Half Pint to Yabby You, Yabby liked Half Pint enough for his to start teaching his some more vocal techniques. In no time at all Half Pint was ready to cut his first tune. 'Sally' which was released on Myrne And Marshall's Sunset label.

Myrie and Marshall used King Jammy's or Jammy's studio for mixing down from 16 to 2 track. It was here that Jammy heard Half Pint for the first time. He then brought him over to voice some of his rhythms. And it was on Jammys version of the 'Mad Mad'   rhythm that he sang 'Money Man Skank.     It quickly became a big hit. The reason for this was Half Pint's really clear voice, and a message that was even clearer. He didn't like being poor, but he didn't like the rich. Especially the way they was able to store money. He wrapped it all up in the chorus - "Money in the bank is for the uppercase and top rank . '' With one hit, Jammy needed no more encouragement to start recording an album with Half Pint. lt could Only have one title and to it wad called 'Money Man Skank'   Although only have having 5 tracks and their versions, Jammy's packaged the album very well, and it started to sell like the single it was named after.

The 'Money Man Skank' album revealed Half Pint to be a mayor discovery.

Out of the five tracks he had another tune On the album Just as good as 'Money Man Skank' 'Mr Landlord'. This was another sharp edged attack on the system - that had a great deal of definition about it.

No one likes bad landlords, Half Pint goes through the reasons why.

'Give Me Some Loving and Puchie Lue' were not your usual kind Of love songs either. Half Pint gives them a lot more detail. His approach seems to be if you are going to tell a story - you might an well tell it all! Just an interesting in the only cover on the album 'If I Had A Hammer' It's a good song and thankfully the Pint as bore than done at justice here, bringing it right up to date.

It was now time for Myrie and Marshall to re-enter the story. The tracks that had been recorded with the Gladiators under the guidance of Yabby U were now ready for release. One track was picked to be a single probably after being played on dub by a number Of Sound Systems In reggae it's this dub plate play that makes the hits.

Radio play only comes into action only to take it a bigger hit. This practice in now an accepted part of the hitmaking process in the UK and the U.S. for all typed of dance music. Once again it shows the great influence that reggae music an had on the music scene in general.The tune that Myric and Marshall released on their Sunset label was 'Winsome'. It quickly turned into another another big hit for Half Pint.

Like the love songs on the 'Money Man Skank' album, it had a very catchy chorus, but more importantly it also as a great deal of detail, Half Pint songs can be listened too as well - you see . 'Winsome' in particular reached and was enjoyed by the Rolling Stones. The bad girl' lyrics of the song were a natural attraction to the rock and roll mentality of the band. And it was recorded an one of the tracks on their then latest album 'Dirty Ways but not before retitling it 'Too Bad'     

All this happened about two years after the initial release of 'Winsome' And Half Pint followed that, with 'Political Fiction' One of his most militant songs - and yet another big hit. It's theme, was anti- political along the lines of Joe Higgs' famous 'Talk To That Man' lyric The breaking up of families, had nothing to do with truths and rights an far as the Pint could see - and this was his message.

Both song were included on the album 'In Fine Style' produced by Myrie And Marshall. Like the 'Money Man Skank' album you would think that the two hit songs would be the best tracks With Half Pint you would be Wrong.

The very first track 'Look Before You Walk is easily an good as the other two mentioned, These type of binge have always been popular in the music with many fine examples coming from the lakes of Gregory Isaacs. The Wailers and The Wailing Souls. The quality of the lyrics On theta   makes it comparable to the classics from thole artists.

On to 'Complain' where we get a tale of the use of the herb.It could have easily turned into a very common 'I Love The Herb'' tune that have been sung over many years.

Not so with the Pint, he takes the idea really just for a framework. Into that he introduces a complaining policeman We end up with two songs in one.

Half pint's next album was released on Greensleeves in the UK. And it was the 'One In A Million' album which contained 2 tracks from the 'Money Man Skank' album 'Mr landlord' and 'Puchie Lou'.

Aside from that little mystery we do get another excellent album. The best track without a single doubt is  'You Lick be First' Built around this wonderful title are sets of lyrics like "According to your work you must get paid, so brother think first before you commit yourself - because you will be treated back by someone else - slowly but surely." This in turn is supported by one tough Wailers style rhythm track - complete with horns.

Of the other tracks which are all built by the Hi Times Band - (making it probably the last great 'real' as opposed to digital albums) mention must be made of 'One Big Ghetto' a powerful attack on the system. That contains Go very interesting insights into how the system works.

Out of the love songs - nothing really comes up to the standard of 'Winsome' Only one track 'Tell  Me  Little Girl' really comes close to that. but contains none of the little insights that made that song so popular, it's Just a little bit restrained. Overall 'One In A Million' works as a whole. It's essential to the understanding of Half Pint, without having that extra magic found on the two other albums.

Much much better is the ' Joint Favourites' album that he shares with Michael Palmer It's really a shame that Myric And Marshall just didn't go and do a Jammy and turn the five tracks into a full 10 tracks by Just adding 5 dubs. After all it worked for Jammed, and why it worked was because the five tracks that were released were of each high quality.

Well these 5 tracks are better. One of the reasons is the Hi-tech but none digital bound that if produced by Sly and Robbie on the album. This was theft first response go the King Jammys mass attack of digital rhythms in this new post 'Sleng Teng' . Half Pint in great form gives up 3 great reality songs in the form of 'What Going Down'  'Tell Me This , Tell Me That'   And 'Freedom    Fighters' plus 2 love Congo in  'Crazy Girl' and 'Day I can't Forget' 'Crazy Girls '| the follow up story to 'Winsone' and is as good if not stronger than that song 'Day a Can't Forget' if tender and touching, you just can't help thinking that it is the start of the 'Winsome' story. The reality songs truly are something else.

'Freedom Fighters. if now a modern classic and the other two are Part of the political fiction themes natural extensions - in which he examines not only the effects of modern society, but the true causes of the problems.

Half Pint's run of success had taken him into the big time. His releases were now looked forward too, to such an extent that they had become events. This in very rare now with sp much music coming out. The amount of artists releasing 3 or more albums a year is much that it's easter to say who hasn't released an album that year.

In the early summer of 1986 Half Pint could be found in London. He had been touring with Sly And Robbie's Taxi connection which also featured Ini Kamoze and Yellowman. He had   all over the world On this tour, and he looked like joining Ini Kamoze   as another Island artist - produced by Sly and Robbie.

Instead Of that Half Pint teamed up with George Phang's Powerhouse label. George had shown time and time again that he knew the music. So if on paper it might look strange for an artist to work with a small label rather than a major - all you need really do ia to check the results.

George had always worked closely with Sly and Robbie, Do he reteamed Half Pint with them to magnificent effect - that being 'Greetings'  A massive hit, that touched the UK Pop charts, and just kept on selling throughout the whole of 1986.

This in a tune that as everything. A strong vocal from the Pint and a fantastic cultural long ''Greeting| 1 Bring from Jah, to all Raggamuffin.'' all set over a keetle drum lead version of Heavenless' It quickly turned into an anthem - you couldn't move for hearing the song Although the word Raggamuffin was in use, 'Greetings' gave it an whole new meaning. A few months later came the 'Greetings' album. Once again it was the team of George Phang as producer with Sly and Robbie taking care of production. This meant that Sly's Hi-Tech sound was spread over the entire album, also to great effect.

Half Pint no doubt inspired by the huge success of 'Greetings' is in great form yet again. Track one continuing a great Half Pint tradition is better than the Hit tune on the album. Titled 'Brother Love' it bemoans the lack of it, and of sister love as well. In hard times people should help each other more - instead there seems to be more disunity The depression felt by the Pint is real and is shared.

Living Ia Hard' taken up the theme again without repeating the same message. A lyrical technique that if used quite often in the music, and always works very well. With 'Heartbrekaer' we get another insight into the 'Winsome' story. Out Of all of them this seems to be the saddest. The remaining tracks all make the album a great one. They all have something to say - and usually connect up with songs on the same album or Past works.

In 1987, it seems that Half Pint took a little break from the business well the recording aide of it at least. He had enough music ready to release, mainly with George Phang and Sly and Robbie and it was essentially that combination that was responsible for his next album 'Victory' released in the U.S on RAS in 1988. The title track is a Mass U production.

Yet again it is a very solid  album   by him, Every song was written byand they are all good. The only problem the album had then was that by 1988 - Sly and Robbie were out of the picture, King Jammy was still on top, and Gussie Clarke looked set to Join him. Two of the tracks had come out in 1986, 'Cost Of Living' and 'Night Life Lady' and had a sound that predated 'Greeting|', it was a good sound, but so much had happened over the last few years mutually - and sadly it showed.

The great thing about dating though is that a few more years on, everything from that time sounds dated. So in a rather strange way the album sounds better now than it did then! An even better balancer in Half Pint - the singer/songwriter. There songs are made to last - strong messages that can never be demeaned.

'Victory' if like another 'Greetings' it's a chant, only this time it's concentrating on the lack of success that poor people - the raggamuffin| of 'Greetings|' have had to endure over the last few years. It could be a very depressing song but somehow it isn't. It just stating the facts, Much more upful is 'Level The Vibes'. It's a very joyful long and is the only one directly credited to George Phang. It's the type of song which should win the Jamaican Song festival. but doesn't for a variety of reasons.

The reality songs which the Pint is more than famous for come in the form of 'Cost Of Living' and 'When One Gone' Both Sly and Robbie produced. They contain the long and elaborate sets of lyrics that the Pint always manages to fit into his songs - while still keeping them clear. 'Cost of Living' outlines the economic problems of the world - with an example from his local market place "More sellers than buyer's." Al1 of this is set to a wild drum pattern - that could be mistaken for the trading rooms of the international money markets.

Even more complex musically and lyrically is 'When One Gone' it's message summed up very simply is that the struggle continues, but Half Pint integrates a lot more than that into it. Production wise it could be the most rock styled reggae tune, Sly and Robbie have ever produced. Thankfully at contains no out of place lead guitars it doesn't need it, because it's got everything else.

Towards the end of 1989 George Phang's Powerhouse label released Half Pint's most recent album 'One Big Family' Sadly it is the man's most overlooked album to date, and the reasons for that once again relate to the role of the producer in reggae music.

Singles

Money Man Skank - Jammys 7".

King Jammys - 1984

Winsome - Sunset 7"

Myrie & Marshall - 84

Don't Close The Door - Powerhouse

George Phang - 1985 

Crazy Girl - Reggae Sting 7'.

Myrie & Marshall - 1985

One Big Ghetto - Jammys 7"

King Jammys - 1985

Political Fiction - Sunset 7"

Myrie & Marshall 1986

Cost Of Living - Taxi 7"

Sly & Robbie - 1986

Night Life Lady - Taxi 7"

Sly & Robbie - 1986

Greetings - Powehouse 12 ''

George Phang - 1986 

Victory - Mass Hugh 7"

Mass Hugh - 1986

Desperate Love - Taxi 7"

Sly & Robbie - 1987

Hold On - Mango 12"

Sly & Robbie - 1987

I Want Your Love (With Jnr Delgado)

Powerhouse - G Phang - 1987

No Man Is An Island - Powerhouse

George Phang - 1987

She Is Mine - Mass Hugh 7"

Mass Hugh - 1987

Can't Get Me Out - Taxi 7''

Sly & Robbie - 1987

Hold On - Mango 12

Sly & Robbie - 1987

She ls Mine - Mass Hugh 7"

Mass Hugh - 1987 

Marcus Did Warm Them (With B.Youth)

Level The Vibes - Kemarley 7" - 1987  

One Big Family - Powerhouse 7''

George Phang - 1988

Get Ready - Powerhouse 7"

George Phang - 1988

Do It (with Barrington Levy) Powerhouse 

George Phang - 1988

Cry - Creation 7|

L Roberts - 1990

Dance Hall Fever - Black Scorpio 7

M.Johnson - 1990 

Jah Love ls Pure & Glean -

Powerhouse - George Phang - 1988