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LINVAL THOMPSON
RIDE ON DREADLOCKS 1975-77
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1975-1977
- Blood and Fire - studio - discs:1
Linval Thompson, born on October 2 1954, was one of the most prolific singers under Bunny Lee's production efforts. He gained a quite good success during the mid 70's Roots era. Linval was a friend of Johnny Clarke and thanks to him he got in contact with Lee. His first success came with "Don't Cut Off Your Dreadlocks" which was produced by Lee and recorded at King Tubby's Studio. Here in this compilation there is of course this hit plus a strong version from the great U Roy ("Joyful Locks"). Around that time (1975) Lee's most important hit makers were Clarke and Cornell Campbell. Very soon Thompson joyned them as a new interesting voice. Songs like "Ride On Dreadlocks", "Jah Jah The Conqueror", "A Big Big Girl", and "Cool Down Your Temper" were hits. All these tracks are available in this compilation. Linval most clearly recognisable influences were Clarke, Horace Andy and some aspects of Dennis Brown approach too. A dozen of hits followed but after that he started to be overshadowed by his rivals. But Linval did not gave up and started a new career as producer of himself and other singers laying the foundation for the new Dancehall sounds. Most of the times he used Roots Radics material to be sung by already acclaimed artists, in a way similar to that of the producer and friend "Junjo" Lawes. Among those singers I have to remember: the Wailing Souls, Freddie McGregor, The Viceroys and the Meditations. This compilation covers some of his most interesting hits plus their Dub versions put side to side with the originals. Linval was one of the pioneering singers of the Dancehall and this is a very well compiled set to approach him. And this thanks to the Blood and Fire label which always and professionally deliver very interesting material.
LINVAL THOMPSON & FRIENDS - ROCKERS FROM CHANNEL ONE
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1978-1979
- Trojan - studio - discs:1
While working for Bunny Lee and other producers around 1976-1977, Linval Thompson released "Don't Cut Off Your Dreadlocks" (1976) for Lee. After this set Linval moved to Channel One were he recorded and produced for himself some of his best material with the support of the Studio band, The Revolutionaries. The core of the sound recorded there was made by Aston Barrett on bass and Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace on drums, and the final touch was provided by King Tubby by the mixing board. In 1978 Linval released the "I Love Marijuana" album. In the mean time Linval started to produce different artists too. This very interesting compilation presents eight tracks from Linval and their versions from Ranking Dread, The Revolutionaries, Big Joe, Dawn & Christine and Trinity. The songs from Linval are: "Dreader Than Dread", "I Love Marijuana", "Africa Is For Blackman", "I Love Jah", the stellar "Never Push Your Brother" (maybe the best track here, with some interesting versions from Dawn & Christine "Holy Mount Zion"; The Revolutionaries "Shockin' Rock" and "Roots Man Dub" plus Trinity "Freedom Style"), "Love Is The Question", "Stop Loving" and "Lion & Tiger". This set wisely delivers some great originals with their counterparts, with the result of making us aware of Linval's production skills and the artists's involved visions. Rockers sounds and the art of versioning.
yardie-reggae.com - 2007