Three Early Eighties Monster Hits from Henry "Junjo" Lawes
Jujo Lawes strikes a pose with his massive sound systme speakers
Henry "Junjo" Lawes had no studio of his own but usually worked out of Channel One Recording Studio at Maxfield Avenue, north of Spanish Town Road. His session band of choice was the Roots Radics. Lawes is important because he established himself as the leading producer of the next generation's dancehall sound. He discovered and first recorded Barrington Levy, Frankie Paul and Eek-A-Mouse.
During the early Eighties Junjo produced such smash hits as
Diseases by Michigan and Smiley,
Wa Do Dem by Eek A Mouse,
Water Pumping by Johnny Osbourne,
Under Mi Sensi by Barrington Levy,
Rocking Dolly by Cocoa Tea,
Ram Jam Dancehall by Charlie Chaplin,
Zungguzunggugguzungguzeng by Yellow Man, and the Wailing Soul's classic lp
Firehouse Rock. No producer in the history of reggae was as attuned to the sound of the street and voices of the youths as Junjo.
Pass the Tu Sheng Peng - Frankie Paul Another monster hit in 1984 from producer Henry Junjo Lawes. The hook on this one was the brass arrangement of
Norweigan Wood to counterpoint the bubbin' riddims of the Roots Radics. With Jah as my witness, Tu Sheng Peng is the most irie song to listen to when you're high on the herbs.
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Please Jah Jah - Barrington Levy Barrington Levy is letting loose with the bounciest sufferer's song around. It's Friday, but he didn't get paid, he ends up in jail, and didn't get no bail, no wonder he's crying out to Jah for justice. The Radics fiery backing perfectly complement the singer's aggrieved tones, as he wails over his misfortune, shouting out to Jah for relief. A classic.
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Prison Oval Rock - Barrington Levy This song came from the same session as Please Jah Jah and was another smash hit. On all three songs you can hear the emerging trademark dancehall style as it was being perfected by Junjo and the Roots Radics... The bubblin' percision of the Radics, the use of reverb on vocals, one-drop rim shots from drummer Style Scott, and the use of dubwise mixing board techniques. The Radics also did double duty as Gregory Isaac's studio and touring band.
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