Hypocrites Riddim
Wailers
The impact of the Wailers on Reggae music has been well documented over the years. Trying to find a Dancehall connection though is much harder. And the last time the Wailers built good riddims was the ‘Natty Dread’ album. At the time of its release, Lloydie Coxsone – owner of the great Sir Coxsone sound system – ran version after version of tunes from the album- such was the band’s popularity in the Dancehall. If this had happened about 5 years later perhaps some would view the scene differently. Then again the music was never released. If it had happened 5 years later, things were the same – so the connection would never be made anyway.
Hypocrites
Yet one tune by the Wailers was a huge Dancehall hit then and now – ‘Hypocrites’ produced with Clancy Eccles. Recorded and released towards the end of the Rocksteady era, it first appeared on ‘Wail N Soul’. Around the late ’70s it was re-released back to back with ‘Nice Time’, another very popular tune, on Tuff Gong – since then to my knowledge it has never been out of press. Apart from the very youthful sounding vocal of Bob, the main feature/attraction is its instantly appealing horn riff and furthermore the wonderfully played riddim guitar (possibly Jah Jerry) that graces the riddim, Lyrically it’s of course a classic.
King Jammy
Most of the versions of the riddim are vocal cuts rather than DJ versions. And the best of them came from the studio of King Jammy’s. First came Half Pint’s ‘Mr Landlord’, which can be found on his ‘One In A Million’ set. Half Pint listing out a string of complaints about his housing, only to be given a rent increase – all set to a crisp High Times Band cut. Next cut using the same Jammy’s version is Dennis Brown’s ‘Its Magic’, a well inspired performance from Dennis that paved the way for two excellent albums for the producer.
Ram Dance Master
Of the two riddim albums so far released, most people who have heard both, prefer Harry J’s ‘Ram Dance Master’ simply because the riddim is played at the right speed. The Empire/Channel One’s approach to the riddim has been known to cause great distress.
(Source: Ray Hurford & Jean Scrivener’s “Rhythm Wise One & Two”)
Selected tunes from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s & 2000s :
Wailers – Hypocrites
Prince Far I – Love One Another
Trinity – John Saw Them Coming
Dennis Brown – It’s Magic
Frankie Jones – Wooden Heart
Frankie Paul – Hot Number
Frankie Paul – On Wheely Wheely
Half Pint – Mr. Landlord
Robert French – Dancehall Seen
Smiley Culture – Fast Style Origination
Pinchers – No Worry Yourself
Little John – Lemon Fi Dem
Little John – Understand Me
Lone Ranger – Natty Dread On The Go
Michael Palmer – Jubie Rock
Michael Palmer – No More Lean Boot
Charlie Chaplin – Nice & Slow
Black Euphony Leggo Mi Hand
Carl Meeks – Ramdance Master
Phillip Fraser – Slip Away
Frankie Jones – Sound Get Drop
Ugly Man – History
Bushman – Fire Bun A Weak Heart
Don Angelo – Settlement
Earl Sixteen – Come A Long Way
Hopeton Lindo – Silent Consent
Jah Thomas – Bimbo
Jimmy Riley – Girls Can Have Fun
Kashief Lindo – Trouble Free
Leroy Smart – Draw Card
Peter Hunnigale – Out In The Country
Sammy Dread – I Found My True Love
Thriller U – I Care For You
Tony Tuff – Do You Hear
Tony Tuff – Gone Clear
Wayne Smith – Karma Chameleon
Apache – Economic Crisis
Bounty Killer – Ghetto Dictionary
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