Henry "Junjo" Lawes - Volcano Eruption: Reggae Anthology (Vinyl - 05/04/2010)

Over the past several years, the brilliant 17 North Parade label (an imprint of VP Records) has been picking up where boutique reissue labels like Motion Records and the lamented Blood & Fire left off, documenting reggae music's classical period in the 1970s and the transition from roots to dancehall styles that took place during the 1980s. Producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes was one of several producers who helped to usher in that transition, guiding roots masters like Wayne Jarrett, the Wailing Souls, and the young Hugh Mundell into the new era while simultaneously fostering the careers of emerging dancehall artists like Cocoa Tea, Barrington Levy, and the exciting (but ultimately commercially doomed) teenage toaster Billy Boyo. This excellent two-disc set (one disc for singers, the other for DJs) offers an overview of some of the strongest material from Junjo's vault: stone classics like Barrington Levy's "Prison Oval Rock" and Yellowman's effortlessly propulsive "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt" and "Zungguzungguguzungguzeng," Tony Tuff's brilliant "Come Fi Mash It" (on the "Three Blind Mice" rhythm), and the wonderful craziness of Eek-A-Mouse's "Anarexol." There are a few disappointments -- Junior Reid's singing is uncharacteristically weak on "Lover's Affair," and John Holt's rendition of the classic "Love I Can Feel" is curiously anemic -- but overall this is a fantastic introduction to one of reggae music's most fertile periods and greatest studio talents. ~ Rick Anderson

Condition:NEW.

TRACK LISTINGS

Volcano Singers
A1 –Barrington Levy Prison Oval Rock
A2 –Leroy Smart I Am The Don
A3 –John Holt Police In Helicopter
A4 –Don Carlos (2) Hog & Goat
A5 –Barry Brown Give Israel Another Try
A6 –Wayne Jarrett Chip In
A7 –Junior Reid Lover's Affair
B1 –Johnny Osbourne Ice Cream Love
B2 –The Wailing Souls* Fire House Rock
B3 –Tony Tuff Come Fi Mash It
B4 –Little John Dancehall Style
B5 –Frankie Paul Pass The Tu Sheng Peng
B6 –Linval Thompson Look How Me Sexy
B7 –Al Campbell Last Dance

Volcano Deejays
C1 –Nicodemus Boneman Connection
C2 –Yellowman Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt
C3 –Josey Wales Wolla Woope
C4 –Early B (2) Bible Story
C5 –Eek-A-Mouse Anarexol
C6 –Clint Eastwood And General Saint Two Bad DJ
C7 –Captain Sinbad Fisherman Style
D1 –Lee Van Cliff* Bam Salute
D2 –Charlie Chaplin (2) Bubbling Telephone (Chalice)
D3 –Ranking Trevor Some A Holla
D4 –Michigan & Smiley Diseases
D5 –Billy Boyo Wicked She Wicked
D6 –Sister Nancy Dance Pon The Corner
D7 –Toyan How The West Was Won