Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

LP REVIEW
"Where Is Your Love" Jimmy Lindsay
'79 Gem Records
"Children of Rastafari" Jimmy Lindsay
'80 Gem Records

I didn't CHOOSE to review these two records in the Fanzine this month. John pressed both LPs on me some time ago and requested that I should review them both forthwith. "But this isn't how I do things" I said. "Everything I review in HOAP SOAR has been bought and paid for by me". He took not a blind bit of notice and pressed them all the harder to me. He told me in no uncertain terms to review or be damned and also "When you're done make sure you return them to me asap!"

So what do I know about Jimmy Lindsay, and these two albums in particular? Well not a lot. I remember listening to both these pieces of plastic when they were released, back in 1979 & 1980 respectively. But as I've already said neither of these two albums are in my personal possession, so really I'm listening to them now anew.

John has tells me that we both saw Jimmy Lindsay playing live somewhere in London back in the day. But as far as my memory is concerned (which is not good) I can't recall this ever happening. And after a good rummage through my mountain of ticket stubs I have no evidence either. I won't be too dismissive however because John has proved me wrong before. I do have a VHS video somewhere of Jimmy playing live, Steel Pulse are on it too. I think.

In conclusion; I haven't listened to these two Jimmy Lindsay albums for many moons and I can't recall ever seeing Jimmy Lindsay play live, so it seems I am the perfect person to review these two albums. So let's get on.

"Where Is Your Love" Jimmy Lindsay '79 Gem Records
After just one listen it's quite apparent that "Where Is Your Love" and "Children of Rastafari" are two distinctly different albums. They are poles apart in style, concept, mood and production. The single and title track "Where is your Love" opens up Lindsay's '79 debut in unique fashion with a long violin solo intro by Michael Rennie. The solo is joined part way through by Jimmy's vocal and then the song opens out into a wonderfully crafted piece of solidly arranged pop reggae. The brass arrangement is deft and there is a neat sax moment by Ray Carles. It's a brave and confident opening for a debut album. Most of side one, "Love was Never Meant For Me" with its nice flute solo, "I Will Love You" with its neat backup vocals and "Reaching Out" are all performed in the "Lovers Rock" style.

"Easy" (track two on side one) is probably the most widely know track by Jimmy Lindsay. It's a cover of the 1977 Commodores ballad "Easy". Cover versions always a tricky minefield to negotiate! Often horrible, usually nothing more than ok, but very, very occasionally a "cover" can transcend the original and create something vibrant and seemingly new. Jimmy Lindsay's version of "Easy" falls squarely into the reinvention category. The Commodores version of "Easy" is ponderous and pleasant - pleasant in a bad way. Jimmy's version has the zip and life that is sorely lacking in the original and when he sings "why would any one want to put chains on me" the reinvention is complete and "Easy" becomes something much more than a 1D pop ballad.

Turn the vinyl over and side two opens with "Daughters of Babylon" which is underpinned and wonderfully driven along at a high tempo by the bass of Bunny McKenzie, "I'll Be There", "Step In Side Me" and "Sail Away" all stick to the solid LOVE theme of the record. But track three is the stand out track on side two. Another cover version, this time "Ain't No Sunshine" penned by Bill Withers who originally recorded the song in a stark and simplistic folky blues style. Jimmy's version begins with a fine lugubrious sax intro and the whole piece is glued together beautifully by the brass section. But Jimmy's voice is the star here; the bluesy and reflective tone of the original is perfectly retained and added to.

It seems that anyone who has ever toted a microphone in anger has covered "Ain't No Sunshine" but according to Wikipedia "Contrary to popularly held opinion Bob Marley (and The Doors) did not cover this song". Mmm has this popular misconception got anything to do with Jimmy Lindsay's version of "Ain't No Sunshine"? Who knows?


"Children of Rastafari" Jimmy Lindsay '80 Gem Records
As I have said "Children of Rastafari" was released in 1980 and is a totally different proposition when compared to Lindsay's debut. Some of the musicians from "Where is your Love" return but the band is cut back considerably. There are no elaborate string arrangements and the production duties which were handled by Jimmy on his debut are put into the hands of the reggae sound system impresario Lloyd Coxone.

The album opens with the title track "Children of Rastafari" which moves along in sprightly fashion percussion to the fore, sounding part spiritual part marching song and part crusading anthem. Then there is "Weh you a Defend" the darkest and most reflective moment on the album, as the lyrics confront head on the Empire built on slavery. This song is a million miles away from the likes of "Your Love was never meant for Me" on the "Where is your Love" debut. Jimmy sings "I was down in the valley in the shadow of the Thames, when I heard the voice of my father singing - Oh ye wicked men, Oh ye wicked men" Duppies down by the Thames haunting stuff.

The roots direction of the album now confirmed, it is underlined further in "Back out Weak out" with its harmonic opening, interweaving guitars and neat backup vocals. This for me is where everything meshes together; the deft handling and mix of the music is spot on and Lindsay's vocal phrasing perfect. The strength of the song and of the musicians interplay is at its best here - truly top stuff.

The best moments of side two are: the powerfully percussive "Press Along" - an African Rastaman chant par excellent. And "If Its War Dem Want" which closes the album as it began with a gritty clarion call.

Two very different albums, but now the review is writ and I have been forced to return them, I decide to turn my attention to the matter of getting myself a copy of both albums on CD. Off to Ebay, shouldn't be a problem. I type in Children of Rastafari and………..one vinyl LP? Ok Amazon, cut and paste.......…zip. Music Stack then …….....no! vinyl only. OK so I have to presume that neither of these albums has been released on CD? Well people we certainly are living in a mad and intrinsically sad world! Please someone do something!
In the meantime go to: http://www.myspace.com/jimmylindsay50
http://www.myspace.com/musichive