Occasional Albums Thing 053 - Various Artists “The Front Line III”

As I said at the end of the last piece, I only recently discovered (in the last year) that this Volume III even existed and I managed to find a copy at last. One thing you do notice is that, and I presume this is perhaps because of Virgin’s involvement, the recordings are getting more sophisticated. Whether in some places that is a good thing is a poser. The rougher edges on some earlier Roots recordings is part of their appeal.

Gregory Isaac’s and Sly Dunbar kick things off with a couple of lightweight bits but at track 3 we hit stride with the return of the Mighty Diamonds and “4000 Years” from their 1979 double LP (one LP of songs the second featuring the dubs) “Deeper Roots (Back To The Channel)”. Recorded at the famed Channel One studio, this is the stuff we want.

I-Roy’s “Fire In A Wire” is quite amusing over a slinky backing track we find I-Roy basically moaning about how the price of everything keeps going up!

Everyday the Gas price gone
Everyday the food price gone
Everyday commodity gone
If I see that since I was born

The more things change the more they stay the same huh ? Side 1 ends on the Twinkle Brothers hypnotic “Jahoviah”.

Side 2 is a who’s who of Jamaican Roots in the late 70’s. The Gladiators, U-Roy, Culture, Prince Far I and The Abyssinians make up as good a side of Jamaican music as you’ll hear anywhere.

If you were to collect all the albums released by Virgin on their Front Line imprint (the label ran for three years up to 1980, releasing around 40 albums and was revived in 1990) not only would you be somewhat poorer but you’d certainly have quite the education in late 70’s and early ‘80’s Jamaican Reggae. If you’re not feeling that adventurous (or affluent) the three “Front Line” compilations would be a great place to dip a toe.

I-Roy “Fire In A Wire” - https://youtu.be/OiEDLeDmAhE?si=AMqYZ_LS1Nx2q08F