yardie's reggae collection
- artist page
JUNIOR DELGADO (b. 1958 - † 2005) SONS OF SLAVES - REBEL ANTHEMS FROM A ROOTS LEGEND * * * /
Oscar Delgado Hibbert was born on 25 August 1954
in Kingston, Jamaica, and has died too early on 11 April 2005 in London,
UK. As a lot of artists from Jamaica, he started singing when still
young in church and at talent contests. He started seriuosly with
a group called Time Unlimited. Once the voices got some confidence
with singing Trevor "Leggo Beast" Douglas brought them to
Lee "Scratch" Perry.
The Upsetter recorded their debut "Reaction", which was
released by Joe Gibbs in 1973. Delgado
was nineteen years old. Two still unreleased albums were recorded
for "Scratch", one as a group and another one as a solo
effort. Delgado has always spoke of those moments with Perry as pivotal
for his later developments. The group also recorded for other producers
until they split in 1975. Once alone he recorded for Niney
The Observer, Larry Lawrence and Joe Gibbs. Returning to Lee Perry
he recorded the stellar, "Sons Of Slaves"
(featured here as a 12" extended version: a five stars song!),
with The Heptones and his friend
Dennis Brown on backing vocals in
1977. This song is a highly deep Roots masterpiece. Junior sings about
the consciousness of being a "son" of the slaves, grabbed
as if they were unhumans from their African homelands and brought
to Jamaica to face a hard and sad new future. This heavy track is
made seminal thanks to the musical genius of the great Perry. Even
if Delgado's sounds changed later, his militant approch has always
remained the same. The friendship with the late Dennis Brown brought
to Delgado's debut set "Taste Of The Young Heart", released
on Brown's label DEB in 1978, followed the next year by "Effort".
After these sets he recorded by the end of the 70's for Augustus
Pablo and Sly & Robbie. The new musical era was approaching
and Delgado turned easily to the new sounds without difficulties.
As stated before he kept the spiritual and social themes in his lyrics
as the heart of his compositions. He produced and released his third
album "Bushmaster Connection" in 1982. After some years
in London he returned to Jamaica in 1985 were he recorded for Henry
"Junjo" Lawes, King Jammy and again Augustus Pablo. By the
end of the decade he produced some sets with Yami Bolo, White Mice
and the legendary Johnny Osbourne.
As the 90's started Delgado relocated in London were he continued
to produce and sing up to his death. This compilation is made of two
parts: the first nine songs are from the 1975 - 78 period. The remaining
eleven are all from 1988. For this reason you will hear two sides
of Junior. For those acquainted in this web site it will not be a
surprise to learn that I prefer the first part, but the 80's tracks
are not bad at all. The songs from the 70's deliver some great Roots
vibes, with the already mentioned "Sons Of Slaves" (a gem)
and "Twenty Third Psalm" recorded
and produced by Lee Perry as maybe the best tracks here. "Jah
Jah Say" (here in its 12" version) is another great
slow tune. Since this release is a compilation, of course it can not
be exaustive to understand and appreciate what is the message of Junior
Delgado. Check inside for your favourite sound, I am sure that as
I will do some other sets from Junior will be explored and loved.
|
1975-1988 -
Trojan - studio - discs:1