War In Babylon (Colored Vinyl, Red)

Personnel includes: Max Romeo (vocals), Barry Llewellyn, Earl Morgan, Marcia Griffiths, Cynthia Scholas (background vocals). Includes liner notes by Carl Gayle. In the early-70's, rude boy Max Romeo shifted his lyrical focus from adolescent sex songs, like his 1968 hit "Wet Dream," to more mature Rastafarian themes. Few imagined that this Rudie would one day record definitive Rasta anthems, but Romeo proved all doubters wrong with the 1976 release of WAR INA BABYLON. An important ingredient to the enduring quality of the record lies in the contribution of producer Lee "Scratch" Perry and his studio band, The Upsetters. They provide chilling and powerful rhythms seasoned with the usual Perry studio genius--notice, especially, the staccato lead guitar hook in the title track. But the real strength of the album is in Romeo's strong, imploring tenor voice. When he sings "I'm gonna put on an iron shirt and chase Satan out of Earth" ("I Chase The Devil") it's easy to believe he's not stretching the truth. He peppers the album with simple truisms in songs like "Tan And See" and "One Step Forward"; then relies on simplicity and straight-forwardness in the harrowing "Uptown Babies Don't Cry," where Romeo sings "Hear that little baby crying? Yes she's crying because she's hungry." Max Romeo proved with WAR INA BABYLON that he was as evocative an observer and storyteller as a grown-up Stevie Wonder or Marvin Gaye.