Search - Delroy Wilson :: Dub Plate Style

A SUBTLE SOUND-SYSTEM GEM BY DELROY WILSON

Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 11/08/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One disc 57 minutes in length approximately. The sound is authentically rough and unfinished sounding. But don't think that means music that should never have been released-bottom of the barrel scrapings-quite the contrary. The master tapes were used for this release,which is somewhat of a rarity for Jamaican music from this era. The accompanying notes do a good job informing listeners about this era of Jamaican music,and this release in particular.



The (late) Delroy Wilson had a clear voice imbued with an inherent soul sound. His style if singing,the pauses between phrases,and the start-stop rhythms of backing groups like THE AGGROVATORS,and THE WAILERS BAND,combined for a subtle,yet riveting effect.



All the tracks are basically taken at a medium tempo-the rhythms just seem to roll out effortlessly. This was due in large part to the efforts of Bunny "Striker" Lee,who arranged the music,and also produced all the tracks. The album was subsequently remixed at King Tubby's Recording Studio by the great Lloyd "Prince Jammy" James.



Delroy Wilson was the type of singer who really needed the right music,the right songs,and the right producer/engineer,in order for his vocals to have the right foundation in order to shine. Several of these tracks will be familiar to listeners,but the mixes(courtesy of "Prince Jammy") are rougher on purpose-being aimed at a "sound-system" audience. They were mixed to sound rougher,more immediate,in order to capture dancer's attention during a sound system dance. The usual smoothness usually associated with this style of music was absent,which is what sets this release apart from others from this era. In fact,these tracks,because of the care in mixing them,sound better when the volume is cranked up a bit. This sound was briefly popular in the late 1970's,with these twenty tracks being released as an album,titled "20 Golden Hits". It failed to sell in any large amount and sank without a trace. Now,thanks to the folks at Pressure Sounds,we can enjoy this small slice of a musical style briefly popular with the sound-system operators,so many years ago. It still has that same sound and feel today-listen for yourself. A subtle gem."

Roots in a soundsystem style

attentive listener | Joysey | 10/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A roots reggae masterwork with Delroy's soulful, smokey voice atop a lo-fi soundsystem mix. Vintage, aged to perfection. Pressure Sounds has picked another plum."