Busy Signal, Reggae Music Again/Shuga, 9.58 (Penthouse)
Reviewed by Peter Dalton, co-author of "The Rough Guide To Reggae"
While reggae records about the delights of reggae can often seem a last
resort for performers who find themselves bereft of lyrical
inspiration, the title track from Busy Signal’s fourth album proved to
be a welcome exception: a glorious, uplifting paean to the joys
of traditional reggae in general, and one-drop rhythms in particular
(significantly the Shane Brown-produced and mixed rhythm employed
was a warm full-sounding one recorded at Tuff Gong, and utilised half a
dozen musicians, including veteran keyboards player Robbie Lyn).
Given the tune’s subject matter it seems only too appropriate that it
should now appear in the format that until quite recently served as the
music’s main medium: the humble little vinyl .45. Some
listeners might think it a pity, though, that no one saw fit to make
the record even more redolent of the 1970s by sticking an old-fashioned
dub version on the flip, though the vocal cut found there, Shuga’s
“9.58” turns out to be almost as captivating as the top side, and seems
to have become the official title for the rhythm in question.
None of the other versions to appear to date have disappointed, and
particularly worth seeking out are Beres Hammond’s “Dancing Beauty”,
Romain Virgo’s “This Thing Called Love” and R.C.’s “System A Fraud”;
all can be found on the one-riddim album Penthouse have put out – along
with the dub missing from the singles in circulation.
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