A quick glimpse through rising stars of the '80s, and hit list would suggest that culture had virtually disappeared from the dancehalls during this decade. However, a closer look reveals that this was not the case, and that artists with thoughtful lyrics were still to be found. The split album
Joint Favorites brings together two such dancehall stars.
Half Pint is up first and offers up a clutch of classics. The fiery "What's Going Down" is a fierce condemnation of the growing rift between rich and poor as poverty spread across Jamaica, a chasm now fast-widening by the introduction of free market reforms. On "Freedom Fighters" he chants down Babylon, while "Tell Me This Tell Me That" is a martial, hypnotic unity piece. The other two numbers revolve around matters of the heart, but are equally strong. Throughout, producers Errol Lewis and Errol Marshall conjure up the dreadest and most militant of atmospheres, fired by
Sly & Robbie's heaviest rhythms, and abetted by guitarist
Willie Lindo, keyboardist/organist
Tony Brevett, organist Bubbler Waul, and saxophonist
Dean Fraser.
While
Half Pint utilizes the more clipped tones of the dancehalls,
Michael Palmer's emotive, wailing style of singing (a lá
Dennis Brown), twines with the deep roots accompaniments to add even further weight to the heavy, heavy rhythms. Thus when he instructs listeners to "Read Your Bible," or smolders at the thought of those who sell out the righteous for rice and peas on "Belly Lick," the fires blaze high into the night skies. "You're Safe" may be a love song, but it takes on almost religious proportions in his hands, while his promises of love on "Saw You at the Dance" are fervid testaments of devotion.
Joint Favorites is an unusual album from this period, one that the dancehall massive and the most dread of roots fans can both enjoy. ~ Jo-Ann Greene