What
Studio One
was to Jamaica's up-and-coming singers, Stur-Gav Hi-Fi Sound System was to its toasters, a finishing school for DJs. Founded by
U-Roy
, its first graduates were
Jah Screw
and the newly promoted to
Ranking
Little Joe
.
Weakheart Fadeaway
, released in Jamaica in 1978, bundled up ten of
Ranking Joe
's recent recordings from
Channel One
, with
Jo Jo Hookim
taking the production credit.
The Revolutionaries
provided the riddims, and a stellar bunch they were, for why would the DJ deign to ride anything less? Back then, his live performances were the stuff of legend, and
"Rock Pon the Rock"
captures the excitement
Joe
engendered, as he pays tribute to the
"Rockfort Rock"
riddim he's riding with such aplomb.
"Dub Sister Dub It"
is a rub-a-dub big-up to the dance, cut on a version of
the Wailing Souls
'
"Joy Within Your Heart."
But
was equally capable of delivering powerful cultural numbers, like the powerful
"A Dread Earthquake,"
a version of
"He Prayed,"
and the potent title track, a major hit cut on the
"Fade Away"
riddim. On
"Milkman Coming,"
the DJ expounds on Rastafarian practices, while
"Natty Dread a Trademan"
is a strong riposte to the "Rastas are all loafers" slander.
"Honest Living"
further elaborates on the latter's point, while exploring the difficulties involved.
"Living"
is a slice-of-life look at the working class, and
"Natty the Collie Smoker"
hangs out with the chalice puffers. And then there's
"Queen Tell,"
which transforms
Cornel Campbell
's romantic classic
"Queen of the Minstrels"
into a telling tale of a Jezebel. The riddims and production are superb and
is at his headiest heights. Of course, the DJ unleashed many more hits in the aftermath of this set, yet few of his full-lengths would reach this level of overall quality. ~ Jo-Ann Greene