Midnight Raver’s Album Pick of the Week!

WAYNE JARRETT ‘SHOWCASE VOL. 1’ (WACKIES)

Sit down and put a seatbelt on before you listen to this one. The sweet, soulful voice of Wayne Jarrett, backed by the All-Stars, and recorded at just the right level by Bullwackie. Only Bullwackie could have produced this record because it has a distinctive sound that is every bit Fort Apache/Motown Philly/Chocolate City and Kingston, Jamaica all rolled in to this perfectly produced showcase album. In my opinion, this is Lloyd Barnes at his best. Just check the echo placed on Jarrett’s vocal on the opener “Brimstone and Fire.” Jarrett is all but whispering the words to the mic. The whispered vocal takes flight with Lloyd Barnes and Prince Douglas at the board. Check how Barnes slows the whole crew down to a crawl for this wicked version of “Every Tongue Shall Tell.” The dub track simply stupid. Clive Hunt, the Chosen Brothers, and Jerry Johnson on the riddim tracks haaard. A perfect album in every sense. “F*ck the new jack swing, Gimme that Wackies thing!” None cyan’ test it!