I have long been a fan of Barrington Levy. If I were asked to list my Top 5 Barringtons he would definitely be in there along with Ken, Jonah and Pheloung.
One of the many highlights of his extensive catalogue is the "Prison Oval Rock" album, which I bought when it first came out at the late and much lamented Daddy Kool Records in London's swinging Soho. I remember it as if it were yesterday, so I was slightly traumatised to discover that it was actually 40 years ago.
I know that because the good folks at VP Records have put together a digital only 40th Anniversary edition of the album which is due out at the end of January, at which point it will presumably appear on their Bandcamp page. I am very grateful to them for sending me an advance copy.
As well as the original album the anniversary edition includes multiple dub versions, 12" mixes and other goodies adding up to a whopping 39 tracks in total. Here is just one of them, together with a couple of other unrelated old favourites.
"Prison Oval Rock (Greensleeves 12" Mix)" - Barrington Levy
"Money Move" - Barrington Levy
"Shine Eye Gal" - Barrington Levy
If you have ever wanted to see Nicholas Parsons and a very young Sandi Toksvig on children's TV skanking to a song promoting recreational drug use just fast forward to 3:55 in this video - although personally I would recommend watching the whole thing
Is your admiration for Jonah Barringtom in any linked to his almighty strop in the 1970s sports competitition Superstars?
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