Junior Murvin

Junior Murvin

Also known as: Junior Soul, Mervin Smith

Junior Murvin (born Murvin Junior Smith, circa 1946 - 2 December 2013) was a Jamaican reggae musician. He is best known for the single "Police and Thieves", produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976.

Early life
He was born in Saint James Parish, Jamaica, probably in 1946 though some sources state 1949, and moved to Port Antonio after his father's death. He began singing as a child, influenced particularly by Curtis Mayfield, and began performing in public after his family moved to Montego Bay. He studied mechanics at the Montego Bay Technical High School, and then moved to Trenchtown in Kingston, where he lived with his aunt and auditioned unsuccessfully for Lee Perry and Coxsone Dodd.

Music career
He first recorded under the name Junior Soul for Sonia Pottinger's Gayfeet label, and then began recording regularly for the Crystal label owned by Derrick Harriott, where he had a minor hit with "Solomon" in 1972. He also performed as a member of the Hippy Boys, and later the Mighty Falcons and the Tornadoes, in Kingston's nightclubs and tourist hotels. In 1976, he auditioned again for Perry with his own song, "Police and Thieves". This time Perry agreed to record him, and the single was released to international commercial success in Jamaica, Britain and elsewhere. Though written in the context of Jamaica's turf wars and police violence, it became closely associated with the rioting at London's Notting Hill Carnival that year. Murvin and Perry co-wrote more songs together and completed an album for Island Records, Police and Thieves, released in 1977 and regarded as one of Perry's best productions. The title song was heard by British punk rock band The Clash, whose version appeared on their debut album released in April 1977. Murvin continued to record singles with Perry, including several versions of Curtis Mayfield songs, and also made recordings with producers Joe Gibbs and Alvin Ranglin. In 1980, Murvin's "Police and Thieves" finally reached the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 23 after being used in the film, Rockers. Murvin continued to record through the 1980s, but his singles had less success. However, he sang with one of Jamaica's top bands, Jah Postles, and toured widely in Europe. He recorded with various producers and musicians, including Joe Gibbs, Errol Thompson, Mikey Dread with whom he recorded the 1982 album Bad Man Posse, Henry "Junjo" Lawes, Prince Jammy, and King Tubby. His other local hits included "Miss Kushie", "Cool Out Son", "I'm in Love", "Bad Man Posse", and "Muggers in the Street". He released his last album, Signs and Wonders, in 1989, but continued to record and release singles locally in Jamaica, some of them on his small Murvin label in Port Antonio. His last released recording was a single entitled "Wise Man", released on the London-based Dubwise record label in 1998.

Discography (4)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Police And Thieves Junior Murvin Police And Thieves 539 499-2 CD Island 1977
Badman Possee Junior Murvin Badman Possee DATCLP 007 LP DATC 1982 1982
Muggers In The Street Junior Murvin Muggers In The Street GREL 70 LP Greensleeves 1984 1984
Signs And Wonders Junior Murvin Signs And Wonders LL LP 30 LP Live & Learn 1988 1988

Credits & Appearances (2)

Musicians
Vocals 2
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Badman Possee Junior Murvin Badman Possee DATCLP 007 LP DATC 1982 1982
Muggers In The Street Junior Murvin Muggers In The Street GREL 70 LP Greensleeves 1984 1984

Also Appears On (59)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Tougher Than Tough Various Artists Tougher Than Tough IBXCD 1 CD Island 1958-93 1993
Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set TJETD 072 CD Trojan 1967-77 2003
Trojan Revive Box Set Various Artists Trojan Revive Box Set TJETD 029 CD Trojan 1968-69 2002
Young Gifted And Black Various Artists Young Gifted And Black TJDDD 006 CD Trojan 1968-75 2002
I Am The Upsetter Lee Scratch Perry & Various Artists I Am The Upsetter TJNBX 225 CD Trojan 1968-78 2005
A Live Injection Various Artists A Live Injection CDTRD 455 CD Trojan 1968-79 2001
King Scratch Lee Scratch Perry King Scratch TJDCD 605 CD Trojan 1969-2002 2022
Trojan Rare Groove Box Set Various Artists Trojan Rare Groove Box Set TRBCD 011 CD Trojan 1969-73 1999
Reggae, Funk & Soul Derrick Harriott Reggae, Funk & Soul DSRCD 009 CD Dub Store 1969-75 2016
Tighten Up Various Artists Tighten Up BMGCAT 271DCD CD BMG 1969-79 2018
A Place Called Jamaica Various Artists A Place Called Jamaica MKS 02 (322302) CD Makasound 196X-7X 2002
Essential Lee Perry Various Artists Essential Lee Perry METRCD 562 CD Union Square Music 196X-7X 2005
The Best Of Lee Scratch Perry Lee Scratch Perry The Best Of Lee Scratch Perry TJDCD 550 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2016
The Undertaker Derrick Harriott & The Crystalites The Undertaker DBCDD 073 CD Doctor Bird 1970 2021
Ultimate Collection Various Artists Ultimate Collection CD 314541301-2 CD Hip-O 1970-79 2000
Presents Earthly Sounds Derrick Harriott Presents Earthly Sounds DB2CD 078 CD Doctor Bird 1971-73 2021
Build The Ark Various Artists Build The Ark PERRY 3 CD Trojan 1972-76 1990
Bad Bad Bad Clive Azul Hunt Bad Bad Bad VPCD 4228 CD 17 North Parade 1973-76 2020
Darker Than Blue Various Artists Darker Than Blue BAFCD 036 CD Blood And Fire 1973-77 2001
Sound System Scratch Lee Perry & The Upsetters Sound System Scratch PSCD 68 CD Pressure Sounds 1973-78 2010
The Return Of Sound System Scratch Various Artists The Return Of Sound System Scratch PSCD 70 CD Pressure Sounds 1973-79 2011
Open The Gate Various Artists Open The Gate PERRY 2 CD Trojan 1974-76 1989
Produced And Directed By The Upsetter Various Artists Produced And Directed By The Upsetter PSCD 19 CD Pressure Sounds 1974-77 1998
Sipple Out Deh Lee Scratch Perry & Friends Sipple Out Deh SPECXX2042 CD Trojan 1974-78 2010
Cutting Razor Various Artists Cutting Razor CDHB 253 CD Heartbeat 1974-80 2003
Disco Devil Lee Scratch Perry & Friends Disco Devil UMC 9802 CD Trojan 1975-79 2012
Punky Reggae Party Various Artists Punky Reggae Party TJDDD 040 CD Trojan 1975-80 2002
This Is Reggae Music Vol 3 Various Artists This Is Reggae Music Vol 3 ILPS 9391 LP Island 1976 1976
Baffling Smoke Signal Various Artists Baffling Smoke Signal CDHB 252 CD Heartbeat 1976-78 2002
Arkology Various Artists Arkology CRNCD 6 CD Island 1976-79 1997
Reggae Greats Lee Scratch Perry & Various Artists Reggae Greats IRG 12 LP Island 1976-79 1985
Rockers Soundtrack Various Artists Rockers Soundtrack ILPS 9587 LP Island 1976-79 1979
Disco Devil Vol. 1 Lee Scratch Perry Disco Devil Vol. 1 STU16LP 003 LP Studio 16 1977-79 2018
Disco Devil Vol. 4 Lee Scratch Perry Disco Devil Vol. 4 STU16LP 006 LP Studio 16 1977-79 2020
Disco Devil Vol. 5 Lee Scratch Perry Disco Devil Vol. 5 STU16LP 007 LP Studio 16 1977-79 1977
Irie Reggae Hits Various Artists Irie Reggae Hits DBCDD 106 CD Doctor Bird 1979 2022
Joe Gibbs Presents Dancehall Stylee Various Artists Joe Gibbs Presents Dancehall Stylee DBCDD 117 CD Doctor Bird 1979-81 2023
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 1 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 1 VPCD 4159 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2009
12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 5 Joe Gibbs 12'' Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 5 VPCD 4169 CD 17 North Parade 197X 2010
Best Of Vintage Various Artists Best Of Vintage CD Joe Gibbs 197X
Black Art From The Black Ark Lee Perry & Friends Black Art From The Black Ark PSCD 108 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 2021
Burning Sampler Various Artists Burning Sampler BR 2001 LP Burning Rockers 197X
DJ Derek Presents... Sweet Memory Sounds Various Artists DJ Derek Presents... Sweet Memory Sounds TJZCD 304 CD Trojan 197X 2006
Joe Gibbs Productions Various Artists Joe Gibbs Productions SJRCD 076 CD Soul Jazz 197X 2003
Play On Mr. Music Lee Perry Play On Mr. Music RSUPCD 001 CD Rock A Shacka 197X 2020
Producers : Lee Perry vs Niney The Observer Lee Perry vs Niney The Observer Producers : Lee Perry vs Niney The Observer ROXS 5 CD Trojan 197X 2002
Rare Roots Reggae Various Artists Rare Roots Reggae 323692 CD Makasound 197X 2004
Revolution Rock Various Artists Revolution Rock TJZCD 214 CD Trojan 197X 2006
Spotlight On Reggae Vol 1 Various Artists Spotlight On Reggae Vol 1 CD Rocky One 197X
Step Forward Youth Various Artists Step Forward Youth VPGS 7059 CD Greensleeves 197X 2018
The Best Of Various Artists The Best Of B0002518 02 CD Island 197X 2004
The Best Of Lee Perry & The Upsetters Various Artists The Best Of Lee Perry & The Upsetters PTLP 1023 LP Pama 197X
Trojan Rockers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Rockers Box Set TJETD 338 CD Trojan 197X 2006
Trojan Roots Reggae Boxset Various Artists Trojan Roots Reggae Boxset TJETD 296 CD Trojan 197X 2005
Scorchers From The Mighty Two Various Artists Scorchers From The Mighty Two VPCD 4130 CD VP 197X-8X 2008
Reggae Mandela Various Artists Reggae Mandela VPCD 2524 CD VP 197X-9X 2019
The Kings Of Reggae Various Artists The Kings Of Reggae RR 066-067 LP BBE 197X-9X 2007
Superstar Hit Parade Various Artists Superstar Hit Parade GREL 96 LP Greensleeves 1986 1986
Dancehall Various Artists Dancehall SJRCD 196 CD Soul Jazz 198X 2008
4 albums
2 credits
4 labels
1977 - 1988