Roots Archives Forum

gibey wrote:Hmm, if you are disappointed with 'Presenting...' I Roy doesn't
seem the right DJ for you, as this one is one of the man's best
LP's.

i agree, the trojan 2-fer with "hell and sorrow" is in my CONSTANT rotation!

Dave K wrote:informer wrote :jordandance:

the answer is no.

Same would hold true for singers....a good riddim can carry mediocre vocals farther than a rickety riddim carrying an accomplished singer or DJ. When you get "great riding great", you get something worth cherishing.

FOr me Dave, a singer can save a so-so riddim. CArl Dawkin's cover of Etta James "I'd Rather Go Blind" on Lord Koos comes to mind- riddim isn't bad, it's just THERE, but Dawkins rips the tune a new you-know-what and it kills me every time I hear it. I guess you can include songwriting into our equation...riddim + songwriting + saingin and/or DJ skills...you have 2 of the 3 or more and you're pretty well there.

Hey Marky Dread,

the twofer is splendiferous! 'Jah Lion Jungle' is one of my
favourite I-Roy tunes along with 'Who Is The Man' and the recently
discovered 'Padlock' on the excellent mischievous PS compilation
'Once Upon A Time At King Tubby's'. (especially the title of the latter chune among others is highly recommendable to all petty
& malicious wagtails & syndicate). Enjoy!

Here,s one you might want to avoid if you already have some I Roy in your collection: "Don't Wake The Lion"
Another I Roy compilation & another mainly “change the title mess” as with the last I Roy Cd "Heavier Than Lead” this is again a collection of re titled tunes from different LPs
Ie

01 You Just Can’t Hide = Catty Rock from Heart Of A Lion LP
02 Kingston Mall = Natty Get Ready from Best Of I Roy (GG)
03 Golden Spring Ting = Thinking Cap from Many Moods Of I Roy
04 Come & Go A Zion = This is a cut on Guiding Star which I can’t trace
05 Come Down = Casmas Town from Heart Of A Lion
06 Hell Pop In Kingston Town = Jah Is The Best from Best Of I Roy
07 Long Time Gal = Sun Top Blouse from Best Of I Roy
08 Wandering Wandering = Wondering from Sunshine For I / The Classic
09 War Is Ugly = Look Out from Best Of I Roy
10 Wagoness = Maggie Breast from Sunshine For I / The Classic
11 Jah Rastafari Stand = Peace & Love from Sunshine For I / The Classic
12 Girlie Girlie = Sincerely Yours from Sunshine For I / The Classic
13 Check Up The Lion = Heart Of A Lion (aka Jah Jah Star) from Heart Of A Lion
14 You Are My Number One = Tonight from Heart Of A Lion

Thanks for the info Steve. Same with the crooky 'Lagoon' release
'Straight To The Heart' which is 'Truths & Rights' but doesn't
carry such inventive re-titles.

presenting is one of the very best ,otherwise check truth and rights/dont check me with no lightweiht stuff.

The more recent guest appearance on Dub Syndicate's Ital Breakfast album is also a very good cut IMO. Anything newer from I Roy to check for???

I have to say I rate I-Roy as one of the very best of the DJs. Smart, witty, funny, smooth and with a very distinctive musical voice and his own original sayings, phrases and rhymes (unlike many others who repeated the same material over and over).
Of all of the I-Roy albums (CDs actually) I have I rate Shark Attack and Don't Check Me... lowest, but they are still pretty good quality and I enjoy them plenty. Presenting, Hell and Sorrow and numerous singles reissued on some of the Trojan Box sets are all great stuff.
Let's just say I've never heard an I-Roy track I didn't like.
Each to his own taste I suppose.