Roots Archives Forum

Greetings,
I was wondering if Junior Byles Fade Away was recorded after Selassie's death(or his departure from this world) in 1975. I have seen the song dated as '75, but don't know the specific date.

The reason I ask is that I just heard "Beat down babylon", an amazing tune, but sounds different than the later Junior stuff I had previously heard.
He sounds decades younger on 'beat down', yet it was recorded a few years prior. In 'fade away', he sounds as if he has... lost his innocense; like a part of him is broken.

Can´t answer ya question. Saw him on the Rebel Salute DVD and wondered how they could be that cruel to put him on stage. He seems to be mentally sick.
Any ideas how his disease is called + whappen to Jr. Byles?

Fade Away - Eagle Label- Producer - Joe Joe in 1976
- Joe Frazier Label - Producer - Jo Jo Hookim
- Jama Music Label also
Don`t know the matrix nos.,over to you guys !

" Upon hearing of Haile Selassie`s death in 1975,he tried to commit suicide.This resulted in a long stay at Kingstons Bellevue mental hospital. " ( Respect to STUDIOWON website )

AnorakTrev wrote:Fade Away - Eagle Label- Producer-Joe Joe in 1976

Upon hearing of Haile Selassie`s death in 1975,he tried to commit suicide.This resulted in a long stay at Kingstons Bellevue mental hospital. ( Respect to STUDIOWON website )

Thanks man. (tu)
Yeah, I've read his unfortunate bio. Don't know the medical term I-Lion Tafari, but I agree its some mental instability. Sad thing for sure, and I can hear it in his later tunes; don't necessarily make them worse, just a different vibe y'know.

interesting. is "joe joe" = joe fraser in early years?

How ironic, Yuh nuh, I acturally heard from Bredren down a yard back in the day that Jr. Byles got severly depressed, sick and upset to the point where he just stop caring about self when he first heard the news on the radio about HIs Imperial Majesty passing on. Don't really know how true this is but that's what I was told.

Thx for information. Sad story from a great roots singer...

@ DonDigital
" Joe Joe " is another form of Jo Jo,as in Hoo Kim.Check out Discogs (tu)

Jo Jo is Jo Hookim from Channel One. The real producer and writer of the tune is CHINNA SMITH, the guitarist. The lyrics were written for a friend of his who did not play it fair on one occasion. No link with Selassie's death.

interesting.. so how joe frasier get in all that mix up? he voiced 2 version on the riddim.