So, my favorite track lately is Jah Lion Jungle by I-Roy. I picked it up as the A side on a Mafia re-issue, and it kicked my ass. Some quality time with Google indicates that this track was initially done for Keith Hudson, and it shows up on the second disk of the massive Keith Hudson- The Hudson Affair on the Trojan label... and here is a word for the wise, Sanctuary Records, who owns Trojan, was bought by Universal Music Group in late 2007, so I would pick up any of the current releases in your wish list sooner rather than later.
I-Roy's lyric's on this track can't be beat. His flawless delivery takes you on a trip through the concrete jungle of 1970's Jamaica. The production is loud and clear, and the backing rhythm is a real rocker. I didn't have any luck tracking down the original riddim yet, but I'll post when I figure it out. In the mean time, here are a few words about I-Roy from the book Solid Foundation by David Katz:
By the time of Alcapone's arrival in Britain, I Roy was firmly in ascendancy back home. Born Roy Samuel Reid in Saint Thomas in 1944, I Roy operated a set called Soul Bunnies in the rock steady era, playing Friday nights at Rose Lane in downtown Kingston A civil servant working at Customs and Excise, Reid had more ready cash than some of his peers and made a point of always being immaculately dressed...
His verbal skills drew the attention of producer Harry Mudie, who cut the toaster's debut disc, 'Hearts Don't Leap', towards the end of 1970. I Roy voiced further songs for Mudie, including a version of Dennis Walks' chilling 'Drifter', and helped distribute Mudie's product on a Honda motorcycle. As he started to branch out and record for other producers, the quick-witted toaster began chatting on the Clarendon sound V-Rocket, and ended up temporatily filling U Roy's shoes on King Tubby's Hi Fi in 1972.
It kind of makes me wonder if I-Roy might not have been partial inspiration for Horsemouth's character in the film Rockers...
