CD
Review
HIS MAJESTY IS COMING
The In
Crowd
Trojan Records
Reviewed By Jon Shaw
for the Reggae Movement.
Jon Shaw appears
regularly on Reggae Bloodlines Radio Show in Colorado :
Saturdays 1-4pm KGNU 1390Denver, 88.5Boulder
In the late 1970s a reggae
sound that incorporated conscious lyrics, upbeat rhythms, and a great
energy manifested as The In-Crowd. In the recent
Trojan double disc
release “His Majesty is Coming,” a classic reggae album, comprised of
songs from 1977-1981 both musically deep and wide, was reborn. The many
levels of writing are a major part of a spectrum that makes you dance at
one instance and at another instance give praises to Jah for simple
things like having a job or being at a party. Just a little bit of
reggae all the time, don’t you know?
The album is a masterwork of
Fil Callendar, who began is career by playing drums at Studio One as
well as organizing a band of musicians to play the tourist bars of
Jamaica’s sunny coast. His story parallels the storyline in the classic
reggae movie “Rockers”, and such irony should not be lost in his
departure from Studio One; after arriving late one day to the studio, he
found that he had been replaced by Leroy “Horesemouth” Wallace, who in
fact had played the main character in the movie.
After his departure from Studio One, what unfolded was a brief career
guided by professionalism and talent. Other diamonds in the rough found
an important role as a part of The In-Crowd, and the men that came
together to be The In-Crowd were: Fil Callender (lead guitar, vocals,
percussion), Errol Walker (lead vocals), Clevie Browne (drums, vocals),
Tony Lewis (bass guitar, vocals), Freddie Butler (keyboards), Wigmore
Francis (guitar), and a horn section with Egbert Evans (tenor saxophone,
alto saxophone, flute), and Barry Bailey (trombone). The extensive
listing of instruments helps explain the mosaic of music, as the variety
and quality of vocals is phenomenal. It seems like a puzzle where all
of the pieces fall together perfectly. As their popularity grew, they
realized in 1976 with their release “Born in Ethiopia” that they were
THE band, and not just backing band any longer.
The band polished itself constantly by playing and by the time the
summer of 1978 rolled around, they had a tremendous hit with “We Play
Reggae”. Immediately after that they had an even bigger hit with “Back
a Yard”, a song that rejoices upon returning home to Jamaica to smoke
some collie and celebrate love and life. These songs and a handful of
others were released on their own Evolution label. It was time for them
to record their first album, “His Majesty is Coming” (Creole/Cactus,
U.K.)
These songs not only ruled in Jamaica, but also made their way to the
U.K. where they were spun at “blues parties” all night long. You get
that feeling with their song “Let’s Go To the Party”, especially with
the groovy conversation leading into some great bass riffs. The closer
you listen to this 2 disc set, the better it sounds. Whether you are
hoping for melodic horns, a guitar that makes you tap your feet, or some
bass to wind up your waist, you will find it here. The rocking yet
thought provoking songs incorporate some state of the art special
effects as well. The keyboard twists and sounds like it is from a Snoop
Dogg studio effect, like on “You Facey Whitey” and “Marcus Garvey’s Back
in Town”.
This two CD set not only has the album “His Majesty is Coming”, but an
abundance of four-star bonus material. Jah Stitch is featured on “Baby
My Love’, plus there are four 12” mixes, extended songs, and virtually
every release from The In Crowd (there are 31 tracks on this set). When
you combine a culture of righteousness, talent, and insightfulness while
putting it in a musical blender with roots, rhythm, funk, psychedelia,
and disco you get The In-Crowd and their “rub up” reggae sounds.
Other The In Crowd Releases:
Man From New Guinea
(Album)
“Mango Walk” track on Darker Than Blue: Soul From Jam Down (Blood &
Fire)
“Rasta Man No Evil” track on Grounation: The Indominatable Spirit of
Rastafari
